The most versatile super shoe against the strongest value flagship — the pairing most people are actually deciding between.
The Nike Vaporfly 4 is 26g lighter (184g against 210g), the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 is £25 cheaper at RRP (£230 against £255), and the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 stays fast for roughly 20km longer (~260km against ~240km). Both are inside the World Athletics 40mm road limit.
Weight · men's US 9
Price · UK RRP
Competitive life · km before the foam fades
■ marks the better figure, where better is not a matter of taste
Vaporfly 435mm — road legal
Adizero Adios Pro 439mm — road legal
| Specification | Vaporfly 4 | Adizero Adios Pro 4 |
|---|---|---|
| RRP | £255 | £230 (advantage) |
| Weight | 184g (advantage) | 210g |
| Stack | 35 / 29mm | 39 / 33mm |
| Drop | 6mm | 6mm |
| Road legal | yes | yes |
| Plate | carbon fibre | carbon fibre |
| Foam | ZoomX | Lightstrike Pro |
| Competitive life | ~240km | ~260km (advantage) |
| Price per km of life | £1.06 | £0.88 (advantage) |
| Fit | standard | standard |
| Underfoot | balanced | balanced |
| Built for | 5K · 10K · Half · Marathon | 10K · Half · Marathon |
| Economy gain | 3.2–4.4% | 3.2–4.3% |
= 5:20/km
Modelled economy gain adjusted for pace and your current shoes; ranges reflect the spread published between individual runners. Full method.
| Race | For the time | For the money |
|---|---|---|
| 5Kat a reference 22:00 | Only the Vaporfly 4 is built for this distance. | |
| 10Kat a reference 45:00 | Too close to calleffectively level | Adizero Adios Pro 4cheaper per second saved |
| Half marathonat a reference 1:45:00 | Vaporfly 4−1m 23s to −2m 3s | Adizero Adios Pro 4cheaper per second saved |
| Marathonat a reference 3:45:00 | Vaporfly 4−2m 45s to −4m 6s | Adizero Adios Pro 4cheaper per second saved |
Reference times, trainer baseline, whole-life economics. Your own time changes the answer — use the reading above.
The most versatile super shoe on sale. Light enough for a 5K, cushioned enough for a marathon, and the fourth generation fixed the upper problems that made the VF3 divisive.
■ Caution Less cushioning than the Alphafly for a full marathon if you are on your feet over three and a half hours. Outsole rubber is minimal — treat wet corners with respect.
The best value at the very top of the market. Within touching distance of the Evo 2 for performance at half the price and twice the life.
■ Caution The EnergyRods give a distinctive rolling feel that some runners never get on with. Try before you commit if you can.
Manufacturer-stated specs unless marked estimated on the shoe sheet · last reviewed 2026-08-13 · prices are UK RRP.