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The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 has arrived, bringing one of the biggest updates yet to Adidas’ flagship marathon racing shoe. Lighter, more efficient and packed with technology developed from the ultra-exclusive Adios Pro Evo line, the latest generation looks set to be one of the most talked-about carbon racing shoes of 2026.
For runners who loved the speed of the Adidas Adios Pro 4, the Pro 5 isn't simply a small update. Adidas has redesigned virtually every major component, including the carbon structure, midsole, upper and outsole.
So, what has changed, and should the Adios Pro 5 be on your shortlist for your next marathon or half marathon?
Adidas Adios Pro 5: Lighter and Faster
Weight is one of the headline changes.
Adidas lists the Adizero Adios Pro 5 at approximately 177g in a UK size 8.5, making it around 23g lighter than the Adios Pro 4. Adidas says the combination of weight savings, updated foam and its new carbon construction produces a 9% improvement in energy return compared with its predecessor.
The shoe retains a high-stack racing geometry, measuring 39mm at the heel and 35mm at the forefoot, creating a 4mm heel-to-toe drop.
For runners chasing a marathon PB, reducing weight while retaining plenty of protective cushioning could make the Pro 5 particularly interesting over 26.2 miles.
Goodbye ENERGYRODS, Hello ENERGYRIM
Perhaps the biggest story surrounding the Adidas Adios Pro 5 is the departure of Adidas' familiar ENERGYRODS.
Previous generations used individual carbon-infused rods through the midsole to create stiffness and propulsion. The Pro 5 introduces ENERGYRIM, a carbon-infused structure positioned around the midsole.
Why does that matter?
Removing the traditional rods allows Adidas to place more LIGHTSTRIKE PRO foam directly underneath the runner's foot. ENERGYRIM then provides strategically tuned stiffness around that cushioning platform.
The technology takes inspiration from the highly specialised Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, bringing some of Adidas' most advanced racing-shoe development into the mainstream Adios Pro family.
Updated LIGHTSTRIKE PRO Cushioning
The midsole continues to use Adidas' premium LIGHTSTRIKE PRO foam, but it has been reworked for the Adios Pro 5.
The objective is straightforward: combine low weight with cushioning, responsiveness and stability that can hold up when you're deep into a marathon.
Rather than creating a shoe that only feels quick over short distances, the Adios Pro 5 running shoes have been developed specifically with long-distance road racing in mind.
That makes them particularly relevant to runners searching for a marathon super shoe capable of maintaining an efficient ride when fatigue starts to set in.
New LIGHTLOCK 2.0 Upper
Weight savings aren't limited to the midsole.
The LIGHTLOCK 2.0 upper uses one-way stretch material alongside strategically engineered ventilation zones and internal support bands.
Adidas has also revised the heel construction, with the overall design intended to provide secure race-day lockdown without adding unnecessary material.
It's an important upgrade because a racing shoe can have the fastest midsole technology available, but poor lockdown can quickly become noticeable when you're running hard for several hours.
LIGHTTRAXION and Continental Rubber Outsole
Underneath the shoe, Adidas combines its lightweight LIGHTTRAXION outsole with Continental rubber around the toe-off area.
The LIGHTTRAXION pattern has been designed to provide traction while keeping outsole weight to a minimum, while Continental rubber provides additional grip where runners need it during propulsion.
It's another example of Adidas focusing on removing unnecessary weight rather than simply stripping away components.
Who Is the Adidas Pro 5 For?
The Adizero Adios Pro 5 is first and foremost a race-day shoe.
It's aimed at neutral runners looking for maximum performance over road races, with the half marathon and marathon likely to be its natural territory. Faster runners could also consider it for shorter road races, while those preparing for a goal event may use it for selected marathon-pace sessions and key workouts.
At £220 in the UK, it's firmly positioned as a premium performance shoe rather than an everyday running trainer.
For easy mileage and regular training, runners will generally be better served by a more durable daily trainer and saving the Pro 5 for important sessions and race day.
A Major Change for the Adios Pro Family
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro represents considerably more than a cosmetic update.
At approximately 177g, with ENERGYRIM carbon technology, updated LIGHTSTRIKE PRO cushioning, a LIGHTLOCK 2.0 upper and lightweight LIGHTTRAXION outsole, Adidas has reworked its established racing formula from top to bottom.
The biggest question is how those changes translate from Adidas' performance figures to the feet of everyday runners.
But on paper, the combination of lower weight, increased energy return and technology inspired by the Adios Pro Evo 3 makes the Adios Pro 5 one of the most significant Adidas running shoe launches of 2026.
For runners hunting for a new carbon-plated marathon racing shoe and chasing their next PB, the Adios Pro 5 is going to be difficult to ignore.
