Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Introduction

The Adizero Adios Pro 3 was regarded by many as a top-tier marathon racing shoe. It had an aggressive rocker, an extremely good midsole foam and terrific outsole traction. It’s no wonder that it’s been one of the most popular long-distance racers of the past 2 and a half years.

The Adios Pro 3’s performance was exceptional, so much so that I used it in two marathons and wouldn’t hesitate to use it again in the future. Its overall design and functionality were ideal for long-distance races, providing the support and speed assistance I needed.

However, one aspect of the shoe that detracted from the experience was the upper’s material. It had a rough, abrasive texture that caused significant wear and tear on my socks. Despite this drawback, the shoe’s outstanding performance in races outweighed the inconvenience of having to replace socks more frequently.

Adidas took their time developing the Adios Pro 4. There were rumours that it would be getting inserts of Lightstrike Pro EVO foam, the same as the EVO 1 midsole but those rumours were incorrect because the final production version has regular Lightstrike Pro.

The Adios Pro 4 weighs 200 g (7.1 oz) for a men’s US9- this is 14 g (0.5 oz) lighter than version 3. It maintains the same stack heights and the same price as its predecessor.

So far, shortages have plagued the Adios Pro 4. Since September last year, only very small batches have been released in certain countries-not nearly enough to satisfy demand. I live in Malaysia and I had to import my pair from the US because on launch day in January, only the women’s version was available for purchase.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 First Impressions

When runners first started buying the Adios Pro 4, I read reports that the stripes of the logo were peeling off the upper. This was worrying because the same thing happened to my EVO 1.

After the first was a long time before more batches of the Pro 4 were released to the public for purchase and I suspect there was a product recall- they needed to find a way to glue the stripes down better. There are still some colourways that have this problem where the stripes peel off, like the yellow “Wolverine” colourway. Luckily, I haven’t encountered this problem.

My first run was a half marathon race which I used as a training tempo run. The Pro 4 felt like a vast departure from the Pro 3. The most noticeable changes were that the ride was much softer and the forefoot rocker was less prominent.

The Pro 4 made it effortless for me to pick up the pace, but it lacked the same explosive feel and propulsive sensation that I experienced with its predecessor. While the Pro 4 delivered in terms of speed, it didn’t quite match the punchy ride of the Pro 3. The Pro 3 had a distinct forward-tipping sensation that felt somewhat diminished in the Pro 4.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Upper

The Adios Pro 4’s upper is a huge improvement over its predecessor. It’s made of a very thin, very soft material that conforms to your feet. Breathability however is not very good compared to the open-structure meshes of competitors so heat or moisture builds up inside the shoe during intense efforts. I noticed that the upper was drenched in swest after I raced in it.

The tongue has some padding to reduce lacing pressure and this makes it feel more premium. It’s also stitched to the upper on both sides to prevent any tongue slide. Heel lockdown is good for me even though there’s no heel counter and there’s minimal padding.

The upper of the Adios Pro 4 is very narrow, especially in the toe-box so I recommend going up a half size. It has an even more narrow fit than v3 so it’s definitely not suitable for wide-footed runners.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Sole Unit

With the exception of the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2, the Adios Pro 4 is the softest long-distance racer I’ve tried. This is a complete 180 from the Adios Pro 3 which was known for its balanced and springy ride. The Pro 4 feels much bouncier and much squishier than its predecessor and I think they should have renamed its midsole foam because it feels so different.

Super soft midsoles in racing shoes offer a plush and luxurious experience, particularly beneficial for long-distance runs where impact absorption and cushioning are crucial. The enhanced comfort reduces stress on muscles, minimising fatigue and discomfort. The bounciness of soft midsoles contribute to a more energetic and engaging ride, as the midsole foam efficiently stores and returns energy with each footstrike.

However, there are also trade-offs. Super soft midsoles compromise stability, as the excessive give leads to a less secure and controlled feel, especially for runners who require additional support or have biomechanical issues.

Furthermore, when the compression of the midsole is too high, it results in a slower and less efficient ride as energy is dissipated rather than transferred forward.

This compression leads to a feeling of “sinking” into the shoe, not ideal for runners who crave a firm and responsive platform.

The Adios Pro 4 is just too soft for me. It’s missing the punchy toe-offs so it doesn’t feel as aggressive as its predecessor. The ride feels more relaxed than what you get from top-tier competitors like the Alphafly that have really fast transitions.

The Pro 4 performs better for me at marathon pace than 5 K and 10K pace so versatility is not as good as previous versions. It’s now more suited to marathons than short, fast races because of its super soft ride.

There is an issue with my pair when it comes to flexibility. My left shoe is stiff, similar to previous Adios Pro versions but my right shoe flexes very easily. This leads me to believe that the rods in my right shoe are broken (there’s no cracking sound when it flexes) or else it’s a manufacturing defect. This results in a toned down rocker in the right shoe only.

If you appreciated the Adios Pro 3 because of its stability, you’ll be disappointed with the changes made to the Pro 4. The softer midsole results in more lean bias and the heel has been made narrower to save weight. This leads to more stress on the ankles. I notice this on middle-distance and long runs.

Almost the entire outsole is covered in new Lighttraxion rubber with only a very small section of the forefoot covered in Continental for increased traction during toe-offs. Lighttraxion, made of polyurethane, is very soft and flexible, and it contributes to the super soft ride. It also provides very good grip.

Outsole durability has been good so far however I expect the midsole to lose cushioning much faster than previous versions of the Adios Pro due to its squishy properties.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Conclusions

The Adios Pro 4 is a fast racer and I’d choose it before most flagship racers from the other brands (PUMA Deviate Elite 3, New Balance SC Elite v4, Saucony Endorphin Elite 2, Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3). It has one of the most comfortable uppers (provided you size up) and it has good outsole durability.

However, it’s a disappointing update because it’s been 2 years in the making yet it feels slower than the Adios Pro 3. It’s less aggressive, less stable and it fits a half size too small. It’s no longer a top-tier racer.

My favourite thing about the Pro 3 was the prominent forward tipping sensation but it’s been toned down in the latest version because of the excessively soft midsole and the increase in flexibility. This change represents a step back in the shoe’s performance and overall feel.

There’s also the issue where the Adidas stripes peel off on certain colourways. In general, this version feels like it was rushed to the market. It’s not as polished as the previous Adios Pro versions and I would rather race in the Adios Pro 3 even though its upper isn’t as comfortable.

The Adios Pro 4 shares more similarities with the Adios Pro EVO 1 than its immediate predecessor, the Adios Pro 3. It differentiates itself by being slightly heavier and softer than the EVO 1. However, the overall ride and the distinct rocker design of both shoes remain strikingly similar, suggesting that Adidas has opted for a refinement of the EVO 1’s successful formula rather than an evolution of the Adios Pro.

This approach aims to cater to runners who appreciated the EVO 1’s performance and feel, while offering a more accessible, more practical version through a cheaper price point and better durability.