Mar 24, 2026 11 min read

Shoe Reviews Adidas Race Day Shoes Road Running Gear

Adidas Adios Pro 4 review: light, fast, and still worth it

Light, propulsive, and more forgiving than most super shoes, the Adios Pro 4 is built for runners chasing road-race speed from 5K to marathon. Here's who it suits, how to size it, and whether to wait for the Pro 5.

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 is the kind of super shoe that knows exactly what it wants to be, and it's also my type of racer.

This is Adidas’ flagship road racer, built for fast efforts from 5K to marathon, and everything about the design points in that direction. It’s very lightweight (7oz), aggressively race-focused, and clearly tuned to help efficient runners move quickly and smoothly once the pace lifts.

Compared with the Pro 3 it replaced, the Pro 4 went softer, lighter, and more fluid, and that shift is the whole reason it became the Adidas racer most runners actually enjoy.

The Adios Pro 5 has now launched, and my full Adios Pro 5 review covers everything that changed.

This is not meant to be an easy-going carbon shoe for every type of runner. It’s a race-day tool with a more forgiving edge than some stripped-back super shoes, but it still wants you running with intent.

If you land efficiently, hold good form, and want a shoe that feels featherweight yet protective, the Adios Pro 4 has a lot going for it.

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Key specifications

Price: $255 at Adidas
Weight: 7oz / 198g (US men’s 9, my pair)
Drop: 6mm - Stack height: 39mm heel / 33mm forefoot
Upper: Lightlock woven mesh
Midsole: Lightstrike Pro foam with ENERGYRODS 2.0
Outsole: Lighttraxion rubber with Continental rubber in key wear zones
Extra attributes: Pull tab, removable insole, around 20% recycled content

Sizing and fit

The fit is true to size in US sizing but race-day snug, certainly not baggy like the EVO SL.

The LIGHTSTOCK upper wraps closely through the midfoot and heel, while the toe box has a bit of a taper that may get noticed on longer efforts if you stay true to size.

Going up half a size only makes sense for marathon use or if you prefer a little more room up front, otherwise you'll get a more secure midfoot lockdown going with your usual.

Heel lockdown is strong, but the toe box shape is the part to pay attention to, oh, and the tongue is oddly short (like the EVO SL); there's definite room for improvement here but more on that in a moment...

Performance review

The Adios Pro 4 is not a super shoe that flatters all kinds of running.

It's at its best when you are moving efficiently and asking something from it, and to that point, landing more toward your midfoot, I mean just look at that glorious toe spring.

The geometry, foam, and ENERGYRODS all seem to work together most effectively once you’re pushing the pace and rolling forward with intent.

For midfoot and forefoot strikers especially, this shoe rewards fast, committed running with a really smooth, propulsive feel.

Some race day shoes look impressive on paper but only truly click in a narrow set of conditions. The Adios Pro 4 is one of those more accessible super shoes.

The ride is softer than I expect from a shoe this fast

The Lightstrike Pro midsole is the heart of this shoe.

What I like most is that Adidas has managed to make the Adios Pro 4 feel properly cushioned without draining the responsiveness out of it.

There’s real softness underfoot, but it’s not the kind of softness that turns the ride vague or overly relaxed. The foam compresses, gives a little, then rebounds quickly and cleanly.

That combination gives it a more enjoyable feel than a lot of race shoes that are only impressive when you’re absolutely on it.

That matters most over longer distances.

For me, one of the easiest ways a super shoe goes wrong is when it feels brilliant early, then starts feeling harsh, unstable, or just plain awkward once your legs begin to tire, we're not all elite runners afterall.

The Adios Pro 4 avoids that. It keeps enough protection underfoot to stay comfortable deep into a run while still feeling sharp enough to justify being a premium carbon racer.

It rolls forward quickly and keeps turnover feeling easy

The other big strength here is how naturally the shoe moves through transition.

The rocker geometry (toe spring) and ENERGYRODS 2.0 work together really well. Once I’m up to speed, the shoe wants to keep rolling forward, and that forward motion feels clean rather than forced.

I don’t have to work hard to find the sweet spot, it shows up early in the stride and keeps the shoe feeling quick through toe-off.

That makes a big difference in a race setting because when I’m running hard, I don’t want a shoe that feels like a science experiment underneath me. It needs to help reduce friction in the stride. The Adios Pro 4 does that.

It encourages faster turnover and gives the ride a really smooth, efficient rhythm that suits everything from shorter road races to longer efforts where economy starts to matter even more.

This is a shoe that rewards commitment, and the more decisively I run in it, the better it feels.

The weight gives it a properly race-ready feel

At 7oz / 198g for my US men’s 9, the Adios Pro 4 feels exactly as light as I want a modern super shoe to feel, and puts it up there with the best carbon plated racers.

That low weight is a big part of why the shoe works so well across multiple race distances. It doesn’t just feel cushioned and propulsive, it feels nimble. That helps the shoe stay useful outside of the marathon conversation.

I can see why runners are happy using it for 5K and 10K racing too, because it doesn’t carry that oversized, overly maxed-out feeling some marathon racers do.

It feels stripped back in the right places, but not stripped back to the point of feeling compromised.

The heel is the part I trust least

As good as the shoe is overall, the rearfoot is where I think the main caveat sits, but to be fair that's the case with most racers.

**Heel flaps up, or down? Comment below PLEASE!! lol**

The forefoot platform feels much more confident than the heel, and that shapes the whole experience.

