ADIDAS HAS BEEN on a running hot streak, and with a follow-up to the well-regarded Adizero Adios Pro 4 super shoe dropping just as this year’s marathon season heats up, signs pointed to continued success. Especially promising: The Adios Pro 5 would feature some of the same design elements as the world record-setting Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, bringing aspects of the fastest sneaker on the planet to the masses. Then the Pro 5 released—and things got more complicated.
Some early buyers started sharing pictures and videos online of their thrashed new Adios Pro 5s with extreme wear and even chunks missing from the midsole, claiming the damage happened after only a few runs. Other reviewers (including Runner’s World) reported minimal problems and praised the shoes as one of the best racing models on the road. There seemed to be a standoff within the wear test community.
At this point, I had run in my own pair (which I received to test before the durability concerns were publicly shared), but hadn’t finished up my review process. So I laced up and put the model to the test as I trained for the New York City Marathon. I wanted to see for myself how the Pro 5 held up to mileage.
THE ADIOS PRO 5 swaps the underfoot “EnergyRods” Adidas had used in its previous shoe models to a new “Energyrim” stiffening feature—a carbon-infused element sandwiched between layers of Lightstrike Pro foam that rings the foot, also used in the Pro Evo 3. The Energyrim is visible between the layers and exposed on the heel, where its buffed to a mirror and reflects the “ADIZERO” moniker to runners trailing the wearer on the racecourse. There’s 39mm of Lightstrike Pro foam (with a 4mm drop), which is a new formulation the brand says will yield nine percent more energy return than the version in the Pro 4.
The Pro 5 also shaved some weight off the previous gen, now tipping the scales at 177 grams (about 6.2 ounces). The new Lightlock 2.0 upper is part of that; the material is lightweight but still substantial to provide a secure lockdown, along with sawtooth laces. There’s a Continental rubber spot under the big toe for traction, and grip from the Lighttraxion outsole, which covers most of the bottom of the shoe—aside from the medial forefoot (outer front) of the shoe, which is exposed foam.
That spot is where most of the complaints about durability seem to stem from. THE GOOD NEWS first: the Pro 5 is a fast, responsive racer that feels similar to its predecessor. The foam felt closer to firm than cushy for me, but it hasn’t felt too hard on my legs.
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