Adidas Adizero SL2 Review: A Versatile Daily Trainer

At just 246g (8.7 oz at US 9.5), the Adidas Adizero SL2 launched in June 2024 and quickly earned a strong reputation among runners. If you’ve been curious about it, this review has you covered.

I’m a recreational runner who started taking running seriously as an adult, logging around 500 km per month with a competitive mindset.

In this review, I’ll cover the Adidas Adizero SL2 in full — comfort, ground feel, propulsion, and detailed sizing — plus which training types it handles best based on my real-world experience.

By the end, you’ll have a clear sense of whether the Adizero SL2 is the right shoe for you.

Product Specifications

Item	Details
Product Name	Adizero SL2 (ADIZERO SL2)
Brand	Adidas (ADIDAS)
Retail Price	¥14,300
Stack Height	Forefoot: 26mm, Heel: 36mm, Drop: 10mm
Weight	246g / 8.7 oz at US 9.5 (27.5cm) — measured

Why I Chose the Adizero SL2

At the time, I was using the ASICS Novablast 4 for slower easy jogs and the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 for faster jogging at moderate intensity.

The Novablast 4 had crossed 900 km and the midsole had started to break down noticeably, so I was looking for its replacement.

The Nike Pegasus 41 was on my shortlist, but since I wanted a daily trainer that could also handle faster jogging, I went with the Adizero SL2 — which had great reviews for both its light weight and propulsion.

Running Experience

I took the Adizero SL2 out for a proper test run across a wide range of paces — starting at easy pace and finishing with near-maximum strides at 4:01/mile pace (2:30/km).

From the first steps, what stood out wasn’t propulsion but stability. The midsole has decent stack height, and there’s very little compression underfoot.

That said, the midsole has a soft, forgiving ground feel — it doesn’t feel hard or stiff.

The next thing I noticed was the relatively relaxed fit. This may vary with foot width, but the midfoot feels slightly loose — it’s a jogging shoe in both the best and slightly limiting sense. There’s a subtle sense of the foot shifting inside the shoe.

When running at faster paces, I would have preferred a slightly snugger fit.

As I picked up the pace, a clear propulsive feel began to emerge. At slow speeds I only felt stability; at faster speeds, the shoe started actively pushing me forward.

That said, there’s no explosive pop like you’d get from a carbon plate shoe. The propulsion comes from the rocker sole geometry and the 10mm heel-to-toe drop guiding the foot through the stride.

A common complaint with cushioned daily trainers is a sluggish response at faster paces — the midsole takes a beat to rebound after landing, making it hard to accelerate smoothly.

The Adizero SL2 doesn’t have this problem. The midsole responds quickly, and pace transitions feel fluid and effortless.

The most surprising moment came during strides. I typically avoid daily trainers for strides because of that sluggish response — but the Adizero SL2 felt genuinely good even at full speed.

I usually run 120m strides in about 20–21 seconds, but in this session I was hitting 19–20 seconds. That’s a real difference.

Overall, I was very impressed with the performance.

September 4, 2024 Update

On the fit: my initial impression was “slightly loose,” but lacing up more tightly brought it to a comfortable, secure feel.

Most of my other running shoes lock in without needing tight laces, so I was a little reluctant to lace these more firmly at first.

No issues with pressure on the instep or any discomfort, even with tighter lacing.

After more runs, I’ve come to see this as a nearly flawless shoe. It handles everything from slow easy jogs to threshold pace with ease. My overall satisfaction is very high.

Comfort, Ground Feel, and Propulsion

Here’s a closer look at each of the three key performance dimensions.

Comfort and Fit

After running, I noticed the fit was slightly loose — the midfoot has a relaxed hold overall, and tighter lacing doesn’t fully resolve it.

For jogging it’s fine, and during strides the foot didn’t feel unstable — but there’s a subtle sense of movement inside the shoe.

No issues with heel or instep contact, and no blisters developed.

