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The first thing you notice is how light and comfortable it is. For a carbon racing shoe, it fits perfectly and instantly feels like it belongs on your foot. The midsole is noticeably softer than the Pro Evo 2 with fun, springy, bouncy energy. The curved rocker is the same as the last generation Pro Evo 2. It quickly rolls you onto the ball of your foot, creating rapid foot rotation and lively toe-off. Everything is very smooth, light and driven.
The higher levels of smoothness really come through. Fans of a stiffer, faster ride (like what you get from the Asics Metaspeed Edge or Sky Tokyo) may not like this feel. But there’s a really good balance between cushioning and protection under the forefoot, with all the fun and solid responsiveness you’d expect from a quality carbon racing shoe.
I found it worked best, Heidemann describes, when I was taking a consistently faster stride, landing from the midfoot to the forefoot with real intent. But I was surprised by how comfortable I felt at the slower pace as well. The Energy Edge gives you some control over the high-compression midsole foam. It’s hard to say after having only run 40 minutes on the treadmill, but for such a lightweight shoe, my gut says the Pro Evo 3 should be surprisingly protective even if the wheels come off at 20 marathon miles.
On the upper, the Pro Evo 3 features a very simple mesh upper and striped back, with the thinnest tongue you’ve ever seen, a barely padded heel collar and minimal heel counter. These uppers take some inspiration from kite surfing materials and are noticeably more flexible than the uppers of the Pro Evo 2. This creates a roomy, airy and flexible feel, with good freedom to flex your toes. These shoes disappear on your foot for a truly great feel. All I have to do is run in straight lines, but I’m not convinced they’ll offer enough support in tight turns.
Should you start saving?
When Adidas first released the Pro Evo racing shoe, I was one of the first to do a double take at the price. That’s a lot of money for any shoe. Unlike previous versions of the Pro Evo, which didn’t impress me, the Pro Evo 3 feels real tuned. However, I’m still not convinced that 99 percent of runners really need a $500 shoe.
Take it from this 66-run marathon: PR can falter just as easily in affordable shoes. It doesn’t even have to be shoes made of carbon plates. It’s not just the size of the investment that should give most of us pause. The Adidas Pro Evo 3 is designed with a specific runner in mind: fast forefoot strikers who can run agile and maintain their form. This is definitely not everyone.
If you fit this profile and have the speed and money available, go for it. The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 looks like the real deal. That is if you can get a pair. Only a few will go on sale in a very limited first round, with more landing in the fall.