Editor rating:
9/10 on
TRAVIS TRAMPE
User's rating:

PROS

  • Lightweight & designed for speed
  • Comfortable Boost Midsole Foam
  • Smooth & quick transition
  • Outsole delivers durable & reliable traction

CONS

  • Higher price than comparable racers
  • Slightly heavier than competitors
  • Limited Colorways

OUR VERDICT

The Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 3 is a neutral, lightweight performance shoe designed with one thing in mind – Speed!

The shoe provides a smooth, quick ride thanks to the comfortable Boost Midsole and is perfect for racing and fast training workouts. The shoe is a bit pricey compared to its competitors.
SHOE INFO
Brand
Adizero Adios Boost 3
Model
Type
8.10 oz. (230 gr.)
Weight
140 US$
MSRP
9 mm
Heel Drop
Dec / 2015
Release Date
Previous model
WHO IS IT FOR
The Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 3 is a lightweight performance shoe that is built for speed. The shoe is designed for neutral runners tackling fast-paced training runs or weekend racing.

The Adios Boost 3 looked and felt fast the minute I took it out of the box and laced it up for the first run. This lightweight racer delivered a snug fit thanks to a breathable, seamless upper mesh and comfortable ride via the responsive Boost midsole.

I didn’t immediately like the look of the shoe and wondered how it would feel during a run as it seemed like Adidas placed an “old school” looking upper design on the top-of-the-line soft and fast Boost Midsole.

After several runs, I was pleased as the shoe delivered as secure fit as well as responsive ride with a very quick, smooth transition.

The Adios Boost underwent some changes mostly to increased Continental Rubber outsole material spread across the forefoot covering the Boost foam.

The shoe does feel lighter than 8.0 oz. and I believe the model has the potential to be around 6.5-7 ounces with small changes in future models.

Overall, the shoe performed well during the fast tempo sessions and as well as on longer training runs at more of a simulated marathon race pace.

Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 3 General Info

Adizero Adios Boost 3 - Toe

Adizero Adios Boost 3 – Toe

The Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 3 has a high bar to live up to as the model has built up a reputation and following as a fast racing shoe since its inception having been part of many world records.

This Adios Boost 3 lives up to being a very fast racer while I was not super impressed with the “old school” look of the upper and color design.

The comfortable Boost Midsole remained while small design changes to the modest looking open mesh upper and heel collar delivered plenty of comfort as it wrapped my foot and kept it securely in place.

The shoes fit true to size with no extra space or “wiggle” room due to the narrow design from the midfoot to the toe box. For those with a more wide foot or who prefer more room, keep this in mind when trying on this shoe.

The outsole received updates which include more Continental Rubber placed in the forefoot while keeping the reliable AdiWear rubber in the heel.

This combination delivered a smooth ride, durability and enhanced transaction in various road and racing conditions.

Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 3 Sole Unit

The Adios Boost 3 outsole kept many of the key components from the previous version allowing for a smooth, quick transition from throughout entire foot strike, including a 10 mm offset.

Adizero Adios Boost 3 - Sole

Adizero Adios Boost 3 – Sole

The shoe continues to incorporate a Continental Rubber outsole which was changed slightly to cover more of the forefoot and Boost Midsole in what I would call “waffle pattern” and removed the small thin strips of plastic in forefoot.

The new design in the forefoot combined with the AdiWear rubber on heel allows for durable and reliable traction during the entire ground contact.

The Boost Midsole material is the key for the comfortable and smooth ride in the Adios Boost 3 as well as what causes the shoe to be pricey.

This is true for many of the other Adidas models such as the Adizero Boost, Energy Boost, Ultra Boost and Ultra Boost ST.

The Boost Midsole in the Adios Boost remains more “thin” than most shoes yet it maintained a very responsive ride during each of my runs delivering a very smooth transition.

As a slight heel striker, I found that throughout my entire ground strike the Boost Midsole kept my foot comfortable.

The shoe is designed for neutral runners while some stability is achieved via a plastic Torsion System placed strategically in midfoot area between the forefoot and heel on the midsole.

I found that the Boost Midsole to be the crucial component for the shoe which delivered a FAST and responsive ride.

The midsole and outsole provided a good blend of comfort along with a quick transition which allows this to be a top racing flat.

Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 3 Upper Info

My initial thought of the upper was that it was designed with and outdated look and materials. The use of suede-type material that covers the front of the toe and around the lacing system along with a very old-style look to the more thick seamless mesh throughout entire upper added to my hesitation.

Adizero Adios Boost 3 - Lateral Side

Adizero Adios Boost 3 – Lateral Side

Even with the “old school” look, I will be the first to say the upper provided ample breathability and continued to provide superior performance.

I was pleased with the way the upper provided a snug fit around my entire foot while my heel was kept securely in place by a slightly redesigned, minimal looking heel counter.

In my opinion, Adidas needs to find a way to change the design of the upper “slightly” in the next update to more modern design and look.

The shoe performed excellent overall and I believe minimal changes could make this racer even more lighter without changing the critical Boost Midsole ride.

The Adios Boost 3 upper offered a comfy and snug fit as it wrapped my foot from heel-to-toe which is important for a shoe that can handle speed with ease.

Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 3 Conclusions

The Adidas Adios Boost 3 remains a shoe designed for speed whether you are going out or a fast daily track workout or tackling a weekend marathon.

I have put around 170 miles on the shoe during testing and the comfort and responsive nature of the Boost Midsole is still felt during each run.

I will admit the shoe looks and feels lighter than 8.0 oz. I believe that the weight can be reduced in the Adios Boost as it tops the scale a bit heavier than some of its competitors like the New Balance RC 1400 at 6.3 oz., Nike LunarRacer 3+ at 6.4 oz. and the ASICS GEL-DS Racer 11 at 6.3 oz.

I hope that Adidas takes note of the weight and finds ways to reduce the weight by 1 or more ounces (maybe via to materials used in the upper?) which would make this shoe even better without sacrificing the overall comfort.

Adizero Adios Boost 3 - Pair

Adizero Adios Boost 3 – Pair

There is no doubt this shoe can perform as a quality racing shoe designed for speed. I found this race to have extremely solid performance from the first run but it comes with a high price due to the Adidas Boost Midsole foam.

I will be the first to say the Boost Midsole ride has a first-class ride and feel, however, for the price and current design of the upper you might be able to find a less expensive alternative.

The changes were slight so if you like the Adios Boost 2 you will enjoy this latest version. The one thing to keep in mind is the age old question — how much are you will to pay for the performance you are seeking in a racing shoe?

The bottom line is the Adios Boost will continue to increase its status as a must have fast racer by neutral runners seeking a fast shoe which offers reliable cushioning through the Boost Midsole and durable traction during each run.

We thank the nice people at Adidas for sending us a pair of Adizero Adios Boost 3 to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 3 Price Comparison

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