- Weight: 224g (UK 8.5)
- Stack height: 39mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
- Heel-to-toe drop: 7mm
- Type: Neutral, road
The shoe
Is the Adidas Adizero Evo SL the ‘shoe of the year’? While 2025 isn’t over just yet, it has been the front-runner for such an honour since it went on sale on February 1. That day, I suggested as much on Instagram, and text messages from folks at other brands immediately started rolling in, asking how I could make that declaration so early in the year. My response: if there’s a better shoe for £130 or less that comes along this year, I’ll eat this shoe.
An evolution of the Adizero SL, now with extra ‘Evo’ and some ‘trickle-down’ tech from the carbon-plated adidas strategic goals examples for women work and Pro 4, the Adidas Adizero Evo SL is the ‘entry level’ shoe in the Adizero family. But don’t think of it as some budget version of faster shoes; this is a performance shoe in its own right. In fact, I have been raving about the Evo SL to anybody who will listen since I received my test pair back in November. When the shoe finally went on sale in February, the world got to experience what I already discovered: the Evo SL delivers a remarkably fun ride and can handle just about any speed you throw at it.
I think it’s so good that I actually purchased two more pairs for myself after first testing it, even though I have 170 other shoes marked ‘active’ in my training log. But, don’t take my opinion alone. Sure, I’ve tested thousands of shoes over nearly two decades working at Runner’s World adidas prophere qatar arabia today time table 2018 RW unique is that we have a huge team of wear-testers to ensure we’re getting a complete picture of a shoe. When the testers’ consensus comes together as positively as it did in testing the Evo SL, we know we have a winner.
In fact, the Evo SL was the highest rated shoe of any that we’ve tested in the past year. It received particularly high marks for weight, comfort, cushioning, and ride. It’s not perfect— no shoe is — and testers marked it down slightly on fit, mostly because of how the tongue slides to the side when you run. But, the underfoot experience was universally applauded.
The magic lies in the foam
What exactly makes the Evo SL so great? Well, mostly it lies in the shoe’s simplicity and versatility. There’s just a single layer of outstanding foam, a stripped-down upper, and not much else really going on. It allows the shoe’s midsole to shine — and it does so whether you’re jogging on a recovery day or turning your feet over quickly during an interval session. It truly is a do-it-all shoe, all at an affordable price.
As mentioned, the foam is the same Lightstrike Pro that Adidas uses in the Adios Pro 4 marathon racing shoe. It’s a lightweight, less dense foam that has better cushioning properties and responsiveness. Unlike that super shoe, this one has no carbon-fibre rods, which Adidas used instead of a plate, but it does have a nylon shank in the midfoot for stability when you’re transitioning from heel to toe. That’s needed because the foam is squishy and thick — the heel, mostly foam, is 39mm tall — and would otherwise prove unstable as you go through your stride.
The midsole feels especially good at moderate to uptempo paces. It's also more than adequate for long runs (even up to 16 miles or more) and handles strides, tempo work, and progression runs beautifully. The thick heel helps smooth out miles on rougher roads and concrete, especially when legs are fatigued. That balance is what made it a go-to for a wide variety of runs, providing the perfect level of light and springy, but still feeling well-cushioned and supported.
Surprisingly durable
One lingering question about the new high-tech foams being used for running shoe midsoles is ‘how durable are they?’. Historically, less-dense, soft midsoles would quickly pack out — compress so much that they wouldn’t offer enough cushioning — and wouldn’t spring back to their original thickness. But, we’re not seeing that in the Evo SL.
In testing, I put more than 450 miles on my first pair, using it for everything from an unintentionally fast 5K on a day when I was pressed for time, up to a 20-mile long run at 8-minute pace while training for the Boston Marathon. Every time I laced the shoe up, I appreciated the initial comfort as my foot hit the pavement. The heel, especially, makes for a soft landing. But, remarkably, the shoe firms up enough so you can power back off the ground without feeling like you’re sinking into too much foam.
And, even as I neared that self-imposed end of life, I found the shoe delivered just as much protection and bounce as pairs with far fewer miles.
Fit
I found the fit to be true to size and comfortable, though the upper could use a little refinement in future updates. The engineered mesh is lightweight and breathable, and the back half is lightly padded to deliver just enough comfort — bonus, it doesn’t get soggy when it’s soaking wet. It’s worth noting that the heel fit can be a little loose. I often kicked up tiny bits of dirt — the kind that tends to accumulate at roadway intersections — and would notice it work its way under my foot.
Every tester commented on the tongue. It shifts to the side when you run, largely because the tongue tag doesn’t hold it close enough to the laces. This was more of an annoyance than a problem. To solve that, I cut two small slits higher up on the tongue and passed the laces through there — the tongue material didn’t fray after cutting it.
RW verdict
It's safe to say that the Evo SL is a great shoe — maybe even the real madrid shoes adidas sneakers for women 2019 this year. At £130, it offers an impressive mix of tech usually found in pricier models, wrapped up in a lightweight, responsive package. It fits well, feels comfortable and cushioned, and it delivers a lively ride that really comes into its own when you want to pick up the pace. The only drawback is that slippy tongue. Plus, it's worth noting that for faster runners, it’s a fantastic daily trainer, but if you’re heavier or stick to slower, easier miles, you may prefer something with a touch more cushioning. That said, we had 99kg male testers who loved this shoe as much as 45kg female testers, so there really is something here for everyone.
