It’s been over a year since I reviewed the Adidas Adizero Evo SL — here’s 5 reasons why it’s still my go-to running shoe

Jump to:

It’s great value

Testing the best running shoes for a living is a job that I love, but if there is one minor downside it’s that I don’t often get the chance to keep using the sneakers I like the best, because there’s always something new to test.

That means if there is a shoe I do keep going back to months or even a year after reviewing it, it has to be pretty special.

The Adidas Adizero Evo SL is one such shoe. I loved the Evo SL from my first run in it and gave a glowing review after running 50 miles in the shoe. Since then I’ve run another 80 miles in it when I’m not testing new shoes, and it’s one I still consider part of my core running shoe rotation.

Since testing the Evo SL I’ve tried around 70 new shoes, but none have been able to best its combination of value and performance.

Here’s five reasons why I rate it so highly.

It’s light, springy and fun

Ultimately how a shoe feels on the run is going to be the main reason why I like or dislike it, and the Evo SL has a very fun ride thanks to its bouncy Lightstrike Pro midsole foam.

It’s exceptionally light too at 7.9oz in my U.S. men’s size 9.5, and this featherweight design coupled with the responsive midsole foam creates a fast ride that can handle all kinds of workouts and even races.

The rocker on the shoe also means it turns over quickly, and it’s one of the best fast trainers on the market regardless of price. But that’s not all it can do…

It’s comfortable for easy runs too, though unstable

Adidas Adizero Evo SL on a sidewalk — (Image credit: Future)

I love using the Evo SL for relaxed runs as well as fast ones, and it has enough foam in the midsole to be comfortable for easy efforts, standing 39mm tall at the heel and 33mm at the forefoot.

It’s not a max-cushioned shoe, but it’s still comfortable for cruising, making it very versatile — I’ve done all kinds of runs in the Evo SL over the past 12 months, from all-out intervals on the track to slow recovery shuffles.

The only drawback at the easy end of things is that it’s not the most stable shoe, so if you need a more supportive ride, the Evo SL would probably only work for you for faster runs.

It’s proved durable

There’s not a lot to the Evo SL, which has a thin, breathable upper and a minimal outsole that just covers the forefoot and heel, but after running a lot of miles in the shoe I’ve not seen any worrying signs of wear and tear and the midsole is as bouncy as ever.

While I still don’t expect it to outlast heavier cushioned shoes with thicker outsoles and uppers, the Evo SL is durable for a lightweight daily trainer, and that only adds to the value it offers.

It’s great value

The Adidas Evo SL will set you back $150 at full price, and can often be found in sales these days since it’s now an older model.

That’s not cheap, but its performance level means it’s competing against super-trainers like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 or even the Asics Megablast, which cost $175 and $225 respectively. It’s great value for a versatile speed shoe with a top-class midsole.

Adidas didn’t change much in the new model

Adidas might not have expected the Evo SL to prove as successful as it has been, but the brand has done a good job of recognizing the key ingredient that made the shoe so beloved by runners, which is the midsole setup.

It kept that same midsole design on the winterized version of the shoe — the Adidas Adizero Evo SL ATR — and has also kept it the same on the new model of the Evo SL, which is called the Adidas Evo SL Woven.

This refers to the fact that the only update made is a new upper, which improves the fit of the shoe. For me that means you can go on buying the original Evo SL in sales rather than having to upgrade to the new shoe, because it is so similar, and that will only improve the Evo SL’s value.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

Nick Harris-Fry is an experienced health and fitness journalist, writing professionally since 2012. He spent nine years working on the Coach magazine and website before moving to the fitness team at Tom’s Guide in 2024. Nick is a keen runner and also the founder of YouTube channel The Run Testers, which specialises in reviewing running shoes, watches, headphones and other gear.

Nick ran his first marathon in 2016 and became obsessed with the sport. He now has PBs of 2hr 25min for the marathon and 15min 30sec for 5K. Nick is also a qualified Run Leader in the UK.

Nick is an established expert in the fitness area and along with writing for many publications, including Live Science, Expert Reviews, Wareable, Coach and Get Sweat Go, he has been quoted on The Guardian and The Independent.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.