adidas' $500 Adios Pro Evo 2 Marathon Racer Debuts in 'Silver Metallic'

The 2025 Abbott World Marathon Majors season will kick off on Sunday, March 2, in Tokyo. Elite fields have already been announced for some of the year's most-anticipated events, but these athletes' choice in footwear has yet to be seen. Those sponsored by the Three Stripes, however, could unveil the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 in their attempts to set new personal bests, course times, and world records.

A sequel to the $500 racing model unveiled at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, the Pro Evo 2 was approved for competition by World Athletics in November 2024. The silhouette – which delivers new geometry, LIGHTSTRIKE PRO EVO foam, and traction setup – can be tested across World Marathon Majors until Friday, Nov. 28. By then, all seven major competitions would've come and went, with adidas-sponsored athletes likely to have laced up the lightweight racer in Berlin, New York City, and Chicago.

Official tech specs for the Adios Pro Evo 2 haven't been disclosed by the Three Stripes, but an initial look at the sequel reveals a number of differences from the Adios Pro Evo 1.

The single-piece of foam underfoot no longer reads LIGHTSTRIKE PRO. Instead, the impending model's cushioning setup is denoted as consisting entirely of LIGHTSTRIKE PRO EVO. Those lucky enough to try on the Adios Pro Evo 1 immediately mentioned that despite the identical name, LIGHTSTRIKE PRO featured on the lightweight marathon racer differed from that found on the Adios Pro 3 and other Adizero offerings. It's possible the Adios Pro Evo 2 has simply updated the cushioning's name without tweaking the TPEE's (Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer) composition.

What's immediately certain about LIGHTSTRIKE PRO EVO on the Adios Pro Evo 2 is that it's presented with an all-new rocker geometry. The Three Stripes emphasized that countless hours of athlete data informed the Adios Pro Evo 1's 60% rocker, which ultimately trickled down to the Adios Pro 4. By comparison, the latest Evo-branded Adizero model features a much more aggressive angle at the forefoot. It's possible that adidas' Research & Development team discovered that better running economy is achieved with a quicker foot-strike. A rocker at the 70% mark might not be for everybody, but those with marathon times under 3-hours and 30-minutes could benefit from the updated shape. The Adios Pro Evo 2 could also introduce a new version of adidas' ENERGYRODS system to capitalize on the new rocker and foam compisition.

Underfoot, the thin but grippy liquid rubber outsole has been completely reworked. The LIGHTTRAXION solution found on the Adios Pro 4 and Adios 9 is abandoned in favor of a another glossy compound that features flex grooves at the forefoot. Thin strips of the liquid-like rubber compound cover either side of the heel to deliver more substantial protection to the soft foam midsole. Surprisingly enough, not a single piece of Continental rubber appears on the Adios Pro Evo 2, although prototypes used by adidas' elite runners may feature a reworked outsole with the reliable, but heavier tire compound.

Visually, the semi-translucent upper seems different from its predecessor, but closer inspection reveals the same paper thin mesh construction. Reinforced eyelets and padding across the tongue and inner-lining seemingly stay the same to ensure the latest Evo-series offering maintains an unrivaled weight.

The model's debut colorway features the same 'Silver Metallic/Lucid Red' combination found on the recent Adizero Ekiden collection.

Enjoy an official look at adidas' Adios Pro Evo 2 below. Firm release details haven't been disclosed by the brand as of yet, but pairs should hit adidas.com for $500 throughout summer. Expect the marathon racer to only land in limited supply as to comply with World Athletics.

For more from the Three Stripes family, check out our dedicated adidas Release Dates calendar, which includes several colorways of Anthony Edwards' AE1.