Best adidas Running Shoes

adidas Evo SL

Between its high-but-not-max stack height and its unbelievably reasonable $150 price tag, adidas is set to rewrite the super trainer playbook with the Evo SL. Rather than proving its performance chops via a jacked up midsole and a jacked up price to match, the Evo SL takes the best from models like the Adios Pro Evo 1 and the Adios Pro 3 to make one of the most exciting, versatile, and value-packed trainers to date.

The Evo SL features a high-performing and durable Continental Rubber outsole, a simple, but very effective engineered mesh upper (whose only flaw was a slippy tongue), a small midfoot shank, and a lively, full-length Lightstrike Pro midsole. Much of the setup mirrors that of the Adios Pro 3 (minus that shoe’s carbon rods). But the Evo SL adopts its rocker geometry from the exceptional Pro Evo 1, placing the rocker point farther back. The result is a shoe that’s bouncy yet stable, great at daily running, and also makes going fast feel easy. Despite its lack of a stiffening element like a plate or rods, the Evo SL has an elite toe-off that competes with shoes well above its price point, making it a perfectly viable (and affordable) option for those looking to go carbonless on race day.

We’d recommend going with your typical adidas size with regard to length (often a half size down from your size in other brands), and the forefoot room makes the Evo SL one of the more wide foot friendly adidas models. However, those who need more space at the rearfoot may need to try it on, as the Evo SL narrows at the heel. See the full review.

Fits: Typical adidas, Drop: 6.5mm, Price: $150

adidas Supernova Prima 2

The adidas Supernova Prima 2 puts together all the best parts of the existing Supernova line and then adds some extra oomph and slight tweaks to take the shoe to the next level. Dreamstrike+ is a plush yet bouncy Peba-based foam that’s great underfoot. The support rods are helpful without getting in the way. There are some minor quibbles with forefoot width and heel padding but otherwise this is a very good shoe. The Supernova Prima 2 is the best Supernova yet and a capable, protective, and fun daily running shoe.

Fits: Typical adidas, Drop: 8mm, Price: $160

adidas Boston 13

The adidas Adizero Boston 13 makes some positive changes from the Boston 12 and creates a fantastic uptempo shoe that complements the rest of adidas’ powerhouse performance running line. 

Pros abound, such as the bouncy Lightstrike Pro in the forefoot that’s great for speed work, the less stiff, but effective carbon energy rods that are tuned for long-distance training, an extremely comfortable tongue and collar for all-around comfort, and a highly stable ride for heel strikers. While the Lighttraxion outsole with Continental rubber grips extremely well, its subpar durability is the Boston 13’s main Con.

While some wide-footers may find enough room in the toebox, the midfoot might not be accommodating enough for others. We often suggest going a half size down in adidas vs other brands, and that’s our recommendation here for many. But wide-footers in particular will do best to try on the Boston 13 in-store (or order from somewhere with a good return policy) to be sure it will work for them.

The adidas Adizero Boston 13 manages to deliver super trainer and speed work performance at the same price as many daily trainers ($160), making it a great value. It’s best used for a hybrid of easy miles and speedy ones, whether training calls for intervals on the track, long-distance tempo or threshold sessions, or fartleks. The Boston 13 thrives most when leg turnover increases, and it possesses a versatility that’s accessible no matter the size, shape, or footstrike of the runner. For more details, read the full review.

Fits: Typical adidas, Drop: 6mm, Price: $160

adidas Ultraboost 5X

It’s a return to everything that made the Ultraboost iconic in the first place. The adidas Ultraboost 5X channels true Ultraboost ethos with a combo of running performance and casual appeal. It’s the best Ultraboost since the Ultraboost 19. It easily transitions from being a solid running shoe to a great looking casual shoe. When the Ultraboost line is at its best, as it is here, it’s equal parts casual banger and capable performer. Read the full performance review.

Fits: Typical adidas, Drop: 10mm, Price: $180

adidas Adizero SL2

As mentioned above, the adidas Adizero SL2 is the second iteration of adidas’ versatile daily running shoe and provides great value and a smooth ride. The outsole rubber is plentiful and hardly showed any wear during our testing. The midsole is Lightstrike with a full length Lightstrike Pro insert. That setup offers just enough plushness to feel good for 8-10 miles and enough bounce to go uptempo when needed.

For $130, the Adizero SL2 packs a solid value proposition for a shoe that can handle daily runs, some speed work, or all day on your feet.

