adidas Reimagines the Popular Adizero Evo SL Running Shoe with an Exoskeleton

Following the widespread success of its Adizero Evo SL, adidas Running is set to update the popular performance model with an "exoskeleton" that propels the design into the future.

Revealed during Shanghai Fashion Week as part of the brand's "Power of Three" showcase, the aptly-named Adizero Evo SL EXO was featured in a number of outfits that play with curved lines and bold silhouettes to create something simultaneously familiar and refreshing. The reworked running shoe maintains all of the performance-first elements that've made it a go-to training model for countless athletes—LIGHTSTRIKE PRO midsole, Continental™ rubber—but couples them with a thin synthetic overlay that wraps across the bulk of the upper. The material presumably adds some structural support along the profiles, but its application atop the ballistic nylon-reminiscent upper is thin enough that it likely doesn't provide as much containment as an external plastic component would.

In addition to introducing an exoskeleton of sorts, the Evo SL EXO welcomes new eyelet protection along the tongue while exposing a cable lockdown system near the vamp. Ventilation is also added to the toe box and both sides of the top-of-the-tongue, updating the Evo SL visually and performance-wise. The tweaks to the popular runner will surely make it even more of a coveted product amongst non-runners looking for a comfortable, technical-looking footwear style.

Enjoy official photos of the EXO-variant ahead. Pairs are expected to join what's revving up to be a Spring 2026 adidas Running refresh. Keep your eyes on adidas.com for launches.

For more performance footwear news, check out the ultra-comfortable Nike Vomero Premium running shoe.