You can’t argue with a shoe worn by the emperor, Haile Gebrselassie, in his world record marathon run. Go to any road race and you are bound to see many runners sporting the original Adios, and this year alone I witnessed professional runners wearing the Adios to win the Boston marathon, Pikes Peak Ascent (mountain trail race), and the Imogene Pass Run (mountain trail race). That is quite the testament to a shoe that is engineered for the roads and is able to handle technical trails as well.
The heritage of this racing shoe is a well cushioned, performance oriented flat with a great transition and a fit that will appeal to a wide range of feet. Adidas had no need to completely overhaul this shoe and simply made some positive tweaks to the upper, heel drop, and outsole which resulted in an incremental improvement on what is already one of the best racing shoes on the market.
Adidas Adios 2 Upper
Adidas uses their CoolEver mesh throughout the upper with sewn overlays similar to the original Adios. Synthetic leather reinforcements were made around the outside of the toe box where some runners experienced punching through the mesh with wear. The heel cup and collar of the shoe stay basically identical and a more abrasion resistant material is used over the heel of the shoe. The lacing system is fairly traditional here, incorporating the placement of Adidas’ three stripes as support through the upper into an excellent mid foot fit. Adidas used the CoolEver mesh throughout the tongue of the shoe which is a bit more minimal than the original Adios.
The fit of the Adios 2 should accommodate a wide variety of foot types with a fairly medium fit throughout the heel and mid foot before spreading out to an accommodating toe box. I have a medium D width foot and I struggle wearing any shoe with a narrow forefoot. The Adios 2 upper is very lightweight and malleable but the construction is pretty ballistic for a racing flat at this weight.
Adidas Adios 2 Midsole
Full length Adiprene is ample through the heel and forefoot which provides a firm but supported feeling. Adidas added CMEVA, a compression molded EVA, underneath the Adiprene which really seems to mold to the wearer’s foot and holds up to a great deal of pounding. The Adios 2 is intended for neutral runners and their isn’t any sort of mid foot shank or dual density midsole for added support. However, Adidas did extend the torsion system in the mid foot which decreases twisting and rotation throughout the gait cycle. Arch support is fairly non-existent which is true for most racing flats and Adidas fans will appreciate the traditional fit.
I often get asked to describe what particular cushioning feels like on the road and each shoe company has their different EVA foam which has its own feel. Adiprene is a firmer cushioning which many runners don’t like the feel of when they first put them on. However, it really shines on the road and the Adios 2 is made for long, fast workouts and racing. It also really holds up for many miles which is pretty rare for a racing flat. If you’re the type of runner who does a lot of training in flats and is looking for something to get to that 500 mile mark, the Adios 2 is likely your best bet.
My favorite change for the new Adios is that Adidas lowered the heel drop of the shoe from 12mm to 9mm. Stack height remains relatively the same but the reduced heel drop means that the forefoot gains about 3mm in cushioning. The added cushioning in the forefoot is noticed and appreciated and improves the ride of this shoe a great deal.
Adidas Adios 2 Outsole
Adidas updated the Adios outsole a great deal adding the longer torsion system, which is a thermoplastic unit on the bottom of the shoe, to improve support during toe off. Continental Tire rubber was used along areas of high wear and provides for some extra tacky traction, especially on wet roads. One feature I really liked is that Adidas added some tacky nubs, for lack of a better word, in the middle of the outsole in the mid foot and forefoot area which really grab the road. After about 200 miles on the Adios 2 some of these nubs are a bit worn down but still effective.
Adidas Adios 2 Overall Impressions
The running shoe term “ride” is a fairly ambiguous concept referring to how the shoe feels from foot strike through toe off. The Adios 2 comes about as close as possible to nailing what “ride” should feel like for a long distance racing flat which has made it a very popular shoe for elite, and sub-elite, marathoners. By lowering the heel drop Adidas improved on the feel of the original while maintaining the firm responsive comfort of the full length Adiprene cushioning. In fact, the feel is good enough that I found myself eschewing lightweight trail shoes at times to enjoy the feel of the Adios 2 off road.
While the Adios 2 is intended for neutral runners I would recommend this shoe to underpronators or overpronators looking for a supportive race day shoe, especially for the marathon. What is lacking in midsole support is made up for by the torsion system which really does provide adequate support for a racing shoe. The durability is top notch for a racing flat and those looking for an all in one short distance to marathon racing shoe need to look no further.
