I’m hesistant to call the Adidas Adizero Evo SL the “perfect” running shoe. As a gear tester, I’m constantly on the hunt for the best kicks to recommend anytime anyone asks me what to buy. Usually, though, my answer comes with caveats: How long do you usually run? What type of foot do you have? Are you training for a race, or just trying to learn to enjoy jogging? Alas, there’s no such thing as one running shoe that works for every runner. But the Adidas Adizero Evo SL might be the closest I’ve found to a catch-all.
You’ve probably already seen them—people are pretty obsessed. When I post mine on Instagram, I get bombarded with messages: “Greatest running shoe ever made,” “SL!!” or a twinning photo from someone who also wears them religiously. At run clubs, they’re on at least a dozen feet.
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Hannah Singleton
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Hannah Singleton
Adidas
Adizero EVO SL Shoes
The Most Versatile Running Shoe in the Game
What makes this shoe stand out is its versatility. Which, frankly, isn’t something running brands are prioritizing right now. Most daily trainers are okay, but lack a bit of “oomph.” And other models are super specific: race-day carbon plates, maximalist foam for recovery days, you name it. Usually, to make a shoe great at one thing, you have to sacrifice something else. A long run shoe might cushion your joints but feel like wet cement during sprints. A speed shoe might feel great for a 5K but destroy your calves by mile 10. But Adidas managed to mix together just the right features so that the Evo SL actually does everything pretty damn well.
I’ve been testing this shoe out for a few months and I’ve used it for nearly every type of run. It has just enough give that I don’t feel trashed after 15 miles (and I’m prone to shin splints and achy hips), but they’re also peppy enough that I can still pick up the pace for treadmill sprints. They’ve been especially solid on tempo runs—my slightly-faster-than-marathon-pace days—where I want cushion but still need some pop.
Snappy and Smooth, Mile After Mile
The Lightstrike Pro midsole is the same foam Adidas uses in its supershoe, the Adizero Adios Pro 3, but they left out the energy rods, which stiffen the ride. Without them, the Evo SL feels way more forgiving and a lot easier to wear regularly. But it’s still quick without the carbon fiber. The rocker shape helps keep your footsteps snappy without making you feel like you’re being launched forward against your will. Everything is nice and smooth. The fit is forgiving, too. The toe box is roomy but not sloppily wide, and the midfoot hugs enough to work for narrower feet. The insole gently supports the arch without feeling orthotic, and the foam feels squishy but not unstable.
Hannah Singleton
Hannah Singleton
I Had to Hunt for the Downsides
But with all the hype around this shoe, there’s also backlash. And when Adidas first released this shoe, they did it in limited drops, so it was kind of hard to get. People who wanted to try it couldn’t, which added to the mystique. So, in an attempt to find potential problems with the shoe, I combed through Reddit to find complaints. (Highly scientific, I know.) There are a few real drawbacks. A few users mentioned struggling to get a locked-in fit—something I agree with if you’re not paying attention to how you lace them. If I don’t secure the top laces, the ankle cuff feels rather loose. Others said the tongue tends to slide down. It’s not gusseted, meaning it’s not stitched to the upper, so if you’re not threading your laces through the tongue loop, it can migrate.
Verdict: Is the Adidas Adizero EVO SL Worth It?
Personally, I haven’t had any slipping issues—mostly because my forefoot is terribly wide and there’s no room for anything to move—but if that becomes a problem, you can swap the laces or loop them through the tab to keep things in place. Also, while this shoe can be a race day shoe for many intermediate runners, it may not give you the precision you need if you’re a serious racer looking to PR. The upper leans comfort over weight-savings, and it only comes in one width.
But after taking everything into consideration, I’ve got to give these shoes my full endorsement. With a shoe closet that is busting at the hinges with options from every brand for every purpose, I still find myself reaching for the Adidas Adizero Evo SL every single time—for both speed and distance. That’s something I can’t say about any other shoe in my closet.
