Details
Brand
Adidas
Heel To Toe Drop
10 mm
Breathability
9/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Racing
Key Features
• Lightweight• Boost midsole• Made for speed• Responsive• Durable• Retro style
Upper
The upper portion of the Adizero Adios 3 is made of an open mesh material, which helps make the shoe both lightweight and breathable. Overlays of synthetic textile at the toe, heel, and over the top of the foot provide more support. Both the mesh and the textile overlays hug the foot, making the shoe stable and supportive. There is minimal padding in the simple tongue and collar, but what’s there is very comfortable.
Midsole
Next to their retro styles and fun side stripes, Adidas is known for their Boost midsole. The Adizero Adios 3 is no exception: these shoes boast the energy-saving Boost midsole of their predecessors. Somewhat heavier and more expensive than traditional EVA midsoles, Boost is significantly more durable, making it a pretty fair tradeoff. The Boost midsole is formed from multiple foam pods meshed together, instead of the typical single long piece of foam that is found in most running shoes. This Boost midsole makes Adidas shoes both comfortably cushioned and remarkably responsive. As Adidas claims on their website, “The more energy you give, the more you get.”
Outsole
A thin layer of Continental rubber forms the outsole of the Adizero Adios 3. This rubber may be thin, but it is built to last so that you can go the distance without worrying about your shoes giving out on you. As you might have guessed from the number 3, this shoe is an upgrade from the Adios 2. One of the improvements Adidas made was in the Continental outsole, which now has 23% more traction. This increase in traction enables you to run on both dry and slick surfaces, so this shoe will see you through both rain and shine. The Torsion System under the arch provides enough rigidity between the forefoot and heel to keep you stable while you run.
Breathability
Staying cool is one of the most difficult and most important parts of running. When temperatures are high, it’s altogether too easy to overheat in just a short time. One of the best ways to stay cool is to wear shoes that allow your feet to breathe, that let the air in and the sweat out. This is an area in which the Adizero Adios 3 excels. The upper is made almost completely of open mesh, providing optimum breathability. Across the board, reviewers found this to be a positive aspect of the shoe and recommend it for anyone training in hot conditions.
Comfort
Comfort is, of course, one of the top factors in choosing a running shoe. It needs to feel good on your foot from the moment you first put it on until you run the last stretch of your marathon. When it comes to comfort, the Adizero Adios has got you covered. They are plushly cushioned, thanks to the many foam pods meshed together in the Boost midsole. The open mesh upper gives them great breathability, ensuring that your feet don’t get overly hot and sweaty. Because of these features and more, many people find this to be a very comfortable running shoe. The shoe does, however, run narrow. If you have wide feet, or just like a lot of room to flex your toes, this might not be the shoe for you.
Style
It’s safe to say that Adidas is most famous for their classic black sneakers with white strips up the sides. It’s a sleek look, a look people have come to love, and Adidas has maintained a similar style in the Adizero Adios 3 running shoe. Available in a variety of colors, from solar red with white strips to bright blue with green detailing, this is a shoe that is going to help you look good just as it helps you run fast. Because of its low profile, slim fit, and those iconic white stripes, the Adios 3 is more than just a running shoe — it’s stylish enough to wear with a pair of jeans for a sightseeing tour of the big city, or to throw on with some cute shorts for that last backyard BBQ of the summer. Once again, when it comes to style, Adidas hits it out of the park.
Durability
Buying new shoes is fun and exciting, but not when you’re forced to make a purchase because your current runners wore out after a paltry number of miles. You run far, your shoes should, too. Adidas clearly understands this, because the Adizero Adios 3 are truly made to last. Thanks to the layer of Continental rubber on the bottoms of these shoes, as well as the responsive and sturdy Boost midsole, these kicks are extremely durable. Be ready to put in many miles with these as your trusted trainers.
