Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoe review – verdict, price, comparison, who is it for

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoe upper

The upper of the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoe is made from a thin but densely woven material called LightLock 2.0. The name comes from the thin reinforcement strands running through the mesh in a square pattern (squares measuring approximately 2 mm). These reinforcements are responsible for providing good lateral foot support, which is particularly important in a racing shoe like this. Although the upper is thin, its breathability is not outstanding because of the dense weave.

The upper has a relatively narrow fit, but it isn’t as narrow as the uppers of most racing shoes. The toe box is rounded rather than pointed, giving your toes some room. The midfoot and heel areas are narrower to hold the foot securely. The shoe fits true to size in length, but if you’re between sizes, I’d recommend going up half a size, especially if you’re buying it for the marathon distance.

The tongue has minimal padding, but it protects the foot from lace pressure. It’s attached on both sides, so it doesn’t slide out of place while running. The laces have a serrated, sawtooth-like design, allowing them to be tightened securely and providing good foot lockdown.

The heel collar has minimal reinforcement at the back and no reinforcement along the sides, allowing it to conform very precisely to the heel. It features a small but thick, semicircular strip of padding that’s very soft and provides enough cushioning for the collar to offer both secure heel lockdown and comfort. The edge of the heel collar is sharp, which could cause problems for certain foot shapes, although I personally had no issues with it.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoe midsole

The midsole of the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoe consists of three layers. The upper foam layer comes from the top-tier Adizero Pro Evo 3 racing shoe, while the lower foam layer is a redesigned, lighter version of LightStrike Pro. Between the two layers sits a carbon ring called EnergyRim, which runs around the perimeter of the midsole and is clearly visible from the outside. Although the carbon plate doesn’t cover the entire midsole, the shoe remains just as stiff, retains the same high torsional rigidity, and delivers the same dynamic ride. This ring-like construction (which actually forms a U shape) allows for a significant reduction in weight while also making a major contribution to the shoe’s stability (and, thirdly, reducing production costs).

The midsole features a pronounced forefoot rocker, but the curvature starts relatively early, so it isn’t overly aggressive. I’d describe the transitions as smooth rather than producing a rapid forward roll. The carbon ring holds the curved shape of the midsole extremely firmly, making it virtually impossible to flatten under load. This also helps maintain faster paces. The midsole measures 39 mm at the heel and 35 mm at the forefoot, giving the shoe a drop of just 4 mm. This low drop encourages a midfoot or forefoot strike, which is another positive because this is where most of the more responsive upper foam is located, and where the shoe is widest and most stable. The midsole is particularly wide at the forefoot but narrower at the heel, making the shoe less stable in the rearfoot.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoe outsole

The outsole of the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoe is made from two different rubber compounds. Most of the outsole uses Adidas’s proprietary LIGHTTRAXION rubber, a softer compound that provides good grip without wearing down quickly despite its softness. On the medial side of the forefoot, there is a layer of Continental rubber, which offers better traction and plays an important role during toe-off. Most runners generate their greatest propulsive force in the area covered by this Continental rubber, so it helps during faster running. The outsole is thin, as is typical of lightweight racing shoes. The grooves aren’t particularly deep, partly because the outsole itself is thin, but they still provide adequate grip. The outsole’s traction isn’t exceptional, but it isn’t poor either. It sits somewhere in the middle of its category. The outsole is segmented but covers a large proportion of the midsole, which is unusual for racing shoes. Two areas are left without outsole coverage: the central part of the heel and the lateral side of the forefoot. Both cutouts are familiar features on Adidas shoes, but the lateral forefoot cutout is not usually this wide, and this creates a serious problem.

Because the midsole foam is softer, more delicate, and more vulnerable to damage, it starts to wear down and crumble after as little as 10-20 km of running. This is a serious problem. Some wear is natural and also occurs on exposed areas of other running shoes, but crumbling is not. Over time, this could lead to deterioration of the foam’s properties or even larger pieces breaking away. The outsole rubber itself offers very good abrasion resistance, but the exposed areas of the midsole experience substantial wear and crumbling, especially where the outsole rubber sections end.

What is it like to run in the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5?

Sometimes you can put all the finest ingredients into a dish, yet the result still isn’t particularly impressive. That’s exactly how I felt about the Adios Pro 5. It’s a very good shoe, but it didn’t blow me away. It’s easy to pick up the pace, easy to maintain a fast speed, the forefoot is stable enough, and the midsole provides a nice springy rebound, but I wasn’t overwhelmed. It’s simply good. I ran in it at different paces, and it performed well at all of them except at low intensity. I included a slower recovery kilometer between several fast efforts, and I couldn’t wait for it to end. The shoe feels firm and stiff at low intensity. Running fast in it, however, was very enjoyable. You can clearly feel that its capabilities really come into play when you apply more force, compress the foam more deeply, and put more load through the carbon structure, allowing it to propel you off the ground more effectively.

Who should – and shouldn’t – buy the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoes?

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoes are recommended for runners looking for an extremely lightweight and highly responsive shoe for marathon or half-marathon racing. They are designed for experienced runners who have already completed their first marathons, are approaching a 3-hour marathon finish, and want to improve their times.

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoes are not recommended for beginner runners, as they’re too stiff and expensive for that purpose. They’re not recommended for everyday training either, because they aren’t durable enough to justify wearing them down during regular workouts. They’re also not recommended for low-intensity runs because their stiffness can make them feel uncomfortable and overly firm at slower paces.

What has changed from the previous version? Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoes vs Adidas Adizero Adios pro 4.

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 has changed significantly compared with the previous version, resulting in a weight reduction of 25-30 grams depending on the size.

The upper is slightly wider and a little longer. Breathability has improved, with the previous LightLock upper replaced by LightLock 2 technology. The shoe now features new serrated laces that provide better lockdown, and the heel padding has become more comfortable. The edge of the heel collar is slightly sharp, which may cause irritation around the ankle bone in runners who are sensitive to it.

The midsole has been completely redesigned. The upper layer features PEBA foam from the highly successful Adios Pro Evo 3, while the lower layer uses denser A-TPU foam. Adidas has replaced the energy rods with a carbon ring, reducing torsional rigidity while improving stability without compromising responsiveness. The midsole drop has decreased from 6 mm to 4 mm, meaning the forefoot midsole is now 2 mm higher.

The outsole hasn’t changed much. It uses the same materials in a similar layout, but the cutout on the lateral forefoot is larger, making the midsole more vulnerable to damage in this area.

Alternatives to the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoes – comparison

Are there differences between the men’s and women’s Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoes?

Officially, there are no differences between the men’s and women’s versions of the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 running shoes. The materials and construction are identical, and even the colorways are similar. The differences between the officially listed weights are mainly due to the men’s weight being measured in a larger shoe size than the women’s Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5.