Best For

Big fan here of the SL20 line up, especially the Adidas SL20.3. This new Adidas road running shoe is a solid attempt to create a softer cousin to the SL20.3. However, don’t be tricked, this is not a soft shoe, just a little softer than daily trainers of the past. With the avalanche of road running shoes in the past 3 years arriving in the maximalist and soft (think Rebel v3) categories, on websites and in running shoe stores around the world, the SL is a citrusy-fresh reminder that not all daily trainer running shoes need to be buttery soft under step. Lands at 41 in the forefoot and 47 in the heel for that Shore C durometer score. We’re looking at a road running shoe that is twisting, but barely, and offers a well balanced upper experience of cushion, but not too much plush-ness if you know what I mean.

Upper

THANK YOU Adidas! The heel counter and heel tab are softening up with the Adidas Adizero SL! I can’t tell you how long it has taken Adidas to help all of our ankles and achilles tendons, with a gentler approach to the upper. For years, I struggled with the rear of most, if not all, Adidas running shoe uppers. The collar and hindfoot area for many of their uppers really did not feel comfortable, especially in their road racing shoe line up. 

Stop the presses, Adidas must be watching the vlog, the heel counter and collar is simply spot on. Padding is well placed in the SL heel counter, and also on the interior wall of the medial and lateral hindfoot area. The tongue of the Adidas Adizero SL is not gussetted, that’s okay, maybe a feature down the line. The laces are thinner than most road running shoes, but I did not feel them on the top of my foot while lacing up and getting out the door for a run. The engineered mesh is fairly straightforward, and should be breathable in the warmer temperatures of summer; the upper is also made out of 50% recycled material. Lastly, a nice thin rubberized overlay tapers off from the toecap down to the vamp, adding a little more structure to the overall toebox, and from splashing puddles in the spring time.

Midsole

Runners who prefer a slightly higher drop, 8.5 mm, this affordable road running shoe may be for you! Some Brooks running shoes hike their drop, or offset, up to the 12 mm mark, which is even a little high for my liking in a neutral road running shoe, that falls into the daily trainer category. While at the same time, my footstrike and overall running biomechanics yearn for a little more than that typical 4-6 mm drop range, that’s where the Adidas SL lands well for me at that 8.5 mm drop. 

For the actual foam understep, the classic LIGHTSTRIKE is accompanied by an infusion of LIGHSTRIKE PRO under the forefoot, which gives the shoe an energetic toe-off. Adidas really is stepping up their game with this dual density approach to a daily training running shoe. For the actual feel during the footstrike, this is the opposite of soft or mushy, but rather firmer and snappy, which you will have to discern which ride type you prefer for your classic daily training miles. On that note, it is a classic daily trainer, not exactly falling into the easy day or long run category for me; I’d love to take this shoe out again for 6-10 mile runs at a steady to “steasy” pace. 

Outsole

Who runs on slick pavement, or cobblestone, or any surface that creates an unsteady surface? If so, this neutral road running shoe is made for you! Adidas adds an impressive outsole design to the SL. Grip and durability for the wild weather days is exactly what this outsole was made for. Adidas’ crafting of the rubberized outsole gives complete confidence understep, even on slick surfaces. If your footstrike lands uniquely on the medial or lateral side, that’s okay, the slats of rubber are placed across the entire outsole to help increase the durability. 

Would I Buy This Shoe Again?

Although the final score was not quite in the 7s, I would buy this shoe again at that price point of $120. If you’re a runner who wants a shoe that knocks out those daily training miles, without too many bells and whistles in the midsole or upper, and at an awesome price point, then the Adidas Adizero SL is for you. Every now and then a “classic daily trainer” enters the marketplace, and at the correct price p