
Introduction of shoes with embedded carbon plates have been a major inflexion point in the history of running shoes. Along with the advent of midsole compounds which boasts very high energy returns has revolutionized the entire running shoe industry. Nike was first of the block with its extremely popular VaporFly 4% (VF 4%). Featuring a new PEBA midsole and embedded carbon plate the VF 4% set new standards of performance. The standards was set so high that most of the other shoe brands have only tried to match, let alone surpass the VF series- the de facto benchmark of running shoes. 

Adidas, the biggest competitor of Nike was not to be left behind. They arrived at the block with their Adizero Adios Pro line-up of performance running shoes. Featuring a new midsole material (Lightstrike Pro) and a unique propulsion system in the form of energy rods (one single structure in Pro 3), The Adizero Adios Pro 3 (AdiPro3) is the latest offering from Adidas competing directly against the Vaprofly/AlphaFly series of shoes from Nike. 

_So does the AdiPro3 stand out in the crowded market of carbon-plated racers? Should you take this up as your race day shoe? How does it feel to run in the Pro 3?_ 

Read on.

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##### What makes up Adizero Adios Pro3?

The first version of Adios Pro was a blink and miss it affair. The stocks were abysmally low, and it didn’t garner much attention. The second version of AdiPro had the entire marketing strength of Adidas behind it. And it got the deserved attention. The shoe was on the podium of every major race. Records were broken by athletes wearing the Pro2 and with enough inventory, one could see the shoe on many runners’ feet. The just released Pro3 carries a lot of form factor from its predecessor. Every aspect of the shoe screams speed and has been designed with racing in mind. Sharp angles and sculpts at the right areas give it a “from the future” look. It is a beautifully crafted shoe. There is support and firmness where it is required, breathability is top notch, the outsole grip is fabulous, and the bounce is exceptional. 

At about 225 grams (for UK 9), it is in the same league as other racers. The Pro3 has a 39.5mm/ 33 mm forefoot stack height	 with a 6.5mm drop. The drop is probably the lowest amongst all racers. Runners who haven’t had prior experience running in low drop shoes, might take some time getting used to the ride. While lower drop tends to promote a forefoot to midfoot strike, Adios Pro3 should work equally well for heel strikers too.

**Midsole**

The midsole consists of two levels of the LightStrike Pro foam, and Adidas won’t say what the foam is made up of. All we know for sure is that it isn’t PEBA (poly ether block amide) which forms the base of other racers including that of Nike Vaporfly. Having said that, the LightStrike Pro midsole has a distinct character of its own. It is soft, bouncy, and durable in equal measure. And it will provide the cushioning and energy return for the entire distance of your race. The midsole is sculpted in certain areas, which I believe is for shaving off any excess weight with no adverse bearing on the performance of the midsole. 

Lightstrike Pro softness measures around 27 HA (quite soft) on Shore Durometer, almost the same as the ZoomX on the Nike Vaporflys.  Here is a comparison of how it compares in softness with a few other race day shoes. 

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**Upper**

AdiPro3 features a new lightweight upper. It is breathable and has inlays to support the feet at places where it is required. However, the meshy upper does not feel premium nor does it have the plushness of an Atomknit on the Nike Alphafly. Like other racers, the tongue on AdiPro3 is minimal and does its job. The lacing department is where things haven’t gone as per my liking. The meshed upper gets crinkly when you tighten your laces. The eyelets begin very close to the toe box as compared to my other racers (read Metaspeed Edge+, Endorphin Pro, Vaporfly- all versions, Alphafly) and the reinforcement beneath the first eyelet tends to dig into my metatarsal joint during the run. At first, I thought this might be just a one-off affair and will smoothen out after couple of runs. But with every run and longer distance, the discomfort is getting only worse to the extent that running gets painful. The length of the laces is short too. You are left with very little to tie a secured knot if one uses the last eyelet to lock in the heel. 

