This year the Adidas Adizero EVO SL has blown up, with many runners now having it as part of their rotation due to it being described as a great all-rounder. And I don’t know about you, but I think it looks lovely as well. I’ve put 600km into the Adidas Adizero Evo SL this year, using it for everything from 5K races to a 24-hour ultra. This isn’t a first-impressions post, it’s what the shoe is like once the novelty has worn off, the foam has settled, and real mileage has happened.

Weight: 224g (UK 8.5)
Stack height: 39mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
Heel-to-toe drop: 7mm
Type: Neutral, road
Colours: Over 11 different colour ways , with some special editions as well

The Evo SL is marketed as a lightweight performance trainer, designed to be fast, but without the carbon plate. After 600km, I can say it’s still a brilliant shoe, and importantly, it still feels springy and has held up well. Here’s how it performs at easy pace, fast pace, and ultra-distance, who it suits best, and where I’d choose something more stable.

Summary

Price: £130 (can be found cheaper on sale)
Best for: easy runs and faster sessions - feels good at any distance
Ride: Cushioned, lightweight all-rounder
Durability: Very durable
Verdict: The perfect all-rounder

Quick verdict (who’s it for?)

If you want one shoe that can cover easy runs and fast paces without feeling like a ‘specialist’ shoe, the Evo SL is easy to recommend. I’ve struggled to fault it at any distance. The only caveat is that for ultras, especially when you’re tired and form gets messy, you may prefer something with more built-in stability.

How I tested it

I’m a UK 9.5 and I’ve used it across this year on roads, grass, and light trails in all weather conditions. From easy runs to workouts and races (plus a 24-hour ultra) so this section gives you the context to decide whether it’ll suit your needs.

Weekly mileage range: 30km - 70km
Typical paces: 6:00 /km - 3:45 /km
Surfaces: roads / towpaths / track / grass / light trail
Weather: Dry / Rain / Ice / Snow

The Details

Fit and comfort

I’d call the Evo SL true to fit. Toe room is sufficient and width is good. However, I do have narrow feet, so runners who usually need wider shoes might find them more snug.

Laces and upper material

I’ve seen people criticise the laces on these shoes, but personally I’ve had no issues, and they’ve always been secure whilst running. The tongue can take some adjustment when lacing up the shoes, but I don’t find that to be too much of an issue considering what you get out of these shoes.

Grip and outsole

Grip has been great on typical UK roads and paths, including damp conditions. The only time I’d be cautious is when it’s slippy or wet, which is true of most road shoes. The Continental sole is a cool feature and I haven’t had any issues with grip. Recently Adidas have just launched a ‘winter-ready’ version of the Evo SL, the ATR version. This is meant to be a more durable, stable version of the shoe which could be a great option for your winter runs if you love this shoe as much as I do.

Ride and performance (easy pace to speed)

Easy runs

At easy pace, the Evo SL is genuinely enjoyable, smooth enough to cruise, but not dull due to good feedback and bounce. It’s one of those shoes that makes an recovery run feel a bit better. The bounciness of the ligh strike pro foam definitely helps with this.

Fast paces (tempo / intervals / 5K effort)

When you push the pace, the shoe really comes alive. It feels light and responsive without needing you to change your mechanics to ‘make it work’, which is exactly what you want in a daily performance shoe.

Distance range (5K to ultra)

Racing (5K/10K)

I’ve raced 5Ks in these and never felt under-shoed. If you prefer one shoe that can train and race without swapping into a dedicated ‘race day only’ option, the Evo SL fits that brief. However, if you’re really looking for a PB, I’d recommend the Adidas Adios Pro 4 instead. This is a carbon plated shoe, and has a lot of similarities to the Evo SL, but has that extra springiness and responsiveness.

Long runs and ultras

For long runs (15k+) this shoe also shines. Due to it being incredibly light compared to similar types of shoe, you don’t feel as sluggish and heavy-legged at the back end of your run. This is bound to help with your training and reduce sore legs the next day.

I’ve used the Evo SL in a 24 hour ultra (Endure24 Leeds) and the fact it’s still comfortable deep into long efforts is a big part of why I rate it so highly. However, I did rotate shoes during this run for obvious reasons, but 18 hours in when you’re numb below the ankles, these shoes were still great. That said, if you know you get wobbly late in ultras, or you simply prefer more guidance, I’d choose a more stable shoe such as the ASICS Gel-Kayano 32. It’s also worth noting that if your ultra is off-road or on a trail, you’ll be better off with trail running shoes.

Durability after 600km

After 600km, this is still a brilliant shoe, and crucially, it still has that bounce. If I had to summarise durability in one line - it hasn’t turned into a dead daily trainer, and I’d happily buy another pair.

Below are some photos of the shoe after 600km of running.

There are obvious signs of wear and tear but I’d be surprised if there wasn’t after almost a year of use. Looking at the soles you can also see some signs of wearing at the heel due to me heel striking. And then that clean white colour has also faded over time on the upper material. But who buys white running shoes to keep them white!

Despite the wear, overall they’ve held up extremely well and as previously mentioned, that ‘bounce’ can still be felt which is the most important aspect.

Pros, cons, and who should buy

Here’s the short version. If you want a shoe that can do easy pace, tempos, intervals and long runs, this is it. If you need extra stability late in long races, you may want to consider a different shoe.

Pros

Works at easy pace and faster paces
No obvious distance limit
Still bouncy at 600km
True-to-size fit (UK 9.5)
Lots of cool colour ways
The perfect all-rounder

Cons

Stability might be the limiter for some runners
Some complaints about laces and the stability of the tongue

FAQs

Yes. I’m a UK 9.5 and it fits true to size for me, with ample room in the toe box. However, if you usually struggle with needing wider running shoes, you might be better off with a different shoe.
Definitely. The cushioning and responsiveness of these shoes allow you to run long distances in them whilst keeping things fun.
This shoe is an all-rounder, so a strong choice for a non-carbon road race. However, there are quicker options if you’re just after speed and a Raceday shoe.
Without a doubt these are a great option for the marathon distance. Especially road marathons and those with even surfaces.

In Review

After 600km, the Evo SL is still basically the same shoe I liked early on: bouncy, versatile, and hard to fault across paces and distances. I’ll be buying another pair. If you’re mainly running road miles from easy days to faster sessions, it’s an easy recommendation. If your focus is ultras and you want more stability late on, I’d pair it with something like the Gel-Kayano 32 instead.

Adidas Adizero Evo SL review: from 5K races to a 24-hour ultra

Summary

Quick verdict (who’s it for?)

How I tested it