In production · road · Daily / Long run · $140
Adidas Adistar 4: 40 mm heel stack, 5 mm drop, 275 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for daily, long run, at a target pace of 7:30–10:00 /mi on road.
The midsole is Repetitor, tuned soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. At 40 mm of heel stack this sits in max-cushion territory; legs stay fresher on long efforts, but the platform is tall. Combined, the ride reads as calm at 2/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A low 5 mm drop encourages a midfoot landing and keeps the ankle working through a fuller range. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 400 miles from the outsole, about $0.35 per mile at $140.
For the foams and plates Adidas uses across its line, read the Adidas brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
272 g / 9.6 oz
3 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
40 mm
4 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
5 mm
1 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$140
20 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~400 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Adidas line it is lighter than the brand's median (278 g / 9.8 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (35 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v15(2025)
281 g / 9.9 oz · 40 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $145
The dependable neutral trainer with genuine width options and long outsole life.
Hoka Clifton 9 GTX
272 g / 9.6 oz · 40 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $170
Hoka Clifton 9 GTX: 40 mm heel stack, 5 mm drop, 271 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Topo Athletic Ultrafly 6
272 g / 9.6 oz · 32 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $150
Lightly supportive daily trainer with a heel-wrapping medial post.
Adidas Adistar 3
270 g / 9.5 oz · 40 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $150
Heavy, durable and forgiving — built for very high mileage at easy effort.