The Adidas Adizero Running Shoe Lineup Explained
Here, we’re going to break down the 2025 Adidas Adizero running shoe lineup and explain the purpose of each model. We’ll also share our thoughts on which shoes are worth adding to your rotation and which ones you can skip. This includes daily trainers like the SL2 and EVO SL, the Boston 13 for speed sessions, the max-cushion Prime X3 Strung, and how to position the Adios Pro 4, Takumi Sen 11, and Adios 9 across different race distances.
We’re laying out where each Adidas Adizero model fits in your rotation and what it’s built for. From daily workhorses to race-day rockets, here’s how every pair stacks up—plus which ones earned that “banger” status.
Adizero SL2: Adidas' Workhorse Daily Trainer
The Adizero SL2 is a no-frills, bouncy daily trainer that punches well above its price. It might just go down in hobby jogger history as the last great daily trainer under $140. With a 36mm heel and 27mm forefoot stack, it features a dual-foam setup of Lightstrike 2.0 and a full-length slab of Lightstrike Pro—giving it the versatility to handle just about anything. All for just $130.
Adizero EVO SL: Adidas' Uptempo Daily Trainer
Adidas Evo SL
The EVO SL is a lightweight, snappy daily trainer designed for uptempo runs, with a full race foam midsole. We’ve officially hit 100 miles in the Evo SL—and it’s safe to say this one is Supwell Certified. The full-length Lightstrike Pro is tuned for speed and has enough cushion for longer runs. If you’re looking for a fast cruiser, the hype is justified. The Evo SL held up impressively across 100 miles, and we even had to create a brand new Supwell Power Rankings category just to give it its flowers as Zone 3 Champion. While it’s not the most comfortable ride, it excels at crushing fun miles at pace. With Adidas continuing to pump out colorway after colorway, we don’t see the EVO SL falling out of the spotlight anytime soon. Even after logging over 100 miles, the EVO SL is still going strong, and possibly getting even better with time. While some have questioned the traction, we’ve found it holds up just fine—with minimal wear on the exposed foam and solid performance throughout.
Adizero Boston 13: Adidas' Best Speed Training Shoe
Adidas Boston 13
The Boston 13 is a reliable, dual-foam cruiser that thrives in steady long runs and tempo efforts. It is a workman-like reliable and peppy speed training companion. There is nothing crazy or spectacular about it—but sometimes that’s the beauty of it. Like a perfectly broken-in baseball glove, it’s satisfying every time you lace it up. There is enough race foam to pick up the pace, enough training foam for stability and daily miles, and enough comfort to walk around after. It’s everything you need, and nothing you don’t. With more miles in the bank, this might be the best Boston yet. The combination of Lightstrike Pro + Lightstrike and the glass fiber Energyrods delivers a seriously fun ride. Add in the upper updates and you’ve got a mid-tier daily trainer that punches way above its weight. The Boston 13 made a HUGE leap in comfort over the previous version—and might’ve overcorrected a bit in the sizing department. With added padding in the heel and tongue plus a much softer, more comfortable upper, it’s a clear upgrade from the Boston 12, where the heel felt too minimal and the upper ran stiff. While the 12 ran undeniably long, this version tightens things up—maybe a little too much when it comes to length. Still, if you can dial in the right size, this is the most comfortable Boston in years and a strong return to form for the franchise.
Adizero Takumi Sen 11: Adidas' Short Distance Race Shoe
Adidas Takumi Sen 11
The Takumi Sen 11 is built for 5K and 10K racing, with a smooth and speedy ride in a low profile. It still lands above 200 grams—heavy, lower to the ground, and with less bounce than previous versions. With marathon racers now dropping under 200 grams with more stack and bounce, it makes us wonder—does the Takumi Sen 11 have a place in the market? The Sen 11 isn’t going to slow you down or ruin your runs. It’s still a lightweight shoe with enough speed elements to get you moving. Sure, there might be better options out there, but this definitely isn’t the worst.
Adizero Adios 9: Adidas' Traditional Racing Flat
Adidas Adios 9
The Adios 9 is a throwback flat for minimalists who want ground feel and just enough cushion. It is a low-stack, non-plated racing flat with a minimal and traditional ride that helps you train the mechanics you need for speed. It would also be great for intervals on the track. This shoe is the antithesis of the max stack options or the plated marathon racing shoes. It is the lightest and lowest (28mm in the heel) stack shoe we have in our extensive library of running shoes. It is completely unique and offers a completely different experience than you get with other shoes on the market. It has a snug-fitting, really nice upper. We are a little disappointed with the feel of the foam—it is not as explosive and bouncy as we expected and Adidas hasn’t done much to make it widely available in the US market.
Adizero Prime X3 Strung: Adidas' Max Stack Behemoth
Adidas Prime X 3 Strung
The Prime X 3 Strung is a wild, high-stack option for long runs that feel like flight. It is a max stack behemoth with multiple plates and a bouncy race foam. This shoe is wild. The heel feels nice and soft again like the OG, but the stability is a bit rough. Up on the forefoot it feels better, but we keep wondering why the front is so wide. It adds so much weight without giving stability where people actually want it. At 310g it’s heavy for a racer, but if it’s just a max stack trainer with all that tech, the weight is negligible. We’re still trying to figure out exactly what this shoe is supposed to be. There are plenty of shoes that get the job done, but very few that feel as downright special as this one. No, it’s not the smoothest ride or the lightest shoe out there. But it looks cool, it feels cool, and sometimes that’s all you need to feel reinvigorated about running. We're calling the Prime X3 Strung a funky chunky monkey.
Adizero Adios Pro 4: Adidas' Marathon Racing Shoe
Adidas Adios Pro 4
The Adios Pro 4 is soft, bouncy, and built for chasing your fastest marathon finish yet. The heel cutout and soft rear still feel off, but every time this shoe hits workout pace, it comes alive. We haven’t had a bad run in it, though it’s definitely not built for anything slower than workout pace. There’s a strange sweet spot up front—hit it, and you’re flying. The Adidas Adios Pro 4 is a solid contender in the race shoe category. Now that the Pro 4 has had time to accumulate some miles in the hobby jogger community, durability has become one of its standout features. It might not be a top 3 pick for chasing a PR, but for locking in pace during workouts or long runs, it holds its own. On sale for $200 Running Warehouse—and down to $180 with our exclusive Supwell App discount code—this one’s tough to pass up.
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