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Buyer's Guide

adidas Adios Pro 4 Review & Sizing Guide

Published Updated

Buy Adios Pro 4 as a soft-cushioned marathon racer with wide pace range and strong sale-price value; skip it without inspecting the heel counter first — documented plastic-edge defects have cut owners' achilles bloody during races I am going to save you the sight of my bloody heels/achilles but let's just say my white socks turned red.

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Key facts

Use case
Marathon and HM racing — soft cushioned race shoe with broad pace versatility.
Ride
Soft Lightstrike Pro, Energy Rods 2.0, pronounced rocker, bouncier than Alphafly 3.
Fit
Race-day snug; fits short — size up half a size for longer distances per owners.
Critical defect
Sharp plastic heel counter edge under red 'This Too Shall Pass' tab cuts achilles on many pairs <ref id="c1">my pair also had a rough feeling bit of plastic</ref>.
Value
$250 retail; routinely $130-150 on sale via adidas.com with codes <ref id="c4">[US] Adidas.com - Adios Pro 4 - $131</ref>.
Durability
150-250km pairs holding up well; outsole barely worn.

Full breakdown

adidas Adios Pro 4 is adidas's flagship marathon racer — Lightstrike Pro midsole, Energy Rods 2.0, pronounced rocker, and a polarizing heel counter. A 2:54 marathoner who ran 2 marathons and 2 HMs in them called them the best racing shoe I've tried since the OG Alphafly they are good value, really good feeling marathon shoes. Upper issues aside, they are the best racing shoe I've tried since the OG Alphafly. Buy it for marathon and HM racing with a soft cushioned race-day feel, but check the heel counter for the documented sharp-plastic defect before your first long run.

FAQ

How does Adios Pro 4 fit, and should I size up?

Fits short — size up half a size for marathon distance. The 100km owner said size race-day snug but go half a size up for long distances if you've got wide feet, it might feel tight, and I'd recommend going half a size up for long distances. I have medium-width feet and felt comfy in my regular size (US13), and the Sky Paris comparison reviewer also said they fit short and went half a size up they do fit short so would definitely suggest going up half a size. Size up for marathons; medium-width feet can stay TTS for shorter races.

What is the Adios Pro 4 heel counter defect, and is my pair affected?

There is a documented sharp plastic edge hidden behind the red 'This Too Shall Pass' tab that cuts achilles on many pairs — a real defect risk. The follow-up reviewer ran a marathon and finished with bloody achilles; he later cut a slot in the shoe with a Dremel and sanded it down, after which the shoe ran without irritation I cut a slot in both shoes and filed it down with a high-grit sand paper wheel until I could no longer feel the plastic on the inside of the shoe. Buy from a retailer with a strong return window, and inspect the heel counter for rough plastic before any long run — avoid pairs with the sharp edge.

Is Adios Pro 4 worth $250 retail?

Not at full retail when $131-150 sale prices are routine on adidas.com. adidas dropped the Aqua/Lemon colorway to $150 (40% off) $150 $250 Original price -40% and the Teal/White Adios Pro 4 hit $131 with a HOLIDAY 40% code I got the Teal/White Adios Pro 4 for $131. Wait for code-driven sales; never buy this shoe at full retail.

Adios Pro 4 vs Alphafly 3 vs Endorphin Elite 2 — which is the best racer?

A 1:20 HM forefoot striker tested all three head-to-head and picked Alphafly 3 — most responsive feeling, firmer than the others, best upper Nike Alphafly 3... is my easily my favorite of the three and I do most of my mileage in it. He found Adios Pro 4 soft but with harsh Energy Rod vibrations in the forefoot and Endorphin Elite 2 too marshmallowy. Buy Adios Pro 4 if you want a softer marathon racer with broad pace tolerance; Alphafly 3 if you want firmer responsiveness.

How long does Adios Pro 4 last for racing?

150-250km of races and training without noticeable bounce loss. The follow-up marathoner used his pair for 2 marathons, 2 HMs, parkruns, and training runs (152 miles/252km) with no pep loss I felt no such thing. To me they performed just as good at 200km as they did in my first race. Buy with confidence on durability and expect to retire after 250-300km if racing hard; longer if used as a workout shoe too — choose Adios Pro 4 if you want a race shoe that doubles as workout trainer.