- A thick slab of bouncy foam is comfortable for long runs but still fast enough for intervals.
- The lightweight upper runs true to size, with a generously roomy forefoot.
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| Type | Neutral trainer |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.1 oz (M); 6.6 oz (W) |
| Stack Height | 39 mm (heel), 33 mm (forefoot) |
| Drop | 6mm |
Is the Adidas Adizero Evo SL the “shoe of the year”? While 2025 isn’t over just yet, it has been the front-runner for such an honor since it went on sale on February 1. That day, I suggested as much on Instagram, and text messages from folks at other brands immediately started rolling in, asking how I could make that declaration so early in the year. My response: If there’s a better shoe for $150 or less that comes along this year, I’ll eat this shoe.
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A Universally Loved Ride
I have been raving about the Evo SL to anybody who will listen—and even some who don’t want to hear it—ever since I received my test pair back in November. When the shoe finally went on sale in February, the world got to experience what I already discovered: the Evo SL delivers a remarkably fun ride and can handle just about any speed you throw at it.
I think it’s so good that I actually purchased two more pairs for myself after first testing it, even though I have 170 other shoes marked “active” in my training log. But, don’t take my opinion alone. Sure, I’ve tested thousands of shoes over nearly two decades working at Runner’s World adidas ef2905 women sneakers shoes RW unique is that we have a huge team of wear-testers to ensure we’re getting a complete picture of a shoe. When the testers’ consensus comes together as positively as it did in testing the Evo SL, we know we have a winner.
In fact, the Evo SL was the highest rated shoe of any that we’ve tested in the past year. It received particularly high marks for weight, comfort, cushioning, and ride. It’s not perfect—no shoe is—and testers marked it down slightly on fit, mostly because of how the tongue slides to the side when you run. But, the underfoot experience was universally applauded by everybody from a 95-pound woman who wears a size 7, all the way up to a 220-pound man who takes a size 11. Such differences in stature almost always yield entirely different perceptions of a shoe, but not this time.
The Magic Lies in the Foam
What makes the Evo SL so great? Well, mostly it lies in the shoe’s simplicity and versatility. There’s just a single layer of outstanding foam, a stripped-down upper, and not much else really going on. It allows the shoe’s midsole to shine—and it does so whether you’re jogging on a recovery day or turning your feet over quickly during an interval session. It truly is a do-it-all shoe, all at an affordable price.
The foam adidas teorado slim pants adidas shoes store in hawaii islands 2017 marathon racing shoe. It’s lightweight, less dense foam that has better cushioning properties and responsiveness. Unlike that super shoe, this one has no carbon-fiber rods, which Adidas used instead of a plate, but it does have a nylon shank in the midfoot for stability when you’re transitioning from heel to toe. That’s needed because the foam is squishy and thick—the heel, mostly foam, is 39mm tall—and would otherwise prove unstable as you go through your stride.
“The midsole feels especially good at moderate to uptempo paces,” said tester Sarah Pezzino, who runs 40 miles per week and recently liked the Saucony Kinvara 15 and Brooks Hyperion Elite 4. “I found it more than adequate for long runs (even up to 16 miles or more), but it also handled strides, tempo work, and progression runs beautifully. The thick heel helped smooth out miles on rougher roads and concrete, especially when legs were fatigued. That balance is what made it a go-to for a wide variety of runs.”
“Balance” is a word that repeatedly popped up, and was echoed by Caroline Lennon, who has tested shoes for us for four years. “The coolest thing about these to me was the weight and cushioning. It was a perfect balance of being light and springy, but still feeling well-cushioned and supported.”
Surprisingly Durable
One lingering question about the new high-tech foams being used for running shoe midsoles is “how durable are they?” Historically, less-dense, soft midsoles would quickly pack out—compress so much that they wouldn’t offer enough cushioning—and wouldn’t spring back to their original thickness. But, we’re not seeing that in the Evo SL.
In testing, I put more than 450 miles on my first pair, using it for everything from an unintentionally fast 5K on a day when I was pressed for time, up to a 20-mile long run at 8-minute pace while training for the Boston Marathon. Every time I laced the shoe up, I appreciated the initial comfort as my foot hit the pavement. The heel, especially, makes for a soft landing. But, remarkably, the shoe firms up enough so you can power back off the ground without feeling like you’re sinking into too much foam.
And, even as I batignolles that self-imposed end of life, I found the shoe delivered just as much protection and bounce as pairs with far fewer miles.
(A fun side note: I converted that heavily used pair into a lightweight trail shoe by replacing the outsole with a thin web of Vibram rubber that I salvaged from a different pair of trail shoes and I continue to run in them.)
Runs True to Size
I found the fit to be true to size and comfortable, though the upper could use a little refinement in future updates. The engineered mesh is lightweight and breathable, and the back half is lightly padded to deliver just enough comfort—bonus, it doesn’t get soggy when it’s soaking wet. It’s worth noting that the heel fit can be a little loose. I often kicked up tiny bits of dirt—the kind that tends to accumulate at roadway intersections—and would notice it work its way under my foot.
That loose fit was noticed by testers like Lennon, too. “I found with faster work that they are a little loose through the collar unless you tighten them to the point of tongue edgebounce. It can feel like your foot is lifting out slightly. It wasn’t a huge concern but it was noticeable.”
Every tester commented on the tongue. It shifts to the side when you run, largely because the tongue tag doesn’t hold it close enough to the laces. This was more of an annoyance than a problem. To solve that, I cut two small slits higher up on the tongue and passed the laces through there—the tongue material didn’t fray after cutting it.
Shop the Adidas Adizero Evo SL at adidas.com
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adidas adipowers greene shoes black boots boys Runner’s World and the director of product testing. He has tested and reviewed running shoes, GPS watches, headphones, apparel, and more for nearly two decades. He regularly tests more than 100 pairs of shoes each year, and once had a 257-day streak running in different models. Jeff can usually be found on the roads, racing anything from the mile to a marathon, but he also enjoys racing up mountains and on snowshoes. When he’s not running, you’ll probably find him hanging from a ladder making repairs and renovations to his house (he’s also director of product testing for Popular Mechanics).
