Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 Introduction
The Adidas Adizero SL2 is Adidas’s try at offering a day by day coach that’s gentle sufficient for some sooner miles whereas additionally cushioned sufficient to make use of typically.
That is their entry stage shoe on their Adizero line which incorporates the Adizero Boston 12, Takumi Sen, Adios 8, and Adios Professional 3.
The primary distinction as you go up the road goes to be the kind of midsole cushioning and the way a lot. For comparability, this shoe traces up in opposition to the Brooks Ghost 16, Asics Gel-Cumulus 26, and the New Stability 880.
This shoe shouldn’t be as comfortable because the Gel-Cumulus however not practically as agency because the Brooks Ghost. It’s the lightest of the sneakers and it’s very noticeable if you first put it on. When it comes to responsiveness, it’s much like the texture of the Gel-Cumulus.
That is an replace to the primary model of this shoe. There have been a number of updates to this shoe that might be enhancements. First, they added in LightStrike Professional foam inside the LightStrike 2.0, making for a softer midsole cushion. This alteration in midsole additionally helps with consolation on longer runs. Second, they redid the higher to a light-weight engineered mesh, which makes the shoe extra breathable.
Lastly, there was an extra top to the midsole, with the heel going from 35mm to 26mm and the forefoot going from 26.5mm to 27mm. The heel-to-toe drop went from 8.5mm to 9mm. With the mix of those adjustments, the shoe received about 0.1 oz lighter even with barely extra midsole.
One different function of this shoe is that it’s manufactured from 20% recycled supplies.
Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 First Impressions
My first impression of the shoe upon opening the field was that the shoe had a fairly cool design. Once I first picked up the shoe, I used to be shocked by simply how light-weight it was.
My first run on this shoe was 5 mile straightforward run however I used to be in elevation for the primary time. The run total felt nice and the sneakers disappeared on my toes. I didn’t assume the shoe helped a ton with pacing however it additionally by no means inhibited something both.
The cushion was effective however actually not pillowy-soft. There doesn’t really feel like there’s a rocker on this shoe so I by no means felt propelled ahead however I did really feel some stage of vitality return as I used to be bouncing from stride to stride. This shoe did the job total. It felt somewhat tight, sufficient that I ended mid run to retie my laces and loosen up a bit.
My subsequent run was a tempo run and I didn’t essentially really feel just like the shoe was serving to me hit my tempo paces. I did wrestle to make my tempo and I by no means actually felt just like the shoe might encourage me additional.
The shoe is comfy and breathable, dealing with the North Carolina summer time humidity simply effective.
The one criticism I’ve is with the engineered higher. I wore skinny socks for certainly one of these runs and I might really feel the skin of the shoe rubbing by the sock. It by no means brought on a blister or any scorching spots. It merely felt uncomfortable.
Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 Higher
The higher of the shoe was an enchancment from the earlier model as it’s extra breathable and barely lighter in weight.
I don’t love the fabric because it feels a bit tough on the toes. I’d not put on tremendous skinny socks as there might be some irritation there.
Undoubtedly don’t put on this with out socks as it should lower up your toes. The tongue shouldn’t be gusseted (hooked up) and is a bit on the thick facet. It’s comfy however it doesn’t fairly match with the ethereal mesh of the remainder of the higher. The laces keep tied even on a single knot.
The match of the higher is what is likely to be bothersome for some runners. It’s a bit on the slender facet. I might really feel the shoe hug the width of my forefoot, which isn’t one thing I usually really feel. I’d beware when you’ve got wider toes.
Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 Sole Unit
When it comes to the only unit, the midsole foam that Adidas makes use of is a mix of their Lightstrike 2.0 and Lightstrike Professional.
The primary distinction between the 2 is the vitality return. Lightstrike Professional is their premium foam discovered solely of their highest finish sneakers. What you get within the cheaper elements of the road is the mix with their Lightstrike 2.0 foam, which isn’t practically as comfortable or bouncy.
On this shoe, there’s a layer of Lightstrike Professional that’s sandwiched in between two layers of Lightstrike 2.0, with the hopes that it’ll assist give some vitality return and propulsion. It does okay. It actually helps make the experience comfy however I by no means felt prefer it was pushing me alongside.
The midsole was softer than the Brooks Ghost however not as plush because the Gel-Cumulus 26. The midsole drop is 9mm, which is 0.5mm larger than the earlier model. It matches in with many sneakers on this vary. The drop was not noticeable to me and felt comfy.
The outsole of the shoe additionally doesn’t use its premium supplies, notably lacking the Continental Rubber discovered on many sneakers as you go up the road. I discovered the rubber outsole to be effective sufficient for a day by day coach however in the event you’re on the lookout for a shoe with glorious grip then you’ll need to maneuver up the Adidas line. For what you’re paying for, although, this outsole works. After 55 miles, the rubber barely seemed prefer it had been run in so I anticipate good longevity on this shoe.
The experience on the shoe total is ok. Once more, I by no means felt like there was any rocker that was serving to me propel ahead and I didn’t get an enormous vitality return.
That stated, there was some vitality return and sufficient that it was useful for some longer efforts at straightforward to medium paces. I felt like I used to be in a position to make use of my regular gait all through all of the runs.
Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 Conclusions
General, the Adidas Adizero SL has been a mean to good shoe. It’s light-weight, soft-ish, and comfy on most runs.
At its worth level ($130), it’s value what you’re paying for. You’re not going to get greater than you paid for however that’s not all the time the way it’s purported to work.
I do suggest this shoe for those who prefer to be gentle on their toes and prefer to differ their paces on their runs. I’ll personally preserve this shoe in my rotation for these sooner straightforward runs and the shorter lengthy runs.
