Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 vs Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

+ Praised

Fast, smooth and easy to roll through at half-marathon and marathon pace, with a softer feel than the Pro 4 that several reviewers find more natural and forgiving.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

+ Praised

An exceptionally soft and bouncy race ride that becomes more responsive as the pace rises; it feels vague at easy paces and unstable in tight turns.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

+ Praised

Plush, protective foam front and back that holds up deep into long races, even with less stack than the previous version.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

+ Praised

The dual-layer IncrediRun foam and near-legal maximum stack deliver outstanding impact protection and energy return for long races.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

− Criticised

The main weak point: a very snug, low-volume fit with a narrow arch and shallow toe box, plus modest breathability and, for one tester, a slick sockliner.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

+ Praised

The light, stretchy mesh is comfortable and secure with no heel counter, but the toe box is tapered and many runners need a half size up.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

− Criticised

The most serious complaint, with several testers seeing chunks of exposed lateral forefoot foam wear away within 50 miles, though others report only minor abrasion.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

± Divisive

Outsole rubber wears slowly, but the thin toe box scores poorly in abrasion tests and some testers see early foam wear.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

+ Praised

LIGHTTRAXION and Continental rubber grip well on wet and dry roads, a clear improvement on the Pro 4, though smooth wet metal still needs care.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

+ Praised

PWRTRAC rubber provides dependable dry and wet road grip, though it is noisy and not for gravel.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

± Divisive

The filled-in arch and carbon rim make it far more planted than the Pro 4 and stable enough for most marathoners, but heel strikers and runners who need a steady platform still find the narrow, soft heel wobbly.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

− Criticised

More stable than the previous version thanks to a wider heel and sidewalls, but the soft foam still makes cornering unpredictable.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

± Divisive

Some call $275 fair for a lighter, faster super shoe, while others say the price rise is hard to justify given the durability problems and the Pro 4 on discount.

Saucony Endorphin Elite 3

± Divisive

The $290 price is high and the shoe is heavier than rivals, but reviewers see the unique foam and race performance as justifying it.