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**Heel**

The heel fit is good. There isn’t any stiffness offered in the heel counter but there is enough structure to it to keep the heel in place. Peculiar to Pro3 heel is a flap/ sort of a pull tab, whose purpose am not very sure off. One can choose to keep it lifted or down and it doesn’t interfere in any way during the run. There is cushioning on the inside, which is just enough to prevent any kind of heel slippage. The stability in the heel is better compared to the Nike Vaporfly due to a slightly wider base.

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**Bottomsole**

The bottom sole is made up of Continental rubber. The thin layer of smooth rubber with a brushed finish grip, and provides secure footing. The rubber layer covers almost the entire length of the shoe. The traction is exceptional on all surfaces and in all conditions. Even at a stack height of 39.5MM, cornering is a breeze- all courtesy of the Continental rubber underneath. This may well be one of the best outsoles out there.

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##### Why did I buy it?

I have been wanting to try out the carbon racers from Adidas for some time now. Most of the racers I own have the traditional carbon plate geometry embedded in a PEBA based midsole. Adidas had a different take on that combination. I was interested in trying it out to see how it fared against the other racers. 

##### Ride Experience 

I have run close to 75kms in this shoe. The first thing you feel in the shoe is how springy it is. The carbon rod structure in the midsole propels you forward even when you walk. The shoe feels light, and the cushioning softness feels just right. Though the durometer puts it as a softer shoe, it is not in the same league of softness as the ZoomX on the Nike Vaporfly.

My first run in the shoe was a moderate 10k with the final kilometer at 3:30 min/km pace. The shoe feels stable under the foot and one can speed up easily. The energy return of the foam and the rod structure is very much noticeable. In my opinion, the midsole requires a little bit of breaking in, it gets softer and livelier once you have some distance on it. Due to its geometry, the shoe feels more stable as compared to its nearest rival, the Nike Vaporfly Next%2. Overall I would say, the ride is very well tuned- like a Formula One racer.

**Fit and Comfort**

I am UK9 in the Nikes, however, with Adidas, a UK9.5 fits me best. Since half sizes are not sold in India, I went with a UK9. At a declared heel to toe length of 27.5cm for UK9, the shoe runs a little longer than that. I had no issues as far as the length of the shoe was concerned. The shoe embraces your feet in a very secure way. There is ample space upfront for the toes to wiggle around. Unlike the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite or the Nike Vapor Fly Next%2 which can be used on a race day straight out of the box, this shoe needs some break-in for  the Lightstrike Pro foam to perform at its best. 

**Stability** 

This is a race day shoe, and it behaves like one. The ride is stable compared to a Nike Vapor Fly Next%2 because of a wider heel area. In spite of being an overpronator, I didn’t have any stability issues during my runs. To that extent, kudos to the design team at Adidas to make a good stable racer.

**Road Grip**

The outsole resembles the texture of an F1 car tire, and it performs like one. The continental rubber on the outsole grips exceptionally well across all surfaces and in all conditions. 

**Aesthetics & Ergonomics**

As I mentioned earlier in the article, this shoe is a looker. It will surely grab eyeballs at the start line of a race. Currently, the shoe is being sold in only one color scheme of Core Black / Beam Yellow / Solar Green. The build quality of the shoe is good too.

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__PS: The experience I have had with the upper could be due to some manufacturing defect in the shoe and a one-off affair. Or could be a defect in my feet. Either way, I’d recommend trying out the shoe in a store before buying. I would have raced in this shoe in my upcoming races if not for the toe box issues. I would place it on par with the Nike Vaporfly Next%2.__ 

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="001013003M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Very good bounce that only gets better at higher paces",
    "Feels stable compared to other plated racers"
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Expensive when compared to shoes in the same category"
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
Adizero Adios Pro3 is an excellent race day shoe. It is a stable, bouncy, and really cool looking shoe. It goes head-on with the established players and holds its own fort. The only downside to it is its price.
</InfoCard>


A supershoe "from the future" with exceptional bounce, and beautifully crafted

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3


We all want to run fast, no matter where we are in the speed curve.  Nothing can beat the endorphins that we derive from achieving our personal bests. Aptly named Saucony’s Endorphin line is all about speed.  Endorphin Pro and yet-to-be-released Endorphin Elite are premium racers with carbon plates, Endorphin Shift is a modern daily trainer, while the Endorphin Speed is the speed trainer.

