Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
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Nothing further afield worth the detour from this lineup.
Sizing note
Adizero Adios 9 run snug — go up half a size, especially for long runs.
Durability
Plated models here average ~300 mi; non-plated land closer to ~360 mi.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | Asics Gel-DS Racer 12 | Adidas Adizero RC 5 | Asics Magic Speed 5 | Nike Rival Fly 4 | Saucony Kinvara 16 | On Cloudaway 2 | Adidas Adizero Adios 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 185 g / 6.5 oz | 210 g / 7.4 oz | 196 g / 6.9 oz | 235 g / 8.3 oz | 198 g / 7.0 oz | 230 g / 8.1 oz | 176 g / 6.2 oz |
| Drop | 9 mm | 8 mm | 7 mm | 8 mm | 4 mm | 8 mm | 7 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 22 mm | 28 mm | 38 mm | 30 mm | 29 mm | 28 mm | 28 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability (5 = most guidance) | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Plate | — | — | Carbon | — | — | — | — |
| Intended pace | 5:00–7:00 /mi | 6:15–8:30 /mi | 6:00–8:00 /mi | 6:45–9:15 /mi | 6:30–8:30 /mi | 9:00–12:00 /mi | 6:30–8:30 /mi |
| Purpose | Race day | Tempo, Race day | Tempo, Race day | Tempo, Daily | Tempo, Daily | Daily, Trail | Tempo, Daily |
| Sizing | Size up ½ | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | Size up ½ |
| Durability | ~250 mi | ~300 mi | ~300 mi | ~400 mi | ~400 mi | ~300 mi | ~400 mi |
| Price | $110 | $90 | $180 | $100 | $140 | $140 | $140 |
Your reference shoe is shown first for context. Cushioning, flexibility and stability are rated 1–5, where 5 stability means the most guidance and 1 means fully neutral.