Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4: unsponsored review
After months of teasing and building up the hype, Adidas have officially launched their latest road race shoe, the Adizero Adios Pro 4. I managed to grab a pair and put them to the test. Here’s my honest, unsponsored Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 review.
I bought these shoes myself and my review is completely unsponsored.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4: key characteristics and improvements
The Adizero Adios Pro 4 is Adidas’ latest road race shoe that launched on January 2nd 2025. This model is especially geared towards longer distances such as the half and marathon, where optimised energy return comes in handy.
This shoe is featherlight, weighing just shy of 175g for a women’s UK 5.5 and 200g for a men’s UK 8.5.
There’s a 6mm heel to toe drop (although some sections of the Adidas website currently mention a 5mm drop).
Upper
The stretchy thin LIGHTLOCK upper is crafted to adapt naturally to the shape of your foot. It features an innovative one-way stretch material, designed to provide optimal comfort.
Soft padding inside the tongue further alleviates lace pressure on the top of your foot, so that you can really tighten them up without any discomfort.
The heel area features extra padding around the collar, providing a more secure lockdown and preventing issues such as Achilles rubbing or heel slippage which were a common feedback with the previous versions.
Midsole and cushioning
The shoe boasts a double layer of the legendary LIGHTSTRIKE PRO foam, designed to sustain energy efficiently over long distances. It is now even lighter than it was in the the previous Adios Pro versions!
This high-performance cushioning spans the entire length of the shoe, ensuring a soft yet responsive experience with every stride.
The midsole also features carbon-infused ENERGYRODS 2.0 that enhance propulsion, creating a smooth and efficient transition from heel to toe.
It’s also worth noting the newly optimised rocker design in the midsole aiming to support better running efficiency.
What is LIGHTSTRIKE PRO?
LIGHTSTRIKE PRO is Adidas’ high performance foam. With enhanced absorption properties, it efficiently compresses and returns energy to the runner.
Even lighter than before, it features a dual-layer foam construction with advanced cushionining to minimizes energy loss.
What are the ENERGYRODS 2.0?
The upgraded ENERGYRODS 2.0 system is meticulously designed to mimic the natural alignment of the foot’s metatarsal bones. These fine-tuned, carbon-infused rods contribute to a more anatomically precise transition, delivering extra support and stability.
This innovative setup enhances dynamic flexibility and increases stiffness at toe-off, resulting in a snappy, responsive feel.
Outsole
The outsole features a piece of Continental™ rubber under the big toe for reliable traction during toe-offs.
The rest of the surface features the brand’s LIGHTTRAXION technology which as the name suggests keeps the shoe light whilst maintaining strong enough grip.
Is the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 true to size?
It is recommended to go half a size up if you are in between sizes. If you’ve previously owned Adidas running shoes, it is true to your usual Adidas size in my experience.
For instance I had a pair of Ultraboost in UK 4.5 which is the size I got for the Adios Pro 4 and it was right.
However it’s half a size up compared to Nike and On running shoes - I’m always a UK 4 in these brands, but 4.5 in Adidas.
How much does the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 cost?
The supershoe retails at £220. It’s not cheap by any means but in the world of supershoes, it’s more reasonably priced than the Nike Alphalfy 3 and the On Cloudboom Strike.
Where is the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 in stock right now?
The shoe was quick to sell out on Adidas website when it launched on January 2nd 2025. The brand has announced a restock coming on February 1st at 9am.
Set your alarm and bookmark the Adios Pro 4 Women and Adios Pro 4 Men pages to be ready!
Alternatively, you may still be able to find your size on the following e-retailers:
Honest, unsponsored Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 review
I shared my first impressions after my first workout in these shoes in this video:
adidas adizero adios pro 4 unsponsored review
I had never owned a pair of Adidas super shoes before buying the Adios Pro 4. I guess the hype got to me because I was definitely influenced to give them a try!
Here are my honest first impressions, bearing in mind that I haven’t had them long enough to comment on durability or performance in wet conditions.
What I love about the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
The shoes are, unsurprisingly, incredibly light, springy, and responsive. The rocker shape definitely adds to the snappy toe-off, making me feel like I’m being propelled forward. That’s really the best way I can describe it and it’s a fantastic feeling!
The tongue padding is another highlight for me. I could tie my laces tightly without feeling any discomfort on the top of my foot. Even when I tried them on for the first time, there was no need to fiddle with the laces or re-adjust the tightness—it was easy to get it just right.
The heel lockdown is excellent. At no point during my runs did I feel like my heel was slipping out. It felt completely secure. Initially, I was a bit concerned because I noticed a bit of space at the back when I first put them on, but the inner padding does an amazing job of holding your heel in place.
What I absolutely love most is how springy these shoes feel and how smooth it is to pick up the pace. They genuinely make you feel faster.
Any dislikes?
I’ve noticed some discomfort around my big toe, which I hope will subside as I get used to the shoes. It’s not because they’re too small—there’s actually a good amount of room in the toe box. It might just be that I need to adapt to their shape, or perhaps I should try a different pair of socks.
Another small issue is the outsole design. It seems to attract little stones that get stuck in the grooves, and I could feel them while running. This might be a bigger problem on rougher or dirtier tarmac.
Can you run shorter distances in these shoes?
While these shoes are clearly designed with energy return and running economy in mind—perfect for half marathon and marathon distances—I think they’re light and springy enough to excel in 10k races and maybe even 5k.
Personally, I always test new race shoes at shorter distances before committing to a longer race in them, like a half marathon. I’m considering wearing them for my upcoming 10k race in January and will be sure to update this review with more thoughts after that!
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