$500 for one race is wild (and extremely wasteful if you care about that sort of thing), but I have to say I love the look. I’m a big fan of the simpler, less “busy” look. Too many running shoes are a bit too flashy for me. These are pretty slick.
I'll never own a pair but I like that Adidas is thinking outside the box and innovating. They've gone bonkers with the Adizero racing line the last few years and I love it.
I really appreciate the angles of your videos, so fascinating to see what is happening to the Lightstrike foam under pace. Also nice to see what the sole looks like after you've put some miles on them. It looks like you're having fun running in them which is why we are out there running right, to have fun!
They have only touched the hardwood floors in my house once... I almost feel like I need to increase my fitness a few levels before I actually race in them... but who knows, maybe I'll just run them at NYC in a few weeks!@@kofuzi
They released it in order for the Pros to race in. I think they really wanted to get that record this year so instead of prototyping it in a non sanctioned race or practice setting, they pumped out some for general consumption to meet the rule. I def can't wait to see the trickle down tech we get in the next Adios Pro 4(?) though (:
@@kofuzi it’s looking like as of January 2022 in rule 13.2 the shoe must be made available for purchase by the manufacture one month prior to the athletes wearing it in competition
This is all so exciting. It's a showcase and a glimpse into the future of what's to come in next iterations of the Adios Pro. I'm confident they will find a way for this technology to make its way into that shoe, by improving upon its durability.
I avoid other people's reviews, but to the extent there are negative ones, I think that they could be reasonable gut reactions to the lack of longevity or the high price. you can see it here in the comments, too. hopefully, I have been able to properly acknowledge those clear shortcomings while still presenting a fair analysis of what this shoe is and means
@@kofuziYeah, I suspect there are many out here who don't really understand what they were thinking in HQ when deciding to name and, to some extent, release it. Ferrari made a car a while back called the Enzo. It was around $700k. We weren't really supposed to buy it. There wasn't a lineup in various colors at your dealer. They were just saying, "This is the closest thing to a street-legal F1 car." There may have been fewer of those made than of this shoe. I believe you hit the nail on the head with the concept and the intention of adidas execs.
The Takumi sen is the only adidas shoe since the boston 9 which has worked for me so I image a nice run from what you have told us (also a fan of the puma deviate elite range) Regarding the 'catapulted with each step'... that's the wave rebellion pro to my mind (I have just not figured out which direction the bounce takes me ). Thank you once again for as detailed review you could provide with the amount of milage you have gotten out of it.
I was intrigued when you mentioned that the Evo 1 is like a super Takumi Sen 9. I really love the Takumi Sen 9 and I am always thinking what if it had the same stack height and drop as the Evo 1 or the Adios Pro 3. Now I think that will just be a big "what if" for me since I doubt that I would be able to try the Evo 1.
I agree with the intriguing comparison. I love the ‘Sen 8 and it’s lasted for several tempo and track workouts o definitely worth the money I spent. Feels very light compared to all my other shoes.
Another big fan of the TS8 (I have two pairs after buying a 2nd on discount). I reserve them for short races, but could easily take them at least to HM or even full, though I’d be a little afraid to try that. They worked for me perfectly right out of the box in a 5K and have worn them for BolderBoulder twice, as well for a few speed workouts.
It would be really interesting to see a review at 100 miles! I doubt it will really degrade so much but I expect Adidas was being cautious about the predictions. I have a pair of Adidas SL20s that I’ve run about 1000 miles and even played tennis in and there’s not a lot of wear.
I’ve experienced many race foams that don’t quite feel race ready after about 100-150 miles. Those shoes tend to be still useful as workout or session shoes, but I just don’t know what to expect from the Adios Pro Evo 1
i bought the adios 8 because of your positive review and that the takumi sen didnt really worked for me. I have been gravitating towards it so far for my workouts and faster runs up to 10k. PS my wife kicked me out from our room and i have been sleeping on the couch eversince it came almost 2 weeks ago because i bought yet another pair even though it was 60% off. But it’s all worth it! All these shall pass! 🤣
Great detail and perspective, Mike, as usual. Compelling comparison to Sen 9. Love the 8. I can only imagine a lighter, swifter and more cushioned Sen would be a blast to run in.❤Will be fun to see you take it for a ride at Houston Half!
TBF if you follow that concept car analogy, 500 shoes at $500 dollars is a return of $250000 for adidas. Do we think they are making a profit from this shoe? I don’t think so. It’s a technology demonstrator and I think that’s pretty cool.
