Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Review: A Race Day Rocket With a Personality

Introduction

It took two and a half years and six full prototyping rounds for Adidas to land on the Adizero Adios Pro 4, and the result is a genuinely different shoe than the Adios Pro 3 it replaces. The new version is lighter, softer, and noticeably more energetic, moving it into the same conversation as the fastest super shoes on the market. It also comes with some trade-offs around fit and easy pacing that are worth knowing before race day. Here is the full breakdown after marathon-distance testing.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Adios Pro 4 is a performance shoe through and through. It rewards faster paces and runners who get up on their toes when racing, and it comes to life when you push the effort. That makes it a strong pick for faster marathoners chasing a PR, not so much for those planning to be out on the course for four hours or longer.

Main Strengths

The upper is the standout. Adidas had to create a new way of making it entirely: a unidirectional woven mesh sourced from Japan that stretches vertically but not laterally. It is soft to the touch, very breathable, and feels almost like an apparel material. Lockdown in the midfoot and heel was close to perfect, helped by a stitched-in tongue, a lace pillow, and a light-lock band wrapping from the heel up to the forefoot. Extra cushioning around the heel counter also addresses a common complaint about Achilles rubbing on the previous model.

The midsole is an all-new formulation of Lightstrike Pro that is a lot softer and bouncier than before. Where the Adios Pro 3 felt dense and reliable, this one feels airy and springy, closer to the Vaporfly and Alphafly category. The fulcrum of the toe spring now sits at 60 percent back from the heel, matching the geometry of the Adios Pro Evo 1, and the same energy rod design carries over. Stack height stays the same at 39mm in the heel and 33mm in the forefoot.

At a US men’s 10.5 it weighs 7.5 oz (215g), roughly an ounce lighter than the Adios Pro 3 in the same size and about even with a Vaporfly. Traction uses zonal rubber placement mapped to athlete footfalls rather than a full slab of Continental rubber, and it proved genuinely tacky even on soaked Berlin streets.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is not a democratic super shoe. At slower, shuffle-pace efforts it can start to hurt the feet, and testers felt arch-area stress building over long, easy miles. If your marathon pace sits around four to five hours, other options will likely serve you better.

The fit also runs a touch short. It feels close to a quarter size small, with a somewhat rigid reinforced toe bumper that caused bruised big toes over 26 miles for multiple testers. It is a narrow last as well, so wide-footed runners should look elsewhere. The medial gap in the design could also bother some people.

Buying Advice

If you race at a faster effort and can get the fit dialed in, this is one of the best race day options available. Take it for a longer run before race day to confirm the sizing works for you, and consider going up a half size if your toes sit close to the front. For slower marathon efforts, look at more forgiving options instead. In testing, it scored 14 out of 15 across form, fit, and function, and the price lands at $250.

Conclusion

The Adizero Adios Pro 4 achieves exactly what Adidas set out to build: a fast day rocket that is lighter, bouncier, and more energetic than its predecessor, as long as you race fast and fit it right.