u/BasicSignificance831

The new Adizero Line Up. Found on Insta.

Hi everyone. I thought I’d put together my first impressions of the AP5 for you. I got it from a sports retailer that apparently listed it a little too early. And, by chance, they even had my size (US 12.5 / EU 47 1/3) in stock.

I’m going to compare it with the AP4, which I ran my marathon PB (3:14) in and which many of you have probably run in as well (and, as its predecessor, it’s obviously the best comparison).

The first thing you notice is that while the upper looks similar, it now has lots of small perforations. Breathability was one of the main criticisms of the previous version. On foot, it feels similar, which is a good start. How well it actually holds the foot remains to be seen, though. This time, the laces are textured, but there is one fewer row of eyelets. That obviously gives you less room for adjustment. The AP4 was actually the first shoe I ran in without using a runner’s knot, so we’ll see whether I need one again with the AP5.

Another reason I ran the AP4 without a runner’s knot was the irritating spot at the heel. Using regular lacing helped reduce the rubbing, but it only really disappeared after I filed down the plastic piece at the heel with a nail file. The AP5 is already miles better in this regard: nothing rubs or sticks out, and everything feels good.

Another thing you notice immediately is that the AP5 is quite a bit lighter, even though there is no longer a cutout in the midsole. In my size, it’s 23 g lighter per shoe, which is a lot.

Sizing feels very similar to the AP4. I haven’t noticed any difference there. The toe protection might be slightly firmer, but I’ll need a few runs to really tell.

If you press your finger into the midsoles side by side, they also feel very similar. At first, I wouldn’t say that the AP5 is noticeably firmer. Actually, maybe a little. If you press into both shoes at the same time and release, the AP5 feels slightly more taut. That’s probably because the new EnergyRim provides more stability than the EnergyRods. The rods sit within the midsole, whereas the Rim – as the name suggests – stiffens the shoe around the outside, and does so more noticeably than the rods.

Last point: the outsole. It’s also quite similar, although there is less profile in the forefoot. The AP4 was absolutely amazing on wet roads. In my opinion, no other race-day shoe could match it in those conditions (not even the AP3, which was already very good despite having hardly any profile). How the AP5 compares remains to be seen once I’ve had my first runs in wet weather.

So, those are my first impressions. Happy to answer any questions. For context, I can also compare it with all of its predecessors, as well as the ASICS Metaspeed Tokyo, Nike Vaporfly 2 and 3, etc. Once I’ve done my first proper runs in the AP5, I’d also be happy to report back – although I suspect there will be hundreds of previews out by then.

Do you know that feeling? Something suddenly shows up that you really weren’t expecting — and then, almost instantly, you don’t want to be without it anymore. A discount-store PC back in the day — yes, I’m that old — the smartphone… In the running shoe world, that doesn’t happen very often. Makes sense, of course: runners are just too different, with very different needs.

Nike somehow managed it with the Vaporfly. And about a year and a half ago, Adidas kind of did the same with the Evo SL. At first, people were worried it might end up being more of a lifestyle shoe. But that turned out to be very wrong. So many runners around me — and, judging by reviews online, on Instagram and pretty much everywhere else, runners all over the world — seem to agree on that shoe.

Now Adidas seems to be trying something similar on the trails with the Agravic SL. Does it work? No idea yet. But after my first run, I can already say quite a few positive things.

A bit about me: I’m 1.93 m tall, weigh around 75 kg, and I’m probably mostly a heel striker — even if I don’t always like admitting that to myself. When I saw Adidas had put the Agravic SL in their shop, I ordered it straight away. I really like the Evo SL and generally get along well with the rest of the Adidas line-up. Plus, I want to get back into trail running more this year, after spending the last few years mostly on the roads.

So, the shoe.

Yes — it is exactly what it’s supposed to be. That could basically sum up my first run in one sentence: an Evo SL for the trails.

Lightstrike Pro feels very similar to the road SL, and I don’t find the upper or the fit dramatically different either. The laces are riffeled, as you now see with other brands and as is pretty standard on Terrex shoes. Personally, I never had problems with Adidas laces anyway. With a double knot, even the regular ones always held well for me — which I definitely can’t say about some Nnormal and Puma shoes.

But the Agravic SL is much, much more stable than the Evo SL. And, of course, it has a seriously impressive full-length outsole. You notice that on asphalt too — for example when you first have to run to the trail or, not to be underestimated, run back home afterwards. On the road, the Agravic SL feels firmer than the Evo SL, even though I think it’s actually higher and uses more foam.

On the trails, though, it feels great. Really. Great. Awesome.

For my first run, I took it over gravel tracks, forest paths, slightly technical sections and grassy trails — and it handled all of that really well. The shoe worked at different paces and didn’t feel sketchy on the downhills either. I don’t want to say too much yet about properly technical terrain, but I can imagine that’s where it might eventually reach its limits.

But before this gets even longer — and before I end up answering the questions nobody actually asked while missing the ones you really care about — feel free to ask me anything.

I can compare the Agravic SL to quite a few other shoes, including the Prodigio Pro, Nnormal Kjerag 1 and 2, Norda 005, Agravic Speed 1, Agravic Speed Ultra 1 and 2, Nnormal Tomir 1 and 2, Mount to coast H1 and of course the Evo SL.

Maybe together we can answer a lot of the questions around this shoe — because I think the Agravic SL could be very interesting for a lot of runners.

Looking forward to your questions.

Found on Insta. Adidas Line Up for this (?) year. I think the Takumi could be a banger with the Rim instead of the Rods.

Petter Engdahl wore these shoes at the Transvulcania. Comparison in the second photo with the ASU 2 (which i really like).