Adidas adizero Adios 7 review

7 expert score
6 user's score
As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples. We purchased this pair at Running Warehouse with our own money.
Review written on 29th January by Kristin Lassen Experienced Runner and Stability Shoe Expert
76 other reviews

Adidas adizero Adios 7 Verdict

The adidas Adizero Adios 7 meets its design intent as a light, fast, snappy training shoe for speedwork, but the extra length feels obvious and uncomfortable in steady runs.

The pros

  • Breathable; sheds water
  • Lightweight
  • Smooth ride
  • Excellent grip
  • Lacing options

The cons

  • Fits half size big (length)
  • Difficult to put on
  • Thin tongue

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Rating breakdown

Comfort
7.0
Build quality
9.0
Upper
6.0
Sole unit
9.0
Landing
9.0
Transition
9.0
Toe-off
7.0
Traction
10
Durability
10
Value / Price
8.0

Facts / Specs

Brand
Model
adizero Adios 7
Previous model
Weight
7.7 oz (218 g)
MSRP
130.00

Heel
mm.
Toe
mm.
Heel drop
8 mm.
Carbon plate
Plate in other materials

Size/Fit

Sizing
Buy half size smaller
Heel fit
Normal
Midfoot fit
Normal
Toebox fit
Normal

Cushioning & ride

Type of cushioning
Balanced
Amount of cushioning
Medium cushioning
Stability
Not particularly stable
Flexibility
Medium

Usage

Racing  
Speedwork  
Daily training
Long distance racing
Ultra distance racing

Who should buy the Adidas adizero Adios 7 ?

Adizero Adios 7 is for efficient runners to those with moderate support needs and a medium- narrow foot, for speedwork and tempo runs in the heat or rain. This is best for those with narrow feet who can size down or who do not mind an extra 6 mm. on the toe (past the fit of other Adizero models).

Who should not buy the Adidas adizero Adios 7 ?

Runners with high stability needs may not find enough support in this shoe. It is also not the best fit for wide feet. Stick with faster paced running in this shoe.

Adidas adizero Adios 7 Introduction

Picture of adidas adizero Adios 7

Adizero Adios used to be adidas’ racing line, and for good reason: light, trim, firm, fast.

In 2020 Adidas released its first carbon fiber racer the Adizero Pro, a similarly low-profile shoe with resilient Boost under the heel and base, bordered by the firmer Lightstrike mid-forefoot, which bounced off of a full-length carbon fiber plate.

This release was quickly followed by the Adizero Adios Pro. This second racer comes with a thicker midsole made of the brand’s newest and bounciest foam, Lightstrike Pro, with a carbon plate under the heel along with carbon-infused energy rods in the midfoot into the forefoot; these pieces are connected in the “3,” the latest version, for a smoother ride.

Now with these high-tech racers on the scene, Adizero Adios stands in as a fast workhorse to pound with training intervals in order to leave the premium shoes fresh for race day.

The Adizero Adios ran on a thin layer of Boost in models 2-4, moved to Boost and Lightstrike in the 5, and increased to medium-thickness Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro in the 6 and now 7 along with plasic TORSIONRODS for force transfer.

These three speedy Adizero models sport names and uppers similar enough to confuse the most die-hard adidas fans! They fully embody the Adizero motto “Light makes fast.” The Adizero Adios 7 is 7.8 oz. men’s size 9 and 6.8 oz. women’s size 8.

The 7 has a list price of $130 USD, up $10 from the previous model. For comparison, it is roughly half the price of the flagship Adizero Adios Pro 3, with its thicker “‘tech’ed-out” sole.

Picture of adidas adizero Adios 7

The closest shoe to Adios is the Adizero Pro with its similar stack height and upper. Running in both, with one on each foot, the Adios is slightly more smooth, but this is due to the feeling of a soft pad below the ball of the foot in the Pro. Since the sock liner is not removable in the Pro, looking inside the shoe we find that it about 2 mm. thicker than the sockliner for Adios; this area of my foot appreciates the extra padding even though the midsole is softer in Adios.

I also prefer the Pro’s upper, both the lockdown due to placement of the “extra” lace holes as well as the padding on the tongue to prevent hot spots. Besides these slight distinctions they are very much alike as I don’t notice the extra length on Adios as much in speedwork.

One downside is that the Adios 7 fits about 6 mm. longer than the other Adizeros I’ve run in: Tempo 9, Adizero Pro, and Adizero SL.

Comparable shoes include its sister shoe the Adizero Takumi Sen 8, which has a 6 mm. drop (versus 8 in the Adios) and 6 mm. more midsole in the heel; New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Pacer; ASICS Noosa Tri 14 (my next review!); the firmer shoe Brooks Hyperion Max; and ASICS Magic Speed, which “wins” in toe-off due to its half carbon plate.

Adidas adizero Adios 7 First Impressions

Picture of adidas adizero Adios 7

This trainer/racer looked classy and fast with its suede overlays and see-through mesh as I first laid eyes on it. Walking around I noted the increased length from what I was expecting. Running in it for the first time, for some 800 meter intervals, the length was noticeable but not limiting; it didn’t get in the way. The smooth, supported ride was really fun!

As I put more miles on the shoe, including some mid-distance steady-state runs, the length became annoying. This is a wonderful shoe except for that aspect. I will only wear it for speed work.

The shoe seems narrow as it is designed for a snug, performance fit on a medium foot. In very thin socks or barefoot I have some space in the heel, which contributes to difficulty in heel lock.

Adidas adizero Adios 7 Upper

Picture of adidas adizero Adios 7

Adizero Adios 7 is about a half ounce lighter than the 6, and this is due to a revamped upper. The new upper is also more flexible to better accommodate a wide foot, though generally speaking it provides a snug fit for a medium-width foot.

