Jovani Hernandez Over its 74-year-old history, adidas has helped athletes achieve unthinkable feats in the worlds of running, football, and other sports. Over the last decade, the brand’s Adizero lineup of running shoes has made podiums on handfuls of occasions, enabling runners to their – and the several courses’ – best times.
Ahead of summer, the Three Stripes has unveiled the newest members of its award-winning adidas Adizero family: the Boston 12 and Adios 8. Both long-running series’ within the German brand’s storied roster of performance models, the Boston 12 and Adios 8 preview what’s to come from the Adizero franchise.
Training companions to the sport-leading adidas Adios Pro 3 worn by Evans Chebet in his back-to-back win of the Boston Marathon, both new models are technical and visual departures from their predecessors. From the top down, uppers are constructed with engineered mesh laid out differently than on the Boston 11 and Adios 7. Overlays across the shoes are abandoned in favor of lighter constructions. Furthermore, the Adizero design team – which includes Charlotte Heidmann, Senior Global Product Manager, Running Footwear – opted for a lace loop-less lacing system for improved lockdown across the mid-foot. As with other products from the Three Stripes, uppers on both the Boston 12 and Adios 8 feature at least 50% recycled materials, helping the brand achieve its goal of ending plastic waste.
Underfoot, both Adizero products have been redesigned for better stability while also offering a conservative ride in comparison to other options, as told by Heidmann in an exclusive phone call with Sneaker News. “It’s important we don’t only sell racing shoes.”
Unlike the Adios Pro 3, both the Boston 12 and Adios 8 feature a mix of adidas’ two marquee running foams: Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro. The new additions to the Adizero family introduce Lightstrike 2.0 to the world, promising a “lighter and denser… [more] propulsive” ride than Lightstrike’s first iteration, according to Heidmann. Layered midsole setups are also accompanied by updated stiffening components. The Boston 12 borrows the Energy Rods 2.0 system from the Adios Pro 3, ridding itself of the two-piece glass fiber-infused rods seen on the Boston 10 and 11. The Adios 8 unveils Energytorsion Rod 2.0, a wishbone-shaped TPU component now featuring a third rod running from the mid-foot to forefoot that provides a snappy toe-off.
Both the Boston 12 and Adios 8 were developed in collaboration with elite runners in Kenya. The Boston 12 is now available globally via adidas.com and in-stores; the Adios 8 will be available starting from June 15th. Pricing is $160 USD and $130 USD, respectively.
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Photos courtesy of adidas