Pretty spot on review 🙌 If I remember correctly Charlotte Heidmann mentioned it was “concept” shoe and they were impressed by feedback from their runners. We just get 500 pieces of that special cake. Hopefully more of us can have a taste in future 🍰
Great review, Ko! It’s basically a prototype for a future mass-produced racer, and they get way more marketing value by putting it in the hands/feet of >400 influencers, rather than just the top handful of pros
Great review as always ! So intrigued to see what future shoes come out of this design. Totally agreed that I'm glad they released this for sale, even if it's high price and longevity isn't there. Just a great opportunity for people who get the chance to try out what made this shoe such a winner for breaking that record.
This shoe has really put Adidas on my radar now where I wasn't thinking about them much before. I kind of agree with what FOD Runner said about it: the shoe has gotten people talking about Adidas.
Just ran my first full with the Adios Pro 3 and I'm in love with them, if the next generation can get better I don't think I will look into any other brands for super shoes.
I saw you feel tired but very happy and full of excitement in EVO1,thank you very much for sharing an impressive experience for everyone that have not chance for running with it👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I see this as the equivalent of a car homologation, where the manufacturer produces a threshold number of homologation specials that allow them to race. Since Adidas needs to formally release and certify shoes to be able to make their records official they are releasing super small quantities of them
I think the rules for stock car racing are the most peculiar because the "stock cars" are nothing like the actual stock cars. but in the shoe instance, unless I'm mistaken, the rule has been amended in 2020 to return to the status quo where prototypes were permitted to be used for the purpose of both racing and record setting. I'm so certain that this is the case here, but so many people have claimed that the small release is for rules purposes that I'm now doubting myself.
@@kofuzi you are more involved in the shoe scene than any of us so there's that. But I pecularly love the thought process of this kind of products (whether shoes or cars). The disregard for the consumer and the singular focus on performance will always yield a special product.
I think the excitement of record breaking adds to the sport, kudos to adidas innovation . Clearly designed for elite athletes. However , I have always loved accessibility in running don’t like super high cost shoes. Also don’t want to encourage companies making shoes that are very low durability for most consumers. I have loved the adios pro 3 durability for a race shoe it has worked so well for me. Hope they keep models like that as the main race shoe for most runners. Consistently have found adidas shoes on discount which has made them more accessible.
I like the concept car comparison. Definitely has seemed to me that adidas is pushing the boundaries of shoe technology and then filtering what works into other future models for the general public. Kudos for them for not settling on what’s been done before and continuing to innovate and push the sport forward.
That’s a good way to look at them, although I think that perhaps this shoe may be at a stage where the “tire” still doesn’t quite last enough laps to get from pit stop to pit stop
Very interesting review. Seems like a shoe that makes sense for elite athletes. I like you take on the shoe as a prototype and basis for future shoes with better longevity and a lower price. Pretty cool you got a pair and could tell us about it!!!
Love my Adios Pro 3’s but I already felt like I was buying the “Ferrari” of shoes when I spent that kind of money on a marathon shoe. I agree with the comparison to a concept car but it does open up the concern for $200+ running shoes becoming a norm instead of reserving that price point to the top of the line models.
Addidas marketing is genius. Like you said it’s a concept not for the general public but it creates hype so when they put the tech into their race line up down the road people will be eager and willing to drop $300-400.
I'm definitely more concerned about how this may enable price creep, far more than I am concerned that this will somehow lead to an industry-wide trend of single use shoes
Also towards the end of your video I kept asking myself it’s Adidas way of flexing against the competition that their concept car approach like you say does hopefully lead to amazing iterations in super shoes and ultimately sprinkle some nuances down to the Boston where it literally needs it first like you mention again about. I think a shoes, yeah it’s a gripe allright, made to deteriorate faster is why class action lawsuits exists like who literally wants to now overspend on running shoes to experience and have a terrible investment that pays no dividends everyone for sure will like to avoid. Adidas is so rad that hopefully with all the reaction they get and sales they see can stay dominant. My personal reaction is that the color combinations should tone down a lot. Some good monochromatic colors will be amazing to see given a three tone touch. Also seeing some nice heft of Continental rubber pieces to give us long lasting use that’s certified to satisfy all people who buy from Adidas. Shelling out $500 for a shoe that will deteriorate after 3 races is so boss from Adidas.
Oh no - please don't call it a SuperTakumi... One of probably my fave shoes ever, such an amazing shoe - must resist, must resist... Great review as always!
what I'm very curious to see is whether any upcoming Adios Pro models will have a 60% rocker. I've always enjoyed the feeling of the almost lack of rocker that the 70% of the Adios Pro has provided. but I also did enjoy the 60% very much, and that is a big part of why it feels like a takumi to me.
