Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 Shoe Review: World Record Breaker
Source: Wired
The first thing you notice is how light and comfortable it is. For a carbon race shoe, it fits well and immediately feels like it belongs on your foot. The curved rocker is the same as the last‑gen Pro Evo 2, rolling you quickly onto your forefoot, driving a fast foot turnover and a lively toe‑off. It’s all very smooth, light, and propulsive.
Fit and Comfort
The higher levels of softness really come through. Fans of a stiffer, snappier ride (like you’d get from an Asics Metaspeed Edge or Sky Tokyo) might not love that sensation, but there’s a good balance of cushioning and protection under the forefoot, with the fun, punchy response you expect from a top‑tier carbon race shoe. I found it worked best, as Heidmann describes, when I was moving at faster paces with locked‑in form, landing mid‑to‑forefoot with real intent. I was surprised by how accommodating it felt at slower paces, too. The energy rim lets you have some control over that high‑compression midsole foam. After a 40‑minute treadmill run, my instinct says the Pro Evo 3 should be surprisingly protective even if the wheels were to come off at mile 20 of a marathon.
Midsole and Ride
The midsole is markedly softer than the Pro Evo 2, delivering a fun, springy, bouncy energy. The softer ride still provides enough firmness for a fast turnover, while offering cushioning that feels protective over long distances.
Upper Design
Up top, the Pro Evo 3 has a highly minimal, stripped‑back engineered mesh upper, with the thinnest tongue I’ve ever seen, a scarcely‑padded heel collar, and a minimal heel counter. The materials take inspiration from kite‑surfing fabrics and are noticeably more pliable than the uppers of the Pro Evo 2. This creates a roomy, airy, and flexible feel, giving good freedom for your toes to flex. The shoe disappears on your foot for a barely‑there sensation. I only ran in straight lines, so I’m not convinced they’ll offer enough support around tight turns.
Should You Start Saving?
When Adidas first launched the Pro Evo race shoes, the price tag was a double‑take – it’s a lot of money for any shoe. Unlike previous versions of the Pro Evo that didn’t wow me, the Pro Evo 3 feels genuinely pace‑setting. However, I’m still not convinced that 99 % of runners really need a $500 shoe.
Take it from a 66‑time marathon finisher: PRs can tumble just as easily in much more affordable shoes, even without a carbon plate. The Adidas Pro Evo 3 is built for a specific runner: fast forefoot strikers who can run light and hold their form. That’s definitely not everyone.
If you fit that profile, have the pace, and can spare the dollars, go for it. The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 feels like the real deal – if you can get a pair. Only a few are on sale in a very limited first run, with more landing in the fall.