A running shoe geek (RSG) worth his PEBAX super foam simply keeps abreast of shoe tech by any means necessary! So even if I’ve not run in Adidas shoes for a number of years, I’m still pretty much in touch with what they’ve put out.
My experience with The Brand with 3 Stripes dates back to the ’90s. I’ve ran in the Ozweego, Supernova Glide Boost 7 (Running Shoes Guru review), several versions of the Response, adiSTAR Cushion 6 (photo), F50, adiSTAR Ride, ClimaCool (photo), Energy Boost, OG Ultra Boost (my review), Adizero Ace 6 (my review), Adios Boost 2 (Solereview), Boston 5 Boost (my review) and the Ultra Boost Uncaged. I do have some Adi-History although the chance to run in the famous Marathon and New York (photo) models which featured the Dellinger Web, ZX or the EQT (Equipment) series modelled by one of my marathon idols, 3-time Boston winner Ibrahim Hussein eluded me.
The main reason for my sabbatical from Adidas since the Ultra Boost Uncaged, was their lack of middle-of-the-ground shoes (8.5-10 oz range). The comfy Ultra Boost series have not shed any significant weight and I really see no reason to wear shoes that heavy when there are lighter options which serve the same purpose. The Response and Supernova .The Adios line was too barebones for me. I want lightweight cushion and comfort! Think a Boston 5 with a few more millimetres of softer Boost in the forefoot.
The company stagnated (or took its time, depending who you talk to😏) and when they finally “modernise”, the Lightstrike EVA on the SL20 was so underwhelming – firm, stiff and unexciting. That’s disappointing for a shoe geek since even minnows like Reebok and Skechers have the underrated Floatride and Flight Gen respectively. When the Super Shoe Race took off, runners went bonkers with ZoomX, FuelCell, PWRRUN PB, Flytefoam Blast and Hyper Burst, while Boost and Lightstrike were the best Adidas could offer. That was until Lightstrike Pro and Energy Rods joined the party, late but a welcome option. In the Lightstrike Pro, Adidas finally has a midsole (and shoe) to compete with the rest and did the Adios Pro make an entry with Peres Jepchirchir’s Half Marathon World Record of 1:05.34 (broken twice since then). But this review isn’t about the Adios Pro but the Adios 6, so let’s finally get started with the review proper. That has been too long a preamble already.
My previous experience with the Adios was the Boost 2 and you can see from the photo above, how low-riding the shoe was. Compared to today’s beefy midsoles, the Adios Boost 2 was as traditional as racing flats come – very little cushioning and very firm, great for speed workouts around the track and up to road 10Ks for me whereas the elites will have no issues wearing them for marathons.
Adidas took a really big swing with their latest offerings namely the Adios 6, Boston 10, Adizero Adios Pro 2, and Adizero Prime X, with the Adios 6 (A6) and Boston 10 (B10) gaining substantial stacks and looking nothing like their predecessors.
Since you’re here for the A6, here are the specs:
Weight (US10): 8.9oz/253g (as weighed with stock sockliner)
Stack Height: 27mm/19mm (Runningwarehouse reports a 32/24 stack)
Offset: 8mm
Upper: Primegreen mono-mesh consisting of 50% recycled material
Midsole: Lightstrike, Lightstrike Pro, wishbone-shaped torsion
Outsole: Continental rubber
As usual, a person’s wear experience depends in part on the runner’s build and paces, so here are some of my current stats:
Height: 176cm | Weight: Between 57-58kgs | Gait: Neutral | Mileage: Between 60-70km/weeks, working towards the KL Standard Chartered Virtual Half Marathon.
The A6 is what the B10 should’ve been, at least visually, but Adidas has not only flipped the A-B’s designs on its head, they lowered the A6’s retail price to RM499, a full RM100 cheaper than the B10. They run true to size and weighs 8.9oz for my US10, just a half ounce heavier than the 2020 favourite, Endorphin Speed. On paper, the A6 finds itself in the same performance/up-tempo trainer/racer category but will it please this 51-year old?
The upper has plenty of old school vibes with suede overlays, traditional looking mesh and thin cotton laces that are all too familiar to us who grew up wearing Bata, Fung Keong and Power. The white colourway is gorgeous and classy, with vermillion accents on the heel tab, underlays and around the toe box. Adidas’ justifiably reserve the use of the translucent Celemesh 2.0 upper for the Adios Pro 2 and Prime X, so the mesh construction you get on the A6 and B10 are thicker and feels less refined.
