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The first thing you notice is how simple and easy it is. For a carbon shoe, it fits well and immediately feels like it’s on your foot. The midsole is much softer than the Pro Evo 2 with a fun, peripheral, dynamic feel. The curved hull is similar to the last gen Pro Evo 2. It rolls you quickly onto your front foot, driving your foot quickly and off your toe. Everything is smooth, light, and fast.
High levels of softness really come through. Those who prefer a firmer, smoother ride (like you’d get from the Asics Metaspeed Edge or Sky Tokyo) may not like this touch. But there is a great way to protect and protect the bottom of the front, with all the fun you expect from high carbon shoes.
I found that it worked best, as Heidmann explains, when I was moving fast with a closed form, landing in the middle and forward with a clear aim. But I was surprised at how slow it was, too. A strong wind allows you to control the foam of the midsole. It’s hard to say after running for 40 minutes on the treadmill, but for such a light shoe, my instincts say that the Pro Evo 3 should be incredibly protective even when the wheels come off on the 20th mile of a marathon.
On the upper, the Pro Evo 3 has the thinnest mesh, stripped back, thinnest tongue I’ve ever seen and a minimal heel collar and small heel counter. The uppers take inspiration from kitesurfing equipment and are more tapered than the uppers of the Pro Evo 2. This creates a feeling that is spacious, airy, and flexible, with good freedom for your toes to move. These shoes disappear from your feet for maximum comfort. I’m only supposed to run in straight lines, but I’m not sure they’ll provide enough support on tight trails.
Should You Save?
When Adidas first introduced the Pro Evo shoes, I was one of the first to double down on the price tag. That’s a lot of money for each shoe. Unlike previous Pro Evo models that didn’t impress me, the Pro Evo 3 feels its own pace. However, I’m not sure that 99 percent of runners really need a $500 shoe.
Take it from this 66-time finisher: PRs can easily fall in cheap shoes. They don’t even have to be carbon-plate shoes. It’s not the size of the money that should give most of us pause. The Adidas Pro Evo 3 was built with a particular athlete in mind: fast forward strikers who can run light and hold their shape. Not everyone.
If you fit the profile and have the speed and dollars to spare, go for it. Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 feels like real money. That’s to get two. Only a few are being sold in the first limited run, with more dropping in the fall.
