The Adizero EVO SL is a shoe for people who want to cover daily training for races with 1 light pair. It is 224g in 27.0cm with a 38.5mm heel, only 0.5mm different from the race-oriented Adios Pro 4. A trainer with no rods or plate, with a 6.5mm drop. Released in 2024 and still current in Oct 2026.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
The easy way to read the EVO SL is as an Adios Pro 4 with the rods taken out. They were announced the same day and share the foam name. The heel differs by 0.5mm and the forefoot by 1mm. You can run every day on a sole as high as race day, so I choose this as the 2nd pair from adidas.
Key points
- Difference from the Adios Pro 4: weight +24g, heel −0.5mm, forefoot −1mm, drop +0.5mm
- 31g lighter than the Boston 13, with a heel 2.5mm thicker. For light running without rods, the EVO SL
- 4 variants. The EXO is +6g, the Zip +25g, and the ATR +42.5g with a different sole. The Woven is the same 224g
EVO SL weight and stack? The official numbers
Training shoes are heavier than race shoes and have a thinner sole. With that in mind, the EVO SL's numbers look a little odd. Its heel thickness differs from the race shoe by only 0.5mm.
| Item | Official numbers |
|---|---|
| Release date | Oct 15, 2024 (early release). General release from Dec 2024 |
| Price | JPY 19,800 (incl. tax) |
| Weight | 224g (27.0cm, per foot) |
| Stack height | Heel 38.5mm / forefoot 32mm |
| Drop | 6.5mm |
The sole is 1 type of foam, LIGHTSTRIKE PRO, from toe to heel. The upper is a breathable mesh thickened only where support is needed.
adidas positions it as a "lightweight high-speed training model." The announcement says it is a trainer for race preparation and the lightest training shoe in the Adizero line. The explanation is that its shape was inherited from the race-oriented Adios Pro Evo 1.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero EVO SL
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 15,840 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 19,800 depending on the shop. 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 Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanDifferences from variants like the EXO and ATR: what changed from the previous generation
The EVO SL is the original, released in 2024. It has no previous generation. Instead I look at the differences from the variants added in the 2 years since release. The sole foam is shared; what changed is mainly the upper.
| Model | Weight (27cm) | Difference from the EVO SL | Heel / forefoot |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVO SL | 224g | — | 38.5 / 32mm |
| EVO SL Woven | 224g | 0g | 38.5 / 32mm |
| EVO SL EXO | 230g | +6g | 38.5 / 32mm |
| EVO SL Zip | 249g | +25g | 38.5 / 32mm |
| EVO SL ATR | 266.5g | +42.5g | 40 / 34mm |
The EXO is a variant released in Feb 2026. According to adidas Japan's announcement, it adds a mechanism that supports from the heel to the middle of the foot with an outer frame, and a sturdy woven outer skin. The price is the same as the EVO SL. The 6g is the weight of that support.
Only the ATR has a different sole. The heel is 1.5mm and the forefoot 2mm thicker (40 − 38.5, 34 − 32), with 1.5mm lugs and a water-repellent upper.
The 42.5g is about 19% (42.5 ÷ 224). It is a shoe for people who also run unpaved paths, a different thing from the EVO SL you choose for lightness.
Compared with the Adios Pro 4 and Boston 13
Within the Adizero, the shoes you hesitate over are the race Adios Pro 4 and the rod-equipped trainer Boston 13. Outside the Adizero, there is the thick Hyperboost Edge released in 2026.
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight (27cm) | Heel / forefoot | Drop | Rods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVO SL | 224g | 38.5 / 32mm | 6.5mm | None |
| Adios Pro 4 | 200g | 39 / 33mm | 6mm | 5 carbon rods |
| Boston 13 | 255g | 36 / 30mm | 6mm | Glass-fiber rods |
| HYPERBOOST EDGE | 255g | 45 / 39mm | 6mm | None |
The Adios Pro 4 is a sibling announced the same day. The EVO SL is 24g heavier (224 − 200), with a heel 0.5mm and forefoot 1mm thinner. The drop differs by 0.5mm. Apart from whether it has rods, the sole shapes nearly overlap.
