Running had its four-minute-mile moment this April, when Sabastian Sawe dipped under two hours at the London Marathon wearing adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3. Unfortunately, that sub-100-gram science experiment never really existed for people like you and me, and was only reserved for the brand’s elite roster. Now, just a few days after Nike fired back with the Alphafly 4, the Three Stripes is putting that record-breaking hardware into something for the average Joe. Meet the new Adizero Adios Pro 5.
Rods Out, Rim In
After four generations of ENERGYRODS, adidas has decded to ditch its signature carbon tubes in favor of the ENERGYRIM. For the unfamiliar, it’s essentially a carbon-infused hoop that first debuted on the Evo 3 and it now wraps the midsole’s perimeter for the first time in the Pro series.
Clearing out the center of the midsole makes room for a bigger helping of the latest Lightstrike Pro foam directly underfoot, and adidas claims the combo delivers 9 percent more energy return than the Adios Pro 4.
Barely Heavier Than a Hockey Puck
Averaging 177 grams, the Pro 5 sheds 23 grams (12 percent) from its predecessor, which is an impressive feat for a fully stacked marathon racer.
And it is fully stacked, with 39mm of foam at the heel, 35mm up front, and a gentle 4mm drop that sits right at the World Athletics limit. A rebuilt LIGHTLOCK 2.0 upper handles lockdown while the LIGHTTRAXION outsole gets a fresh pour of Continental rubber for extra traction.
Beaverton, Your Move
The timing here is clearly intentional. Nike’s Alphafly 4 landed on September 17 at $280 (and promptly sold out). Clearly, adidas is countering just days before the Berlin Marathon with a shoe that undercuts it by five bucks and a healthy chunk of weight.
The brand also isn’t shy about the receipts either, calling this the most tested shoe in Adizero history. They had over 25 athletes across Kenya, Ethiopia, and the US logging miles in it, Sawe included.
Spec Sheet
Model: adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5
Weight: 177g (average, UK 8.5 sample)
Stack Height: 39mm heel / 35mm forefoot
Drop: 4mm
Midsole: Lightstrike Pro foam with carbon-infused ENERGYRIM
Upper: LIGHTLOCK 2.0
Outsole: LIGHTTRAXION with Continental rubber
Energy Return: +9% vs. Adios Pro 4
Launch Colorway: Solar Turbo/Core Black/Lucid Red
Price: $275
Pricing & Availability
The Adizero Adios Pro 5 is available now globally, priced at $275 (a $25 bump over the Pro 4) in its debut Solar Turbo colorway, with more styles to follow.
Recap
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5
adidas retires its ENERGYRODS and borrows the carbon ENERGYRIM from its two-hour marathon breaker for the 177-gram, $275 Adizero Adios Pro 5, available now.
