Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
Introduction
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro running shoe series has established itself as a dominant force in the world of competitive running. The Adios Pro 4, the latest iteration in the series, has already achieved significant success with Sheila Chepkirui's victory in the 2024 New York City Marathon.
This win adds to the impressive record of the Adios Pro line, which includes an astounding 5 world records and 73 major road race victories achieved by athletes wearing the Adios Pro 1, 2, and 3 models. The consistent success of the Adios Pro series has solidified its position as one of the most successful and sought-after racing shoe series available, favoured by elite athletes and ambitious runners alike.
The Adios Pro stands out as a unique super shoe in the saturated market. Its defining feature is the stiff Energy Rods, which have the innovative ability to move vertically independent of each other. This mimics the metatarsals of the foot, providing the Adios Pro with its distinctive ride and feel.
Furthermore, Adidas diverges from the popular trend of using PEBA-based midsoles. Instead, it utilises Lightstrike Pro, a TPEE (Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer) material that offers several advantages over its competitors.
The Adios Pro 3, which was officially launched in March of 2022, had a substantial wait time for its successor, the Pro 4, taking almost two years for the update to be released. Adidas has publicly stated that the reason for the delay was their commitment to ensuring that the new version incorporated significant upgrades and improvements, rather than releasing an update that only featured minor changes.
The Adios Pro 4 represents a significant departure from its predecessors, undergoing a complete transformation with a redesigned upper, midsole, and outsole. Notably, the midsole technology has been reimagined, showcasing a stark contrast to the Lightstrike Pro featured in previous iterations of the shoe.
The Pro 4 is an impressive 15 grams lighter than the Pro 3. It now weighs 204 grams for a men’s standard size. This is due to refinements in the Lightstrike Pro foam composition, upper material, and an optimised outsole design. It also remains the same price as the Pro 3.
Specifications
|
Price |
$339 |
|
Drop |
6.5 mm (39.5 mm heel, 33 mm forefoot) |
|
Surface |
Road |
|
Weight (Men's US9) |
204 g |
|
Pronation Control |
Neutral |
Upper
The Adios Pro 3 faced criticism for its upper material, which was described as hard, scratchy, and inflexible. This thick material also lacked breathability, contributing to discomfort. However, the Adios Pro 4 has addressed these issues with its new Micro Fit upper. This redesigned upper is softer, thinner, and more flexible than its predecessor, allowing it to conform to the shape of the foot for a more comfortable fit. Additionally, the Micro Fit upper offers improved breathability, enhancing overall comfort during runs.
The Adios Pro 4 introduces a new feature called LIGHTLOCK, which is a thin strip of material that wraps strategically around the heel and midfoot areas of the shoe. This design element serves to enhance the shoe's overall structure and support, leading to a significant improvement in foot lockdown. This means that the wearer's foot is held securely in place within the shoe, minimizing unwanted movement and maximizing energy transfer during each stride.
The thin tongue is stitched on both sides to the upper, to prevent lateral tongue slide. There is also a loop on the tongue for the laces to pass through to prevent vertical tongue slide. A nice touch is the addition of a strip of padding in the middle of the tongue (underneath the Adizero logo) to protect the top of your feet from lace bite.
The Pro 4 boasts a luxuriously comfortable fit, thanks to the inclusion of soft felt material lining the collar and heel tab. This addition not only enhances overall comfort around the ankle but also minimizes the risk of irritation and chafing during runs.
A strategically placed strip of padding on the inside of the collar provides additional support and security, effectively preventing any heel slippage and ensuring a locked-in feel throughout your stride. This combination of features ensures that the Adios Pro 4 remains snug and secure on your feet, allowing you to focus on your performance without any distractions or discomfort.
The Pro 4, compared to its predecessor the Pro 3, features a notably narrower fit, particularly in the toe-box area. This change in design may necessitate runners to consider going up half a size from their usual running shoe size to ensure a comfortable and accommodating fit.
Due to its narrow construction, the Adios Pro 4 is likely to be most suitable for runners who have naturally narrow feet with low volume. Runners with wide feet or higher insteps might find the shoe too constricting.
Midsole
The midsole of the Adios Pro has undergone a significant transformation in its fourth version. While versions 1 through 3 maintained a relatively similar Lightstrike Pro midsole, the Pro 4 introduces a dramatic change.
The Pro 4's midsole is now approximately twice as soft as its predecessor, the Pro 3. This substantial increase in softness places the Adios Pro 4 among the softest super shoes currently on the market.
Runners who have used previous versions of the Adios Pro will experience a noticeable difference in the feel and performance of the Pro 4 due to this substantial change in midsole softness.
