Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 Introduction
The Adidas Adizero SL2 is Adidas’s try at offering a day by day coach that’s mild sufficient for some sooner miles whereas additionally cushioned sufficient to make use of usually.
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 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 strains up in opposition to the Brooks Ghost 16, Asics Gel-Cumulus 26, and the New Steadiness 880.
This shoe will not be as delicate because the Gel-Cumulus however not practically as agency because the Brooks Ghost. It’s the lightest of the footwear and it’s very noticeable whenever 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 will be enhancements. First, they added in LightStrike Professional foam within 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 mixture of those modifications, the shoe obtained about 0.1 oz lighter even with barely extra midsole.
One different characteristic of this shoe is that it’s made 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. After 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 simple run however I used to be in elevation for the primary time. The run general felt nice and the footwear disappeared on my toes. I didn’t suppose the shoe helped a ton with pacing but it surely additionally by no means inhibited something both.
The cushion was wonderful however definitely 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 slightly 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 may encourage me additional.
The shoe is snug and breathable, dealing with the North Carolina summer season humidity simply wonderful.
The one criticism I’ve is with the engineered higher. I wore skinny socks for considered one of these runs and I may really feel the skin of the shoe rubbing by means of the sock. It by no means induced 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 toes. I might not put on tremendous skinny socks as there may very well be some irritation there.
Undoubtedly don’t put on this with out socks as it’ll minimize up your toes. The tongue will not be gusseted (connected) and is a bit on the thick facet. It’s snug but it surely 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 could be bothersome for some runners. It’s a bit on the slender facet. I may really feel the shoe hug the width of my forefoot, which isn’t one thing I sometimes really feel. I might beware when you’ve got wider toes.
Adidas adidas adizero SL 2 Sole Unit
When it comes to the only real 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 footwear. What you get within the cheaper elements of the road is the mixture with their Lightstrike 2.0 foam, which isn’t practically as delicate 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 definitely helps make the experience 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 increased 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 wonderful sufficient for a day by day coach however in case you’re on the lookout for a shoe with wonderful grip then you will want to maneuver up the Adidas line. For what you’re paying for, although, this outsole works. After 55 miles, the rubber barely appeared prefer it had been run in so I anticipate good longevity on this shoe.
The experience on the shoe general is okay. 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 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 median to good shoe. It’s light-weight, soft-ish, and cozy 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 at all times the way it’s imagined to work.
I do suggest this shoe for people who wish to be mild on their toes and wish to differ their paces on their runs. I’ll personally hold this shoe in my rotation for these sooner simple runs and the shorter lengthy runs.