Adidas is very proud of their world record setting marathon shoe and this is reflected in the price. At $115 MSRP that places the Adios 2 at a much higher price point than its competitors and could be a deal breaker for some runners.
We thank Adidas for sending us a pair of Adios 2 to test. This did not influence our review of the shoe, written after more than 50 miles in them
price comparison
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Adidas Adizero Adios 2 Men Yellow/black Holabird Sports Free shipping over 69.95$ |
$115.00
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Adidas Running - Adizero Adios 2 M (vivid Yellow/black) - Footwear Zappos Free shipping both ways (free return shipping), 365 days returns |
$115.00
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Adidas Adizero Adios 2.0 Shoes Adidas Official Adidas online store |
$115.00
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Mens Adidas Adizero Adios 2 Running Shoe RoadRunnerSports Free shipping, 60-day perfect fit guarantee: possible to exchange shoes after using them for two months. |
$129.95
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Written by Thomas Caughlan
Tom Caughlan has been running since age 11 and ran competitively in college. Tom has six years of experience at running specialty stores and continues to test products for running shoe companies. Ever the gearhead, Tom enjoys testing shoes on the roads and trails of the rocky mountains in Colorado.
Used the original adios for two marathons and about 2000km of training and I have to say that they were the best running shoes I have owned. They just feel right; which should be evident from how long I held on to them
Though my experience with the 2.0 is still limited, they do share all the same features that made me fall in love with the original. Highly recommended.
I would like to ask if adios 2 is true to size? Thanks
Vlain,
They do run true to size, however they can feel a bit narrow at first through the heel and midfoot. I found that the upper required about a three run break in period and then they felt perfect. I do prefer to wear thinner socks with them though due to how close they fit around the foot.
I’m the same Tom, with the low level cushioned Thorlos I barely get my feet in, but with my Compressport socks on they’re perfect.
As for running in them, I’ve found them to be much more responsive than the Supernova Sequence 4s I moved on to these from. Looking for a shoe of similar feel that could provide more protection for my longer training runs though.
Hey Tom, I have worn various Adidas shoes throughout the years and always found the brand to run small on most,if not all, the models I wore. I love the Adios and plan on ordering some from my local running store. Why do some shoe companies vary in sizing so much? Like Adidas, I find Pearl Izumi to run very small. The new Pegasus from Nike in size 13 fits perfect, another Nike model in the same size feels like a 12??? Anyways, love the review of the Adios and with some luck, I will be wearing them sometime in the near future. Thanks.
From what I understand, sizing issues occur because the shoes were stitched and materials cut at different factories in China. For instance, I’ve tested shoes for companies prior to their release and then reviewed them six months later when they were released and there is a half size difference. Some companies really focus on keeping sizes in check across their manufacturing. In my opinion these companies are Mizuno, Salomon, Saucony, Asics, and Brooks.
However, you have to find your size in each brand, and sometimes sizing differs between different collections. For instance, in the NB minimus line I wear a size 10, but in their regular line a 9.5. In a Brooks launch or ghost I wear a 9.5 but in the PURE line I wear a 10. Its awful, confusing, and frustrating.
Another reason to support your local running store rather than buying online.
This probably doesn’t help but….
-Tom
Makes total sense. Thanks for the clarity. I think your site is awesome. Best reviews out there!
Ok,by far, this is the best shoe I have worn in some time. On a budget minded income, the concept of buying two different shoes for road and trail was becoming obscene. This shoe performs great on both! I primarily run on rugged Colorado trails and this shoe laughed at the terrain. Although the lugs are not there, the Continental rubber stuck to wet rock like flypaper. When the trail ended and the pavement began, I just continued to run as my friends complained their trail shoes sucked on concrete. Get these shoes! Buy big though, they,in my opinion, run small.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the reviews. I have been going through your reviews trying to work out the best racing flat for me. I have finally decided on the adidas azizero adios 2.
One question though, I am living in Peru and can’t try them on before I buy them online. The shops here stock other adidas adizero running trainers (just not the adios 2). Is it likely that the size will be the same in these or as they are a racing trainer their size will be different.
Many Thanks
Dan