Article by Joost De Raeymaeker
adidas Adizero Adios 8 ($130)
Introduction
Joost: The Adizero Adios was once Adidas’ prime marathon racing shoe, within the days earlier than super-shoes got here alongside, all the way in which again in 2017, which is an eternity in an trade that’s seen a fast evolution since then.
I keep in mind Haile Gebrselassie operating the primary sub 2:04 world document in 2008 in them after allegedly solely making an attempt a prototype pair out the night time earlier than within the resort hallway. Since then, the Adios has stayed kind of true to its origins, being a quick, low to the bottom racing flat. In actual fact, all marathon world information from 2008 up until 2018, when Kipchoge beat it in a prototype pair of Vaporfly Subsequent% have been set in a pair of Adios or Adios 2 (Enhance).
Within the meantime, the highest of the road shoe had advanced from utilizing conventional EVA to sporting Enhance within the Adizero Adios Enhance 2. The pair of Adios 4 I purchased on the New York Metropolis marathon expo in 2019 and nonetheless use on occasion has a Enhance midsole. After Adidas launched its first tremendous footwear with a brand new foam known as Lightstrike, it will clearly find yourself within the franchise. The Adios 5 had a Lightstrike midsole with Enhance within the heel. Model 6 modified that to Lightstrike Professional supercritical foam and Lightstrike within the heel. Model 7 was an higher solely change. Now in model 8, each the higher and midsole have been redone, introducing a Lightstrike 2.0 (much less dense extra resilient) and Lightstrike Professional combo. So, with a redone higher and midsole, is the Adios 8 nonetheless an Adios? In case you don’t wish to learn additional, I’ll spill the beans. The Adios may be very a lot again and says Hola! after a really disappointing model 7.
Execs:
No frills fast-paced shoe: Joost
Loads of area within the forefoot: Joost
Wonderful traction and outsole sturdiness: Joost
Very breathable higher: Joost
Lightstrike 2.0 is softer: Joost
Loses 10g in comparison with v7
Cons:
May really feel a bit harsh for those who’re not used to decrease stack footwear: Joost
Noisy: Joost
Adios purists will in all probability not just like the acquire in stack since model 5: Joost
Somewhat extra cumbersome than earlier Adios: Joost
Tester Profile
Joost is a Belgian in his 50s dwelling in Luanda, Angola, Africa, the place he faces the warmth, humidity and basic chaos to run something between 60-100 miles per week. He was on a mission to run and win in his age group within the 6 marathon majors and acquired his sixth star at London in 2023 with a 2:26:10 PB in Berlin in 2019 at 51. He just lately gained his M50 AG on the 2022 Chicago Marathon in 2:29 and in 2023 gained his AG in London in 2:36. Solely Boston, to this point, escapes him for an AG win on the 6 Majors. He ran in major college, however then thought it will be rather a lot cooler to be a guitar participant in a tough rock band, solely selecting up operating once more in 2012, step by step enhancing his outcomes. Please try Joost’s teaching service right here
Stats
Approx weight: males’s 7.3 oz / 207g (US9)
-10g / -35 oz in weight in comparison with Adios 7
Samples: males’s 7.55 oz / 214g US9.5
Stack Top: males’s 28 mm heel / 20 mm forefoot ( 8mm drop spec)
First Impressions, Match and Higher
Joost: The Adios 7 was a really disappointing higher replace of the 6 for me. I by no means ran my pair past reviewing it and supplied it to considered one of my athletes who’s half a measurement smaller than I’m.
Its higher overlays within the toebox gave me blisters and bleeding on the highest of my massive toe, so I used to be very curious as to what Adidas may need carried out with the shoe for model 8. At first look, it appears fairly totally different. Gone are the suede overlays, the midsole geometry has modified, the outsole is totally different and the midsole supplies are additionally partially totally different.
Upon first step-in, the obvious distinction is the area up entrance. The toebox is notably wider and extra accommodating to my huge ft. I would even go so far as to name it spacious.
The higher is a single piece of very breathable mesh (as per my very scientific blowing-through-the-upper check). There’s some further materials that appears prefer it’s heated into the higher to make a toe stiffener and two minor overlays going from the ball of the foot to the entrance on each side.
They’re doing the job the blister-provoking overlays did within the Adios 7 and I haven’t had any points with blistering in any respect within the 8.
The eyestay is strengthened by what appears like the identical materials used because the toe stiffener, however firmer, and utilized on each the within and the surface of the higher materials. It’s fairly stiff, however some cutouts be sure that it doesn’t grow to be an excessive amount of so.
There are 6 rows of eyelets (I do know there are a few of you on the market who like this) plus an additional one for lock lacing. You in all probability gained’t want this, because the higher holds the foot securely.
The tongue is a skinny two layer gusseted building, with a central lace loop to make double positive it gained’t slip or go anyplace. The laces are skinny, however I didn’t have any lace chew points.
