Since the days during which Adolf "Adi" Dassler was hand-making footwear in confined spaces in Germany, adidas has been obsessed with developing the most advanced equipment for athletes.
Over the last two decades, the Three Stripes has looked to innovating within the world of marathon-ready shoes through its Adizero category of footwear. Handfuls of strides have been made in helping athletes perform better across 26.2 miles, but few have put the industry on watch as has the Adios Pro Evo 1, one of the brand's lightest marathon racers of all-time.
It's possible the Three Stripes recently teased the third installment in its revolutionary racing series: the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.
Assets shared to social media showcase a well-cushioned, partly-transparent sneaker placed on a scale. The number displayed on the tool reads 97.27 grams (3.43 ounces) for what's likely a U.S. Men's size 9. By comparison, the aforementioned Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 came in at 138 g. (4.86 oz.) in the same size. Although the weight discrepancy isn't huge, it's substantial when considering these shoes are built to traverse more than 26 miles at record paces. Additionally, the ounce-and-change saved on the newer silhouette means less fatigue in the long run, which could help athletes finally achieve the sub-2-hour marathon mark in a sanctioned race.
What stands out from the teased silhouette is the semi-exposed stiffening agent, visible at the heel and along the profile. adidas could finally be moving away from its ENERGYRODS system in favor of a more traditional carbon fiber plate—a move that would reposition the Adizero Racing catalog within similar guidelines as the Nike VaporFly and AlphaFly series.
The Three Stripes confirmed the initial rumors as being true by taking to the 2026 Tokyo Marathon to officially reveal the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.
Although full tech specs are still under wraps, unobscured visuals showcase a semi-exposed, protruding-at-the-heel, full-length stiffening agent. The impending Adios Pro 5 marathon runner is also expected to abandon the aforementioned ENERGYRODS setup.
A modified version of LIGHTSTRIKE PRO EVO foam likely makes up the new silhouette's sole unit, with sculpting throughout surely optimizing the ride across the marathon distance. Below, full rubber coverage appears in a new package, while the upper introduces a reinforced, but still lightweight build.
Stay tuned for further details. adidas-sponsored athletes will debut the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 at the Tokyo Marathon. While you wait for more information, check out adidas.com for all available running shoes.
For more performance footwear news, read about Nike's ultra-cushioned Vomero Premium.
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