Adidas Adizero Evo SL

An S-tier daily trainer that the reviewer considers an incredible shoe and part of the "triple crown" of top daily trainers alongside the Vomero Plus and Puma Velocity Nitro 4.

BITR rates the Evo SL as one of the best shoes of the last several years and edges out the Rebel v5 by a hair on ride thanks to its more dynamic, sculpted Lightstrike Pro midsole.

Best for: A versatile, do-everything daily trainer with premium foam at a lower-mid price

One of the most popular shoes in recent memory; Megan still picks the original over the Woven for the wider forefoot.

Best for: Runners with wider feet who want roomier forefoot space and the race-day foam at a lower price.

His second pick and nearly number one: the fastest, most affordable shoe in the lineup thanks to a plateless Lightstrike Pro midsole, with durability the only real weakness.

Best for: Interval and track sessions and budget race-day efforts without a carbon plate

Parkes considers the pricier Evo SL a clearly superior shoe to the budget Pacer in almost every respect — lighter, more responsive, snappier at pace and better made — winning in every category except cornering stability, where the Pacer has the edge.

The lightest and most breathable of the Evo SL range, fast and fun with great value especially at discounted prices, though it has a non-gusseted tongue and some stability concerns.

Best for: Runners wanting the lightest and most breathable option who are not overly concerned with stability; all distances up to half marathon

Excellent versatile lightweight trainer at $150 — softer and more versatile at faster paces than the Maverick, with a great soft upper, but the narrow midfoot limits stability for longer efforts.

Best for: Bouncy uptempo daily training and as a super-shoe alternative for runners who don't gel with carbon-plated racers

The clear standout of the comparison for the reviewer, offering a nimbler, more aggressive ride than the Velocity Nitro 5, with a midsole the reviewer says still performs well for pace.

Best for: Runners wanting speed and versatility of pace with a touch less stack

Though widely regarded as the standout 'goat' shoe in the lineup and the obvious default pick, the reviewer feels it rides more like a tempo shoe than an all-rounder, criticizing heel stability and rigidity at top-end speed, and prefers the Boston 13 for a two-shoe rotation instead.

Best for: Fast tempo efforts for runners who don't need top-end race-day rigidity; widely seen as the hyped default pick but not the reviewer's personal top choice.

EDDBUD praises the Evo SL as Adidas striking gold — a nimble, durable shoe at a great price that punches above its category.

EDDBUD still loves the Light Strike Pro foam in the Evo SL, praising its lasting quality even 5 years after first testing it, though it needs some break-in miles to free up properly.

The more performance-oriented sibling in the comparison — lighter, peppier, and better-gripping than the Pegasus 42, but lacks the Nike's structure for runners who need stability.

Best for: Lighter runners looking for a performance-oriented tempo/daily shoe; friend of reviewer even suggested racing in it non-plated

#2. Master of none, jack of all. Lightstrike Pro ages like fine wine. Many colorways, woven version incoming. Best beginner-friendly value do-it-all.

One of the best trainers out right now — light, nimble, gets better with use, and universally enjoyed for both running and lifestyle; EDDBUD sees it becoming a classic for Adidas.

One of the best all-round options in a long time — more consistent performance, better lockdown, and better value than the Rebel 5 despite being only ~10g heavier.

Best for: An all-round daily shoe at a price that lets runners gamble on high-end tech

One of the best daily options on the market right now alongside the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 — light, versatile, affordable, and only improves with miles, though the upper details aren't perfect and odor is a downside.

Best for: Daily training across many session types — an all-rounder that ticks many rotation boxes

An enjoyable, light and bouncy carefree daily option that EDDBUD finds fun but held back by a weak upper, cheap laces, and less nuance than the Boston 13 — he prefers spending the extra $10 on the Boston.

Best for: A happy-go-lucky light daily or lifestyle-adjacent option for runners prioritizing weight

A light, attractively priced super-trainer whose Lightstrike Pro midsole improves with use, but the upper, cheap laces, slippery insole and thin outsole hold it back versus rivals.

Best for: Runners wanting a light, nimble, kick-car style ride at an attractive price

Initially disappointed by the upper and laces, Ed was won over after breaking it in: a consistent, responsive, Swiss Army daily trainer and a genuine shoe-of-2025 contender, especially at sale pricing.

Best for: A versatile daily trainer for runners who want a responsive, nimble feel across a wide range of paces at a great price.

A bare-bones, responsive shoe that handles many paces — nimble but unstable in the heel and not ideal for recovery miles.

Best for: Versatile range of paces including tempo for runners who want a minimal, nimble feel.

A popular, good-value lightweight trainer that comes alive after break-in, but the upper, insole and laces hold it back versus the Megablast.

Best for: Hobby runners and easier everyday training, half marathon mileage

A fun, uptempo daily trainer with the best upper and outsole of the three, narrowly edged out by the more versatile Novablast 5.

Best for: Runners wanting a firmer, racier daily trainer with a quality upper and outsole

A fun uptempo daily trainer with premium Light Strike Pro foam, but limited in versatility without a plate — best for shorter, faster daily miles rather than long runs or racing.

Best for: Uptempo daily training in the 3-6 mile range and short fun runs up to a 10K

A genuinely fun and responsive uptempo daily trainer that doesn't justify its hype and gets edged out by the Novablast 5's versatility at a similar price.

