The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is a big improvement over the previous version. It's fast, responsive, and feels great on the feet. It's become my favorite shoe for racing because of how soft and cushioned it is, yet it still helps me run fast, and I don't toss that around easily about carbon racing shoes.

The Adizero SL has an 8.6-mm heel-to-toe drop. In the running world, a drop between 8 and 10 mm is often seen as the safest bet for daily trainers. This shoe is on the lower end of that range, so we think it could be a good option if you're not a fan of shoes with a 10-mm drop or higher.

The adidas Adizero Pro includes a carbon plate for a propulsive feel. The Adizero racing line is always evolving, and other shoes in the family use carbon-infusedEnergyrods instead of a carbon plate. The rods are placed from the toe through the midfoot.

Upon learning about the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, I couldn't wait to put them to the test. Shelling out $500 for a shoe optimized for a single marathon seems ridiculously extravagant. However, if it could withstand three to four marathons, that lofty price tag might become more justifiable.