Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 vs Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3: Which Super Shoe Wins?

Introduction

Few racing shoes have shaped modern marathon results like the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 and the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3. Podium places across recent seasons have been secured in their predecessors, the Vaporfly Next% 2 and Adios Pro 2, more than any other shoes, and these newer versions carry that legacy forward.

This comparison scores each shoe head-to-head across eight attributes: weight, softness, upper fit, underfoot feel, underfoot width, outsole grip, and a final judgement on overall greatness. Both pairs were bought at personal cost rather than supplied by a brand or retailer, so the verdicts below reflect genuine on-foot experience rather than marketing.

Weight: Which Shoe Weighs In Lighter?

The Vaporfly Next% 3 comes in at 234 grams (8.3 ounces), while the Adios Pro 3 lands at 261 grams (9.2 ounces). That is a full ounce lighter on foot for the Nike, and it is a difference you can genuinely notice when running.

If having the lightest possible shoe for race day matters to you, the Vaporfly Next% 3 clearly takes this round. It earns the point for the lighter build.

Softness and Midsole Feel

The ZoomX foam in the Vaporfly Next% 3 measures around 24 on the Shore durometer scale, notably below the average of about 28, making it one of the softer midsoles available. The Lightstrike Pro in the Adios Pro 3 measures 27, still under average but firmer on paper.

On foot, though, the Adios Pro 3 does not really feel firmer, just different: more of a rebound-type feel with a consistent ride, while the Vaporfly delivers a huge amount of squash. That consistency makes the Adios Pro 3 feel a little more stable, which could be an advantage over a full marathon. Still, for softness and versatility across distances, the Vaporfly takes the round.

Upper Fit and Comfort

Fit is where the contest gets interesting. The Vaporfly Next% 3 is extremely generous in the toe box, not so much in length as in height, with excess material that feels oversized, plus a bulge around the first eyelets where the tongue is stitched into the upper. A lace swap might help, but out of the box it feels loose.

The Adios Pro 3, by contrast, feels much more containing: sleek, form-fitting, and with a better grip around the top of the foot. It took some time to grow accustomed to, but in a direct comparison there is no contest. The Adios Pro 3 earns this point.

Underfoot Feel and Width

Underfoot, these two big midsole performers are much of a muchness. The Vaporfly Next% 3 measures approximately 43mm of stack in the heel and about 36mm in the forefoot in the tested size, and the Adios Pro 3 is practically the same. Allowing for production variance and very compressive foam, the drop even feels lower than the officially stated figures once you stand on the shoes, so the small difference is not worth worrying about. Half a point each here.

Width follows a similar pattern: both have a wider mid-to-forefoot area and a fairly narrow heel. The Vaporfly measures around 11.7cm up front against about 12cm on the Adios Pro 3, which is also a touch wider back in the heel, giving a slightly wider landing platform and a bit more stability. Still, neither is the widest shoe in the heel, so again half a point each, bringing the score to three for the Vaporfly and two for the Adios Pro 3.

Outsole Grip and Traction

Grip was tested on indoor wooden and slate surfaces plus wet concrete outdoors, which is the condition that matters most in the UK. On wet concrete, the Vaporfly Next% 3 is by far the better of the two. The Continental rubber on the Adios Pro 3 is great when dry on smooth surfaces, but that is hard to find in British weather, and several Adidas athletes have slipped in the Adios Pro 3 on wet courses.

The caveat: the rubber on the Vaporfly Next% 3 does wear down fairly fast, though the lugs that remain do the job. The point goes to Nike.

Which Should You Buy?

Final scores: 4.5 to the Vaporfly Next% 3 and 2.5 to the Adios Pro 3. Both are great shoes, but neither feels like a step forward from its predecessor; both feel more like sideways moves aimed at broader appeal. The Vaporfly Next% 3 is almost a remix of a great formula rather than a new version, with odd squared-off outsole cutouts that collect debris, while the Adios Pro 3 changes are subtler tuning for stability and a wider range of runners.

Some practical guidance: avoid the Vaporfly Next% 3 if you have a low arch, as it will likely dig into your foot. The Adios Pro 3 is the better choice if you have a slightly wider forefoot or are a slightly heavier-set runner. If you want the lightest shoe or better wet grip, the Vaporfly is the pick; if you value a stable, consistent marathon ride, the Adidas may suit you better.

Conclusion

The Vaporfly Next% 3 takes the crown in this comparison thanks to its lighter weight, softer ZoomX midsole, and superior wet-weather grip, but the Adios Pro 3 remains a superb option for runners who want a more contained fit and a stable, consistent ride over the full marathon distance. Neither is the greatest of all time just yet, but both are excellent race-day tools when matched to the right runner.