Ground Feel

The ground feel leans toward the firmer side. The closest comparison would be the Nike Pegasus series — think around the Pegasus 37 generation, but with slightly softer cushioning.

That firmness is what creates the stability. A daily trainer needs a solid platform underfoot, and the Adizero SL2 delivers on that front.

Runners expecting a bouncy, springy ride may be disappointed — but most people don’t buy a daily trainer for bounce, so this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.

I was slightly concerned that the 10mm drop would limit foot loading, but the soft midsole provides enough give to maintain a solid push-off feel.

Propulsion

Propulsion is quite strong — for a daily trainer, that is. This isn’t a racing shoe, and shouldn’t be judged as one.

I don’t think daily trainers need to prioritize propulsion — that’s what your faster shoes are for. But among non-plated running shoes, the Adizero SL2 sits solidly in the upper tier.

Compared to similar shoes I own — like the Brooks Hyperion Max and the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 — the Adizero SL2 holds its own without apology.

What’s genuinely impressive is achieving this level of propulsion while maintaining such a firm, stable midsole. That combination is harder to pull off than it sounds.

Sizing

I normally wear US 9.5 (27.5cm) across brands — ASICS Hyperspeed, Novablast, Nike Pegasus, Vaporfly, and others all fit me at that size.

The Adizero SL2 in US 9.5 was a perfect fit. I’d recommend going true to size.

Traction

Traction is one of the things I care most about in a running shoe. I run in light rain regularly, so wet-weather grip is a genuine priority.

The verdict: the Adizero SL2’s traction is excellent.

My test run was in light rain — slippery conditions by any measure. Despite that, I ran my strides faster than usual. A shoe with poor traction would have made that impossible.

The times I was hitting wouldn’t have been achievable on a slippery surface — which tells me the traction is genuinely doing its job.

September 4, 2024 Update

After several more runs in post-rain conditions, I’ve continued to be impressed by the wet-weather grip.

The best traction I’d experienced previously was from the ASICS MetaSpeed series with its ASICS Grip rubber — and the Adizero SL2 matches it.

Running strides at high speed on wet pavement is inherently risky with poor traction. A daily trainer that grips confidently in wet conditions is a significant advantage.

Design and Construction

Here’s a look at the Adizero SL2’s construction.

The tongue and heel collar are noticeably thin for a daily trainer — clearly prioritizing weight savings. This may partly explain the looser midfoot fit.

The laces have a smooth, slick surface and tend to come undone more easily than average.

Viewed from the rear, the construction looks fairly basic — a clear result of trimming cost and weight wherever possible.

Weight

My measured weight for US 9.5 (27.5cm) was 246g (8.7 oz) — that’s extremely light for a daily trainer.

You can feel it in hand immediately. At faster paces, the light weight makes for a noticeably comfortable ride.

That said, when it comes to slow easy jogging, lighter isn’t always better.

Easy running demands stability above all. Some mass in the midsole helps create a stable landing platform — and that’s a real trade-off at this weight.

In practice, the Adizero SL2 provides enough stability even at easy paces. It holds up well for slow runs despite the light weight.

Durability

I’ll continue to update this section as I accumulate more mileage.

At the Time of Purchase

The midsole is fresh out of the box — no compression yet.

The outsole uses Continental rubber, which bodes well for long-term durability.

At 910 km

After crossing 900 km, the midsole still felt cushioned — but I noticed the shoe leaning outward slightly when I put it on.

The outsole had more life in it, but the lateral wear had become significant due to my landing pattern.

The outsole could have continued, but the tilt became noticeable enough that I decided to retire the shoe.

Recommended Use Cases

Here are the training types I use — and would recommend — the Adizero SL2 for:

As you can see, the Adizero SL2 covers a remarkably wide range of training. My primary use will be easy and moderate-intensity runs.

The broad versatility means it’ll accumulate mileage quickly — but I plan to use it heavily and see how far it can go.

I’ll update the recommended use cases here if my thinking changes over time.