In the Pro 4, the forefoot rocker has been strategically repositioned further back, now situated at 60% of the shoe's length compared to the 30% placement in the Adios Pro 3. This adjustment aims to elevate running efficiency by promoting smoother transitions throughout the gait cycle.
Additionally, the integration of a softer midsole material complements the repositioned rocker, resulting in a less aggressive and notably smoother ride compared to previous iterations of the Adios Pro. This combination of design elements enhances the overall running experience by optimizing energy transfer and providing a more fluid feel underfoot.
The stack heights remain within legal limits and competitive standards, measuring 39.5 mm in the heel and 33 mm in the forefoot. These measurements create a racing shoe that provides substantial cushioning, promoting comfort during long-distance runs.
The 6.6 mm drop from heel to forefoot ensures ample cushioning in the forefoot, catering to runners who strike the ground with the forefoot during their stride. This design element helps to mitigate impact and reduce stress on the forefoot, potentially lowering the risk of injury.
The Pro 4 incorporates the signature Energy Rods, visible through a window cutout on the shoe's underside. These rods play a crucial role in enhancing both stability and propulsion during running. As the foot strikes the ground, the Energy Rods compress and store energy. This stored energy is then released as the runner pushes off, providing an additional boost that propels them forward.
Furthermore, the Energy Rods work to mitigate excessive flexion in the forefoot, ensuring a smoother and more efficient stride. This ultimately promotes a more powerful toe-off, maximising the runner's energy transfer.
Outsole
The Adios Pro 4 introduces a groundbreaking outsole compound called LIGHTTRAXION, representing a significant advancement from the Continental rubber used in previous models. This innovative material is engineered to be lighter, more durable, and provide superior grip.
LIGHTTRAXION is composed of polyurethane, a material known for its hardness and higher production costs. Despite the increased expense, the advantages of polyurethane are substantial. Its inherent properties contribute to a reduction in overall shoe weight, a critical factor for performance running. Additionally, the enhanced durability of polyurethane ensures that the outsole can withstand the rigors of intense training and racing, providing runners with a reliable and long-lasting shoe.
By incorporating LIGHTTRAXION into the Adios Pro 4, Adidas has demonstrated a commitment to pushing the boundaries of running shoe technology. The combination of lightness, durability, and grip offered by this new outsole compound has the potential to elevate the performance of runners of all levels.
While the majority of the outsole utilises a LIGHTTRAXION, a small section of the forefoot is purposefully covered with Continental rubber. This particular placement is crucial for optimising traction during the toe-off phase of the stride. By providing reliable grip and ensuring efficient power transfer, the Continental rubber in the forefoot contributes to a more propulsive push-off.
Ride
The Adios Pro 4 is specifically engineered for marathon distances. The enhanced softness of the midsole provides a luxurious and plush experience, significantly reducing leg fatigue during extended runs.
This shoe is ideal for runners who prioritise comfort and prefer a minimal sensation of the ground beneath their feet. Its design and construction cater to the unique demands of long-distance running, making it a valuable tool for those seeking to conquer the marathon distance.
The new forefoot rocker design in the Pro 4 significantly enhances the ease of establishing and maintaining a consistent running rhythm. This improvement is attributed to the strategic repositioning of the rocker, which results in a notably smoother and more fluid running experience, especially during long distances.
The Pro 4 boasts a durable outsole, capable of withstanding the rigors of both training and racing. Its soft ride provides exceptional comfort, making it an excellent choice for slower-paced runners and elites. This versatility makes it a valuable addition to any runner's shoe rotation.
When it comes to stability, the Adios Pro 4 is less stable than the Adios Pro 3. Not only does it have a narrower heel than the Pro 3 but its midsole is significantly softer, resulting in more lean bias.
Conclusion
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 is a very different animal to its predecessors. It has become a much softer, smoother, and more comfortable super shoe.
However, the most striking feature of the Adios Pro 4 is its incredibly lightweight construction. Adidas has managed to shave off every possible gram, resulting in a shoe that feels barely there on your feet. This weight reduction not only enhances running efficiency but also contributes to the shoe's overall comfort.
The Adios Pro 4 is now one of the softest racers currently on the market so if you need a high level of stability, it might not be a great option for you but if you found the previous versions of the Adios Pro too firm, you will find the ride of the Pro 4 a lot more engaging and more enjoyable.
Other improvements include an updated outsole material which is lighter, more durable and more grippy than the Continental rubber of previous versions and a new, softer, Micro Fit upper that conforms to your feet.
In an all Adidas rotation, the Adios Pro 4 fills the role of the long-distance racer. You can use the Takumi Sen 10/Adios 9 for short-distance racing, the Boston 12/ EVO SL for speed training and the Supernova Rise 2/Solution 2 for daily training.
Reviewed by Brandon Law
Check out Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 here
