Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 Introduction
The Adidas Adizero SL2 is Adidas’s try at offering a each day coach that’s mild sufficient for some quicker miles whereas additionally cushioned sufficient to make use of typically.
That is their entry degree shoe on their Adizero line which incorporates the Adizero Boston 12, Takumi Sen, Adios 8, and Adios Professional 3.
The principle 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 towards the Brooks Ghost 16, Asics Gel-Cumulus 26, and the New Steadiness 880.
This shoe just isn’t as gentle because the Gel-Cumulus however not almost as agency because the Brooks Ghost. It’s the lightest of the footwear and it’s very noticeable once you first put it on. By way of 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 may be enhancements. First, they added in LightStrike Professional foam inside the LightStrike 2.0, making for a softer midsole cushion. This variation 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 mixture of those adjustments, the shoe acquired about 0.1 oz lighter even with barely extra midsole.
One different function of this shoe is that it’s product of 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 stunned by simply how light-weight it was.
My first run on this shoe was 5 mile simple run however I used to be in elevation for the primary time. The run general felt nice and the footwear disappeared on my ft. I didn’t assume the shoe helped a ton with pacing however it additionally by no means inhibited something both.
The cushion was nice 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 degree of vitality return as I used to be bouncing from stride to stride. This shoe did the job general. It felt a little bit tight, sufficient that I finished 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 snug and breathable, dealing with the North Carolina summer time humidity simply nice.
The one grievance I’ve is with the engineered higher. I wore skinny socks for considered one of these runs and I might really feel the surface of the shoe rubbing by means of the sock. It by no means brought on a blister or any sizzling 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 ft. I might not put on tremendous skinny socks as there might be some irritation there.
Undoubtedly don’t put on this with out socks as it’s going to lower up your ft. The tongue just isn’t gusseted (hooked up) and is a bit on the thick aspect. It’s snug 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 slim aspect. I might really feel the shoe hug the width of my forefoot, which isn’t one thing I sometimes really feel. I might beware if in case you have wider ft.
Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 Sole Unit
By way of the only real unit, the midsole foam that Adidas makes use of is a mix of their Lightstrike 2.0 and Lightstrike Professional.
The principle distinction between the 2 is the vitality return. Lightstrike Professional is their premium foam discovered solely of their highest finish footwear. What you get within the cheaper elements of the road is the mixture with their Lightstrike 2.0 foam, which isn’t almost as gentle 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’s going to assist give some vitality return and propulsion. It does okay. It actually helps make the journey snug 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 greater than the earlier model. It suits in with many footwear on this vary. The drop was not noticeable to me and felt snug.
The outsole of the shoe additionally doesn’t use its premium supplies, notably lacking the Continental Rubber discovered on many footwear as you go up the road. I discovered the rubber outsole to be nice sufficient for a each day coach however if you happen to’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 journey on the shoe general 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 simple to medium paces. I felt like I used to be ready 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 median to good shoe. It’s light-weight, soft-ish, and cozy on most runs.
At its value level ($130), it’s price 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 wish to be mild on their ft and wish to differ their paces on their runs. I’ll personally preserve this shoe in my rotation for these quicker simple runs and the shorter lengthy runs.
