Four Running Shoes on Our Radar: Adidas, Saucony and Brooks Verdicts

Introduction

Some new releases are easy calls, others deserve a longer look before money changes hands. Here are four shoes that keep coming up in reader requests: the Adidas Adios Pro 3, the Saucony Tempus, the Saucony Triumph 20, and the Brooks Caldera 6. Two are strong buys, one is worth waiting on, and one is excellent value but only if it matches the terrain you actually run.

Adidas Adios Pro 3: A Clear Yes for Racers

The Adios Pro 3 is an easy recommendation. The midfoot gets extra width, the carbon plate pairs with Adidas’ energy rods, and the toe-off region looks remarkably aggressive in photos, almost like a straight edge. The upper design is also said to sit close to the Prime X in feel, and Adidas uppers have a track record of fitting a wide range of feet comfortably.

This is one of the most requested shoes to test, and for good reason: it targets the same runner who wants a serious race-day option with a distinctive toe-off geometry. If you race or do fast sessions, this one belongs on your shortlist.

Saucony Tempus: A Maybe Until We Log More Miles

The Tempus blends two midsole foams: PWRRUN PB forms the majority of the midsole, while a firmer PWRRUN EVA frame houses the setup, promising a stabilized and slightly more controlled ride. There is solid impact protection from the Pebax-based foam, plenty of it directly underfoot, and a FormFit upper that has performed well on recent Saucony releases. A midfoot strap on the lateral side even nods to the Endorphin Pro 2.

It carries a touch more weight than the Endorphin Speed 3, which makes sense given the added stability, and it is probably not quite as soft. The XT-900 outsole rubber returns with placement similar to recent Endorphin series shoes. The hesitation is simple: it is worth getting more miles into other trainers first so any review period would be consistent and frequent. Consider it a strong maybe rather than a no.

Saucony Triumph 20: A Pass for Now

The Triumph 20 takes a different path. Saucony skipped PWRRUN PB in favor of PWRRUN Plus, which is a little firmer and less squishy, a reasonable choice for a long-run trainer rather than a speed shoe. There is a new lacing system over the Triumph 19 and a more substantial upper than the Tempus or Speed 3, pointing clearly at high-mileage duty.

That said, very plush shoes are not for everyone. If you are a lighter runner, some super shoes can actually work out better than max-cushion trainers, and there are plenty of lighter, cheaper, forgiving options already in most rotations. Unless you are committed to the Triumph series, this one is easy to leave on the shelf for now.

Brooks Caldera 6: Great Value, But Not for Us

The Caldera 6 looks like a colossal-stacked shoe at first glance, but much of that height is foam walling up around the foot, especially in the heel and midfoot, rather than foam underneath. The specs read like a proper ultra shoe: a 6mm drop, 312 grams (11 ounces) in a sample size 9, which would push above 350 grams in larger sizes, a nitrogen-infused midsole, and very sizable lugs with sticky traction, the kind Brooks consistently nails.

There is also gear to attach wet-terrain and debris protection to keep water out of the shoe, and at $120 it is genuinely well equipped for the price. This is an ultra long-range option for runners putting in huge mileage at reduced pace across multi-terrain routes. The only reason to hesitate is personal: if you simply do not run enough trails to justify it, better value will come from someone else’s testing. For trail-focused ultra runners, though, it is a compelling pick.

Buying Advice

Match the shoe to the running you actually do. The Adios Pro 3 is the clear buy for racers chasing a fast, aggressive ride. The Tempus is promising for runners who want cushioning with added stability, though patience pays off. The Triumph 20 suits loyal fans of plush long-run trainers, and the Caldera 6 is a smart, value-packed choice for high-mileage trail runners. Skipping a good shoe that does not fit your terrain is not a loss; it is budget discipline.

Conclusion

Of these four releases, the Adios Pro 3 stands out as the most exciting and the Tempus the most intriguing, while the Triumph 20 and Caldera 6 serve more specific niches. Buy for the miles you run, not the miles you wish you did, and every one of these decisions gets easier.