Super interesting, thanks for the insight!! And like you said I hope they integrate this technology into one of their future super shoes for the masses 😁👍
Nice review Kofuzi, thanks. Interesting your comment re not getting the pop you expected at marathon pace, but then again I'd imagine the benefits due to weight for fatigue in the back end of a marathon - much akin to the fatigue of doing bicep curls using light weights compared to heavy... Interested to hear if you're going to race a marathon in these and your thoughts after that. Look forward to some of this tech filtering down.
Great review as always kofuzi. From what I'm aware about Adidas UK sizing, a UK 8.5 equates to a US 9 for Adidas shoes, contrary to a Nike shoe where their UK 8.5 would equal to a US 9.5.
Great review. Too bad you did not go into alternatives (none) or budget options (every other supershoe that we just bashed as too expensive) 😜. I agree this is a small batch prototype and should not be measured by normal standards, in fact for a prototype it probably is really cheap, Adidas may even lose money on each one. But curious to see if next year or so the shoe or some elements of it make it into full production in the 250-350 price range.
Excellent review and assessment of the numerous “why's” of this release. I bet TRE will have at least one embargoed adidas shoe that is related to this release as an embodiment of it as a prototype in one way or in several.
@@kofuzi well in this day and age, before you know it... I imagine a slightly less performant shoe, for €300 or so. And enough aspiring middle aged men with fat wallets who think they can buy a shortcut to better PBs...
I love the look of the shoe. I would love to run in a pair, but certainly wouldn't cough up $500 for it. I would add a sock liner from another shoe. The added weight would be negligible, and it would probably make the shoe more comfortable. I hope the price of this concept shoe doesn't affect the pricing of shoes meant for the masses.
I Know this is an EVO 1 video, but considering that the Takumi Sen was mentioned in this video I wanted to share my two cents about it. I have both the Sen and Pro 3 and my biggest problem with the Sen 9 is the tongue, it slides down toward the beginning of the toes and it gets so uncomfortable unfortunately (The only plus side is that it can only be used for 3,5,10k max and even I wouldn't use it for 10k, cos for me it gets really uncomfortable). I wish it had the tongue of the Pro 3! Other than that, both the Sen 9 and Pro 3 are just epic shoes. The Pro 3 I did more than 600km, training 10k-18k and raced 10k-12k and it's still great.
I’ve run some of my best races and workouts in adidas shoes. Up there with Saucony which are my overall favorite. I wanna try these, but I can’t justify $500 for one race haha.
Looks cool and fun. $500 concept shoe nails it. Hopefully adidas can add some elements of this shoe in a scaled down cost effective general public shoe. That amount of money could be spent better for the average runner.
It’s actually kind of cool to see a major brand release what’s essentially a prototype for the elitest-of-the-elite to non-elite folks. I really liked your concept car analogy to that effect. It’ll be interesting to see the various components and tech trickle down into their standard racing shoe lineup and maybe even a super trainer or two? I was hoping you’d race a full marathon in it since I’m fascinated to know how it feels and changes underfoot over 26.2 miles, but I’ll happily take the half marathon review in a few months!
If a concept car sits in a showroom then nobody would know if it cant actually drive. It could just be art and no more. This isnt just a concept shoe, this is the epitomy of human engineering into a running shoe.
In the auto world, it would be odd if a concept car got so much hate. Between the Evo1 and prime x 2 strung, I'm really excited at what Adidas will translate into its mainstream offerings in the coming year. also more important things -> slightly disappointed no outsole taste review 🤣
I did that on the livestream. it somehow smells like nothing and tastes like nothing. strange. like noise cancellation technology is somehow emanating from the shoe, but instead of blocking noise, it blocks smell and taste
A really nice video you made👍🙂. And your opinion about the shoe at the end of the video. I have the same opinion. This shoe is not for us ordinary runners. And I hope that a shoe that can only run a marathon never becomes normal for anyone other than the elite. We have to think about our future generations and the nature we love to run in🏞️🏜️🌲🌳🌴❤️
I think it make sense that you got the more return at mile threshold efforts. That is closer to elite and pro runners' pace. It is at least partially designed for them.
i was with you until you mentioned the word pace. i didn't even hit elite or even subelite marathoner's pace at my 5k effort the relevant word here is effort and the relevant inquiry is whether my mechanics become closer to an elite runner's marathon mechanics when i am at threshold we're splitting hairs here, maybe. like, maybe that's semantics. but to clarify, i don't anywhere near elite marathoner's paces.
