Another week, another super shoe. The first thing the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 wins is the shoe with the longest name. What a mouthful. Anyway, that has nothing to do with the shoe review.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 Quick Stats:
Weight: 8.6 oz
Heel to top drop: 10 mm
Price: $220
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 Intro:
The Adizero Adios Pro 2 is the next version of the original Adidas Adizero Pro. Like the original Vaporfly, this shoe sold out fast. So, I didn’t even try the original one. It was fascinating to me this one did not sell out as fast.
A few questions people have asked about the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2:
Does the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 fit wider feet? Yes, the upper is a lot wider than many other carbon-plated shoes.
Do you feel the carbon plate? Yes, you’ll feel propelled forward but you’ll also feel some propelling in the forefoot too.
Is the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 a good shoe? Well…we will get there.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 Fit:
If you are looking for the most similar fitting carbon plated shoe without being the Nike Vaporfly, the Adizero Adios Pro 2 will be it. It has a paper-thin upper that is a breathable mesh that adidas calls “Celermesh 2.0”. It’s recycled polyester. Don’t be alarmed as the mesh is almost completely see-through, so I suggest wearing cool socks.
I won’t beat around the bush, but lacing up this shoe feels weird and unnatural. The best thing for a running shoe upper is not to be noticeable at all. It took me several tries of lacing, replacing, and loosening up the heel to figure out exactly what felt comfortable because, for a while, it was nothing.
One thing the Adizero Adios Pro 2 does do well is the cushioned and plush heel. It’s not digging into your Achilles, and you don’t notice it. The best kind of upper.
In running shoes, I wear between a women size 10-11 wide. The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 is unisex, and I found the size 9 (10.5) to fit the best.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 Ride:
The Adizero Adios Pro 2 has a 39 mm heel which means it’s right up there with the Vaporfly in stack height. The ride feels fairly similar too. This wasn’t exactly a “plus for me,” as the Nike Vaporfly never really felt good to me and ended up leading to Achilles issues which led to a stress fracture. (Which I’ve since learned many people have had Achilles issues with that shoe). This isn’t about the Vaporfly, though.
The carbon fiber plate in the Adizero Adios Pro 2 is underneath the heel, but there are also “carbon-infused energyRODS” underneath the metatarsals. The rods are between two layers of the “Lightstroke Pro,” which is Adidas lightest foam.
This all seems like SO MUCH information, so let’s break it down.
The Lightstrike Pro material is extremely light. It feels cushioned and works with the carbon fiber plate to make the shoe more responsive. If you just had the Lightstrike Pro material, it would feel like a giant marshmallow under your foot. The rods are designed to mimic your metatarsals and make the shoe feel more natural versus having no movement in the forefoot.
Durability and Traction: Adidas continues to use Continental rubber in their running shoes, making their traction second to none. If the rubber is good enough for your car, it’s good enough for your running shoe. The downside is that it makes the Adizero Adios Pro 2 and any adidas shoe heavier.
I’ve run faster workouts and run in the Adizero Adios Pro 2, and it responds well. I don’t want to waste mileage doing easy runs (When it’s not designed too). I feel faster and can feel both the carbon plate in the heel and the rods in the metatarsals. Not in an annoying way, but I do feel them push me forward. It’s also a lot more stable than the Nike Vaporfly. If you like the feel of Nike but want something more stable, this might be a good shoe for you.
One thing to note is the heel and forefoot do feel disconnected. Instead of feeling like I’m being propelled forward, I feel like I’m clunking along sometimes. It doesn’t feel as smooth as I anticipated.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 Conclusion:
I think the Adios Pro 2 is a good racing shoe. Obviously, it is because many world records have been broken in them.
I hate to compare shoes so closely but there are a lot of similarities between the Adizero Pro 2 and the Vaporfly. The fit is more comfortable in the Adizero Adios Pro 2.
That being said, of any $220+, it’s not my favorite either. The clunkiness of rolling from heel to toe doesn’t really do it for me, and it’s probably not the first shoe I would reach for on my shoe wall. The thing it excels most is having the most grip and traction of any carbon-plated shoe.
My Current Shoe Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs Brooks Aurora, Diadora Mythos Blushield Volo, Brooks Ricochet 3, New Balance 1080 v11, Hoka Bondi 7,
Speed Work: Nike Tempo Next%, New Balance Fuelcell TC Shoe Review, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro,
Long Runs: Hoka Clifton Edge, Under Armour Sonic HOVR 3
Trail Running/Hiking: Hoka Torrent 2, Saucony Peregrine 11, North Face Flight VECTIV
Races: Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2, Asics Metaspeed Edge, Asics Metaspeed Sky, Hoka One One Rocket X, adidas Adizero Pro, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Saucony Endorphin Pro, New Balance fuelcell TC, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
Have you tried the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2?
What is your favorite racing shoe?
I was literally listening to your Two Dads Run podcast earlier thinking I wonder if Hollie has reviewed the Adios Pro yet and then you posted this yesterday, so weird! You say wouldn’t be the speedwork shoe you’d reach for, would the distance factor into that? Is there anything you would reach for this for?
I should rephrase that I think Charlotte. There isn’t a time, I personally feel like this is the “perfect” shoe for me to use. With speedwork, there are several models of shoes I like better. It’s a good speedwork shoe but I wouldn’t say my favorite or even first choice.
Also, thank you for listening!