The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 and the Nike Alphafly 4 are the two benchmark carbon shoes for the marathon. If you’re chasing a fast time on race day, these two are hard to ignore.
On the scale, the Adidas is a bit lighter, by about 15 g / 0.5 oz, and both have the same heel height. The Nike’s drop is higher, which leaves the Adios Pro 5 with more foam up front.
Design-wise, the two are fairly different, especially in the forefoot. Nike stacks a new, lighter ZoomX LT foam over ZoomX, around a widened Flyplate and two redesigned Air Zoom units up front.
Adidas places its U-shaped EnergyRim carbon structure between two layers of Lightstrike Pro foam: it replaces the EnergyRods 2.0 and leaves more foam in the flex zone.
On the run, the Alphafly 4 delivers balanced, slightly plush cushioning, with very strong forward propulsion and major energy savings late in the race, when your stride starts to fade. Its rocker is more moderate than on the previous version, and the mechanical feel of the Air Zoom units makes it a bit more forgiving than many rivals.
The Adios Pro 5 is plusher at impact than the previous version while staying very well balanced, with an even more explosive ride and a rocker that kicks in earlier. Both remain demanding for a beginner.
Stability has improved on both sides: the Nike’s widened base and plate put it on par with the competition, and the new structure on the Adidas guides the foot better despite a narrower base.
The Nike’s Atomknit upper, even lighter and more breathable, stays close to the foot without squeezing it, with cables that structure the midfoot. The Lightlock 2.0 upper on the Adidas locks down very well but is tighter up front (if in doubt, go up half a size).
On lifespan, both get the same score in our reviews, but in use the Adios Pro 5 holds up better. On the Alphafly 4, the foam shows visible wear quickly and the Air Zoom units are worth watching. On the Adios Pro 5, the foam keeps its properties well and the upper doesn’t wear prematurely. Some runners call out its outsole, thinner than on the previous version, and its exposed foam: no premature wear showed up in testing, and wear depends on your stride. Both remain race-day shoes, but if you want one that lasts longer, it’s the Adios Pro 5.
Adios Pro 5 vs Alphafly 4: Which Should You Choose?
Our pick is still the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5, a capable racer from the 5K to the marathon and maybe the most well-rounded carbon shoe to date.
The Nike Alphafly 4 now sits on par with the Adidas over the marathon. It’s the pick if you want a carbon shoe that is a bit more forgiving, usable even without an aggressive forefoot strike, or if you already run in other models from the brand.
