After plenty of testing, I can say it mostly delivers—energy return is up, the shoe feels lighter, and the foam underfoot is noticeably softer.
The Adios Pro 4 shines as a demanding but rewarding marathon racer, best for runners who can hold faster paces and higher cadences. It’s lighter and snappier than the earlier versions, but it’s not a shoe that flatters every runner or every pace. The new design brings clear benefits but also some trade-offs, depending on your running style.
In my testing, the shoe really wakes up at 10K pace and quicker, though it can handle marathon efforts if you adjust to its quirks. The updated midsole foam, revamped upper, and better outsole grip combine for a racing tool that rewards good form and solid training. If you’re hoping for instant magic, though, you might be a bit underwhelmed.
Key Updates And Design Evolution
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 marks a big leap from its predecessor, borrowing loads from the ultra-light Pro Evo 1. The shoe’s gotten lighter and punchier, which totally changes how it feels on foot.
Major Changes from Adios Pro 3
The jump from Adios Pro 3 to Pro 4 is pretty stark. The Pro 3 was almost a “people’s super shoe”—stable and versatile for a range of paces. The Pro 4? It’s a purebred racer now.
Weight Reduction: The first thing you’ll notice is the weight drop. The new Micro Fit upper is paper-thin and see-through, making the shoe feel even lighter than its official 201g (men’s size 9).
Midsole Technology: The Lightstrike Pro midsole is totally reworked. It’s the softest and most energetic version yet—moderately soft, but with a real pop underfoot.
Geometry Changes: The new forefoot rocker point makes transitions more aggressive. At slow paces, it can feel awkward, but at 5K to half-marathon speeds, it’s a blast.
Fit Alterations: The tapered toe box trades away some of the Pro 3’s wide-foot friendliness. The shoe feels lower volume and hugs your foot more tightly—definitely built for performance, not comfort cruising.
Influence of Adizero Evo 1 and Pro Series
The Pro Evo 1’s influence is everywhere in the Adios Pro 4. The Pro Evo 1, Adidas’s lightest and priciest racer, set the tone for this more accessible version.
Forefoot Design: That early forefoot rocker? Straight from the Pro Evo 1. It gives you a quick, forward-rolling feel that’s awesome at race pace but can feel a bit much on easy days.
Construction Philosophy: The upper is ultra-minimalist, just like the Pro Evo 1—every gram counts. The mesh is almost see-through and saves weight wherever possible.
Performance Focus: Like the Evo 1, the Pro 4 is all about speed. It’s not trying to be your daily trainer—this one’s for chasing PRs.
The Carbon Energy Rods 2.0 system runs the full length, giving you more torsional rigidity up front, which really helps at toe-off.
Visual Identity and Availability
The Adios Pro 4 keeps that bold Adizero look, but with a modern twist. The nearly transparent Micro Fit upper screams “race day.”
Pricing Position: At £249.95, it’s right in the mix with shoes like the Nike Alphafly 3 and Hoka Cielo X1 2.0, but maybe a touch more accessible.
Colourway Options: Adidas keeps things bold and bright, and the light upper lets those three stripes really pop.
The external “Slinglaunch” overlay at the heel adds both support and a bit of visual flair, replacing the old heel counter but still keeping your foot locked in.
Fit, Upper, And Comfort
The Adizero Adios Pro 4 has a totally revamped upper that seriously boosts comfort, but the fit is narrow—so most runners will need to pay attention to sizing.
Lightlock Upper Construction
The upper is a huge improvement over the last version. It’s thin, soft, and feels great against your foot—no more sock destruction like with the Pro 3’s rough upper. It actually molds to your foot nicely.
The material feels high-end and featherweight. Long runs and races are way more comfortable now.
One downside: breathability isn’t great. The upper can get pretty sweaty on tough efforts, and heat builds up more than I’d like. If you really care about cooling, this could be a sticking point.
Fit and Sizing Insights
The Pro 4 runs narrow, especially up front. I’d honestly recommend going up half a size from your usual. It’s even snugger than the Pro 3, which was already pretty close-fitting. Wide-foot runners? Probably not the best pick.
Key sizing advice:
- Go up 0.5 size from normal
- Not suitable for wide feet
- Very narrow toe box design
The heel lockdown is solid, even with no real heel counter. There’s barely any padding back there, but I’ve had zero slipping issues. Once you nail the sizing, the narrow fit actually feels secure and ready to race.
Updated Lacing and Tongue Design
The tongue has some padding now, which takes the edge off the laces and makes things feel more premium for longer efforts. It’s stitched down on both sides, so no more tongue sliding around mid-run—something that bugged me with earlier versions.
The lacing setup works well with the padded tongue, letting you get a snug fit without pressure points. It feels more dialed-in than the Pro 3, and it’s easier to get the tension just right for race day.
Breathability and Comfort on Race Day
While the upper feels plush, it’s not the best ventilated. On my half marathon test, the inside got pretty soaked with sweat. It didn’t bother me enough to slow me down, but it’s hard to ignore.
