The adidas adizero adios boost 2.0s are a light-weight running shoe with a generous amount of midsole cushioning in the form of adidas’s patented boost foam technology. I was first intrigued by these shoes as the current marathon world record, a blistering fast 2:02:57 by Dennis Kimetto at the 2014 Berlin marathon, was achieved in these. After a little research I ordered a pair and tried them out. Out of the box they definitely looked the part. I really appreciated the overall design and colour, and they definitely look like a stylish pair of running shoes. In particular, I liked the purple/white contrast between the upper body and boost mid-sole. Once on my feet, the first thing I noticed was how light in weight they are. I was effortlessly bouncing around in them as I warmed-up to embark on a quick 5 mile training run with them. As I got running, my feet felt very light, and each stride I took was comfortable and bouncy. This may partly be as I felt well rested, but the shoes were definitely playing a huge role in contributing to my comfort. The main facts and specs of these shoes are as follows:

• Weight: 228 g (size 8.5)
• boost midsole which provides excellent rebound and support
• Coolever upper mesh for breathability
• TORSION® SYSTEM for energy return in the forefoot and movement
• Moulded responsive EVA sockliner
• Continental™ Rubber for optimal grip

It was interesting to note the similarities with the adidas Takumi Ren running shoes, which I got in April. The Takumi Rens have a lower heel to toe drop, and are much more minimalistic in comparison. For me, this means using the for distance up to 5k and speed interval training sessions. Both are light-weight competition focussed shoes, but due to the extra support in the adios zeroes, they will be my preferred choice for road races exceeded 10km. I should also mention that the Takumi Rens come up slightly smaller in the toe box.

adios adizero (left) vs Takumi Ren (right)

Due to my positive training runs in the adios boosts, I decided to wear them for the Bupa London 10,000, where I managed to bag a great PB of 37:08 in them. The shoes felt comfortable and responsive throughout the race, and I didn’t feel any discomfort whatsoever. It would be no exaggeration to say that I felt like I was flying in these shoes! Interestingly, I saw quite a few other runners starting near the front who were wearing the adios zeros, and I also know that Steve Way is a huge fan of them, so clearly these shoes are something special. To this end, I have now purchased a second pair (in solar red), and I sincerely hope that adidas continue to make the great shoes, without changing the design. The look, feel and comfort of them is great, and the light-weight and cushioning ratio is perfect. I am now looking forward to running most races up to the half marathon distance in these. I still prefer a tad more cushioning and support for the marathon distance, but as my marathon times come down, I will be looking to the adios zeros to power me through. Conclusively, I highly recommend these shoes if you are looking to run fast!