Adidas Prime X Strung Marathon Test: How fast are these shoes?

One the new carbon race shoes on the block, the Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung fuses a cutting edge, precision tooled 'strung' upper and a giant 50mm wedge super springy Lightstrike Pro midsole foam. The same you'll find on the original Prime X. Plus the familiar carbon Energy Rods, midsole cutaway and Continental rubber outsole. This is the first time the Strung upper has been used in an Adizero shoe. Run Tester Kieran decided to see how this spedy race held up over 26.2 at the Abingdon Marathon. Here's our Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung marathon test review.
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
0:00 - Intro
2:15 - Post-race first impressions
4:13 - Details: Adidas Prime X Strung drop, weight, price
4:51 - The Race Test findings
8:47 - Verdict
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[@AsLittleDesignAsPossible]

67 marathons in 67 days is Mad!!! you are amazing! thank you for raising the bar

[@swindonbob]

Hi Kieran, was great to meet you and chat at the start line yesterday whilst waiting in the rain. Really enjoyed your videos of the event, and congratulations on such a great time purely on feel. Definitely has given me something to think about next time I decide to run a a marathon. Keep up the good work

[@davidlynch9049]

Nice run! Well done in the rain. Have them, love them. The shoe is best for forefoot runners. The cutout in the middle and the heel aren't best for midfoot or heel strikers. The shoe shines best at a faster pace. I hated the laces: they seemed best for suit shoes. I swapped them out for better running shoe laces and the lockdown is also better. I haven't noticed the foot slide, but the upper is roomy. Speaking about the upper, it's one of the best I have seen in 45 years of running. It's strong, light and breathable. I hope this upper is adopted by other shoe manufacturers. Thanks for your review! The grip is great.

[@DeeGee69]

Thanks for the review! I own both the OG pair (1100k and I hope to bring it at least to 1600k or 2000K) and the Adios Pro 2 (350K) and you start feeling the rods in the latter after 30+K. The Prime X is so amazing at maintening pace and gentle on the legs. For cornering efficiently I found the best way was to do it on your toes as the landing zone is way more stable.

[@jasicjan]

does it mean 1100kilometres mileage? can they last that much?

[@thejeffinvade]

And you are right, the continental outsole in adidas running shoes has always been amazing, the most solid traction on wet surfaces of any brands.

[@simonrunc8067]

Enjoyed the review of these monsters Kieran. Mine is under wraps until Christmas 🎄 can't wait to use them for Manchester marathon next spring when I'll be gunning for it😄

[@TheRunTesters]

You’re in for a treat.

[@MattSwain1]

I love my Prime X Strung shoes. I’m a mid-pack, very average runner who is unlikely to break 4 hours for a marathon but these shoes are still great to run in. The instability might prove to be a good thing as I feel it will help me improve my running action over time. As it is, there’s a sensation of some wobble but I’ve run on towpaths in them without any actual drama. Looking forward to many more bouncy miles in them!

[@TheRunTesters]

Hi Matt (Kieran here) I always like to think in terms of form rather than pace and as you say, they definitely encourage considered form to get the best out of them. Really love them. Lots of fun.

[@bolivarpardo916]

Hola 👋. Que tal es para caminar?

[@grahamtricker4103]

It's a great shoe. I used a pair in the Royal Parks and it felt great under foot. No question, a Super shoe...

[@DuncanEpping]

I have that sliding feeling in the New Balance RC Elite as well, really annoying in the marathon. Now using the Endorphin Pro 3 and don’t have that problem fortunately. The leg saving ability of this shoe does sound interesting though!

[@jimoconnor8597]

Garmin.."REST" Kieran: 3:01... Well done!!!!!!!!

[@JohnBirtchetSharpe]

I had loved the ride of the Adios pro 3 , but the re big toe knuckle and eyelets was an issue due to the volume of my foot (frustrating as I loved the sen 8's) , while we are all different , I take it the strung upper is smooth with no dig in points over the 26.2

[@michaeldominic2070]

I've been wanting to try the Prime X in a marathon since they are such a fun propulsive shoe but I always seem to pass due to the weight. Maybe the weight won't be a factor and I should just give them a go!

[@grq777]

Great review. I managed to pick up a pair in the latest drop today and I'm excited to give them a go. Just one rather major thing though that you didn't mention in the review.... is it not the case that these shoes are illegal for racing? Not that the average marathon participant is likely going to get disqualified based on the shoes that they are wearing, but strictly speaking, I believe the 50mm stack height breaks the rules.

