7 Best Adidas Running Shoes in 2024

Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob Andersen on
7 Best Adidas Running Shoes in 2024
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Adidas is one of the top brands in the athletic gear scene and continues to be a popular choice for running shoes.

To help you navigate the brand’s extensive selection of running footwear, we have selected the best models in different categories. More than 100 pairs of Adidas shoes had gone through our lab and wear tests before we made our choice.

Do you want a stylish trainer to double for jogging and a fashion statement? Are you planning to hit a race and need a speedy horse? Or are you headed for the trails to crush the rocks and mud? We got you, as we have chosen our top picks for you to get only the best.

How we test running shoes

We are a team of running shoe fanatics with an independent shoe-testing lab. We spend at least 7 hours per shoe, taking it on a series of runs, measuring over 30 different parameters, and even cutting it into pieces:

  • Our inspection includes every imaginable aspect, from shoe flexibility and cushioning softness tests to grip and shoelace slip tests.
  • We even built a custom smoke machine to demonstrate each shoe’s ventilation capacity.
  • We receive no free shoes from Adidas and purchase them at retail with our own funds.

Best Adidas running shoes overall

What makes it the best?

The Adizero Adios Pro 3 is a top-tier shoe from Adidas that combines insane speed with delightful cushioning, steadily gluing our feet to the ground along the way. Numbers double-checked, this is the #1 overall from Adidas' catalog.

The Lightstrike Pro foam steals the show, feeling bouncy and lovely on foot. Pushing our durometer against it put its softness levels 13.3% above average, ensuring a consistent feel underfoot without making comfort pay for it. Negative temperatures mean positive results for the AP3: after 20 minutes in the freezer, its foam hardened up by a mere 9.0% when the average sits at 28.4% extra rigidity. Oh, and racking up the miles feels awesome, as this marvelous foam gets only better with use!

The characteristic carbon rods provide a unique ride, overflowing explosive energy. This propulsive system ensured a 45.6N resistance force to our 90º bending test, a tremendous 51.5% above the average readings. Extra points for the Continental outsole, which emerged as an ultra-grippy 30.6% softer than average.

Runners seeking a comfy all-rounder might need to keep scrolling. After all, this is still a racing kick, and the 0.9 mm thick tongue embodies that.

Pros

  • Supreme stability... in a supershoe!
  • World-class energy return and cushioning
  • Feather-light and agile
  • A dream come true for marathoners
  • Wonderful breathability
  • Top-notch grip, even in wet conditions
  • Outstanding outsole durability
  • Accommodates wide feet

Cons

  • Risk of heel slippage
  • Lacing can be tricky
  • Not suited for heel strikers
Full review of Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3

Best Adidas daily running shoes

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Supernova Rise marks an exciting evolution in their daily trainer lineup, maintaining the series' core characteristics while introducing some notable enhancements. In our experience, it shines as a durable, comfortable, and stable shoe, particularly catering to heel strikers. It's lighter than ever, boasts a more generous toebox, and presents excellent value at $140. However, our tests revealed that the new PEBA foam didn't quite deliver the expected responsiveness, and the move away from Continental rubber in the outsole could be a big letdown for some enthusiasts.

Pros

  • Stable ride
  • Ideal for heel strikers
  • Smooth heel bevel
  • Plush, cozy upper
  • Breathable and durable
  • Finally new PEBA foam
  • Excellent value at $140

Cons

  • No Continental rubber
  • Tongue lacks gusset
  • Limited energy return
Full review of Adidas Supernova Rise

Best Adidas shoes for speed training

What makes it the best?

The Adizero Boston 12 is a towering speed demon, boasting a fresh and mighty ride to take on daunting reps with ease. As an entry-level supershoe, this is Adidas’ best kick for speed training.

At its 12th iteration, this Boston displays now fiber-glass Energyrods, the masterminds behind its powerful yet flexible feel—11.3% more flexible than average to be more precise. Bounce is delivered in spades here, with the premium layer of Lightsrike Pro taking the credit for it. Our durometer ranked this foam as 22.9% softer than average, and it’s the exceptional energy return that propels the Boston 12 into the top tier of speed trainers.

Not only underfoot is a speedster created; the Boston’s upper is equally up to the task. As one does, we pumped smoke into the shoe to assess its airflow. Through the tongue, sides, and toebox, the smoke ushed out with such ease that we awarded the Boston 12 a perfect 5/5 score for breathability.

During our usual stress test, four seconds of spinning 3.2N at 10K RPM were enough to completely tear the upper apart. In durability matters, the Boston’s toebox received the weakest possible score.

Pros

  • Lightstrike 2.0 brings a remarkable upgrade
  • Delivers a fun ride
  • Lighter than versions 10 and 11
  • Handles both slow and fast paces with ease
  • Wide toebox
  • Durable and grippy Continental outsole
  • Even more Lightstrike Pro superfoam
  • Improved stability due to a broader base
  • Fantastic for midfoot-to-forefoot strikers

Cons

  • Upper durability falls short
  • Tongue and heel could benefit from extra padding
  • Heel strikers might prefer v11
Full review of Adidas Adizero Boston 12

Best comfortable Adidas running shoes

What makes it the best?

