Adidas Adizero Adios 9 vs Nike Zoom Fly 6
A side-by-side comparison grounded in verdicts from 5 reviewers with every source linked. We don't invent quotes; every claim below is attributed.
Specs at a glance
Adidas Adizero Adios 9 — what reviewers say
Ride profile: low cushion , neutral stability .
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A brilliant, lightweight daily shoe that EDDBUD loves for its Lightstrike Pro propulsion and super durable traction rubber, though sadly overlooked by runners chasing max-stack models.
In their words: "super durable" · "sadly overlooked in a world of max cushion models" · "great propulsion of the Light Strike Pro foam" · "so cheap as well for what you get"
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A cheaper, flatter 'knockdown' of the Takumi Sen with no energy rods — a neutral race-flat option Kofuzi rates highly enough to have bought one for his daughter to race in.
Ride:Very neutral, sock-like, race-flat feel that sits low to the ground; no energy rods but keeps the Lightlock upper and Continental/Lighttraxion outsole of the Takumi silo. Feels fast and flat with lots of ground feel — a good option for 5K road races or track workouts when you don't want to be in spikes.
Fit:A bit more padding in the tongue and heel cup than the Takumi Sen, making it slightly more comfortable and daily-trainer-adjacent
In their words: "lowest stack height shoe" · "flatter road flat" · "racing feel"
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An excellent old-school racing flat brought up to date with full-length Lightstrike Pro — best for 5K/10K speed work, not a do-it-all shoe. Good value at GBP 120.
Ride:Supremely light with strong proprioception and ground feel; full-length Lightstrike Pro provides modern responsiveness without rods or plates, making it engaging at all speeds from jogging to 10K race pace.
Fit:True to size with a narrow forefoot toe box that won't suit wider feet. Stretch mesh upper with gusseted tongue gives a comfortable, slipper-like fit and very good lockdown.
In their words: "old school racing flat experience" · "really gives that slipper likee feel" · "a bit of a narrow toe box"
Nike Zoom Fly 6 — what reviewers say
Ride profile: high cushion , neutral stability .
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EDDBUD acknowledges the Zoom Fly 6 as a lighter, more propulsive trainer but notes that carbon plate trainers as a category are declining as brands shift to plateless designs relying on foam rigidity.
Ride:Touch lighter than Nike daily shoes; more propulsive with a narrower footbed; carbon plate stabilizes the materials; this category of carbon plate trainers is declining as brands shift to plateless foam-first designs
In their words: "a bit more up for it than the daily shoes" · "this type of shoe seems to be in decline now"
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#1 tempo shoe. Best Zoom Fly ever made — fun for daily training and excellent at going fast. Comfortable, peppy, lightweight.
In their words: "comfortable. it's peppy. it's lightweight" · "everything that i want in a tempo shoe"
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Fordy says the Zoom Fly 6 is a great shoe but skews toward race-day rather than versatile training; would like Nike to make it less firm and more exciting.
Ride:Reviewer calls it a great shoe but more towards a race-day shoe — a toned-down race-day shoe from Nike — and feels it's a bit firm; wishes Nike would inject more excitement and innovation into it
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An excellent versatile super-trainer that does every kind of run well; not quite as lively as the Megablast but a fantastic shoe at a much lower price, making it the value pick.
Ride:Comfortable at easy paces yet capable of fast running; slightly firmer at the heel than the Megablast which makes it feel more stable there for some runners; not as flat-out fast or as bouncy as the Megablast but still moves well at pace
Fit:Comfortable upper with thick dual-layer mesh, generous heel padding; true-to-size fit with secure heel and midfoot lockdown and adequate toe room
Who should buy which
Use cases the reviewers above actually call out — one bullet per distinct take, attributed. Where reviewers converge (e.g. "5K to half marathon" appearing across multiple takes) the agreement is a stronger buying signal than any single voice.
Consider the Adidas Adizero Adios 9 if
- Lighter-built runners, track sessions and short intervals as a rotation shoe — EDDBUD
- Lighter, more experienced runners wanting a nimble lower-stack do-it-all daily plus speed shoe at a budget price (often GBP 80-90 in the UK); strong training partner for the Takumi Sen 11 or Adios Pro 4. — EDDBUD
- Runners wanting more road feel and less foam; track and shorter fast sessions — EDDBUD
- 5K road races and shorter, and track workouts for runners who want a fast, low-to-the-ground race flat without spikes or energy rods — Kofuzi
- Lightweight 5K/10K racing and speed sessions for runners who want ground feel and a traditional racing-flat experience without a plate. — Ben Parkes
- Lighter-frame runners doing 5K/10K racing, track sessions, and ultra-fast tempo work who want a near-spike feel without rods or plates. — EDDBUD
Consider the Nike Zoom Fly 6 if
- Versatile do-everything carbon-plate trainer for runners on a budget vs the Speed 5. — EDDBUD
- A versatile, responsive plated daily trainer across all paces short of extreme long runs, at the cheapest price point in the group — EDDBUD
- Marathon-block long runs and longer tempo efforts where a plush, rhythmic, road-mile-eating super-trainer is preferred — Doctors of Running
- Workout/tempo days plus daily training in a single shoe — pairs well with a race-day Vaporfly. — Kofuzi
- Versatile super-trainer that can handle every kind of run — easy, long, tempo, intervals — and even race day, at a much more reasonable price than rivals — The Run Testers
- Engaging, propulsive plated tempo trainer that EDDBUD calls the best Nike shoe in a long time — EDDBUD
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the Adidas Adizero Adios 9 and the Nike Zoom Fly 6?
The Adidas Adizero Adios 9 is a speed trainer and the Nike Zoom Fly 6 is a speed trainer. By the numbers, the Adidas Adizero Adios 9 weighs 176g, has a 28mm heel stack and a 7mm drop, while the Nike Zoom Fly 6 weighs 244g, has a 40mm heel stack and an 8mm drop.
Should I buy the Adidas Adizero Adios 9 or the Nike Zoom Fly 6?
EDDBUD on the Adidas Adizero Adios 9: Lighter-built runners, track sessions and short intervals as a rotation shoe. EDDBUD on the Nike Zoom Fly 6: Versatile do-everything carbon-plate trainer for runners on a budget vs the Speed 5.
Per EDDBUD.
Which is lighter, the Adidas Adizero Adios 9 or the Nike Zoom Fly 6?
The Adidas Adizero Adios 9 is lighter, at 176g versus 244g (men's 9) — about 68g less.
Which is more cushioned, the Adidas Adizero Adios 9 or the Nike Zoom Fly 6?
Measured by stack height, the Nike Zoom Fly 6 has more underfoot foam — 40mm at the heel versus 28mm.