@@kofuzi I meant the same actually. I didn't think you pulled elite miles. In my area we have demo runs monthly with various shoe brands and I love to demo run shoes. When I manage to demo run a carbon / race shoe (rare occasion) what I usually look for is "I have to make the shoe run" vs "the shoe makes me run". When you have larger returns that's when you start to feel that the shoe kind of "runs you" vs "you run the shoe".
And this largely depends on individual running styles and mechanics. The race show cover a large range and you have to find your best fit (for your target distance and style).
Seems like great marketing so long as the masses don’t get the impression Adidas isn’t built to last. If I worked in marketing at eg Brooks I’d see this as a huge opportunity. Or a brand that leverages sustainability.
oh, Brooks? that reminds me. there is only one other brand in running shoe history that has released a shoe to the public which has had less claimed durability than the Adios Evo 1.
Adidas couldn't just keep it for their professionals as you said. For any marathon shoe to be legal, they have to be available for the general public to buy.
The shoe and related publicity to me, for someone who is using my next% (not latest version) Alphaflys as long as I can, has me checking for deals on some Adios Pro or Takumi Sens, and my opinion of their super shoes is now equal to Nike.
Hey great video. You have some chromatic aberration on the shoe during your talking head part (example 3:35, you can see purple fringing on the shoe, but it's all over the video), On that talking head portion you don't need to be stopped down unless you are in low light, the depth of field is lost on the flat background. It will also give you more sharpness and contrast in general. Thanks for the review none the less!
I assume they made it because there is a rule specification for world marathons that a shoe used in a sanctioned race must be available for purchase by the public.
Well then, just like a concept car, maybe we should think about what, if any, technologies might trickle down to the masses. The only things I can think of is maybe the the 60% rocker geometry and the transparent upper.
I acknowledge the cutting edge technology and undeniable performance this shoe brought to the table. However I sincerely hope this single use plastic culture doesn't become mainstream within racing shoes. Running has become a caricature of itself in the past few years and this would be a step further from its essence.
I agree in that I don't like the idea of a single use shoe. but I will also take this opportunity to point out that this is the second shoe in running shoe history to have a claimed lifespan of one marathon. the first shoe to have such a short lifespan was released in early 2020. don't know if anyone remembers that one.
Great review as always . Adidas made the shoes specifically for their pro runners and to make them legal in races the shoe needs to be available for consumers. They can't make it just for their elite runners to wear then shelf them away. There be no point as this will not be legal in races.
I love what this does for running shoe companies and world records these shoes should be expensive for elite runners let’s pore all of the research and new technology to produce this crazy better running shoe of course on the flip side it’s really expensive
Hey Kofuzi, try some Indonesian brand running shoes like Nineten and Ortuseight. They offer good quality and are incredibly affordable, costing almost nothing.
Great video Kofuzi! I wonder how quickly the foam declines in performance as it compresses over each run. Would be interesting to see the energy return from out of box vs mile 26-30.
it's kind of hard to imagine that a shoe can degrade that quickly. I suspect its more of a quick and sudden decline in performance rather than a gradual, mile by mile decline. but there's only one way to find out
They price the shoe high because they can't make shoes specifically for pro athletes anymore. So to circumvent the rule shoe companies create the shoes then price them like crazy, so they don't have to mass produce the shoe.
I believe I said that my current marathon fitness is a handful of minutes under my current BQ pace. In other words, if I had to run a marathon this weekend, I think I could BQ off no taper with a little room to spare fwiw, my marathon PB is 14 minutes faster than what I need for a BQ. but I am not currently at that level of fitness
If the midsole feels anything like the Takumi Sen with a bit more cushion, then I am not too excited. While it feels ok, it does not give me any real benefit and does not excite me when running in it. My favourite racer is still the Alphafly V1 for anything 10k and above. The V2 was disappointing and now I am really looking forward to the V3 release in January.
Isn't one of World Athletic's requirements for record eligible shoes is availability to the public? I could be remembering that wrong, but perhaps a big part of the release was specifically to make their pro-runners eligable for records while wearing this shoe.
I believe that this shoe is made for runners that weight 2 Lbs/inch, ( and adidas should post a disclaimer) if you are heavier you are waisting your money.
for me this is a shoe build for the olympics and a prototype to test future technologie. At the end it is a shoe build for pros. And because olympia requires a shoe that is buyable they sell it to customers.
Even though I am frequently flustered by brands with multiple marathon racers (ASICS with metaspeed sky and plus, Saucony with Endorphin Pro and Elite), I would not be mad if there were a whole sub-line of Takumi shoes. Takumi Sen for 5k/10k, Super Takumi for marathon. And maybe Takumi Spike?
