Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 vs Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3: Which Race Day Super Shoe Wins?

Introduction

Both of these shoes were designed with one goal: faster race times. The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 and the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 sit at the sharp end of the carbon plate super shoe market, and choosing between them is less about performance numbers and more about how they feel underfoot over long distances. After putting serious mileage into both, one emerged as the clear all-round favourite.

At a Glance: Specs and Prices

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 costs 210 pounds or 225 dollars, weighs 209 grams (7.4 oz) for men in a size 8, and has an 8mm drop. The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 costs slightly more at 220 pounds or 230 dollars, weighs 218 grams (7.7 oz) in the same size, and drops 6.5mm.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3: Built for the Marathon

The Adizero Adios Pro 3 is Adidas’s long-distance race shoe. It features Energy Rods 2.0 running the full length of the shoe, working alongside two layers of Lightstrike Pro midsole foam to deliver a stiff ride with a high level of energy return. The redesigned upper aims to be breathable while offering support and structure, with ample padding around the heel and ankle collar. The outsole is covered with a generous layer of Continental rubber for grip at speed and protection for the midsole foam.

It is a shoe best suited to longer races from half marathon to marathon, helping runners hold a consistent pace. One tester noted it felt firmer than expected at first, bordering on clunky for all-out speed work, but it improved noticeably after a break-in period. It also shone on long cruising runs and two-mile tempo reps, feeling faster and more propulsive than a low-stack alternative. The Continental outsole performed well across all sorts of road surfaces and gripped reliably in the wet, though a torrential downpour mid-session did make the midsole feel slightly odd as it absorbed and shed water.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 3: Comfort Meets Speed

The Endorphin Pro and Pro 2 met a mixed response, largely due to a firmer ride than rival super shoes. With the Pro 3, Saucony has produced a shoe that is almost unrecognisable next to its predecessors. The new high stack of Powerrun PB foam delivers the softness and bounce runners expect from leading super shoes, working with an S-curve carbon plate and Speedroll design to produce a comfortable, fluid ride at speed.

The result is remarkable versatility. One tester logged roughly 140k in the shoe, including a 22-miler, an all-out parkrun, and a punishing track session of 1k, 800m and 400m reps, and found it handled every pace well. It is lighter than the Pro 2 despite a higher stack, and it earned a parkrun PB. The upper fits true to size with a semi-relaxed feel and good lockdown, with no rubbing or hot spots reported at all.

View more details for Saucony Endorphin Pro 3

Fit: Sizing Matters

Fit is where these two shoes diverge sharply. The Endorphin Pro 3 runs true to size and fits comfortably with no issues for both testers.

The Adios Pro 3 is aggressively tapered in the toe box, and this caused real problems. One tester with wide feet got significant rubbing at the front, and another, who rarely has fit problems with any shoe, developed a large toe blister on the first wear. The practical recommendation: consider going half a size up in the Adizero Adios Pro 3, especially if you have wider feet.

How They Feel at Different Paces

The Adios Pro 3 performed well at marathon and tempo paces after breaking in, but felt too big and cumbersome for all-out speed work. Even after around 50k, it felt considerably firmer than the Endorphin Pro 3, though it is by no means a harsh shoe in absolute terms.

The Endorphin Pro 3, by contrast, was enjoyable at every pace from parkrun efforts to long easy cruising, and even handled slow running gracefully. The Speedroll technology delivered consistent propulsion, and the shoe never produced a run the tester did not enjoy, even in tough heat or when form was faltering.

Verdict: Which Shoe Should You Buy?

This one is straightforward. The Endorphin Pro 3 is the better all-round shoe, it is cheaper, and it is more likeable because it does not look quite so extreme. At the marathon distance, performance is likely very similar, but the Endorphin Pro 3 feels better, and at every other distance it is nimbler, lighter and more exciting. It suits runners who want one carbon shoe for everything from 5k to the marathon.

The Adizero Adios Pro 3 is not a bad shoe. It is genuinely fast, has excellent Continental rubber grip, and works well for marathon-paced running. But it feels built specifically for the marathon, comes at a higher price, needs careful sizing, and does not outperform the Endorphin Pro 3, which makes it harder to recommend as the default race day pick. If your racing is purely marathon-focused and you prefer a slightly firmer ride, it still deserves a look.

Conclusion

For most runners chasing PBs, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 is the easy win: softer, more versatile, cheaper, and free of the fit issues that plague the Adidas. The Adizero Adios Pro 3 remains a capable marathon weapon for those who get along with its fit, but as an all-round race shoe, Saucony takes this one.