Once you sort the sizing, comfort during racing is excellent. The soft upper doesn’t give me any hot spots or rubbing. For marathons, it’s a big step up from the Pro 3 in terms of how your feet feel by the end.
The narrowness does put a bit more strain on the ankles compared to the more stable Pro 3. I feel this especially on longer training runs—just something to keep in mind.
Midsole And Ride Experience
The Adizero Adios Pro 4 comes with a completely new Lightstrike Pro midsole—softer and more responsive than before. The 39mm heel and 33mm forefoot stack deliver great energy return, and the carbon plate setup still makes the shoe really shine at quicker paces.
Lightstrike Pro Midsole Performance
The new Lightstrike Pro foam feels totally different from the firmer stuff in the Pro 3. It’s bouncy but not sloppy, with a plush underfoot feel that never goes mushy—even after lots of miles.
In my marathon, the midsole foam kept its energy return all the way through. The cushioning is protective for heel strikers but still responsive for those who land further forward.
What stood out was how the foam stayed lively even past 20 miles. Some racing shoes just die late in the race, but this one kept its spring right to the finish.
The balance between softness and snap is spot on. It’s more forgiving than before, but you still get that “super shoe” pop.
Stack Height and Drop Details
The stack height is 39mm at the heel, 33mm at the forefoot, for a 6mm drop that feels pretty natural. There’s plenty of cushioning, but the shoe never feels clunky or heavy.
Transitions from heel to toe are smooth and easy. The drop worked well for my stride, and turnover felt efficient at different paces.
The thick stack gives you solid protection on long races—even on rougher roads, I didn’t feel like I was losing energy to the ground.
Specification Details:
- Heel Stack: 39mm
- Forefoot Stack: 33mm
- Drop: 6mm
- Weight: 200g (UK size 8.5)
Forefoot Rocker Geometry
The forefoot rocker gives you a natural roll that encourages quicker turnover. Adidas put the fulcrum point at 60% of the shoe’s length, measured from heel to toe.
This rocker really kicks in at race pace. During tempos, I felt the shoe almost propelling me forward—less effort to keep up speed. The toe spring is more aggressive than on the Pro 3, making for fast transitions, especially if you land on your midfoot or forefoot.
At slower paces, the rocker is still there, but it feels a bit muted. This shoe just wants to go fast.
Carbon Energyrods Snap And Propulsion
The carbon Energyrods match the premium Pro Evo 1’s setup, with smart placement for strong propulsion. The fulcrum sits under the midfoot for good leverage.
I noticed real snap and energy return, especially late in my marathon. When I tried to surge in the last 5K, the carbon Energyrods responded right away.
The plate geometry isn’t as harsh as the Pro 3. Adidas softened the ride, but you still get that propulsive benefit that makes carbon shoes special.
During speed sessions, the Energyrods helped with toe-off, making each stride feel lighter and more energetic—almost like they were doing some of the work for me.
Outsole Grip And Durability
The Adizero Adios Pro 4 uses a dual-rubber outsole—Lighttraxion and Continental—for better grip and durability. I’ve found the traction to be excellent on different surfaces, and it’s holding up better than I’d expect for such a light racing shoe.
Lighttraxion Rubber Configuration
The Lighttraxion outsole covers most of the shoe, offering a lightweight but grippy base. Adidas’s proprietary rubber gives surprisingly good traction without adding much weight.
On dry tarmac, the Lighttraxion sections have been great—even when cornering hard at speed. The rubber is laid out mainly across the forefoot and midfoot, which is perfect for runners who land further forward.
One odd thing: the soft Lighttraxion rubber can squeak a bit on smooth indoor floors. It doesn’t change performance, but if you’re doing treadmill miles, you might notice it.
Continental Rubber Traction
The Continental rubber patch sits right under the high-impact heel, where you actually need durability. This thicker, tougher compound gives you solid grip and stands up to a lot of wear and tear.
Continental’s background in tyres really shows here. Their rubber just bites better than the usual stuff you find on outsoles.
I’ve taken these out on wet pavement plenty of times, and the Continental section just hangs on. Even when it’s cold, the grip doesn’t fade, so you can trust it through all sorts of weather.
They put the durable rubber exactly where heel strikers land first. Smart move. It really helps the shoes last longer than if they’d used the lighter material everywhere.
Performance in Wet and Dry Conditions
In dry conditions, the dual-rubber system just works. I haven’t had any slipping on tarmac, concrete, or even the track—it’s solid across the board.
But honestly, it’s the wet weather grip that stands out. Even though this isn’t a trail shoe, I still felt secure running on rain-soaked roads and damp paths.
Winter runs were a bit of a surprise too. The rubber mix stays flexible and keeps its grip even when temps drop close to freezing.
Key Performance Points:
- No traction issues during rainy runs
- Maintains grip on varied road surfaces
- Performs well in temperatures above 0°C
- Excellent for race-day conditions
Durability? Way better than I expected. I was a little skeptical about the lightweight build at first, but after plenty of miles, it’s holding up just fine.