[@thejeffinvade]

I just got the old prime X on discount, really enjoy its bouncy ride. It’s my go to long run shoe now. Not sure about racing in them, a bit too heavy.

[@steveflor9942]

Love my Prime X Strung. Not very rainproof, though😁. Well done!!

[@TheRunTesters]

No they’re very leaky! But fantastic fun.

[@timtrenholm3698]

Curious how you compare it to the AlphaFly V1 (which I love) ? I have 450km on my Adios 6 which I also like when at tempo and faster, any slower then that and you end up on the lightstrike EVA and narrow heel section which is tad firm and can be unstable. Assuming the Prime X has a similar behaviour as the Adios 6 when hitting on the mid/forefoot sections...just WAY more of it!

[@mikephillips5483]

The way that kid handed you your medal, hahaha.

[@TheRunTesters]

Ha ha!

[@user-fh8rs6qq3h]

Hi kieran. I’m running a 60 mile ultramarathon this November. I just wanna ask what would you recommend for a race day shoe? Planning to use one these shoes prime x strung, sc trainer v1 or sc elite v3. Thanks

[@Nestortrig]

I own the adidas adios pro 2 and they are fast as hell

[@Kaisersozze]

1:32 is that just pure rain water haha? Props for even running in that sheit weather.

[@TheRunTesters]

There were 24.5 miles of puddles 😂

[@Kaisersozze]

@@TheRunTesters I meant the cups of water being handed out :)

[@carlosguimaraeszum]

would you use it within 200km on it for an important marathon ? Or you would buy a new shoes?

[@williamgillies6184]

Are the energy rods different in the Strung different to the Original Prime X in that they run the length of the foot? The original Prime X were not listed on the World Athletics Shoe Compliance List, are these “Strung” shoes now approved by World Athletics?

[@aayusharora2459]

Midsole is same, only upper is changed. World athletics guidelines is for elite runners, amateur runner can race in them

[@jean-phil]

Tried it, returned it. Alphafly feels much faster imho ;) the higher stack height makes quad muscles work more and calves work less compared to other shoes so unless you are planning on using only these shoes, I feel like you are training muscles that you won't be using in other shoes so you are not training the "right" muscles .. my guess is that people liking these shoes probably already have strong quads

[@woidmoasta4673]

Do you really think this Shoes work more on quad muscles and less on calves? I don't know if it's my running style, but I really only have sore muscles in the calves when I run longer runs. I don't think I've had sore muscles in the quads for 3 years lol So the shoes would be great for me right?

[@seanbolger7371]

67 marathons in 67 days ??? how is that even possible, unreal.

[@TheBlablubb1989]

Have a look at Jonas Deichmann, he did a triathlon around the world where he did 120 Marathons in 120 days to cross Mexico ;)

[@TheRunTesters]

Hi Sean (Kieran here) just gotta do them very slowly!!😂

[@thejeffinvade]

Check out Gary McKee on strava. He has been running a marathon everyday for this year. He is on 301 consecutive marathon right now.

[@TheBlablubb1989]

@@TheRunTesters Will there be a multi tester review coming up or is Kieran the only one running these bad boys?

[@StonkeyKong]

@@thejeffinvade what a legend!

[@MichaelLoweAttorney]

Iron Man legal

[@andymerrison883]

anything is Ironman legal.......Look at the bikes. Oh apart from wetsuits at Kona.

[@SikoraR]

Video is mirrored. Why people keep doing it? 😲

[@HabitualFixation]

So hard to get a hold of these shoes at the moment… Sigh

[@mrrob6730]

A pb in these wouldn't count though right?

[@Mike_Rundle]

I believe if you were competing or going for records then this is true, however I don’t think your average joe would not count a PB just because of the shoes. You are correct though that they don’t meet the criteria to be legal.

[@MattSwain1]

That depends if you can run a marathon in around 2:01:00 in them really. I can’t, so all PBs are good as far as I’m concerned

[@tomdavis8644]

How do you clean shoes that filthy?

[@TheRunTesters]

Ha ha, I’m looking at them wondering the same thing!

[@theandroids]

I swear people just get the Next% 2 because the other guy has it, and so on. They are so over hyped and are not better than the AAP3 I don't care what anyone says. 😜

[@marcuslockhart4610]

FIRST! There were some tight corners in that race.

[@diorocks5858]

i hate this brand and Nike! There like guns and roses was to rock