Lots of lacing options courtesy of the many eyelets available, thus allowing you to freely experiment to get the best lockdown. The laces are also long enough for Runners’ Knot. The material used for the semi-gusseted tongue feels a bit like neoprene and has strategically placed padding to alleviate any potential hotspots.
I appreciate the restrained use of suede, just here and there to reinforce the stress points such as the strip around the toe box, the first and top-most eyelets. This approach keeps the weight in check.
The heel counter is internally reinforced, firm and stiff. Lockdown is easily achieved without a hint of heel slippage. This had me wondering a bit at first but I believe the flap under the cushioned heel tab functions as a pseudo pull tab.
The fit is generous but not overly so. The stiff plastic eyelet reinforcement strip feels cheap and doesn’t work that well together with the laces. Therefore, cinching down needs a little patience as the laces don’t slide easily through when pulled. On the positive side, once you get the tension right, this pretty much secures the lockdown. No slippage whatsoever. Heel and midfoot are snug enough but the toe box offers a roomy space for a bit of toe wiggles, unlike the old Adios.
Had it not for the presence of Lightstrike Pro, the A6 would’ve easily be an iteration of the SL20. I believe the use of both versions of Lightstrike on this stack height works. Any thicker, the firmness and clunky characteristics of the regular Lightstrike will simply negate the positives of the Pro. Case in point, the B10 which I noticed a number are selling off on the Facebook Marketplace. Compared to the regular version, Lightstrike Pro feels softer and bouncier to the “press-test” but denser that the nitrogen-infused midsoles like Fuelcell, Nitro and Hyper Burst..
Finally, in place of Energy Rods, a wishbone-shaped torsion system to lend some stability and toe-off snap.
Per usual, Adidas continue to rely on the tried and tested Continental rubber outsole. Greater coverage are provided on the lateral heel and ball of the foot push off area so durability shouldn’t be an issue. It remains to be seen how well the more sparsely-covered lateral forefoot section holds up.
The A6 crossed the 50km mark last Sunday after 8 outings with distances covered between 5 and 22km and I’ve to say that I quite enjoy the Adios 6!
It rides on the firmer end of the spectrum – definitely firmer than the Endorphin Speed – but there’s enough cushioning, support and stability to take it past the Half Marathon distance. I’ll have no qualms taking it to 25km but prefer softer options for distances longer than that. Breathability is good and my socks were never soaked. No hotspots nor blisters either. I’ve already said earlier, lockdown is great.
Unlike earlier versions of the Adios, version 6 will work as a daily trainer for those with a preference for a firmer ride. Nevertheless, workouts are what this shoe is all about. Lightstrike Pro simply comes alive the harder you push it. It’s easy to pick up the pace but not in the manner of a carbon-plated shoe. Achieving and sustaining MP over longer distances remain the specialties of the super shoes and comparing the A6 against those much more expensive options are simply not fair. However, the A6 easily stands up to the Fastwitch 7, GoMeb Speed 2 and IMHO even the Razor 3 by offering a more forgiving ride. I find the Adidas a more enjoyable shoe to run in than the three.
It says a lot about the shoes when these old legs still felt good after tackling longer distances and quicker paces in them.
I raved about how good Puma Grip is but the Continental rubber on the A6 are excellent too. It handled a variety of surfaces and conditions impeccably well be it sandy and pebbly patches, dry or wet conditions, tarmac or tiled sections. One of the “Leg Velocity” workouts had me running up and down a stretch of road and the hard switches and turnarounds were handled with aplomb.
The A6 isn’t too loud on the roads unlike the Tempo Next% and Alphafly. Instead of the two’s distinctive loud thuds, the A6 has a more “slappy” sound, if that means anything😅.
To wrap up this already long post, I’m glad I opted for the Adios 6 over the Boston 10 (which inherited a shocking 2oz weight gain). Even if the Adios does not have the range of the Endorphin Speed, it’s still a very good lower priced replacement for the Saucony. In the Deviate Nitro and Velocity Nitro, I already have great shoes for the easy days.
No surprises then that I rate the Adios 6 very highly in terms of performance and value for any workout and distance below 25km. Forget the Boston 10 and its Energy Rods. Get the Adios 6 instead. The shoe retails at RM499 but to my surprise, the check out price was just RM424 from the Adidas Malaysia website.
Disclosures: I purchased the Adidas Adizero Adios 6 with my own money, so no obligations due to any parties whatsoever!
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