Protection
Like most lightweight running shoes, the Adizero Adios 3 wasn’t designed to provide a lot of protection off-road. This is not the ideal shoe to wear running through rocks and sticks. But the advanced technology of the Torsion System, the plush cushioning of the Boost midsole, the secure lacing system, and the tough, durable Continental rubber outsole all work together to protect your feet from unnecessary impact and strain. If you’re running on the type of terrain these shoes were made for, such as paved running paths, indoor and outdoor tracks, and through your neighborhood streets, the Adios 3 provide exactly the protection you need.
Responsiveness
The Boost midsole was designed for responsiveness. In fact, Adidas claims that Boost is the most responsive cushioning they’ve ever had to offer. This responsiveness comes from the multiple foam pods that are melded together to create the midsole itself. This midsole is designed to return the energy you put out. In other words, it helps you spring back from your footstrike, readying you for the next step.
Support
While some people prefer truly minimalist shoes that have almost no support, most people need a shoe that will support them, but not too much. Adidas’s understanding of this balance is evident in the plastic Torsion System, which is placed between the heel and the front of the foot and gives the arch a little extra support. The synthetic overlays at the toe, heel, and around the laces provide added support to the sock-like mesh upper. And, because this shoe has a slim fit, it stays nice and snug on even the narrowest of feet.
Terrain
These are lightweight running shoes, so they are made for pounding out the miles on pavement — and asphalt, cement, treadmill, track, etc — but not on dirt or gravel trails. Given their open mesh uppers and light rubber soles, these shoes are not meant for off-roading. Keep in mind that it’s important to know what your equipment is meant fo r, and to use it for only that. This ensures that the product will last long and perform well.
Price
Given the relative simplicity of this shoe, the price seems a bit on the high side. Though it does sport the incredible Boost midsole, which everyone thinks is pretty much just as amazing as Adidas claims it to be. So it’s simply a matter of deciding just how much you’re willing to pay up for a shoe that could quite possibly speed up your run.
Drop
In recent years, runners have become more interested in how a shoe affects their natural running movements. The question of whether a shoe is changing a runner’s stride or complementing it has become one most runners consider before purchasing a new shoe. The drop (difference in heel height vs. toe height) of a shoe is a big factor in how your foot strikes the ground while running. Given the many different running styles out there, there are many different preferences when it comes to heel-to-toe drop. At 9.3mm, the Adizero Adios 3 has a moderate drop, making it appealing to a large range of people.
Stability
This shoe has a sleek, slim look. In part this achieved by the stripes on the side, which act as a sort of optical illusion, making the shoe look even slimmer than it is. But it is, in fact, a narrow shoe. People with wide feet may want to look elsewhere for their next running shoe, but anyone with a normal to narrow foot is likely to enjoy the added stability and security that the narrowness of this shoe provides. The sock-like mesh upper forms to the foot, and can be adjusted by the simple lacing system. The Torsion System, which gives arch support, also helps in giving the shoe overall stability.
Flexibility
Having flexible shoes allows your foot to flex and contract naturally as you run and walk. If a shoe is not flexible enough, you can end up exhausting your feet, shins, and calves by stifling your body’s natural movement. If, however, your shoes are too flexible, you can open yourself up to injuries such as plantar fasciitis. For most people, moderate flexibility in a shoe is best. And that’s exactly what the Adizero Adios 3 provides. It allows your body to function naturally, while still giving you the stability and support you need.
Traction
Running in the sunshine is wonderful, but any serious runner needs to be able to train on rainy days as well as sunny ones. And this means a runner’s shoes need to be able to handle the same conditions he can. With this latest upgrade, the Adizero Adios 3 now has 23% better traction. That means this shoe can handle wet and slippery roads just as well as dry and sunny ones. When these shoes are on your feet, you don’t have to worry about face-planting in the next puddle.
Bottom Line
If you dream of speed, the Adidas Adizero Adios 3 just might be the shoe for you — if you can afford it. The price is a definite knock against this shoe, but it does boast some fantastic features. Its Boost midsole maximizes your energy output by returning some of that energy to you after every strike of the foot. The open mesh upper ensures that you won’t have to slow down due to overheating or chafing. And the stylish stripes on the sides are sure to inspire you to run your hardest, your longest, your fastest. Just like Dennis Kimetto and Emmanuel Mutai.
