Adidas Adizero Evo SL Review: A Light Super Trainer That Leaves Some Big Questions Open

Introduction

Adidas has been busy building out the Adizero line, and the Adizero Evo SL sits in an interesting spot: it is priced as a daily super trainer, undercutting the Nova Blast 5 and coming in far cheaper than premium plated racers. At a listed price of around £129.99, it promises a full-length slab of Light Strike Pro foam in a lightweight package.

Our pair was purchased outright, at UK size 11 / US 11.5, weighing around 262g (9.2 oz). The midsole measures roughly 41mm in the heel and 34mm in the forefoot for about a 7mm drop, matching the spec sheet closely. Light Strike Pro here comes in at around 22 Shore a hardness, in line with previous versions of that foam, with about 12cm of forefoot width and a slightly narrower 9.2cm heel.

The short version: there is a lot to like underfoot, but some finishing details feel like an afterthought.

Upper: Roomy Fit, Frustrating Details

The upper has a slightly race-inspired look, with more space around the forefoot and toe box than the Adizero SL2. That means true to size should work for most runners, with no need to half size up. The toe box mesh resembles a simplified version of what appeared on the Takumi Sen 1, again aimed at keeping weight down.

Where it comes apart is the small stuff. The laces are extremely thin and cheap feeling, making it hard to get a secure lockdown across the top of the foot. The tongue is very short and barely padded, so if you use a runner’s knot or need to relieve heel slip, expect the laces to dig in at the top eyelets. The three-stripe overlays also cause the upper to bunch slightly on the medial side, further hurting lockdown. A softer material at the back of the heel saves weight but offers little structure beyond a couple of small overlays.

It earned a 2.6 out of 3 in testing: functional, true to size, and reasonably roomy, but let down by details that would be simple for Adidas to fix.

Midsole: Cushioned but Not Bouncy

The full-length Light Strike Pro midsole needs some break-in miles, as with other Light Strike Pro shoes. Out of the box it can feel underwhelming, but after some wear it settles into a softer, more responsive character. There is a lot of squash and cushion, particularly felt in the heel, and landing midfoot or forefoot helps you get more out of the shoe. A thin plastic shank sits under the lasting board purely for torsional rigidity, adding no noticeable pop.

As a pace profile, this feels more like a marathon to half marathon shoe than a 5K or 10K racer. It worked well at marathon pace and at easier paces around 8:30 to 8 minutes per mile, and held up reasonably on faster reps up to about 10K effort, though a plated shoe would have been preferable for those. What it lacks is a truly propulsive, springy toe-off; it is responsive cushioning rather than outright bounce. If maximum softness is the priority, the Nova Blast 5 is the better pick straight out of the box.

One note on sizing over time: because there is no plate, the midsole starts to flex with mileage, and the forefoot can feel roomier than it did on day one. Some runners may end up wishing they had gone up half a size.

Outsole and Grip: A Winter Weak Spot

The outsole uses Continental rubber in the midfoot and forefoot, similar to the Adios Pro 3 minus some of the cutaways. Durability should be fine, and the texture handles dry roads and pavement well.

Grip in anything slippery is another story. On wet ground, leaves, or mud, it provided very little traction, and it is no match for the waffle-style lugs on shoes like the Zoomfly 6 or Pegasus models. The pale colorway also does the shoe no favors in winter conditions. It scored 2.5 out of 3: a strong dry-weather performer, but a risky pick for wet winter running.

Value: Good Tech, Cheesy Details

At £129.99 with no discounts, the Evo SL is not a bad price on paper for this much Light Strike Pro foam. The problem is what you get around the foam. Our pair arrived with glue marks on the outsole, the thin laces feel cheap for a shoe at this price, the thin insole is already showing text wear after a couple of runs, and the mesh hangs onto grit and grime and is hard to clean.

Availability has also been a frustration, with the shoe selling out quickly and hard to find in stock. Compared with the Super Blast 2, it falls short on cushioning, grip, and lockdown. And given that the Adizero SL2 can currently be found at roughly half the price, that shoe remains the stronger pickup for many runners. Value came out at 2.5 out of 3.

Buying Advice

The Adizero Evo SL makes the most sense as a daily trainer for marathon and half marathon training, especially at easier to moderate paces, where its cushioning and low weight are most useful. Skip it if you want a bouncy racer for short distances, maximum softness, or confident wet-weather grip.

If you can accept the finishing details and mostly run in dry conditions, there is a genuinely pleasant ride here. Otherwise, alternatives in the same price bracket do more.

Conclusion

The Adizero Evo SL delivers a cushioned Light Strike Pro ride at a competitive weight and price, but cheap laces, a barely padded tongue, and sketchy wet-weather traction keep it from being one of the running shoes of the year. A reasonable 10.2 out of 12 overall, and a shoe that may grow on you with more miles.