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

The adidas Supernova Prima 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 is the best Supernova yet and a capable, protective, and fun daily running shoe. Read the full review.

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

adidas Adizero SL2

The adidas Adizero SL2 is the second iteration of adidas’ versatile daily running shoe. It 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. The midsole geometry and the upper mimic adidas’ race day Adios Pro 3 thus allowing the Adizero SL2 to be a great everyday complement to what you’re wearing on race day.

The upper is comfy and well padded with super comfy Achilles pillows, though the tongue is not gusseted and slippy. The fit is more accommodating than adidas’ other Adizero shoes but the toebox is pointy and won’t be suitable for those with the widest feet. 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 Supernova Rise

The adidas Supernova Rise is a hybrid running/casual shoe that’s a solid option for beginners. The Dreamstrike+ midsole is peppy and there’s enough cushion to go 5-6 miles without issue. The upper is also very comfortable but make sure to go up a half size from your typical adidas size as the toebox fits narrow.

Fits: Up a half size from typical adidas, Drop: 10mm, Price: $140

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: $140

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 Supernova Solution

The adidas Supernova Solution is the stability portion of adidas’ new Supernova trio and ends up as the best of the bunch. The Dreamstrike+ is fairly minimal up front at 26mm but is effective at impact protection. You’ll get ground feel but won’t feel beaten up by the impact. It’s a quick shoe that can pick up the pace. It easily transitions to casual wear with an upper that’s plush all around. The TPU stability piece on the bottom does work but largely stays out of the way if you don’t need it making this a great neutral stable shoe that’s great for beginners and experience runners alike.

Fits: Typical adidas, Drop: 10mm, Price: $140

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 Adizero Adios Pro 3

The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is a smooth-riding and bouncy long-distance or marathon race day shoe. The rocker is improved from previous versions with a sharper toe angle and improved carbon fiber energy rods that make the shoe feel faster and bouncier. Breathability is top-notch, the outsole grips everything, and, due to a widened base, stability is great for a race day shoe. You’ll want to wear thicker socks to avoid issues with the problematic Achilles stitching but that’s the only real issue in a shoe that’s the best adidas marathon shoe and one of the best marathon racing shoes on the market. See the full review.

Fit: Typical adidas, Drop: 6.5mm, Price $250

adidas Adios Pro Evo 1

The adidas Adios Pro Evo 1 is an incredible achievement of a shoe. The team at adidas stripped out everything you don’t need from a race-day shoe and tweaked other aspects like the cushion, outsole, and rocker to push race-day footwear boundaries. The changes they made work. The world and course records are proof.

Think of the Adios Pro Evo 1 as a concept car for footwear. It’s showing off what’s possible. These innovations will find their way into the broader adidas line and become more accessible to the typical long distance runners with time. But, if you’ve got the money right now, the Evo 1 is a performance beast. Read the full review.

Fit: Typical adidas, Drop: 6mm, 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 2 Strung

Imagine taking the Adios Pro 3 and adding so much foam the shoe gets banned from international competition. That’s the story of the adidas Prime X 2. It’s taller, heavier, and bouncier than the Adios Pro 3. It’s probably the bounciest running shoe we’ve ever tested. If you need something that will give your legs ultimate protection on long runs, get the Prime X 2 Strung. It’s not for everyone though. The Prime X 2 is made for shoe geeks who love experimenting with fun new tech while running long distances. Read the full review.

Fit: Typical adidas, Drop: 6.5mm, Price $300