Once I’m moving well and landing more efficiently, the shoe feels fast and fluid. But the rearfoot is narrower, softer, and less stable than the front of the shoe, and that means heel strikers or runners dropping back into the heel late in races may find it less reassuring.

This just means the Adios Pro 4 has a preferred way of being run in.

It rewards runners who stay forward over the platform and hold decent form. At easier paces, or for runners who sit back into the heel more heavily, it loses some of that polished feeling.

So while I think this is one of the better super shoes in the category right now, I still wouldn’t call it perfect, but it is still amongst the more forgiving options.

And don't worry, with a heel stack of 39mm, it's 100% race legal (under 40mm), there's a large reminder on the heel, incase you forget.

The upper is secure, but the toe box is quite race-focused

The Lightlock upper does a good job of locking the shoe down without adding unnecessary weight.

Through the heel and midfoot, the fit feels dialed and race-ready.

That close wrap is part of what makes the shoe feel so usable at speed. There’s no sense of the foot sloshing around or the upper lagging behind the platform, and it holds the foot in place and lets the rest of the shoe do its job.

The toe box is noticeably tapered, and that is going to be the sticking point for some runners. If you like a snug, second-skin fit for racing, it will work well.

But for longer races, or for runners with slightly wider feet, the front of the shoe could get cramped if sizing isn’t handled carefully.

Breathability is also not the strongest part of the build. It’s fine, but not especially airy for such a minimal upper. That’s not a deal-breaker for me in a race shoe, but it’s worth knowing.

The outsole grip is excellent, and better than I expect at this weight

For such a light shoe, the outsole is very well executed.

The mix of Lighttraxion and zoned Continental rubber gives the Adios Pro 4 really strong grip on the road, including in wet conditions.

That extra confidence matters in a race shoe because it lets me commit to corners, pace changes, and less-than-perfect road surfaces without that little moment of hesitation that some super shoes create.

It also holds up better than a lot of people probably expect from something this minimal. I’d still treat it as a race-day-first shoe, because that’s what it is, but the outsole doesn’t feel like a fragile afterthought. It adds real value to the package.

How it compares to the other racers I've tested

The Adios Pro 4 sits in the forgiving half of the super shoe field; softer and more stable than a stripped-back racer, but lighter and sharper than a max-cushion marathon shoe.

Against Nike, it lands between the two. The Vaporfly 4 is the more nimble 5K-to-half racer, and the Alphafly is the taller marathon cruiser; my Alphafly vs Vaporfly comparison covers that fork in full.

Against Saucony, the Endorphin Pro 5 is the closest rival: a similar weight class, a bouncier midsole, and a wider, more settled heel that heel strikers will trust more than the Pro 4's rearfoot.

If you want the Adidas feel without the price, the Adizero Evo SL shares the Lightstrike Pro foam and rocker in a $150 unplated trainer that handles workouts and long runs, and leaves the Pro 4 for race day.

Should you wait for the Adios Pro 5?

Update, September 22: the wait is over.

The Adios Pro 5 is here, and it fixes this shoe's real flaws: my pair is 14% lighter on the scale, the new ENERGYRIM construction makes it bouncier and stable from heel to forefoot, and a slightly longer tongue finally takes a racer's loop heel lock. Read my full Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 review for the complete verdict.

So should you still buy the Pro 4? Yes, if the price is right. It remains a superb racer for midfoot strikers, and it's now entering the best discount window a super shoe ever has. If you sit back into your heel, or you just want the best version of this formula, the Pro 5 is the one.

My verdict

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 is one of the most complete race shoes Adidas has made.

What I like about it is that it isn't just lightweight, it’s also soft, comfortable, propulsive, and one of the most stable racing shoes right now.

It combines those things in a way that makes the whole shoe feel more coherent and more useful on race day for all us non-elites.

The midsole has enough softness to protect the legs, enough rebound to keep the ride lively, and enough structure through the rods and rocker to make fast running feel smoother and easier to sustain.

Shop at Adidas

For the runner it suits, it’s a seriously good option, so if you want a racer that feels featherweight, energetic, and built for proper road racing from 5K to marathon, the Adios Pro 4 is very easy to rate highly.

Adidas Adios Pro 4 FAQ

Does the Adios Pro 4 run true to size?

Yes, in US sizing, with a race-day snug fit through the midfoot and heel and a tapered toe box. Stay true to size for the best lockdown; go up half a size only if you're racing a marathon or have wider feet.

Is the Adios Pro 4 good for heel strikers?

It's at its best for midfoot and forefoot strikers. The rearfoot is narrower and softer than the forefoot, so runners who sit back into the heel, especially late in a race, will find it less reassuring than the front of the shoe.

Is the Adios Pro 4 race legal?

Yes. The 39mm heel stack sits under the 40mm limit, and Adidas prints the reminder on the heel.

Can you use the Adios Pro 4 for 5K and 10K, or is it a marathon shoe?

Both. At 7 oz (198g) in a US men's 9 it's nimble enough for short road races and has enough Lightstrike Pro underfoot to protect your legs through a marathon.

Adios Pro 4 or Evo SL?

Different jobs. The Evo SL is the $150 unplated trainer for workouts and long runs; the Pro 4 is the $255 carbon racer for race day. If you can only buy one and you race a few times a year, the Pro 4 doubles as a tempo shoe, but the Evo SL is the better everyday buy.

See where it lands among every racer I've tested in my best carbon plate running shoes roundup.

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Alastair Dixon — Hi, I’m Alastair; long-time runner, shoe and gear reviewer, and storyteller. This blog is my space to share it all, I hope you enjoy the quality content. Peace ✌🏼