The heel can also be fairly totally different from earlier variations. The collar has nearly no padding, besides for 2 little cushion strips on the medial and lateral aspect.
The heel counter can also be comparatively versatile. If you wish to go sockless, you may wish to give the Adios a strive earlier than doing so, as a result of the sting of the heel collar can rub into your achilles and trigger blistering. Carrying socks, this shouldn’t be a problem in any respect.
In abstract: The Adios 8 has an amazing, very breathable, safe and nicely constructed higher with ample area within the forefoot. Thanks for rectifying the errors of the 7, adidas. One other plus is that it’s made of fifty% recycled supplies.
Midsole
Joost: There are fairly a lot of adjustments within the midsole division within the Adios 8. Lightstrike 2.0 has been substituted for Lightstrike 1.0. It’s nonetheless a light-weight EVA based mostly foam, however per Adidas, with new foaming methods we see enhancements when it comes to density, decreased hardness and improved resilience, resulting in larger vitality return.
It feels softer to the contact than the earlier model. The Lightstrike Professional within the forefoot can also be not a kind of insert between a skinny layer of Lightstrike and the strobel.
The entire forefoot is now Lightstrike Professional, making the forefoot really feel a bit softer when strolling round and with larger vitality return when operating.
The Torsion system the Adios is thought for appears prefer it’s gone again a number of variations for inspiration. It appears extra just like the Adios 4 I’ve right here, being H-shaped with an additional strip in the midst of the forefoot. Model 6 and seven have been extra tuning-fork formed.
Left to Proper: Adios 8, Adios 6, Adios 4
The principle distinction between the torsion system within the Adios 8 and the 4 is that it’s fairly extra substantial and goes nearly all the way in which to the entrance of the shoe.
Outsole
Joost: Good outdated Continental rubber and plenty of it as nicely. The configuration has modified fairly a bit from the earlier variations of the Adios. There are not 2 separate patches within the forefoot with a bit little bit of a groove within the center.
Left to Proper: Adios 8, Adios 6, Adios 4
There’s now mainly one massive slab of rubber with some small longitudinal cutouts and one on the lateral aspect, harking back to the Adios Professional and one within the very entrance.
There are some shallow grooves lower out operating diagonally in 3 strips and the large toe space is visually separated from the remainder by a groove that in all probability doesn’t make any distinction, however may add a bit little bit of flexibility in that space on toe-off.
The midfoot exhibits the uncovered Torsion system and within the heel, there are 2 patches of rubber on every of the “pods”.
I measured the forefoot to be 6 mm wider than model 6 (10.9 vs 11.5), the midfoot contact space 71mm vs 63 and the heel 80mm vs 75mm, making the Adios 8 fairly a bit wider than earlier variations. Stack top within the heel is 28mm (printed on the midsole) and 20mm within the forefoot. Stability is nice.
A Continental outsole is synonymous for sturdiness and nice traction. The Adios 8 is not any exception. It’s fairly noisy, although. With my operating mechanics, it slaps down arduous within the forefoot.
Experience
Joost: In case you’ve solely been operating in supershoes and max-cushioned footwear, you’re in for a little bit of a shock. Despite all the fashionable foam, and really numerous it with 28mm within the heel, the experience of the Adios may be very agency. I wouldn’t go so far as to name it harsh, however that’s what it can really feel like at first for those who’ve been overindulging in marshmallowy footwear. You’ll additionally begin to really feel like your ft are having fairly a exercise after a few miles, which is definitely an excellent signal.
As a lateral mid to forefoot striker, the Adios 8 feels very snappy and nimble. This can be very maneuverable round corners and sharp turns due to its comparatively low stack, width and beneficiant slab of outsole rubber. You get out of it what you set into it when it comes to velocity. It’s additionally undoubtedly not a shoe made to go gradual. I discovered it feeling a bit uneasy at slower paces. When you begin cracking, although, it begins shining because it turns over nicely and feels vigorous and really quick.
Conclusions and Suggestions
Joost: The Adios 8 rights the wrongs Adidas did with the 7, by giving it a brand new foam, growing the quantity of Lightstrike Professional within the forefoot and mainly creating an amazing fashionable tackle a traditional. If a standard feeling – by fashionable requirements – racing flat is your cup of tea, you may’t go unsuitable with the Adios 8, and at $130, it’s undoubtedly one of many least costly choices on the market.
Joost’s Rating: 9.4/10
Experience 9 (50%), Match 9.5 (30%), Worth 10 (15%), Type 9 (5%)
😊😊😊😊
Adios 8 is on the market now together with at our companions under
Samples have been offered at no cost for assessment functions.RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and will earn fee on merchandise bought by way of procuring hyperlinks on this article. These partnerships don’t affect our editorial content material. The opinions herein are solely the authors’.
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