Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3: A 100 Mile Review of Adidas' Marathon Shoe

Introduction

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is the brand’s flagship marathon shoe, and after hitting the 100 mile (160 km) mark in a personally purchased pair, the picture is clear: this is a good marathon shoe, but one that trades away some of the versatility and aggression of its predecessor. The original Adios Pro was a maverick design, and with each iteration the formula has shifted. The Pro 3 feels like a shoe built more squarely for the marathon distance itself, with mixed results.

This pair was bought at retail, not provided by the brand, so these impressions come purely from extended use.

Specs and Sizing

In a US size 11.5, this shoe weighs in at 256 grams, about nine ounces. The stack measures above 40 millimeters in the heel in this size, with the overall height comfortably clearing the 39 millimeter mark. The retail price sits around 220 pounds, though discounts are widely available, and discounted pairs can be found for around 150 pounds in the UK. Newer colorways tend to hold closer to full retail.

Upper: Breathable but Fussy About Fit

The upper is the most perplexing part of this shoe. Lockdown is inconsistent and takes tinkering: a specific sock choice and some careful lace adjustment are needed to get it right. The front lace loops do little, and it is easy to end up with too much tension across the top of the foot. The tongue is very thin and offers little protection, and combined with thin laces it can produce a cheese-wire feeling across the instep.

Thicker socks with a bit of texture solve a lot of this, since the padded sections inside the heel grip the sock and pull the heel into the shoe. The mesh itself is very breathable but not especially flexible, and suede elements add structure and an interesting visual choice. Discoloration over time is noticeable and hard to clean.

The fit is more accommodating than the glove-like Adios Pro 2, which makes it more comfortable for extended running, but it is not the superb lockdown found in the best racing uppers. The thin lace loops are also a durability concern: once they break, the shoe is effectively done. Score after 100 miles: 2.6 out of 3.

Midsole: Lightstrike Pro That Gets Better With Use

The Lightstrike Pro midsole is the high point of the shoe. After 100 miles it genuinely feels better the more it is used: the foam frees up, gains bounce, and becomes more compressive with a bit more return. If the shoe feels unimpressive straight out of the box, give it time.

That said, the ride is not as engaging, exciting, or aggressive as the Adios Pro 2, likely due to the removal of the plate under the heel and the differences in foam shaping. The heel strike feels less propulsive, though the wider base does add stability. This makes the Pro 3 feel like a shoe tuned almost exclusively for half marathon and marathon racing rather than shorter distances, where the Adios Pro 2 excelled. At marathon pace it is smooth and stable, and the extra foam underfoot makes it well suited to that distance.

For comparison, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 and Nike Vaporfly Next% still hold the super shoe edge, offering more versatile rides. Score after 100 miles: 2.6 out of 3.

Outsole: Continental Rubber and Impressive Durability

The outsole carries over Continental rubber in all the right places, plus a plasticky reinforcement strip on the medial side added to improve durability. Earlier rubber peeling issues in that area appear to have been addressed with a different adhesive, and no problems appeared anywhere on the outsole after 100 miles.

Grip improves the more the shoe is used and works fantastically well on roads and pavement, including wet conditions, where it is arguably the best part of the shoe. Avoid gravel, grass, or soft terrain; the shoe is simply not designed for it. The exposed midsole foam shows very little damage, and a quick wipe down keeps the shoe looking good. Durability is noticeably better than Nike’s ZoomX foam. Score after 100 miles: 2.8 out of 3.

Value: Quality Construction, Niche Appeal

Construction quality is excellent: no frayed ends, no glue marks, and a genuinely premium feel in hand. Very few midsoles actually improve with use rather than degrade. But at around 220 pounds retail, the shoe has to live up to the price point of rivals like the Vaporfly and Endorphin Pro, and for this tester with a narrow foot, the upper is not tailored enough, and runners needing medial arch support should look elsewhere given the removed foam.

The limited versatility also means you will likely use it less than more adaptable super shoes. It is a good shoe, but not the absolute best of the best on value. Score after 100 miles: 2.5 out of 3.

Buying Advice

If you are targeting the marathon distance specifically and can get the upper dialled in with the right socks and lacing, the Adizero Adios Pro 3 rewards patience, with a midsole that improves over its lifespan and outstanding outsole grip and durability. If you want a super shoe you can race across multiple distances, or you need a more secure lockdown and arch support, the Vaporfly Next% and Endorphin Pro 3 are stronger picks, especially at their current discount levels.

Conclusion

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is a well-built, durable marathon shoe with a midsole that gets better with miles and superb wet-road grip. But it has stepped back from the aggression and versatility of the Adios Pro 2, the upper demands fussy setup, and at its price point it feels a step behind its main competitors. A solid marathon specialist rather than an all-round super shoe.