Carbon plate racing shoes have become the obsession of serious marathoners, but the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 has pushed that obsession into absurd territory. After Sebastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha broke the official sub-2-hour marathon barrier at the 2026 London Marathon wearing this shoe, retail pairs sold out instantly. Now, the same shoe that retailed for $500 USD is reselling for $1,000 to $3,500 on aftermarket sites—a markup that makes no sense for a shoe designed to last one marathon.
Key Takeaways
- Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 retails for $500 USD but resells for $1,000–$3,500 due to instant sellouts.
- The shoe is the first sub-100g running supershoe, weighing just 3.5 ounces per shoe.
- Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 offers similar speed at $250 retail with wider availability and durability.
- More colorways and pairs of the Evo 3 are planned for fall 2026.
- Three alternative carbon plate racers deliver performance without the resale premium.
Why the Adios Pro Evo 3 Became Unobtainable
The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 is the lightest carbon plate racing shoe ever made, weighing under 100 grams per shoe. That record-breaking weight, combined with its 11% energy return improvement over the previous Evo 2 model, made it the weapon of choice for elite marathoners chasing the historic 2-hour barrier. The shoe features a new carbon fiber ENERGYRIM for added efficiency and Adidas’s LightstrikePro midsole foam, all wrapped in a textile and synthetic upper with Continental rubber on the forefoot. When two world-class runners used it to break an official world record, demand exploded. The limited spring release sold out everywhere within hours, leaving casual runners and competitive amateurs with no legitimate way to buy it.
The resale market has since become a playground for scalpers. Recent StockX sales show pairs going for $3,223 in men’s size 7 (plus fees pushing the total near $3,500), $2,528 for size 10.5, and most pairs hovering between $1,000 and $1,100. That is not a premium for rarity—that is a tax on hype. Adidas has promised more pairs and colorways in fall 2026, but by then, the moment will have passed.
The Smarter Alternative: Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
If you want a Adidas carbon plate racer without the resale markup, the Adizero Adios Pro 3 is the obvious choice. At $250 USD retail (currently discounted to around $164 in some colorways), this shoe delivers serious race-day speed without the ultra-light obsession of the Evo 3. It is the flagship carbon plate racer that Adidas designed for serious marathoners who plan to run multiple races in the same shoe—not just one perfect day.
The Pro 3 is more durable than the Evo 3, which means it can handle training runs and recovery weeks without falling apart. It is also widely available, which means you can actually buy it without refreshing resale sites every five minutes. For most runners, this shoe will feel just as fast on race day, and you will have money left over for race registration and travel.
Why carbon plate racing shoes matter for marathoners
Carbon plate racing shoes are not just marketing hype. The rigid carbon fiber plate under the midsole works with the foam to propel you forward with each stride, reducing energy waste and letting you maintain speed when your legs are screaming. The Adios Pro 3 includes this technology, which is why it remains competitive with the Evo 3 in real-world conditions. The difference between the two is not night-and-day speed—it is the Evo 3’s obsessive focus on shaving grams for elite athletes versus the Pro 3’s balance of speed and durability for serious amateurs.
Two other carbon plate options worth considering
If you want to explore beyond Adidas, the running market has expanded. The Asics Magic Speed 3 and New Balance Fuelcell Rebel 3 are both legitimate carbon plate racers that offer competitive performance in the $150–$200 range. Nike’s Vaporfly Next% 2 is another option for runners who prefer the Swoosh. None of these will feel as light as the Evo 3, but they will get you across the finish line faster than a standard running shoe, and you will pay a fraction of the resale price.
When will the Evo 3 actually be available again?
Adidas has confirmed that more pairs and colorways of the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 are coming in fall 2026. If you are willing to wait, that is the legitimate way to buy at retail. If you need a race-ready carbon plate shoe now, the Adios Pro 3 is the move. Paying $2,000 for a shoe designed to last one marathon is not an investment—it is a donation to a reseller.
Is the Adios Pro Evo 3 really faster than the Pro 3?
The Evo 3 is marginally faster due to its sub-100g weight and slightly more responsive foam, but the difference is measured in seconds per marathon for elite runners. For most amateur runners, the Pro 3 will feel nearly identical on race day, and mental confidence matters more than grams anyway.
Should I buy a carbon plate racer if I am not running a marathon?
Carbon plate racers are designed for race-day speed, not training. If you are running a 5K or 10K, a standard running shoe will serve you just as well. Save the carbon plate racer for the race where it matters.
The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 is a genuinely remarkable shoe, but it is also a lesson in hype. Paying resale prices for a shoe that will wear out in 300 miles is irrational, no matter how many world records it helped break. The Adios Pro 3 offers 95% of the speed at 20% of the resale cost. That is the smart runner’s choice.
This article was written with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
Source: Tom's Guide
