The 5 Best Adidas Evo SL Killers

There have been a ton of shoes chasing the magic of the Evo SL lately, but each one brings something a little different to the table. Whether you want a softer ride, more bounce, better stability, or a shoe that can really pick up the pace, this lineup has a legit option for almost everyone. We stacked them up across six categories to see which one comes out on top.

Puma Deviate Pure Nitro

Pros:

• The Deviate Pure Nitro has a comfortable, versatile and robust midsole foam.
• It has an approachable geometry that works well for a wide variety of runners.

Cons:

• It is more workmanlike, due to having a less aggressive rocker and a flatter geometry, and less exciting than the Evo SL.
• The Deviate Pure is not a true workout shoe. You can run fast in it, but it lacks the pop and speed assistance of real race foam.

Daily Trainer

Puma Deviate Pure Nitro

Daily trainer designed for speed and versatility

Price

$150

Plated?

No

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

7.5

Drop (mm)

8

Support

Neutral

see details

Brooks Ghost Amp

Pros:

• The Brooks Ghost Amp is a simple, no-frills shoe that gets out of the way and lets you do the work.
• It is a solid upgrade to the standard Ghost 17, offering slightly more bounce and fun.

Cons:

• It rides more like a mid-tier daily trainer than an “Evo SL Killer.”
• The Ghost Amp is not particularly fast or inspiring out on the roads.

Daily Trainer

Brooks Ghost AMP

Daily trainer designed for versatility and comfort

Price

$150

Plated?

No

Foam

PEBA/EVA Blend

Weight (oz)

8.9

Drop (mm)

6

Support

Neutral

see details

Saucony Endorphin Azura

Pros:

• The Saucony Endorphin Azura has a much more protective and stable midsole than the Evo SL.
• It has an excellent rocker geometry with an aggressive toe spring that rewards a mid-forefoot strike.

Cons:

• The firm midsole requires significant break-in time.
• The Azura lacks top-end speed workout capability. It’s much better for ticking off long steady miles.

Daily Trainer

Saucony Endorphin Azura

Super trainer designed for versatility and bounce

Price

$150

Plated?

No

Foam

PEBA

Weight (oz)

8.6

Drop (mm)

8

Support

Mild Stability

see details

Dynafish Xiaonian

Pros:

• The Dynafish Xiaonian has the best weight-stack ratio in any training shoe.
• It one-ups the Evo SL in every category, offering superior protection, speed assistance and fun in a race-day like package.

Cons:

• The Xiaonian has limited distribution and availability outside of China, but this is improving with sites like our own HobbyJogger.com getting the rights to market and ship the Xiaonian.

Speed Training

Dynafish Xiaonian

Lightweight super trainer engineered for speed

Price

$150

Plated?

No

Foam

TPEE

Weight (oz)

7.3

Drop (mm)

7

Support

Neutral

see details

TYR Maverick-V1 Runner

Pros:

• The TYR Maverick V-1 Runner delivers an Evo SL-like midsole foam in a more approachable package with significantly more heel stack.
• It also has an anatomical toebox and more dialed in upper that makes the fit fantastic.

Cons:

• The durability is concerning. Our pair lost some of its pop in the forefoot after 150 miles.
• The best ride is achieved by swapping the insole for something more premium.

Daily Trainer

TYR Maverick-V1 Runner

Non-plated daily trainer designed for speed and versatility

Price

$150

Plated?

No

Foam

Not disclosed

Weight (oz)

7.7

Drop (mm)

8

Support

Neutral

see details

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