Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 vs New Balance SC Elite 6

Ride profile: high cushion , neutral stability .

• A strong marathon race shoe once fit is dialed in — the reviewer used it successfully at Chicago Marathon after making tweaks.

  Fit:Required some personal tweaks to dial in before it worked well for this reviewer.

  In their words: "worked out perfectly well"

  — FORDY RUNS , source

• Works well for half/full marathon but too soft for shorter, faster distances, loses pep quickly, and its softer Lightstrike Pro foam is linked to rod-snapping issues. Tier C.

  In their words: "went a bit flat even quicker than Man City" · "just a few too many issues"

  — EDDBUD , source

• Ben Parkes calls this probably the best-value super shoe on the market, lightweight and fast, and a strong marathon race-day option.

  Ride:Reviewer describes carbon rods (rather than a single plate) giving a similar propulsive effect.

  In their words: "probably the best value super shoe" · "Lightweight, fast, used by so many"

  — Ben Parkes , source

• The most comfortable of Ben's three race day picks — carbon rods instead of a plate allow more natural movement, making it an excellent choice for longer race distances.

  In their words: "most comfortable for me" · "can move a little bit more"

  — Ben Is Running , source

Ride profile: high cushion , neutral stability .

• The reviewer rated the SC Elite v6's performance on par with the Hyperion Elite 6 after a hilly 20-mile long run and said he'd happily race a marathon in it, but flags that the silicone heel pads caused rubbing with thin socks.

  Ride:Performed well across a hillier 20-mile long run with some goal-pace segments; the reviewer felt it had more left in the tank at pace. Stable for a big-stack racer with a non-aggressive carbon plate.

  Fit:Tested in a UK 10; also available in a wide fit. Lockdown is good, though the reviewer preferred the Brooks' sawtooth laces. The silicone heel pads rubbed badly and tore up his heel when worn with thin socks — he suspects sock choice was a factor.

  In their words: "wanted me to go faster" · "ripped my heel to pieces" · "moved away from PEBA"

  — FORDY RUNS , 20 mi tested , source

• Parkes sees the SC Elite v6 as a genuine foam and plate upgrade over v5 that stays comfortable and true to New Balance's accommodating race-shoe formula, but a thin, durability-worrying outsole, rear-foot instability and a lack of top-tier snap left him underwhelmed — he'd point most regular runners to the cheaper SC Rebel instead.

  Ride:New Infiniam foam and a reworked, stiffer Energy Arc plate make it livelier and more natural-feeling than v5, but the rear of the shoe feels unstable and it lacks the pronounced rocker and snap of top rivals.

  Fit:Runs slightly small; recommends half a size up for a regular fit, or true to size for a snug race fit. Midfoot runs narrower than v5. Still offered in a 2E wide fit, unique in the super shoe category. Lockdown was spot-on with no rubbing, chafing or heel slip.

  In their words: "going on the sale pile" · "very underwhelmed by this one" · "lockdown was spot-on"

  — Ben Parkes , source

• Both testers agree it's New Balance's best super shoe to date, calling it a clear step up in fit and midsole feel over the SC Elite 3-5 line, even if it isn't either tester's overall top race pick.

  Ride:The plate doesn't fully contact the upper midsole layer, which both testers think contributes to a distinctively light, bouncy, resilient feel usable from 5K pace up to easy runs.

  Fit:Nice wide toe box without feeling sloppy.

  In their words: "checks all the boxes" · "light, bouncy, not too soft"

  — Doctors of Running , source

• A strong, dependable step up from the V5 with a livelier Infinitum foam and carbon plate combo, but stops short of the very top-tier carbon racers.

  Ride:Smooth, controlled energy return that favors marathon/half-marathon pace over 5K snap, with more compression and spring when landing further back in the shoe.

  Fit:Runs slightly narrow through the midfoot; multiple testers recommend going up half a size, especially for marathon-distance racing.

  In their words: "it feels poppier" · "it feels quicker" · "a good, solid step up over the V5"

  — The Run Testers , 43 mi tested , source