If your understanding of the speed-trainer is the hard-to-run, minimally cushioned, and ground-hugging shoe, then be ready to change your perception.  Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 is a very different speed trainer.  It is a speed trainer that has the ethos of a modern rocker shoe but is versatile enough to be used for a marathon distance.

__So what makes “Saucony Endorphin Speed 2” modern?  How well does it serve its purpose as a speed trainer?  Read through the review.__

##### What makes up Endorphin Speed 2?

The endorphin line has unique looks; the curvy midsole accents, rocker geometry, fancy colorways, and a high stack clearly sets it apart from the rest of the crowd.  Endorphin Speed 2 inherits all of the above. It is one of the few rocker geometry shoes that are designed for speed training.  The other few I can think of are Hoka Rocket X and Asics Magic/Hyper Speed. 

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Speed 2 is an aggressive rocker with a high toe spring.  Here is how aggressive the toe spring of Speed 2 looks when compared to Rocket X. The onset of the spring is much later than Hoka Rocket X, but it is at a much more aggressive angle. That is what makes Speed 2 more suitable for mid-foot and fore-foot strikers.

<LightBox src="/images/speed2_7.jpg" caption="An agressive rocker" alt="" ></LightBox>

At about 260 grams (for UK 10), it is not exactly a lightweight shoe, when you compare it with other speed trainers.  In fact, it is in between speed trainers and the versatile daily trainer category (such as Puma Velocity Nitro, and Nike Pegasus 39).

At 8mm drop, it is similar to other shoes in the Endorphin line, and with a stack height of of 35 mm, it gives plenty of cushioning to feel good during the run.  

**Midsole** 

Like its cousin Endorphin Pro, the midsole is made of PWRRUN PB, which is PEBA foam. PEBA foam is also used by other premium racers such as VaporFly Deviate Nitro Elite. Unlike Endorphin Pro, it doesn’t have a carbon plate but has a nylon plate wedged inside the midsole.  

Its softness measures around 25 HA on Shore Durometer, almost the same as Endorphin Pro 2.  This is soft and in line with most modern foams.  Here is a comparison of how it compares in softness with a few other speed trainers, racers, and daily trainers.

<LightBox src="/images/speed2_8.jpg" caption="In terms of softness, Speed 2 is one of the best in its category" alt="" ></LightBox>

**Upper**

The upper is an engineered mono mesh, and it is thick and feels quite durable.  Though it is thick, It has plenty of pores that make it breathable.  The gusseted tongue has padding and reflective elements.  The lacing is perfect; they lock down well and stay in place.  

<LightBox src="/images/speed2_1.jpg" caption="Mono mesh is very breathable, and offers a great lockdown" alt="" ></LightBox>

**Heel**

The heel fit is excellent and is way better when compared to other speed trainers.  There is plenty of padding too, that makes the heel comfortable.  The heel counter is stiff and offers good stability.  It has an integrated, but thin pull tab design, which is not quite easy to use though.  The heel also has reflective material on the back of the counter, which illuminates in the dark. 

<LightBox src="/images/speed2_2.jpg" caption="Padded heel with a hell counter that offers stability" alt="" ></LightBox>

**Bottom sole**

The bottom sole is mostly exposed with rubber placed at strategic points. One could easily figure out why the traction is not great on surfaces other than tarred roads.  

<LightBox src="/images/speed2_5.jpg" caption="Traction is good enough for tarred roads" alt="" ></LightBox>

##### Why did I consider this shoe?

I am regular when it comes to speed training. I have used Puma Liberate Nitro, Hoka Rocket X, and New Balance Rebel V2 as my speed trainers. All of which I have loved, but all of them have their kinks. For example, Liberate Nitro feels it needs more cushioning.  Rebel V2 is really unstable for me, not to mention the fragile upper. Also, none of these have PEBA foam, and I really wanted to experience what a PEBA-based speed trainer will be like.  