Fits: Up a half size from typical adidas, Drop: 9.5mm, Price: $130

adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

The adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is the brand’s first true super shoe for the trails. Just like a road race-focused super shoe, it feels weirdly unstable and squishy walking around, and the forefoot seems thicker than the heel. The upper is also a bit loosey goosey. Your first thought will be that the shoe is synonymous with a trail death wish. 

But once you start running, especially ascending or descending, the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra starts working hard for you. Forefoot and midfoot landings harness the bounce of the Lightstrike Pro and plate combo into meaningful forward or upward movement. And that continues over multiple miles without feeling flat or less lively. The feel stays consistent for the long haul. The upper is way too wide and needs to be cinched up tight to work correctly; but if you can get it tight enough, it’ll keep your foot from exiting the safety of the footbed.

The outsole is solid-ish, but slippage on dry grasses or loose gravel happened too often. Keep this shoe on well-groomed, less wild trails. That’s where it’ll perform its best.

Right now there’s only one other shoe that can match the bounce and energy return of the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra (the Speedland GS:PGH). If you’re aiming for high-end trail performance in long distance races, this offering from adidas needs to be on your radar.

Fits: Typical adidas, Drop: 8mm, Price: $220

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4

The adidas Adios Pro 4 is the most comfortable and lightest Adios Pro model to date. It won’t have enough impact protection for all runners and isn’t a good shoe for wide footers, but it ratchets up the squish and snappiness of the Adios Pro line to a new level.

Pro athletes wearing adidas shoes like the Adios Pro 3 and Evo 1 are already setting records. I suspect that will continue with the Adios Pro 4. The adidas product team created a shoe that feels fast as soon as you hold it in hand and feels even faster once it’s on foot. It delivers the majority of the Evo 1’s innovations to the table at half the price. Because of that, we’re going to see a lot of runners running very fast in the adidas Adios Pro 4. Read the full review.

Fit: Typical adidas, Drop: 6mm, Price $250

adidas Adios Pro Evo 2

There are a couple of changes compared to the Pro Evo 1; but, barring a few small exceptions, the adidas Adios Pro Evo 2 performs largely the same as the original. 

Pros include: the return of its phenomenal rocker geometry; the same great midsole compound for a soft, bouncy, and fast ride; plus a light-as-a-feather weight. Cons are: a lack of wet traction; an unstable heel; a fussy, foldy tongue; and, of course, an incredibly high price. Few people will truly get $500 in value out of the Pro Evo 2. The price is only going to be worth it for a very small group of cash-rich, sub-elite runners who are chasing big goals like Olympic Trials qualifying standards.

As for sizing, the Adios Pro Evo 2 runs true-to-size in length; but there is not enough room to accommodate wide-footers. The adidas Adios Pro Evo 2 is best used in good weather for road races from the 5K to the marathon as well as for other fast sessions like track intervals or long tempo runs. It’s on par with the original and still a fun and interesting expression of the pinnacle of running technology. Nobody needs it, but those with the extra cash will get a fun and fast experience. For more details, read the full review.

Fit: Typical adidas, Drop: 3mm, Price $500

adidas Takumi Sen 10

The adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 10 is basically an adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 with less foam underfoot. Why did adidas make this shoe? Because when you’re running shorter distances, you don’t need as much impact protection. The Takumi Sen 10 is a great shoe for 5k and 10k races along with interval training and tempo work. If you want a racing shoe built for shorter road races that also performs amazingly in speed workouts, this is likely the best option on the market. 

Fit: Up a half size from typical adidas, Drop: 7mm, Price: $180

adidas Adizero Prime X 3 Strung

The adidas Prime X3 Strung is the best Prime X to date. While the shoe remains on the heavy side, the forefoot is lively and the entire shoe is stiff and bouncy. The forefoot is wide with lots of wiggle room and narrows to the heel where it’s easy to lock your foot into the shoe. The Prime X3 is true to size lengthwise but can be a bit sloppy in the forefoot as tightening the bottom two eyelets beyond a certain point is basically not possible. But even with the eyelet trouble this is the comfiest upper ever found on a Prime X Strung feeling more socklike than ever before while maintaining a surprising sturdiness. The outsole is dependably good while basically mimicking the Adios Pro 4’s layout and rubber compounds. If you’re prepared to pay $300 for a better than max cushion go-to long run shoe that can pick up speed on occasion, you’ll be happy with the Prime X3.

Fit: Typical adidas, Drop: 7mm, Price $300