Adidas Adizero SL After 100 Miles: A Daily Trainer That Grows on You

Introduction

Every couple of years, a daily trainer comes along that wins you over even if it does not completely make sense on paper. The Adidas Adizero SL is that shoe this time around. After 100 miles of testing, it has proven to be a light, snappy workhorse that handles easy days and moderate-paced running with equal confidence, and its durability holds up better than its firmer foam ride might suggest.

Who This Product Is For

The Adizero SL is a quintessential daily trainer. It is built for easy runs, daily training mileage, and sessions with a few pace changes thrown in, such as an easy run with strides or an easy-plus effort at slightly faster than relaxed pace.

It is an especially good pick for cross country runners and high school track athletes who want one shoe that can carry the majority of their training. The lightness, combined with how eagerly the shoe changes paces, makes it a worthy training tool in the build-up to meets. It is also versatile enough for runners well past their school racing days: it works nicely as a casual easy-day shoe and, thanks to its clean look, doubles as a casual wearable.

How the Adizero SL Fits Into a Training Routine

The midsole combines Lightstrike foam with a Lightstrike Pro insert in the forefoot, which produces a ride that is a bit firmer than what many runners typically prefer. Surprisingly, the combination just works. The result is a solid all-around workhorse shoe with a snappy, eager character that makes pace changes feel natural rather than forced.

Durability and Wear at 100 Miles

At the 100-mile mark, the Adizero SL is showing expected wear without anything alarming. There is some creasing in the foam, which for a Lightstrike midsole is an indicator that the shoe is starting to compress and lose a bit of its life. Even so, there still appears to be plenty of mileage left in the shoe.

The outsole does not use Continental rubber, which Adidas reserves for some of its more premium models, but the rubber it does use is holding up well. A couple of spots in the ridges of the outsole show small cracks, and other areas show light wear, but nothing distressing at this stage.

The upper materials are holding up impressively. Nothing looks close to wearing out, and no areas of the fabric or textiles show excess friction wear.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There are two downsides worth weighing. First, there is a small design element on the shoe that feels exceptionally odd and seems like something the design team could simply have left out.

Second, the heel padding is generous. Some runners will enjoy the plush, luxurious feel, and it does help the shoe accommodate a wider variety of heel shapes. The trade-off is that in summer, sweat running down the leg turns that foam into a sponge. Combined with a very thin tongue material, the shoe tends to get wet and stay wet, so the next run can start with a damp step. Neither issue is a dealbreaker, but both are worth knowing about in advance.

Buying Advice and Pricing

The Adizero SL originally retailed for $120, but as of the time of writing, it can be found on the Adidas website for $60, with some shoppers reporting even lower prices on certain colorways. At that price, the value proposition is hard to beat.

How It Compares to the Competition

The Nike Pegasus 40 is a natural competitor. The two shoes chase many of the same goals and go about it in similar ways, but the Adizero SL pulls it off more successfully for this tester. The Pegasus 40 launched at a retail of $130, with some colorways now available as low as $91, still noticeably more expensive than the Adizero SL’s current pricing.

The New Balance Propel v4 is a closer match in character. It uses FuelCell, one of New Balance’s higher-end foams, with a TPU plate sandwiched between two layers to add stability to the squishy ride. The two shoes feel similar in what they are trying to deliver, but the Propel v4 has a wider base and footprint, making it a bit more stable and a slightly slower shoe. In exchange, it offers more cushion and road protection than the Adizero SL. It retails for $110 and can be found as low as $88, a genuinely strong price.

Between the three, the Adizero SL does it best, with the Propel v4 a close second on value.

Conclusion

After 100 miles, the Adidas Adizero SL stands out as a light, snappy, surprisingly durable daily trainer that handles everything from easy runs to moderate-paced work. Its quirks, a firm-ish ride, a sponge-like heel in summer, and one odd design detail, are real but easy to live with, especially at the current discounted price. For high school and cross country runners, pace-change training, or anyone who wants a versatile workhorse that also looks good off the run, it is an easy recommendation.