Saucony Speed has been on my wish list for a while because of rave reviews of it.  When Saucony India launched the second edition in India, I bought it as soon as it was available. 

##### Ride Experience

I have run more than 100kms in this shoe.  The first thing you feel in the shoe is how aggressive the toe spring is. You cannot miss that extra push as you transition to the toes at push-off. The shoe feels light, and the cushioning softness feels just right for a speed trainer. Though the durometer puts it as a softer shoe, in practice it is not. But this is good for a speed trainer, cushioning that is not too firm, and not too soft, makes it more versatile. 

My first quality run in the shoe is a hard 20k, with two 7K tempo sections. The toe spring and bounce really made the shoe likable for speed training. The first 15km of the run was a breeze, and the shoe is extremely comfortable.  It is beyond 15km when you start feeling that the midsole should have been softer.   

In terms of bounce, it is less than what one can experience  in Endorphin pro 2 or other carbon-plated racers.  When compared to shoes such as  Zoom Fly (1st edition) with nylon plates, and Adidas Takumi Sen 8 with Glass fiber rods, it feels on par, but definitely not better than them. Given the PEBA foam midsole, my expectation was that the bounce would be better.  One shouldn’t expect the soft cushiony, yet bouncy feel that other PEBA-based shoes offer.  

<LightBox src="/images/speed2_4.jpg" caption="Offers a firm and bouncy ride" alt="" ></LightBox>

I have also run shorter interval runs of 400m - 800m, and the shoe absolutely rocks. The bounce really becomes noticeable, when you run under 5 min/km.  

Unlike the carbon plated racers, which can feel very harsh when running easy paces, this shoe can handle easy paces very well. 

##### Fit and Comfort

The fit of the shoe is a bit snug compared to Endorphin Pro 2, and even Kinvara 12.  This is a good thing as the snug fit helps feel more control of your feet when running fast on roads. The shoe has plenty of forefoot room like other Saucony shoes that I have run in the past and is very comfortable.  The shoe didn’t need any break-in time, and you settle right in.

##### Stability

Given this is a speed training shoe, this shoe has no stability features. While I have no issues with stability, the lateral part of the midsole crumbles under the weight while landing.  I liked it that way, as I could naturally pronate.  I have measured the pronation angles at RunMechanics.in studio, and the pronation angles are much higher than neutral trainers such as Puma Velocity Nitro.  However, the pronation angles are comparable to racers like Endorphin Pro 2, and Adios Pro 2.

##### Road Grip

The road grip is good enough for tarred roads. It struggles a bit with wet roads and roads with loose sand.  So Speed 2 is best used in tarred surfaces. 

##### Aesthetics & Ergonomics

<LightBox src="/images/speed2_3.jpg" caption="Vizigold colorway is the trend of the season" alt="" ></LightBox>

On aesthetics, this one has a lot of character.  I bought the Vizigold colorway.  Though I generally like muted colorways with black and gray shades, this is an exception.  Surely, one of my favorites.  The downside of the bright colorway however is it gets soiled quickly, a trade-off to live with, while owning the most lovely colorway.

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="006012002M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Snug fit that makes you feel confident for speed runs and races",
    "Aggressive rocker that propels you at toe-off",
    "Good heel lock-down and feels stable",
    "Very good bounce that only gets better at higher paces",
    "Feels comfortable even at low paces, unlike the carbon plated racers",
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "When compared to other speed trainers, it is a bit heavier despite using PEBAX foam.",
    "Effect of nylon plate not as  evident when compared to carbon plated racers",
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
    Endorphin Speed 2 is an excellent speed trainer that can also work as a racer, and at the same time can work fine for easy runs - A versatile speed trainer it is.  Looking for a modern speed trainer, that can be used as a companion to a carbon plated racer, or alternatively can be used as a racer, it is a shoe to go with. Recommendation rotation in Saucony Line - Saucony Speed 2 for Tempo, speed training & daily runs, Triumph 19 for longer & easy runs, Endorphin Pro 2 for racing.
</InfoCard>




Reviews

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3

Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 Review