adidas Adizero SL Shoe Review
Published: January 19, 2023
Adizero Performance Accessible to All
Likes
- Lightweight and responsive
- Versatile ride
- Comfortable upper
- Soft Lightstrike foam
Dislikes
- Stretchy laces cause finicky lockdown
What's New
Over the years, adidas has tailored their Adizero shoe line for race-day performance but now with the release of the Adizero SL, the line is rounded out with a neutral daily trainer that promises versatile Adizero performance with everyday comfort, all at a price point that runners at any level can appreciate.
The shoe's midsole is constructed with a combination of Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro foam that work together to deliver soft landings and responsive toe-offs, allowing wearers to enjoy tempo runs and speed intervals, as well as long, easy jaunts.
The Adizero SL's engineered mesh upper is simple in design but promises to be highly effective out on the roads, delivering an adaptable fit that is secure enough to handle runs at faster paces. The SL's upper is designed to be light on foot with the breathability needed to keep feet cool and irritation-free.
This shoe also features a strategically placed rubber outsole that is designed to deliver dependable grip on the roads and durability to chew up daily training mileage. Even better, the cost-friendly materials in the upper and outsole make the Adizero SL a wallet-friendly entry-level option for those interested in trying out the adidas Adizero line.
The Bottom Line
For years, adidas' Adizero line has been at the forefront of performance running shoes, delivering some of the best racing-specific shoes in modern times. Now, with the release of the Adizero SL, the line has a high-performing daily training option at an accessible price.
What sets this shoe apart is its midsole, which combines Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro foam, impressing both of our testers with its balance of responsiveness and protection. Well suited to tempo runs and speed intervals, the SL can also do the dirty work of daily mileage and can even go the distance if wearers so choose.
The theme of balance is also reflected in the shoe's engineered mesh upper, which has the lightweight feel of a performance trainer or racer with a padded heel collar and tongue similar to that of a daily trainer. This results in a highly comfortable on-foot feel that is light and secure, no matter the run. That said, the laces have a unique stretch to them, which can make lacing a little tricky, but this minor detail should not deter runners from giving the Adizero SL a go.
Unlike its Adizero relatives, the SL does not feature a Continental Rubber outsole, but the shoe's strategically placed rubber outsole does its job well. This simple substitution, along with a couple of others, is also why the adidas Adizero SL has such an alluring price point. At $120, the SL is almost a no-brainer for those looking for a do-it-all daily trainer.
Our In-Depth Look
Upper
Jon: "I found the Adizero SL's upper very comfortable. The engineered mesh is soft and provides a secure yet adaptable fit. The only issue I had with the upper was the laces. The laces are a bit too stretchy, making the Adizero SL feel loose at times, even when tied tightly. This minor detail was not a big deal, but there were several occasions when I felt like the shoe was becoming untied even though the laces were secure."
Kaleb: "The SL's engineered mesh upper felt fantastic, offering a balance of secure performance and padded comfort. Personally, I thought the SL fell somewhere between the feel of a lightweight trainer and a daily trainer. Over the years, I have been a big fan of the Adizero Adios' fit and would describe the SL's upper as a more comfort-minded rendition of the Adios.
It felt very light on foot and breathed well. I never experienced any irritation, even after multiple speed runs and several long runs. I needed to use the extra eyelet to get my preferred hold, but I do not consider this a knock on the shoe's upper, merely a personal preference."
Midsole
Jon: "If I am being honest, Lightstrike foam does not have the biggest reputation for being soft, and many detractors would actually describe Lightstrike as being quite firm. Well, it is evident that adidas has been hard at work because I am happy to report that the Lightstrike foam in the Adizero SL offers a softer and more comfortable ride than the Adizero Adios 7 and Boston 11. I would even go so far as to say that Lightstrike was the highlight of this shoe, even more than the Lightstrike Pro drop-in in the forefoot.
I definitely would not consider the Adizero SL's midsole plush, but I typically prefer shoes with a bit of a ground feel, so I felt right at home in the Adizero SL. The midsole was cushioned enough to make easy recovery miles feel just fine, and it was responsive enough to pick up the pace during faster workouts, which is where the Lightstrike Pro was on full display, and I was surprised by how easy it was to go fast in this shoe.
I put the SL through several speed workouts, such as 400-m and 800-m intervals, and they exceeded my expectations. I credit that to the weight of the shoe, along with the shoe's midsole construction. I never felt like I had to work hard to get these shoes up to my goal pace."
Kaleb: "This is one of the best midsoles on a daily trainer that I have been able to test. Unfortunately, I have not worn the New Balance Rebel, and I have limited experience in the ASICS Novablast, but given what I do know about the other two models, I would put the Adizero SL's Lightstrike, Lightstrike Pro midsole in the same echelon of performance quality.
It is light, protective, and packs a lovely responsive punch at toe-off, which allowed me to complete a host of different types of testing runs proficiently. I had no issues picking up the pace on tempo runs, and my body felt great after longer runs, all thanks to the shoe's well-balanced midsole. I worry a bit about the resilience of the midsole's foam over time, but other than that, the SL's midsole was excellent."
