Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 vs On Cloudboom Strike:
Which to Choose

October 6, 2026

Verdict

There's no wrong answer here — both are elite, maxed-out super shoes for the same fast runner, and neither is meaningfully "better." It comes down to feel and distance: go Adios Pro 4 for a lighter, more flexible, marathon-leaning ride with a slightly higher drop, or the Cloudboom Strike for a firmer, stiffer plate, more forefoot cushion, and a lower 4mm drop that shines from 10K to the half. If you can, run in both and let your stride and goal race decide.

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4

255.00 USD

On Cloudboom Strike

219.96 USD

Pace

6 of 6

Cushioning

5 of 6

Responsiveness

6 of 6

Stability

2 of 6

Drop

5 mm

Support

Neutral

Plate

Carbon

Distances

10KHalfMarathon

Pace

6 of 6

Cushioning

5 of 6

Responsiveness

6 of 6

Stability

2 of 6

Drop

4 mm

Support

Neutral

Plate

Carbon

Distances

10KHalfMarathon

At a Glance

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4On Cloudboom Strike

Who Should Choose Each Shoe

Choose

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4

Choose the Adios Pro 4 if the marathon is your target and you want the lightest, most eager-feeling shoe of the two. Its slightly higher 6mm drop, rod-based propulsion, and lower weight suit a rhythmic, forward-tipping stride that holds a sustained race effort for 42km, and the softer dual-layer PEBA is built to protect your legs in the final 10K. It's the pick for runners who like a little natural flex and toe splay rather than a rigid plate underfoot.

Choose

On Cloudboom Strike

Choose the Cloudboom Strike if you favor a firm, aggressively propulsive plate and a lower, more forefoot-driven ride. Its 4mm drop and taller 35.5mm forefoot reward a quick, snappy toe-off, and the full-length Speedboard gives a crisp, locked-in sensation that strong forefoot strikers tend to love — most at home over the 10K-to-half range where you can hold a genuinely hot pace. Pick it if you want maximum stiffness and underfoot cushion rather than the lightest possible shoe.

Head-to-Head

Spec for spec these two are remarkably close. Both pair a PEBA-based superfoam (Adidas's dual-layer Lightstrike Pro versus On's Helion HF) with a full carbon propulsion system and a tall, rockered, neutral platform that feels tippy at jog pace and only comes alive once you commit to 3:00–3:20 min/km. Heel stack is near-identical — about 39mm on the Adios Pro 4 and 39.5mm on the Cloudboom Strike — so neither is the obviously plusher ride. The real differences are three. First, geometry: the Adios Pro 4 runs a 6mm drop on a 39/33mm stack, while the Cloudboom Strike sits at a lower 4mm drop with a taller 35.5mm forefoot, giving it more cushion and a more forefoot-friendly feel under the ball of the foot. Second, propulsion: Adidas uses carbon-infused EnergyRods — a segmented, rod-based structure that allows a touch more natural flex and toe splay — whereas On uses a stiff full-length carbon Speedboard that delivers a firmer, more locked-in, aggressively propulsive snap at toe-off. Third, weight: the Adios Pro 4 is the lighter shoe at roughly 200g (7.0oz) in a men's sample versus about 215g (7.6oz) for the Cloudboom Strike, a small but perceptible edge at speed. Their intended sweet spots tilt slightly too — the Adios Pro 4 is happiest stretched to the full marathon, where its cushioning saves the legs late, while the Cloudboom Strike peaks at the half. Both use thin, breathable racing mesh and minimal outsole rubber, so durability is limited on each — these are key-session and race-day shoes, not daily trainers.