Adidas Adizero SL First Run Review: A Quieter Kind of Speed Trainer

Introduction

The Adidas Adizero SL is a new addition to the Adizero range, pitched as an elite-level shoe at a lower price point. In practice, it borrows elements from Adidas’s more expensive racing shoes and drops them into a high-stack daily trainer that leans a little more towards speedier running than easy miles. It costs £110 in the UK and $120 in the US, weighs 260 grams (9.2 ounces) in a UK size 9, and runs a 10mm drop over a 35mm heel and 25mm forefoot stack.

At first glance it’s hard to see where it fits: Adidas already sells the Adios 7 and the Boston in this space, plus the SL 20.3. After a couple of runs, though, the SL makes a reasonable case for itself.

Who This Shoe Is For

The SL suits runners who want a daily trainer that can handle faster work without the aggressive, snappy character of a dedicated race-day shoe. Heel strikers in particular get a fairly nice transition, rolling from the firmer Lightstrike EVA at the heel into the softer Lightstrike Pro drop-in under the forefoot.

On fit, it has been true to size for a narrower foot, with a nice amount of toe box room and good heel comfort from generous padding around the heel and tongue. Runners with wider feet or who run large for their size may find it a bit tight.

Main Strengths

The midsole is the headline. It mixes Lightstrike EVA and Lightstrike Pro, tilted towards the EVA, with Lightstrike Pro dropped in under the forefoot. That creates a slightly softer, bouncier feel up front with a firmer heel, and the sculpted midsole geometry with its little cutouts is reminiscent of the Adios Pro 3.

The ride is smoother and more accommodating than the Adios, which feels snappier and more clearly a speed-day shoe. Even in cold conditions, when EVA would normally feel stiffer, the SL felt pretty good, and it handled faster paces fine on a progression run. It is a bit heavier than the Adios with a much higher stack, and a bit lighter than the Boston with a lower stack, which is roughly where it lands: a more relaxed trainer with enough protection for steady miles.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The rubber outsole uses a thin strip design and is not Continental rubber, which is worth noting if you run on slick surfaces; a Continental grip would have been handy in wintry conditions. Forefoot striking and strides also didn’t feel fantastic, so the shoe works best rolling heel to toe rather than up on the toes.

It also isn’t a super shoe. Avoid thinking of it as elite-level performance at a lower price; it won’t come close to the Adios Pro 3. And there is genuine overlap: the Adios already does a similar job with more speed focus, and the Boston is the more high-tech option with energy rods, so the SL needs to justify its spot between them.

Buying Advice

At £110 / $120, the SL is cheaper than the Boston and the same price as the SL 20.3, which it may effectively replace with a higher stack and similar weight. If you find the Boston a bit too much shoe, this is slightly less shoe, cheaper, while hopefully doing a similar job. Bear in mind Adidas shoes are nearly always on sale somewhere, so the SL’s real value could improve further.

There’s still more testing to do, particularly a long run to see if the foam stays comfortable over distance, but early impressions are cautiously optimistic rather than glowing.

Conclusion

The Adizero SL isn’t a must-have, but it now has a clearer role: a reasonably priced, high-stack daily trainer with a nice heel-to-forefoot transition that sits between the Adios 7 and the Boston. If that middle ground matches your training, it’s worth a look.