I run 500 km a month, my marathon best is under 2:30, and I made these picks. This is my conclusion as of Oct 29, 2026. The Adidas I look at first is the Adizero EVO SL (JPY 19,800, 224 g) for daily training. For a day when I want thickness, the Hyperboost Edge; for race day, the Adios Pro 4.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
If you are unsure with Adidas, pick the Adizero EVO SL. It gives you a sole close to a race shoe at the price of a trainer: JPY 19,800, 224 g, 38.5 mm at the heel. It costs JPY 8,800 less than the Adios Pro 4 (JPY 28,600), the race shoe that uses the same foam name. The other five have clear jobs, so none of them is a training workhorse.
Key points
- No. 1: EVO SL, JPY 19,800, 224 g. Its 38.5 mm heel is only 0.5 mm from the 39 mm of the Adios Pro 4
- No. 2: Boston 13, JPY 18,700, 255 g. JPY 1,100 cheaper than the EVO SL, with rods inside
- The Hyperboost Edge, 45 mm at the heel, weighs 255 g and costs JPY 24,200. A thick shoe with no plate and no rods
Adidas running shoes split into clearly different jobs, and Adizero alone covers them: a daily trainer, a thick recovery shoe, and a race-day shoe.
This article lines up official Japan prices, weights and stack heights and decides which to pick for each use. I narrowed it to six you can buy in Japan.
What should I use to choose among Adidas running shoes?
I used three measures: (1) official Japan price, (2) weight (27.0 cm, one shoe) and (3) midsole thickness (heel / forefoot). On top of that I asked whether the shoe works for daily training, and ranked by that. It is not a sales ranking.
At 500 km a month, training eats shoes. So I decide the training shoe before the race shoe. That is why No. 1 is a trainer.
Why this order: the numbers for the six Adidas shoes
Scroll the table sideways →
| Rank and shoe | Official price | Weight | Thickness (heel / forefoot) | Reason (one sentence) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Adizero EVO SL | JPY 19,800 | 224g | 38.5 / 32mm | Race-level thickness at a light weight, and one shoe for daily training |
| No. 2 Adizero Boston 13 | JPY 18,700 | 255g | 36 / 30mm | Has rods and works for both training and racing |
| No. 3 Hyperboost Edge | JPY 24,200 | 255g | 45 / 39mm | A 45 mm shoe with no plate or rods, for people who want thickness on easy days |
| No. 4 Adizero Adios Pro 4 | JPY 28,600 | 200g | 39 / 33mm | For long-distance races: the lightest and thickest of the shoes with rods |
| No. 5 Adizero Takumi Sen 11 | JPY 24,200 | 188g | 33 / 26mm | For ekiden and short road races, so not a training workhorse |
| No. 6 Adizero Adios 9 | JPY 17,600 | 176g | 27 / 20mm | Thin-soled and the lightest, narrowed to speed work |
Best by criterion
- Lightest: Adios 9 (176 g). It is 48 g lighter than the EVO SL (224 g): 224 − 176.
- Thickest: Hyperboost Edge (45 mm at the heel). It is 6.5 mm thicker than the EVO SL: 45 − 38.5.
- Cheapest: Adios 9 (JPY 17,600). Next is the Boston 13 (JPY 18,700).
- Price per gram: Boston 13 is lowest at about JPY 73 (18,700 ÷ 255); Adios Pro 4 is highest at about JPY 143 (28,600 ÷ 200).
What the Numbers Say About Running Style and Pace
From here on it is a read from the official numbers and the build. The EVO SL has a 6.5 mm drop, a 38.5 mm heel and weighs 224 g, a build I read as carrying you from slow jogs to days when you raise the pace.
Adidas does not write pace ranges. The official site gives only roles: the Adios Pro 4 is "a long-distance race shoe for people chasing records," and the Takumi Sen 11 is "for ekiden and short road races."
In my read, shoes with plates or rods are for days when you raise the pace and for race day. For everyday running, the EVO SL or the Edge, with no plate, fits better.
No. 1 Adizero EVO SL: daily training in one shoe
Why this rank: JPY 19,800 and 224 g. The 38.5 mm heel comes within 0.5 mm of the Adios Pro 4 (39 mm). The midsole is one foam, LIGHTSTRIKE PRO, from toe to heel.
Watch out: There are many similarly named variants: the EXO weighs 230 g, the Zip 249 g, and the ATR 266.5 g with a different sole. Check the last word of the product name before you choose.
If unsure, take the EVO SL. The reason: it costs JPY 8,800 less than the Adios Pro 4 (28,600 − 19,800), and the weight gap is only 24 g (224 − 200).
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero EVO SL
Try shoes on in the evening, when your feet have swollen a little, and wear your usual socks. Sizing differs from brand to brand, so read the return and exchange terms on the shop's page before you buy.
Lowest new priceJPY 17,800ステップスポーツ楽天市場店
Lowest used priceJPY 14,982ブランド古着 ライフ楽天市場店
From Rakuten Ichiba search results, tax included. As of Oct 29. Check the shop's page for shipping, stock, color and size.
Buying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
For the numbers in detail, see the EVO SL review.
No. 2 Boston 13: a rod-equipped all-rounder for training and racing
Why this rank: At JPY 18,700 it is number 2 cheapest of the 6 shoes, JPY 1,100 below the EVO SL. It has glass-fiber rods and covers both racing and training in 1 shoe.
