When Kenyan distance runner Sebastian Sawe broke away from the lead pack roughly 90 minutes into the 2025 London Marathon and started opening a decisive gap heading into the final stages of the race, he did so wearing adidas’ newly unveiled Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2, a shoe that would quickly become a key part of the story of the event.
Sawe crossed the finish line in 2:02:27, securing victory in London and adding another major result to his growing résumé after an impressive win on Spain’s East Coast in 2024. Close behind, Nike athlete Jacob Kiplimo finished second while racing in what would later be revealed as the upcoming Nike Alphafly 4, while third-place finisher Alexander Mutiso Munyao stopped the clock at 2:04:20 wearing the same Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2, giving adidas two of the top three spots on the podium and reinforcing its presence at the front of the field.
This outcome is part of a long-standing rivalry that intensified in 2019 when Eliud Kipchoge completed an unofficial sub-two-hour marathon in Nike’s Alphafly Next%, an achievement that redefined expectations and set a benchmark both Nike and adidas have aimed for ever since. While brands like HOKA and On may dominate the recreational race scene, the contest for record-breaking performances at the world’s most prestigious marathons has largely been between these two giants. Kipchoge’s teammate Kelvin Kiptum appeared ready to reach the milestone under official race conditions before his tragic passing in early 2024, having come painfully close with a 2:00:35 victory at the Chicago Marathon in the Nike Alphafly 3.
Recently, adidas gained more momentum in its campaign when Tigist Assefa set a new women’s-only world record at the 2025 London Marathon, finishing in 2:15:50 while wearing the previous-generation Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1. With top results now emerging in both men’s and women’s categories, the quest for the fastest marathon shoe has shifted from theory to practice, making the London Marathon–winning Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 the natural focal point for a closer look.
- Brand: adidas
- Model: Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2
- Colour-way: Silver Metallic / Lucid Red / Grey Two
- SKU: JR7259
- Retail Price: USD $500
- Release Date: Thursday, May 1st at 08:00 am
Billed as the fastest and lightest running shoe adidas has ever made, the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 stands at the top of the brand’s performance range, positioned as the flagship within the Adizero racing family. Designed with elite marathon performance as its main goal, the shoe reflects that ambition through its construction and its positioning, retailing at USD $500.
Now in its second version, the Pro Evo 2 builds on its predecessor with a revised midsole that adds an extra 3mm of LIGHTSTRIKE PRO EVO foam in the forefoot. This update marks nearly a 10 percent increase in forefoot stack height compared to the original Evo 1, resulting in roughly a 5 percent boost in energy return for the runner. As with the first model, the forefoot rocker remains at 60 percent of the shoe’s total length, keeping the aggressive geometry that defines the series.
“The design process for this shoe was a challenging but ultimately rewarding pursuit that started with simply looking at how we can make the fastest shoe we’ve ever created, even faster – all whilst keeping the weight consistent,” said Patrick Nava, VP Product, Running & Credibility Sports at adidas Running. “Working alongside our elite athletes like former world record holder Yomif Kejelcha, we’ve developed a shoe that delivers more energy return and a more efficient running economy with no compromise on agility.”
Despite the added foam, weight remains the same as the previous generation. The original Adios Pro Evo 1 was already 40 percent lighter than any race shoe adidas had made at the time, and the Pro Evo 2 matches it at just 138 grams. That number becomes even more impressive compared to competitors, surpassing the Nike Alphafly 3 at 218 grams and the Alphafly Next% at 210 grams, while still offering increased energy return underfoot.
From a design perspective, the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 adopts a clear evolutionary approach rather than a radical redesign. A simple silver finish is paired with adidas’ signature red three stripes along both the lateral and medial sides, while branding remains intentionally subtle to keep the weight down. Small adidas script details appear on the midsole, tongue, and heel counter, where the shoe’s name is displayed, emphasizing the minimal, performance-focused ethos of the model.
The adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 will be released in very limited quantities, launching on Thursday, May 1st at 10:00 a.m. (local time) via adidas.com, with availability expected to be highly limited due to demand.