Best for: Uptempo daily training and tempo sessions — a fun, responsive shoe at a strong £130 price

The lightest and cheapest of the EVO SL lineup; the budget pick that delivers the same Lightstrike Pro performance, though the upper lacks structure and the shoe loses its magic past 10 miles.

Best for: Budget-conscious runners wanting an affordable super trainer for up-tempo daily workouts under 10 miles

Considered one of the best value shoes on the market, crossing over into both daily-trainer and faster-training use.

Best for: Best-value daily training and faster efforts

The team's preferred shoe for faster running, praised for its snappy, direct, rocker-driven ride, though several testers note it's slightly less stable on long or tired-leg efforts than the Novablast 6.

Best for: Speed-focused runners doing shorter, faster sessions (tempo, intervals, up to roughly 10-15K) who want a light, nimble, near-racer feel.

One tester's preferred shoe of the two overall, praised for its lively bounce, aggressive rocker, and stiffness at faster paces, even though it runs a bit less stable and heavier than the Dino Fish.

Best for: Runners wanting a versatile, bouncy trainer for tempo runs, speed work, and shorter-distance racing (5K-10K).

A punching-well-above-its-weight speed-focused daily trainer with Lightstrike Pro foam and a pronounced rocker that feels noticeably more energetic and faster than most non-plated trainers at its price point.

Best for: Speed work, intervals, track sessions, and tempo runs for runners who want a high-performance non-plated trainer at an affordable price.

The Evo SL wins its group and advances deep into the tournament, with reviewers praising it as one of their top racers and noting they'd have difficulty finding a shoe that does its job as well.

Nick's preferred all-rounder of the two — a faster, more connected, more responsive trainer that also handles easy days, at a substantially lower price than the Hyperboost Edge.

Best for: Runners looking for a fast, lightweight, versatile trainer that excels at track reps, intervals, tempo and cruisey workouts while still being comfortable for easy runs.

Near-unanimous top pick for traditional daily trainers — a lightweight, springy Lightstrike Pro midsole with a rocker that handles easy runs and fast work, though the medial cutout can feel wobbly for some.

Best for: Top value marathon pick — well below RRP now, performance close to a race shoe.

Best for: Top daily/all-rounder pick of 2025 for Tom — exceptional value (often found around £80).

An exceptional value all-rounder with a bouncy, cushioned Lightstrike Pro ride that works across nearly every run; some testers call it the best new shoe of the year despite some stability trade-offs.

Best for: Versatile daily training across easy to fast paces for runners who like a soft, bouncy ride and don't need maximum stability

Outstanding value training+racing shoe that performs well beyond its price point — top pick for runners who don't want to break the bank on a marathon shoe.

Best for: Training + racing on a budget, including the marathon

Steal at £130 — performance you wouldn't have dreamt of at this price three years ago. Standout shoe everyone loves. A bit less stable than the Rebel v5, but faster.

One of the reviewer's favorite shoe launches ever — a springy, lightweight, rockered daily trainer that shines at fast paces while still being versatile enough for easy running.

Best for: Speed-focused daily trainer; a lightweight all-rounder that can handle everything from 400m reps to easy steady runs for runners without stability concerns.

Tommy calls the Evo SL a far superior shoe to the Boston 13 thanks to its soft, bouncy Light Strike Pro ride and exceptional value, punching well above its price point as a high-performance all-rounder.

Best for: Runners who want a versatile, soft, bouncy performance daily trainer for everything from easy runs to marathon pace and intervals, at an excellent price.

Nick and Tom's preferred pick — an exceptional lightweight do-it-all trainer that punches well above its price, with enough comfort for easy runs and a top-end gear for hard sessions.

Best for: Lightweight versatile daily trainer that doubles as a speed-work shoe and budget marathon racer; best for experienced runners who like lightweight shoes.

An exceptional-value speed-leaning daily trainer that performs at the level of shoes costing twice as much, preferred overall by the reviewers despite lacking stability for newer runners or pronators.

Best for: Fast training sessions, tempo runs, intervals, and even racing for neutral runners wanting a versatile speed-leaning daily trainer at a competitive price.

A landmark value shoe with a soft, bouncy Lightstrike Pro ride that excels at speed work and doubles as a fun, versatile daily trainer for those who don't need extra stability.

Best for: Track workouts, intervals, and tempo sessions; versatile all-rounder at a great price

The testers' favorite of the two, praised as a phenomenally priced, versatile, bouncy daily trainer that excels at faster paces and can even race, though it lacks stability.

Best for: Versatile plate-free daily trainer for runners who want a soft, bouncy, fast-feeling shoe across easy runs, tempo, intervals, and even racing.

A fantastic, versatile speed shoe with a bouncy, propulsive ride that can even be raced at shorter distances; the better pick over the Mach 7 if you want pure speed and don't mind some inward roll.

Best for: A fast, bouncy speed shoe that also works as an all-rounder for runners who don't need stability

An exceptionally priced speed-leaning all-rounder with a fun, fast, bouncy ride; lighter and quicker than the Megablast and the better value buy for most runners despite slightly less stability and cushioning.

Best for: Fast training sessions, track workouts, aggressive tempo runs and 5K racing for neutral runners who want a lightweight speed-leaning all-rounder at a great price.