The new tongue is thinner and lacks even the thin pressure pads on the previous version—which were also one of my favorite features on the Adizero Pro. Instead there are air holes cut out of the suede overlay. The underside of the tongue is soft but may not protect the top of the foot, especially if you want to try these barefoot.
On the plus side, unlike the beefier Adizero SL, Adios 7 anchors the tongue to the midsole on each side with a wide, stretchy band.

Laces run through a gusset on the tongue. Similar to the Adizero Pro there are multiple lace-hole options to find a balance of comfort and a secure lock around your foot.

Picture of adidas adizero Adios 7

The heel collar is wider and less sturdy than in the 6, but it is bordered by very soft, comfortable pads which move up into a small pull tab to help putting the shoe on. This is needed as the heel easily crumples down unless the laces are loosened quite a bit. Stitching around the top may irritate, especially on the Achilles.

Aloop of thin but tough support material encases the heel to act as a minimal heel counter. Pulling the heel tight, it is a lackluster but adequate substitute.

I had trouble getting my heel locked in at first, but this was mostly solved by adding a loop between the top lacing holes and running the last tie between them, known as heel lock lacing. This locks my heel in but puts more pressure on my ankle from laces.

What stays the same is a tough, thin, see-through mesh with a suede overlay covering the toes. Diagonal support strips run below the mesh on both sides of the toe box. Seams can cause irritation.

Reinforcement strips over the mesh continue forward from the lace openings, with additional support to the arch.

This upper uses at least 50% recycled materials.

Adidas adizero Adios 7 Sole Unit

Picture of adidas adizero Adios 7

Adios 7 runs on a base of Lightstrike with a significant pad of cream-colored Lightstrike Pro spanning the full width from midfoot to the toes, same as found in the 6.

Lightsrike is a medium-density EVA foam with a density between the brands Bounce and Lightstrike Pro formulations. The heel at 27 mm. drops 8 mm. down to 19 mm. in the forefoot.

The softer Lightstrike Pro reminds me a lot of Nike’s squishy-soft React foam and FLIGHTFOAM Blast from ASICS.

Robust rubber grip-lines run in narrow diagonal strips down the full length of the outsole offering high grip in most conditions.

Picture of adidas adizero Adios 7

As with other Adizero models, the rubber outsole curves up the medial tip to provide a buffer for incidental scrapes in toe-off.

Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro show through the base of the shoe about equally, split by a plastic torsion system that provides stiffness and spring to the ride.

One final note about the outsole is that a vertical line splits the rubber for most of its length, limiting the horizontal force transferred during pronation.

Adidas adizero Adios 7 Conclusions

Picture of adidas adizero Adios 7

This shoe has a lot to offer and a high build quality with thin but durable mesh, a soft yet responsive midsole, and a hard-working outsole. It is designed to fit a medium foot with thin (or no) socks.

Downsides include extra length, touchy heel lock, and lace irritation through a thin tongue.

Adios is best for shorter runs with speedwork to keep your preferred racing shoes fresh.

How does the adizero Adios 7 compare?

Adidas Adizero SL
Adidas adizero Adios 7
New Balance Fresh Foam X Tempo v2
Expert score
9
7
8
User score
Best price
Retail price
US$120
US$130
US$119.95
Weight
8.5 oz
7.7 oz
9.1 oz
Heel Drop
8 mm
8 mm
6 mm
Recommended for
Racing, speedwork, daily training, long distance racing
Racing, speedwork
Racing, speedwork, daily training, long distance racing
Cushioning type
balanced
balanced
balanced
Cushioning amount
Highly cushioned
Medium cushioning
Medium cushioning
Flexibility
medium
medium
medium
Stability
some stability
not particularly stable
not particularly stable
Sizing
true to size
buy half size smaller
true to size

Why you can trust us

As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples from companies.
We purchased this pair of Adidas at Running Warehouse  with our own money.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our policy.
Lowest price:

$130

Adidas adizero Adios 7 price comparison

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Reviewed by Kristin

This review was written by Kristin Lassen on 29th January.
Running long for over twenty years, Kristin has found peace and solidarity with like-minded 'soles,' cheetahs of all speeds and walks of life. Kristin holds a bachelor's degree in exercise science and an MA in theology; running is where her dual passions for truth and fitness merge. She teaches college classes and together with her husband raises four children, corn, and soybeans in rural Iowa.

User feedback (3)

  • avatar-comment-1034537
    Marc
    7 months ago
    9 score

    the upper mesh has a pinhole that has developed recently. I think the shoe is still sound and hope to put another 100 miles on it at least. It’s a great shoe…set new PRs with it, 9:58 for 2-miles, 15:53 for 5k..

  • avatar-comment-1024634
    Aiman Hakim
    1 year ago
    5 score

    I wear this for my daily training. The upper is breathable but the durability of the upper is terrible. I have encountered 2 times of significant tear to be honest, for only 131km of usage. The midsole Lightstrike Pro + Lightstrike EVA is firm and responsive in my opinion. The Lightstrike Pro midsole is lively when you push harder. Futhermore, the Continental outsole in Adios 7 is grippy and durable. For 131km of usage, I didn’t see any sign that shows that the outsole is about to wear out. I think the outsole can last more than 500km to be honest….Overall it is a good pair of running shoes…but for me it is just the durability of the upper that makes me pissed off.

    • avatar-comment-1028738
      George Alessi
      1 year ago
      4 score

      Same issue. Upper tore on outside after just 60-70 miles of use. Only had them for a few months.

Lowest price:
$130

Where to buy

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