Within the first few strides, the reason behind the £450 price tag of the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 supershoes becomes clear. These are the shoes that propelled Sebastian Sawe to become the first man to break the two-hour barrier in a competitive marathon, clocking an astonishing 1:59:30 at the London Marathon.
Witnessing History at the London Marathon
Five days before my test run, viewers worldwide watched Sawe rewrite the record books over 26.2 miles. After crossing the finish line looking remarkably fresh, Sawe removed one shoe and asked for his groundbreaking time to be inscribed on it—a moment captured in an iconic photo now emblematic of the achievement.
Putting the Supershoes to the Test
On a sunny Thursday morning, I laced up the 97g Adios Pro Evo 3—lighter than a Mars bar—for a progressive 5km run through east London’s Victoria Park. As a regular runner training four times weekly, I hold a 3:13 marathon personal best from my Rome debut. My current 5km target was a progressive 19:30, building speed each kilometer.
The first kilometer passed in 3:59. Sensing untapped potential, I accelerated. The second kilometer hit 3:41, with subsequent splits quickening further. By the final kilometer, I flew at 3:24, finishing in 18:33—a result far exceeding expectations and leaving me convinced a full-effort start could have delivered sub-18 minutes.
Revolutionary Technology Inside
These supershoes feature an ultralight, weightless upper inspired by kitesurfing sails, offering surprising support. The next-generation LIGHTSTRIKE PRO EVO foam delivers cushioning and superior energy return. Instead of a traditional carbon plate, Adidas integrates a carbon fibre-infused ‘energy rim’ in the midsole for stiffening and propulsion, making them lighter than competitors while matching or surpassing their forward drive.
During the run, the shoes felt almost invisible—a ultimate endorsement of their design. They effortlessly devoured the distance, transforming effort into speed.
Comparison to Budget Rivals
Recently, I tested the £39.99 Crivit CarbonLite 1.0 from Lidl, the market’s cheapest carbon-plated option, on Vatican City’s cobbled streets. The gap between these budget shoes and the Adios Pro Evo 3 is vast. While affordable, they pale in performance.
Verdict for Serious Runners
At £450, these supershoes target record-chasers. For dedicated runners aiming to shatter personal bests—especially marathons—they justify the investment. Expect them to push athletic boundaries even further beyond Sawe’s landmark feat.
