Who should buy the Prime X Strung
Get a hold of the Adizero Prime X Strung if you:
- Want a supplementary trainer for your race-legal super-shoe.
- Need supremely massive cushioning on a fast road running shoe.
- Aren’t a professional runner and want a more comfortable Adizero racer.
Who should not buy it
This runner can be borderline perilous for those not used to unstable super-shoes. For one that won’t topple you over when cornering, check out the New Balance SC Trainer. If you have Eliud Kipchoge in your sights, you’re better off using the World Athletics-cleared super racers such as the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2 and the cheaper ASICS Magic Speed 2.
Data-driven, robot-created upper
Most upper updates are minor in nature—some are for waterproofing or winter-proofing, while a good chunk is mainly only for aesthetics. Not so with the Adizero Prime X Strung.
According to a bunch of running-shoe experts, its innovative STRUNG upper (which, interestingly, is woven by machines based on foot data collected from elite runners) drastically improved the shoe’s ride quality by conforming better to the foot and offering a more supportive lockdown vs. the v1 Prime X.
More comfort and better performance
Testers found the Prime X Strung’s upper to be more comfortable than the OG version’s thanks to the strips of padding added around the heel collar. The way the strands of STRUNG material were laid down at the toe box also helped the shoe become slightly “more supple and flexible.”
That isn’t to say the shoe is pliable—far from it. But runners appreciated this stiffness and rigidity as it brought structural integrity to a shoe without a ‘real’ heel counter and in need of supportive elements.
Very spacious inside
Reviewers reported that the Prime X Strung has a “tremendous upper for a high-volume foot.” Its toe box is roomy and the shoe runs a touch long, but going true to size is still recommended.
It doesn’t get more cushioned than this
The main draws of the Prime X line are its jumbo-sized stack of Lightstrike Pro—which one expert describes as “one of the most balanced super foams”—and the carbon elements embedded in it.
Runners found this combination to be “the magic that makes this shoe so much fun,” as the EnergyRods provide plenty of bounce while the deep cushioning prevents it from feeling too harsh.
Don’t get caught wearing the Prime X Strung
Magical as the gigantic stack height and multiple carbon elements may be, they are also the two factors that make the Prime X Strung illegal for World Athletics competitions, especially when gunning for a podium finish.
For context, using shoes with more than 40mm of stack height or more than one plate in the midsole may be grounds for disqualification.
Makes hard paces feel easy
In addition to its midsole, the Prime X Strung’s aggressive forefoot rocker gives it a fast and energetic ride with a “smooth rebound off the forefoot.”
Running vets explained that while it isn’t “extremely propulsive” like other super shoes, it feels fast “because it’s so efficient and energy-saving.”
The Prime X Strung wants to fly
A handful of experts found the shoe apt for recovery paces, but most of them agree that picking up the pace is the way to go in the Prime X Strung. It shines the brightest on tempo runs, intervals, and faster long runs, and even more so “when you’re up on your toes and engaging the rocker.”
Its narrow heel platform—almost 20mm narrower than the Alphafly Next% 2, as measured by one shoe expert—makes it wobbly and “can be bleeding dangerous” for slow paces, steep downhills, and tight corners.
Rubber outsole is a solid 10
According to one reviewer, the Continental Rubber outsole on the Prime X Strung “checks all the boxes,” it’s durable, quiet underfoot, rarely collects debris, and grippy even in slippery conditions.
That’s a lot of coin
While to some, the Adizero Prime X Strung’s many benefits still outweigh its $300 cost, plenty of serious runners consider it to be “very expensive for a shoe that is limited to training purposes.”
Facts / Specs
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