adidas Adizero Prime SP 4 review

We recommend the adidas Adizero Prime SP 4 for:

• Elite sprinters seeking a high-performance spike for training and racing.
• Track athletes competing in events from 60m to 400m, including hurdles.
• Sprinters who liked the Prime SP 3 but wanted a more breathable upper.

The high price of the adidas Adizero Prime SP 4 makes it a tough sell for budget-conscious sprinters. If you're not ready to make such a big investment, we recommend checking out more affordable options like the Nike Rival Sprint or adidas Adizero Sprintstar.

We also believe that sprinters who prioritise a lightweight feel will be better served by a lighter alternative like the Nike Maxfly 2.

The adidas Adizero Prime SP 4 brings a substantial change at the rear. We measured a 16.2 mm heel stack, making it 46% taller than the previous version.

That's a major increase within a sprint spike, even though the resulting height sits close to average for track shoes.

Our measurement in the forefoot came in at 17.6 mm, which is marginally lower than the predecessor. It seems that adidas has therefore changed the balance of the platform substantially, adding height at the back while keeping a similar stack beneath the ball of the foot.

We measured an actual drop of -1.4 mm, placing the forefoot slightly higher than the heel. In our view, this negative-drop geometry makes perfect sense and may even be ideal for an aggressive sprint spike designed for all-out efforts.

We confirmed that adidas uses Lightstrike Pro in this sprint platform, but the name alone doesn't describe the complete midsole as it feels very different from the road-running formulation.

We found two different foams in our cutaway, with the primary sample measuring 53.5 AC and the secondary one coming in at 48.8 AC, both very firm even within our track spike category.

Replacing STRUNG with engineered mesh hasn't produced a meaningful change in the widest part of the fit.

Our mould measured 88.8 mm, almost identical to the predecessor and close to average for a track spike.

The forefoot tapers significantly toward the toes at 65.0 mm, even more aggressively than in most sprint spikes. However, for a shoe built for all-out sprinting, we believe sacrificing some comfort for a super-secure lockdown is a worthwhile trade-off.

Vertical space increases with this update. We measured a 23.0 mm toebox height, giving the toes 9.5% more clearance than in the previous model.

That said, it remains a low-volume toebox even by sprint spike standards, making it better suited for sprinters who prefer a glove-like fit and ultra-secure lockdown.

We were disappointed to find a weight increase in the adidas Adizero Prime SP 4. Our spike weighed 7.3 oz (207g), making it 7% heavier than the predecessor, even despite changing from a STRUNG upper towards a thinner engineered mesh.

For a premium sprint spike, this is a substantial weight, and we see it as one of the clearest compromises for athletes who prioritise a minimal feel on the foot.

Twisting the shoe required 16.0 Nm of torque, revealing a high level of torsional rigidity within the track spike category. The carbon plate and reinforced Speed Wedge system form a strongly structured platform underfoot.

We gave the heel counter a 2/5 after testing its stiffness. It has some shape and reinforcement, but still yields readily when pressed.

A 99.9 mm forefoot platform gives the shoe a broad base where sprinters spend most of their ground contact.

We appreciate the generous platform width beneath the ball of the foot, as it provides added stability, especially during hurdle events.

The heel platform measured 63.5 mm, a conventional width for a track spike. We found a much slimmer base here than at the forefoot, keeping the overall shape focused on sprinting. 

We also spotted a fun detail: the 9:XX printed on the outsole. It's clear that this shoe is built for all-out speed, and we think breaking the 10-second barrier in the 100m is exactly what adidas had in mind for their elite athletes.

We gave the new upper just 2/5 for toebox durability, compared to the impressive 4/5 achieved by the previous STRUNG construction. So the SP 4 is not only heavier but also less durable. Let's hope it's at least more breathable!

The heel lining delivered a much stronger result, earning the maximum 5/5 in our abrasion test.

We measured a 1.7 mm outsole, making the carrier 52.8% thinner than the predecessor's. That's a major reduction in this component that allows to maximise the amount of Lightstrike Pro foam.

The adidas Adizero Prime SP 4 comes with six removable spike pins, and adidas also includes a spike wrench in the box.

Ventilation is one of the biggest improvements in the Prime SP 4. Our smoke test earned the engineered mesh a strong 4/5, a substantial step forward from the 1/5 result delivered by STRUNG in version 3.

Under the microscope, we found large openings between the supporting yarns, giving air clear paths through the textile. We appreciate this change for hot track sessions, especially when time spent warming up and waiting between repetitions extends well beyond several minutes.

The lacing system combines flat laces with punched eyelets in a reinforced eyestay, but we definitely missed the grippy, textured laces found on the Adios Pro 5.

We measured 4.1 mm of tongue padding, a generous amount for a sprint spike. This extra cushioning helps reduce lace pressure on the top of the foot but also adds some weight.

The insole measured 2.2 mm, keeping the layer directly beneath the foot as thin as possible.

We found a small pull-tab at the top of the heel. Its flat, triangular shape gives us a place to grip when putting the SP 4 on.

The Adizero Prime SP 4 comes with a slight price increase over its predecessor, placing it firmly in premium sprint spike territory. However, with Lightstrike Pro foam, a full-length carbon plate, and a reinforced spike carrier, we weren't surprised to see adidas pushing the price close to £180.