adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4: I found more bounce and a better fit

The adidas Adios Pro 4 now fits better than its predecessor but does it pack a bigger punch?

In the leading pack of the best carbon plate running shoes, the adidas Adios Pro 3 was a serious contender. However, while the punchy, lively ride helped countless runners chase PBs, not everyone got on with the fit. The long-awaited update to the new adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 aims to change that with brand new uppers to boost comfort. There’s a new midsole foam and design, too, that takes some inspiration from the Adios Pro Evo 1, along with the carbon Energy Rods 2.0, all in a lighter package.  

Adidas’ latest carbon racer is still built for your fastest training efforts and race-day goals but do the changes stack up to a better running shoe? I’ve logged plenty of miles in them to find out. Read on for my verdict of the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4.

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4: what’s new?

The adidas Adios Pro 4 (buy now) has been given a complete overhaul. The black and white design and new rocker shape are nods to the rare, expensive and elite-friendly Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 1. But if the Pro Evo 1 is a super fast racer aimed at elite level athletes, the Adios Pro 4 is designed to suit a broader range of runners. The regular folk shooting for PBs across a range of distances but with marathon running very much in mind. 

The midsole features a new formula Lightstrike Pro compound that’s tuned differently from the foam in the Pro Evo 1 and provides a little extra softness. 

The Adios Pro 4 midsole also has a new shape. The forefoot rocker – the bit where the toe curves up – has been moved back to boost efficiency. It’s now positioned at 60% of the length of the shoe, the same as the Pro Evo 1. The Adios Pro 4 also carries the same carbon Energy Rods 2.0 as the Adios Pro 3.  

The Adidas Adios Pro 4 is one of the lowest stacked carbon racers around. It packs 39mm in the heel and 33mm in the forefoot for a 6mm drop. That’s half a millimetre shaved off the forefoot stack compared to the Adios Pro 3 for a slightly lower drop. 

Up top there are brand new Lightlock uppers with new locking bands that wrap the foot for a snug and secure fit and additional support. 

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 uppers 

These stretch woven mesh uppers aim to address one of the biggest gripes with the Adios Pro 3 – that some runners found the fit somewhat fussy. It just wasn’t quite as comfortable as other carbon racers. Some runners – me included – also experienced some discomfort, particularly around the toe knuckle from the eyelets.  

The thin wrapping tongues are also now stitched in to prevent them moving around, have a little more lace-pinch-busting padding and there’s a simplified lacing structure to make it easier to get a good fit, reduce some pressure points and boost comfort. 

The racy, minimal heel package stays largely the same, with just the two small side pads for hold and comfort. Only now there’s a small additional bit of padding right behind the heel, presumably to address the heel rubbing issues some runners had. 

Flip them over and there’s a data-mapped Lighttraxion outsole that keeps outsole rubber to a strategic minimum to save weight. The Adios Pro 4 still uses Continental grip but adidas has made it translucent which looks pretty cool.

Those weight savings bring the Adios Pro 4 in at 202g or 7.1oz in my men’s UK 8.5 test shoe. That’s 14g or 0.6oz lighter than the Adios Pro 3. It’s now much closer to the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 and the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris but still a shade heavier than those rival carbon plate running shoes – which come in under 200g. 

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 fit

In testing I ran in my regular adidas running shoe size which is a UK 8.5. On the whole I found the fit much improved over the Adios Pro 3. It’s much easier to get the Adios Pro 4 on, positioned and locked down than its predecessor. 

The improved stitches in the tongues really help and the modified lace eyelets successfully remove any pinching or rubbing around the toe knuckles. 

Generally I found the heel hold was reliable and the midfoot lockdown was secure. I had some issues with the length of the toe box, though. It narrows and perhaps comes up a quarter of a size too short. 

I only noticed this deep into my marathon test, where my big toenails caught the end of the shoe. On shorter runs this wasn’t a problem and I think a half size up might create problems elsewhere. But I’d pay close attention to length when choosing your size. 

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 performance 

I’ve covered more than 50 miles in the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 and put it through some tough tests. That includes an all-out 5km, a solo marathon test and some slower efforts to test the versatility. Most of that on the road, some of it down at the track. 

I was one of the runners who struggled with the Adios Pro 3 fit and the first thing you notice is how much more natural, comfortable and disappearing the Adios Pro 4 feels when you first lace it up. It changes the feel from “I’ll put up with it if I have to” to “I enjoy wearing these.”

For me, it’s the uppers that are the biggest step forward here. If you liked the energy of the Adios Pro 3 but were put off by the uppers and the fit, I think you’ll love the Adios Pro 4. 

My only issue on comfort was deep into the marathon test, my big toe nails on both feet caught on the end of the shoe which is quite narrow. It was uncomfortable while running and post-run I suffered the dreaded bruised black toe nails. This isn’t uncommon with shoes during marathons. But I’m not the only reviewer who had this issue logging a marathon in the Adios Pro 4. Go half a size up might eradicate the issue but I fear that’d sacrifice the good fit elsewhere in the shoe. 

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 ride

The ride is everything you want from a carbon race shoe – light, lively and fast. It packs that important supershoe punch. Like the Pro 3, this shoe is full of energy and is great fun. It urges you to pick up the pace, dares you to push harder. Then lets you do it without feeling like you’re paying the price for it.

When you’re moving at your best with intent, the Adios Pro 4 gives a lot back. The new Lightstrike Pro foam is softer than the Pro 3, with more bounce coming back from the midsole. The new rocker definitely adds something over the Adios Pro 3, delivering smooth transitions.

One thing to watch: that midsole softness makes it somewhat less stable in the heel with a bit more wobble back there. However, if you’re landing mid-to-forefoot that’s not an issue. The less-pronounced heel cutaways reduced some of the outwards roll I experienced with the Adios Pro 3.

Overall I think the Adios Pro 4 platform is more reliable and forgiving when you’re running tired and ragged. Toe nails aside, I found the cushion and protection on point when I struggled and my pace dropped towards the end of the marathon test. 

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 verdict

The updates to the Adios Pro 4 just work. Aside from the toe-busting length issue which might be fixed by sizing up, the uppers are a huge improvement, the midsole packs all the punch you look for in a carbon race shoe and the Continental grip holds the road with excellent reliability. 

This is a shoe that works best when you’re moving fast. It responds better to locked-in form and top speed efforts and it’s right up there with the likes of the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris and the Nike Alphafly Next% as a top race-day shoe. It’s also considerably cheaper than the latter.  

If you liked the Adios Pro 3, you’ll like this shoe. It’s softer but it hasn’t gone too soft. It retains all the immediacy and energy of the Adios Pro 3 but with a marginally more forgiving edge – better when things aren’t going according to race plan.  

In my opinion the Adios Pro 4 is a winning shoe for all-out, guns-blazing racing up to half marathon. But if you’re buying it with a marathon in mind, definitely consider the sizing for length.

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