Outsole
Jon: "It is not often we get to test shoes in inclement weather here on the Central Coast (not complaining), but we had a lot of rain during the Adizero SL's testing period, so I was able to truly test the outsole in wet conditions. I encountered light rain during a few speed workouts, and I was nervous that the additional moisture would cause slippage or a loss in traction, but I was really impressed with the outsole rubber on these shoes.
That said, I did feel like some grip was compromised while running at faster speeds in rainy weather, but it was not enough to prevent me from hitting my desired training paces. On a 10-mile run, I experienced heavy rain and even some hail, and while the shoes got soaked, they did not feel heavy or uncomfortable. As a result, I finished the last 4 miles of the run without any issues. All-in-all, I think that the Adizero SL's outsole was excellent, and even better, it shows no signs of wear after 70 miles."
Kaleb: "I will keep things short and sweet here. I know the SL's outsole is not the Continental Rubber used in other Adizero shoes, but I did not notice a big difference in performance between the two, even in wet running conditions. I always felt like I had a good grip on the road, and I could maintain speed with confidence on my faster runs. The utilization of strategically placed rubber instead of Continental Rubber also helps lower the price of the SL, which is an awesome trade-off for a more budget-minded runner like myself. Finally, the outsole has shown no signs of wear after 40+ miles."
Comparable Shoes
Jon: "The Adizero SL fits somewhere between the ASICS Novablast, Nike Pegasus, and HOKA Clifton on the spectrum of versatile daily trainers. The Novablast 3 is plusher, more responsive, and more protective than the Adizero SL, but that is not to say that the Adizero SL is not also those things. I found the Adizero SL to be plenty cushioned, responsive, and protective throughout testing.
The underfoot experience is like that of the HOKA Clifton and Nike Pegasus, but with the added benefit of responsiveness thanks to the Lightstrike Pro insert. While I would still pay the extra $20 for the Novablast 3, there are not many other daily training shoes I would purchase over the Adizero SL at the moment, especially given its fantastic price point."
Kaleb: "As I mentioned earlier, I would compare the Adizero SL to the New Balance Rebel and ASICS Novablast. All three shoes offer a great combination of protection and speed, and all are excellent do-it-all daily training shoes that can even be a racing option for less experienced runners.
The Rebel and Novablast have been two of the best training shoes over the last couple of years, and I would say the performance and comfort provided by the Adizero SL is of a similar caliber. What sets the SL apart is its price point, which is roughly $10 less than the Rebel and $20 less than the Novablast. If you couldn't guess already, I highly recommend the Adizero SL, especially if you need a single shoe that can do it all."
adidas Men's adizero SL
The adidas adizero SL is a neutral everyday running shoe built with propulsive versatility to pick up the pace on workout day.
adidas Women's adizero SL
The adidas adizero SL is a neutral everyday running shoe built with propulsive versatility to pick up the pace on workout day.
Individual Thoughts
JonOverall Score: 9/10
adidas bills the Adizero SL as a versatile daily running shoe capable of picking up the pace, and that is precisely what these shoes are, and I mean that in the best of ways. From the initial step-in, this shoe just felt great.
The padded heel collar feels plush, the Lightstrike midsole foam is pleasantly soft, and the tox box is near perfect for my somewhat wider feet. As for the performance of this shoe, it was excellent throughout testing. I put the Adizero SL through a variety of workouts, and it passed with flying colors every single run. They are lightweight, incredibly comfortable, and more than capable of going fast but have no difficulty accommodating slower runs as well. Finally, the SL is a very stylish shoe that makes a perfect travel companion for those like myself who like to travel light and only bring one pair of shoes.
Honestly, I cannot recommend the Adizero SL enough, and I recommend them for practically any runner. More experienced runners can enjoy the SL for their rigorous speed workouts, while less experienced runners get more than enough protection from the midsole to stay comfortable on daily training runs. The adizero SL has earned its way into my running rotation, and I suspect it will do the same for anyone who wants to give it a try.
KalebOverall Score: 9.5/10
The adidas Adizero SL is one of my favorite test shoes of 2022. The midsole was well-balanced and performed excellently on all sorts of different runs. It felt responsive and fast on speed runs, as well as comfortable and protective on long efforts. For daily training purposes, the midsole was excellent.
I have always enjoyed adidas and how their products fit my feet, and the SL was no exception. I loved the balance of performance and comfort features utilized by adidas. The padded heel collar helped deliver a healthy dose of cushioned comfort, while zoning in the forefoot helped provide structure and security.
Even more noteworthy is that the SL is listed at $120. This is $20 less than the ASICS Novablast and $10 under the New Balance Rebel for, in my opinion, similar performance quality. Like the Rebel and Novablast, I think the SL is setting the tone within the daily training and lightweight training categories, sitting in contrast to shoes like the Brooks Ghost and HOKA Clifton. The Lightstrike, Lightstrike Pro midsole is more responsive than both the Ghost and Clifton, and I would also argue that I can run comfortably longer in the SL than the other two shoes, all for a better price.
In other terms, adidas, like a couple of other brands, has shown that you can produce a fun and exciting daily trainer with a high-performing midsole without a high price point, and I hope to see this trend grow across the industry.
