Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 vs New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5:
Which to Choose

The single biggest difference is weight. The Adios Pro Evo 2 comes in at about 139g in a men's US 9, while the SuperComp Elite v5 weighs 198g — a roughly 59g (2 oz) gap that is enormous in racing terms and something you feel on every stride, especially late in a marathon. Both ride on tall, stacked superfoam platforms with nearly the same heel height (around 38mm for the Adidas, 39mm for the New Balance), but their geometry diverges at the front and in how they propel you. The Adidas pairs supercritical Lightstrike Pro Evo foam with carbon Energy Rods 2.0 and sits at roughly a 7mm drop (38/31mm), giving a quick, forward-tipping, flexible ride that follows the foot and rewards a confident midfoot-to-forefoot strike. The New Balance uses 100% PEBA FuelCell over a concave full-length carbon plate with Energy Arc voids, with a higher drop — 8mm on paper, closer to 10mm measured (39/29mm) — which means a more pronounced heel bias that accommodates a wider range of footstrikes, and a firmer, snappier plate-driven pop as you roll forward. Both foams are lively rather than pillowy and both platforms turn precarious at jogging pace, so neither is a shoe you want to slow down in. Fit is the other decisive split: the Adios Pro Evo 2 runs very snug, with a razor-thin mesh upper and a tight toebox, while the SuperComp Elite v5's woven upper and semi-gusseted tongue give a noticeably roomier, more forgiving fit. Durability rounds it out — the ultralight Adidas is stripped down with minimal outsole and a short competitive lifespan, essentially a race-day-only shoe, whereas the heavier New Balance is built more robustly and will tolerate more mileage and tune-up workouts.