Watch out: At 255 g it is 31 g heavier than the EVO SL, and its heel is 2.5 mm thinner (38.5 − 36). If you want lightness and thickness, take No. 1.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero Boston 13
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 11,999 (as of 10/20). Some shops ask up to JPY 18,700. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaBuying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
No. 3 Hyperboost Edge: 45 mm with no plate and no rods
Why this rank: 45 mm at the heel, 39 mm at the forefoot, 255 g. Adidas bills it as a plateless super trainer. The weight gap to the EVO SL is 31 g (255 − 224).
Watch out: A 45 mm heel is 5 mm thicker than the World Athletics road limit of 40 mm. If you plan to use it in a race, read the entry rules first.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas HYPERBOOST EDGE
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 24,200 (as of 10/20). Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaOfficial store (US)Buying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
There is also a review of the Hyperboost Edge that digs into this one shoe.
No. 4 Adios Pro 4: the long-distance race-day shoe
Why this rank: 200 g, 39 mm at the heel and 33 mm at the forefoot, with a 6 mm drop. Five carbon rods sit inside. Among the shoes with plates or rods you can buy in Japan, it is the lightest and thickest.
Watch out: JPY 28,600 is the highest of the 6 shoes, about JPY 143 per gram (28,600 ÷ 200). This is not a shoe to wear out in training.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
Lowest new priceJPY 22,880adidas Online Shop 楽天市場店
Lowest used priceJPY 12,7602nd STREET 楽天市場店
From Rakuten Ichiba search results, tax included. As of Oct 29. Check the shop's page for shipping, stock, color and size.
Buying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
The Adios Pro 5, released in 2026, has no Japan release date yet. The Adios Pro 5 review covers how it differs from the previous generation.
No. 5 and 6 Takumi Sen 11 and Adios 9: speed shoes for short distances
Why this rank: The Takumi Sen 11 is JPY 24,200, 188 g and 33 mm at the heel. The Adios 9 is JPY 17,600, 176 g and 27 mm at the heel. Both are thinner and lighter than the Adios Pro 4.
Watch out: The heel gap is 6 mm between the Adios Pro 4 and the Takumi Sen 11 (39 − 33) and 12 mm with the Adios 9 (39 − 27). To a foot used to thick shoes, those numbers feel like a different shoe.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 11
Try shoes on in the evening, when your feet have swollen a little, and wear your usual socks. Sizing differs from brand to brand, so read the return and exchange terms on the shop's page before you buy.
Lowest new priceJPY 16,940スポーツジュエン楽天市場店
From Rakuten Ichiba search results, tax included. As of Oct 29. Check the shop's page for shipping, stock, color and size.
Buying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
Which Adidas suits you? When unsure, choose by purpose
- Daily training in 1 pair: EVO SL (JPY 19,800)
- A rod-equipped shoe for both training and racing: Boston 13 (JPY 18,700)
- Thickness for easy days: Hyperboost Edge (JPY 24,200)
- Long-distance race day: Adios Pro 4 (JPY 28,600)
For picks by target time, see the sub-4, sub-3.5 and sub-3 shoe article; for comparing thick cushioning, see the thick-soled running shoe article.
Adidas running shoe prices and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Per gram | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVO SL | JPY 19,800 | About JPY 88 | JPY 15,840–19,800 |
| Boston 13 | JPY 18,700 | About JPY 73 | JPY 11,999–18,700 |
| HYPERBOOST EDGE | JPY 24,200 | About JPY 95 | JPY 24,200 |
| Adios Pro 4 | JPY 28,600 | About JPY 143 | JPY 22,880–61,808 |
The EVO SL and the Boston 13 differ by only JPY 1,100. Price does not settle it. These 2 shoes are decided by whether you need rods.
Many variants have similar names, so on Rakuten check the last word (Woven, EXO, ATR and so on) before you choose.
About the writer and sources
I run about 500km a month, have a sub-2:30 marathon, and also race trail runs and triathlons. I am a shoe nerd.
I re-read the numbers on the Adidas Japan product pages on Oct 13, 2026, and checked them against the announcements. Updated Oct 29, 2026.
FAQ
Which Adidas running shoe is best for beginners?
For daily training, pick the EVO SL or the Boston 13. The price gap is JPY 1,100 (19,800 − 18,700). If you do not need rods, take the EVO SL; if you want a shoe with rods, take the Boston 13.
How does the Adidas Adizero EVO SL differ from the Boston 13?
The EVO SL weighs 224 g with a 38.5 mm heel and no rods. The Boston 13 weighs 255 g with a 36 mm heel and glass-fiber rods. The EVO SL is 31 g lighter and 2.5 mm thicker.
What is the sizing of Adidas running shoes?
The upper is built differently from model to model, so I do not go by one number. With my usual 25.0 cm, I would check the size chart on the product page and pick a store where I can try both 25.0 cm and 25.5 cm.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- adidas Japan announcement (Sep 25, 2024: ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 4 and ADIZERO EVO SL)
- adidas Japan announcement (Mar 6, 2026; HYPERBOOST EDGE)
- adidas Japan official: Adizero EVO SL
- adidas Japan official: Adizero Boston 13
- adidas Japan official: HYPERBOOST EDGE
- adidas Japan official: Adizero Adios Pro 4
- adidas Japan official: Adizero Takumi Sen 11
- adidas Japan official: Adizero Adios 9
Read next
- To compare within the same brand, read this too.Adios Pro 5 Review
- For another pick from the same line, read this.adidas 2026 New Shoes: 4 Models Read by the Numbers
- To widen the choice within the brand, read this.Adios Pro 5 vs HYPERWARP PURE 2