As the epitome of Adidas' slow run class, the Ultraboost Light exudes ridiculous amounts of comfy cushioning from all angles, ensuring a safe and sound ride no matter the conditions.

This lofty character boasts a 30.1 mm stack height at the heel and 18.2 mm at the forefoot, adding to an uncommonly vertiginous drop of 11.9 mm that heel strikers will appreciate—measurements with courtesy of our caliper. Our joints felt no impact whatsoever, as the ludicrous Boost midsole would gobble it all. And delightfully so, with our durometer ranking the foam as 35.7% softer than average.

There’s a shy spark to the Ultraboost experience. Locking the tip of the shoe to bend it 90º revealed an 18.6N resistance, which ranked it as 38.2% more flexible than the average, enhancing its overall comfort and liberating feel. Even after 20 minutes in our freezer, its charm didn’t go away, stiffing up by only 27.0% compared to the average shoe’s 46.3% increase.

However, this shoe is far from feather-light as its name might imply, with its 305 grams (10.76 oz) feeling rather cumbersome at faster paces.

Pros

  • Cushy and responsive ride
  • Good for easy runs and long distances
  • Ideal for heel strikers
  • Suitable for wide feet
  • Effective stability elements for mild pronation
  • Snug and secure lockdown
  • Durable toebox and heel
  • Outsole built to last
  • Ready for winter runs
  • Works as a comfy walking shoe
  • Sustainably designed upper

Cons

  • Thin forefoot cushioning
  • Could be lighter
  • Slippery on wet surfaces
  • Not for speedwork
  • Average at best breathability
Full review of Adidas Ultraboost Light

Best Adidas trail running shoes

What makes it the best?

Its flashy aesthetics left the wild in awe, and its performance stood unbeatable. The Terrex Speed Ultra comes with a bang, ticking all boxes of a superb trail shoe by being protective, nimble, and lovely on foot.

Bridging our feet plants to the ground, a formidable dual-density midsole steals the show. While a fair portion of the silky Boost foam cushioned our heels, a thick layer of Lighstrike vibed to a different beat. The latest came out as a moderate 15.0% firmer than average from our durometer, adding a fairly reactive feel to our toe-off motion and sweetening this shoe's speedy facet.

While these two concepts don’t usually go hand in hand, the Speed Ultra is an ultra-light trail shoe. It quickly became a seamless complement to our feet, adding nothing more than a mere 258 grams (9.10 oz) to each of our legs. Given how the average trail shoe tips the scales at 296 grams (10.44 oz), that sure is something to behold. 

Besides, there was no fighting against our natural stride during our testing ventures in the woods. By resisting with only 24.3N to our 90º bending test, this shoe emerged as 21.1% more flexible than the average trail shoe.

On the other hand, the mud is this Adidas’ nemesis. Its minimalist outsole and 0.9 mm shorter-than-average lugs are better off out of the swampy fields.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Nimble ride
  • Grippy outsole
  • Breathable
  • Dries quickly
  • Great lockdown
  • Reflective elements

Cons

  • Feels a touch minimalist
  • No heel pull loop
Full review of Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra

Best budget Adidas running shoes

What makes it the best?

Everything at the price of nothing could very well be the motto of the Duramo 10. As a nicely cushioned and frankly capable daily trainer, it serves as the gateway to the world of running for beginners. Priced at $65, it’s on the cheapest end of the Adidas running lineup, which averages at $142.

While not the most exhilarating, the Duramo’s ride is in a league of its own within this price range. It belongs to the +30 mm class as our caliper came to confirm, measuring a heel stack of 31.6 mm. Pushing our durometer against the midsole revealed a score of 21.8 HA, meaning it’s 11.0% softer than the average. Pretty balanced numbers, which translated to a versatile and reliable experience out in the field.

With a delightfully soft upper, the lockdown game of the Duramo 10 is in no way dictatorial, feeling nice and easy on foot. Manually bending the heel counter was a breeze, scoring 1 out of 5 on our stiffness scale, with 1 being the most flexible. Plus, the upper promotes flawless airflow, managing to keep our feet fresh even in the scorching heat.

In the icy cold, the story is different. Putting the Duramo to our 90º bending test in our lab before and after 20 minutes in the freezer revealed an outrageous stiffness increase of 85%, while the average shoe stiffens up by 46.3%. This means the shoe might feel very different (much stiffer) when used in cold temperatures. 

Pros

  • Comfy for all-day wear
  • Lightweight for its kind
  • Stable even during sharp turns
  • Breezy on warm days
  • Perfect for beginners
  • Can handle gym training
  • Durable for the price
  • Soft upper
  • Affordable
  • Eco-friendly upper

Cons

  • Break-in period for wide feet
  • Lacks spring for fast runs
Full review of Adidas Duramo 10

Adidas running shoes with the best style

Adidas 4DFWD 3
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What makes it the best?

Third time’s a charm as 4DFWD 3 is our most stylish Adidas running shoe in the lab. We strutted the streets confidently with its eye-catching design, notably its 4D midsole that blends form and function well. The shoe feels forgiving and springy, with a reliable Continental rubber outsole to boast.

