Review of the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3
Below we are grading the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3, the lightest legal marathon racer on the market and the shoe used to break 2 hours in the marathon, on its midsole, outsole, upper, design, and step-in comfort to help you decide if you should pick it up.
The Adidas Pro Evo 3 is the brand's pinnacle racer. Priced at $500, it's the shoe Yomif Kejelcha and Sebastian Sawe used to run sub 2 hour marathons this year at London (shoutout Kipchoge). Key updates to this version include a fully revamped midsole compound that's soft, lively and explosively bouncy. The shoe also has a ridiculously lightweight construction, weighing in around 110 grams in our size 10.5 US men's (half the weight of shoes like the Nike Alphafly 3 and Saucony Endorphin Elite 3).
Specs of the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3
Stack Height: 39mm of foam in the heel with a 3mm drop
Weight: Less than 100 grams in a Men's US sample size 9
Midsole Construction: 100% Lightstrike Pro Evo foam, a TPEE compound, with a carbon fiber rim that Adidas is calling an EnergyRim
Price: $500
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
Grading the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3
The Midsole—A+
This midsole in the Pro Evo 3 maxes out all the stats, combining elite protection from the roads with next-level bounce and speed assistance. The ride is soft, dynamic, and wild, optimized for running as fast as possible in a straight line. While less stable than the previous versions—the Pro Evo 1 and the Pro Evo 2—this one is much more compressive, offering explosive energy return.
The Upper—B
The Pro Evo 3 has a lightweight upper that’s built like a grocery bag. We wouldn’t want to train in it, but it contributes to the shoe’s sub 100 gram weight.
The Outsole—A
This shoe features a significantly better outsole than the last version, which was very slick. The EVO 3 also packs Continental rubber in the forefoot.
Step-in Comfort—A+
The construction of the shoe provides soft underfoot comfort with no plate feel. This shoe features Adidas’ new Energy Rim tech opposed to a traditional plate.
Design—A+
This shoe is a perfect example of classic Adidas design language in a modern hyper shoe. The visible energy rim in the midsole showcases the tech in a thoughtful way.
Our Review
In our initial testing, we found this to be the ultimate marathon weapon. Impossibly light with a smooth ride and max cushion protection, this is an instant classic. The only downsides are due to the shoe's aggressive assault against speed and weight (e.g., tradeoffs of durability and stability).
As an innovation product and a tool for elite athletes to race their best, the Pro Evo 3 knocks it out of the park and stands as a shining example of how you crush it in the race day category. If you can find one and want the ultimate race day tool, we highly recommend; if you can afford the Ferrari, buy the Ferrari.
For Yowana's full video review, check out the Supwell channel on YouTube:
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