Against the Boston 13, the EVO SL is 31g lighter (255 − 224) with a heel 2.5mm thicker (38.5 − 36). It is the EVO SL that is both light and thick. The reasons to choose the Boston 13 are the rods, and that adidas also writes a race-day use.
- Cover daily training with 1 light pair, and run fast days in the same shoe → EVO SL
- Want a race-day shoe → Adios Pro 4
- Use a rod-equipped shoe for both training and races → Boston 13
- Want thickness over lightness → Hyperboost Edge (31g heavier, heel 6.5mm thicker)
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 28,600 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 61,808 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhat I like
It runs the foam with the same name as the race shoe through the sole in 1 type, toe to heel. The Boston 13 stacks 2 types of foam. The EVO SL is LIGHTSTRIKE PRO only, top to bottom.
On top of that, it is light. 224g is 31g lighter than the Boston 13 and 31g lighter than the Hyperboost Edge. Per 1mm of thickness it is about 5.8g (224 ÷ 38.5), nearly 20% less than the Boston 13's about 7.1g (255 ÷ 36).
The price is worth praising too. The official price is about 70% of the Adios Pro 4 (19,800 ÷ 28,600 = 69%). A shoe with nearly the same foam name and sole height comes about 30% cheaper.
For someone who wears the Adios Pro 4 on race day, it also means a trainer whose drop differs by only 0.5mm. The tilt of the sole matches between training and race.
Things to watch
There are many similarly named variants: Woven, EXO, Zip, ATR. On Rakuten they line up in the same search results. The weights differ by up to 42.5g, so check the last word of the product name before you choose.
The drop is 6.5mm. For someone switching from an 8mm or 10mm shoe, that is 1.5 to 3.5mm smaller.
With no rods or plate, there is no part that adds race-style stiffness. The announcement also describes the use as training for races.
Who is it for?
Good fit: Someone looking for a 2nd pair. Someone who wants 1 shoe for both slow days and fast days. Someone who uses the Adios Pro 4 for races, or will.
For thickness, the 45mm-heel Hyperboost Edge fits. For unpaved paths, the lugged ATR. If you like the Boston 13's rods, you can run in it as is.
Race-shoe and training-shoe pairings by pace are written in the article on shoes by pace.
Price 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 |
| Adios Pro 4 | JPY 28,600 | JPY 143 | JPY 28,600–61,808 |
The EVO SL and Boston 13 have almost the same official price. Price does not decide it. These 2 are decided by whether you need rods.
Two years after release, many colors have appeared. On Rakuten the price range is wide by color and size. Check by product name whether it is the plain EVO SL or a variant before you choose.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero EVO SL
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 15,840 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 19,800 depending on the shop. 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 Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanHere are the rod-equipped trainer and the variant that can also go on dirt paths.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero Boston 13
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 11,999 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 18,700 depending on the shop. 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 Ichiba
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
adidas Adizero EVO SL ATR
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 16,720 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 25,300 depending on the shop. 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 IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanFAQ
Is the EVO SL's fit the same as the Adios Pro 4?
The uppers differ in build: the EVO SL is a breathable mesh, while the Pro 4 has a mesh that stretches one way plus an inner band. Do not decide by the same number; look at the size chart on the product page.
Can I run a full marathon race in the EVO SL?
By the thickness rule, yes. The heel is 38.5mm, 1.5mm under World Athletics' road limit of 40mm. adidas's announcement describes the use as training for races. The shoes adidas describes for race day are the Adios Pro 4 and the Boston 13, which does both.
How do the EVO SL Woven and EXO differ?
The differences are weight and the support mechanism, and the stack is the same. The Woven is 224g like the EVO SL, the EXO is 230g, and the stack is the same for all 3. The EXO adds an outer frame that supports from the heel to the middle of the foot. The whole adidas lineup is in the article on adidas's 2026 new releases.