It’s obvious at first glance that the midsole is the star of the show. It proved to be just as mesmerizing in action, propelling us in ways we’ve never felt before. We were surprised the durometer measurement was a firm 41.5 HA because it felt softer underfoot. The gaps in the midsole compress to dampen landing impact and spring back to shape, giving us a nice rebound in our strides.

The flexibility of this Adidas keeps it all natural. Our 90-degree test reveals it’s 47.2% more flexible than the average. Manually twisting the shoe feels effortless, as it scored 2/5 in our torsional rigidity test. Both elements translate to a more forgiving and comfortable ride.

The well-known Continental rubber in the outsole reaffirms its durability and traction. We barely saw signs of wear after rigorous testing and it exhibited unwavering traction on wet and dry surfaces.

However, this shoe is a burden for faster efforts. At 348g (12.3 oz), it's 30.8% heavier than the average running shoe (266g/9.4 oz).

Pros

  • Extremely comfortable
  • Excellent traction
  • Great 4D midsole cushion
  • Durable upper and outsole
  • Flexible and forgiving on the foot
  • Secure lockdown
  • Works great as a walking shoe
  • Warm and consistent in the cold
  • Eye-catching design
  • Lots of colorway options

Cons

  • Quite heavy
  • Not good for high speeds or long distances
  • Below average breathability
  • Relatively narrow toebox
Full review of Adidas 4DFWD 3

Why choose Adidas running shoes?

Many users prefer to buy Adidas running shoes just because of the name alone. After all, the brand is reputable when it comes to producing high-quality shoes. But aside from this reason, we’ll give you 3 more that could get you interested:

adidas-ultraboost-21

  • Adidas is an established brand. Since 1948, Adidas has been developing and evolving running shoes. If you want a running shoe from an “experienced” brand, Adidas is a good choice.
  • Innovation in shoe technology. The Boost cushioning is popular in the running shoe industry. It remains highly recognized because of its effectiveness, consistency, and reliability.
  • Reasonable pricing. They may not be the cheapest, but Adidas running shoes continue to sell because they meet users’ expectations in quality and performance (they are also usually available on discount!)

Top-rated Adidas running shoe series

Adidas offers many running shoe series and models, which may be confusing or overwhelming to new users. Here’s how to differentiate the most popular ones:

Adidas Ultraboost

The Ultraboost series is the most notable running line from Adidas. Known for their flexible yet durable cushioning, the Ultraboost models guarantee 20% more energy return than those with standard foam midsoles.

Adidas Ultraboost Notable qualities.png

Adidas Alphabounce

The Alphabounce series aims for a more adaptive running experience through the use of Aramis motion sensor. Alphabounce shoes are characterized as “soft and bouncy,” and are emphasized on allocating comfort on every area of the foot.

Aramis motion sensor.png

Adidas Pureboost

Another Adidas shoe series that uses the Boost midsole tech is the Pureboost. It is intended for short-distance runs in urban settings. In contrast to Ultraboosts that are built for responsive runs, Pureboost shoes are more focused on providing comfort.

Adidas Pureboost Notable qualities.png

Adidas Duramo

With the Duramo series, beginners don’t have to settle for less. These cheap running shoes are aimed towards newbies who don’t want to splurge just yet, but still want to get the benefits of a decent running footwear.

Adidas Terrex

The Adidas Terrex is the brand’s special line for outdoor gear. Running shoes that are part of this series are meant for trail running, as they are equipped with features that perform best on technical terrains. The Terrex line also carries hiking shoes and hiking boots.

3 things to consider in your next Adidas shoe

Terrain: Pavement or trails

For your regular running pursuits on paved surfaces, smooth gravel, or other urban landscapes, consider getting an Adidas road running shoe

The graphic below summarizes the key differences between each shoe category:

Road vs trail.png

Use

Adidas daily running shoes are your best bet if you are looking for a go-to companion for your regular runs. These are also the most suitable for beginners.

For your speed workouts, training runs, or other athletic-level runs, the brand’s competition running shoes can help you achieve your goals. Adidas also offers several advanced racing flats with a carbon plate.

Here is a quick comparison between the two shoe categories:

Daily vs competition.png

Arch support

Runners with normal arches and neutral pronation can pick up a pair of Adidas neutral running shoes. These shoes are perfect if you have no issues with foot stability.

Conversely, if you feel there’s a need for additional arch support, or if you want to correct your overpronation (when the foot rolls inward excessively), Adidas stability running shoes are recommended.

If you are a beginner, or if your pronation does not interfere with your running at all, neutral shoes are always a good choice. You can also read more about pronation and running shoes in our arch support study.

Arch types and recommended shoes.png

Author
Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob is a fan of short distances with a 5K PR at 15:58 minutes. Based on 35 million race results, he's among the fastest 0.2% runners. Jens Jakob previously owned a running store, when he was also a competitive runner. His work is regularly featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC and the likes as well as peer-reviewed journals. Finally, he has been a guest on +30 podcasts on running.