.png)
An Introduction To Adidas Running Shoes
- Sapphire Running Team
- Jul 20, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 12
Everything you need to know about Adidas running shoes
The second biggest sportswear manufacturer in the world after Nike, Adidas is a German company that began life in 1924 as Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory, the brainchild of the Dassler brothers. In 1948 they had a major falling out, leading to the creation of Puma. Adolf founded adidas and Rudolf created Puma. Running shoes were an early part of the Adidas, but they have not always been a priority.
The history
Europe's largest sportswear company Adidas was created in 1949 after Adolf and Rudolf, who had created the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory, went their separate ways. Adolf created Adidas and Rudolf founded Puma. Prior to the split they had been responsible for the development of running shoes specifically designed for the track. The adidas name came from joining the first part of Adolf's first and second names and the famous three stripes logo appeared three years later having been bought from a Finish company.
The breakthrough came for Adi Dassler when Germany won the soccer World Cup in 1954, with the team wearing Adidas boots. In 1968 the Adidas Superstar shoe was released and endorsed by Run-DMC at no cost to the brand. Much of the sneaker culture that's so prevalent today originated from this moment. These were key moments for the brand and from there Dassler used clever marketing to let the world know about his innovations. Horst Dassler took over from his father when Adi died in 1978 and continued with quality product development and aggressive marketing, along with his mother Kathe.
In 2002 Adidas launched the Climacool, a groundbreaking breathable running shoe, and then in 2008 came the Adizero range, shoes that regularly win major distance running events. In 2013 the Boost midsole foam was introduced into the market. Two years later they released the Ultra Boost shoe.
2020 was the year Adidas released their elite racing shoe with a carbon plate; the Adizero Adios Pro. Three years later the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 was worn by Tigist Assefa when she broke the women's world record at the Berlin Marathon. This shoe has well and truly positioned Adidas at the forefront of running shoe technology and will no doubt encourage more recreational runners to invest in their shoes.
Who owns them?
In 1995 adidas AG came out of the Dassler family's control and was listed on the Deutsche Börse stock exchange in Frankfurt.
What are they known for?
All the brands have their own patented foam, but few have driven success like the Adidas version, the Boost foam, first launched in 2013. Boost is made by Thermoplastic Polyurethane particles being broken down and converted into small energy capsules, a process which was created in conjunction by German chemists, BASF.
It has many benefits, including durability, flexibility, comfort and of energy energy return, which it's most well known for. Adidas states that it has the highest energy return in the running industry. The latest version of Boost, is Light Boost, which is 30% lighter, delivers 3% better energy return and has a 10% lower carbon footprint.
Other foams used by Adidas are LightStrike an EVA-based foam used in the mid-range models of Adidas running shoes and LightStrike Pro. The Pro is a Pebax-based foam that is the bounciest midsole used by the brand. It's the evolution of LightStrike and was used in the adidas Adizero Adios Pro and Adios Pro 2, the elite racing shoes. LightStrike Pro is also beginning to appear on everyday running shoes like the adidas Boston 10.
It's these elite shoes that have propelled Adidas into the limelight. Previously the domain of Nike, elite shoes are now a major talking point. Discussions about 'technical doping' are now widespread in the industry, with some suggesting that these shoes are giving certain runners an unfair advantage. The new women's world record in Berlin and the new men's world record in Chicago, both in the space of a few weeks in late 2023 have generated huge interest in shoe technology. These records haven't been broken by a few seconds, but by big margins. The Adios Pro Evo 1 has Lightstrike Foam Pro midsole, has a new forefoot rocker, for forward momentum and better energy return, along with a new outsole that's lighter and with better grip.
Pros and Cons
There are pros and cons with every shoe. Here are those associated with Adidas:
Pros
Well-known for its cutting-edge shoe technology.
A huge range with multiple options across all disciplines; training, racing and trail running.
Durable and long lasting shoes and known for their overall quality.
Cons
Some models can be expensive compared to equivalent shoes from other brands.
Certain models are a narrow fit, so you need to try them on before buying.
Most popular models
Adidas Adizero Boston 12
A popular shoe for neutral runners for speed or for racing, it now has a larger amount of Lightstrike Pro, especially in the forefoot and way more Lightstrike 2.0 in the heel, which makes it a lot softer to run in than previous versions.
Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung
A highly-cushioned super shoe for speed workouts and long runs. It has a new, advanced upper, Lightstrike Pro in the midsole ,and carbon EnergyRods and additional carbon blades in its sole.
Adidas Adizero Adios 8
A breathable mesh upper and combination Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro midsole, this is a premium daily running shoe, with a great outsole grip.
Adidas Adizero SL
Technically a performance shoe, it's at a lower price point than the rest of the Adizero range. It has Lightstrike in the midsole and Lightstrike Pro under the ball of the foot, giving it plenty of bounce.
Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra It's a lightweight and very comfortable trail shoe, with a dual density midsole of Boost and Lightstrike and a really grippy Continental outsole. It looks great as well.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1
The brand's state of the art racing shoe it's at the forefront of shoe tech. It has a liquid rubber outsole, a unique forefoot rocker, and the latest version of the Lightstrike Pro foam.
On the up?
Both Adidas and Nike have invested heavily in marketing and as part of their long term strategy have looked to the fashion sector to drive profile. The Yeezy partnership with Kanye West was at the time one of the most successful, but there's also the Pharrell William collection, which has also positioned the brand within the sneaker community. The 2022 relationship between Gucci and Adidas Originals, called Adidas x Gucci, is another that reinforces its fashion pedigree.
Their environmental credentials were strengthened with the launch of Parley and Primegreen and these will continue to grow.
However its real challenge is its financials. Whilst the Yeezy collaboration was a hugely profitable venture in its peak, the challenges of the split are huge, with a potential stock write off of 500 million euro. In March 2023 it announced a fourth-quarter operating loss of 724 million euros ($763 million). Adidas is projecting a full-year operating loss of 700 million euros in 2023, marking its first annual loss for 31 years. It's running products are most definitely on the up, but what impact will these numbers have on the ongoing research and development budget?
Comments