I treated myself to a pair of Adidas Adios Pro 2 running shoes, my first pair using carbon technology. I’ve tried them a couple of times now and I’ve been excited to write this review!

If you’ve never purred while wearing new running shoes before, you soon will with these!

In fact, if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to wear Eliud Kipchoge’s legs on a run, I’d say these will give you an idea!

What are Adidas Adios Pro 2?

The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2s are one of a number of running shoes on the market using carbon technology. If you’re not too sure about carbon technology in running shoes, you may remember Breaking 2 – Nike’s successful attempt to break the 2hr barrier for the marathon with Eliud Kipchoge a couple of years ago? He ran wearing shoes with carbon plates in them.

Carbon plates are used in the sole, along with foam cushioning, to propel runners forward. Since Nike launched the Vaporfly shoes, world records have been broken on an almost frequent basis. The question really is, are the carbon plates making the difference or the generous layers of foam cushioning?

According to Adidas, these shoes are different in that they use rods rather than plates to mimic the bones in the foot. The rest of the material of the shoe is 50% made from recycled materials so this is a step forwards.

The shoes are designed with faster runners in mind and for distances of 10k upwards.

It’s largely thanks to a policy with Vitality that I bought these shoes. I’m rewarded for being active and one of the rewards is 50% off a pair of running shoes at Runners Need once a year. I also get a free coffee every week, among other benefits but for now, we’ll focus on the shoes!

The Good

These will make you run faster, there’s no two doubts about it.

They feel a bit weird when you try them on, due to the rocker style, but once you get moving, you can feel yourself being propelled forwards. The other good thing is you won’t hammer your legs as much from a run. The layers of foam cushioning give you around 80% energy return from each footstrike so there’ll be less shock going through the joints.

For me, the opportunity to buy them half price was too good an opportunity to pass up.

The Not So Good

It’s hard to pick fault with these.

The cost is a bit dearer than maybe what you normally pay but if you really want to see a difference in your times, it’s an investment worth making.

If you’re like me and normally wear the same pair of shoes for almost every run, you will not be able to do that with these. You will need a second pair to alternate with and keep these for longer runs, races and specific training sessions.

Conclusion

Honest opinion, just because you fancy a pair and can afford them, it doesn’t mean you should buy them.

They’re brilliant shoes and will make a difference but you also need to consider upgrading your training so you can get the full value from them. The shoes will make you more efficient but I’d say you would need to work on training your body to run more efficiently to get the full benefit.

This is something I help runners with in my running coaching.

If you consider yourself as a ‘heavy plodder’ when you run or mostly do parkrun then you’d likely be better off with your existing shoes. They really come into their own on longer runs, the longer the better.

One way to look at them is they’re a bit like buying a Ferrari and only driving to work or the shops.

If you want to make a real difference and level up in your training/performances this year then you need a pair of these in your life to help you on your journey.