Which should you buy?
Choose the Adistar 4 if you find it at a good discount and it already suits you.
Choose the Adistar 5 if you want the latest version.
The Adistar 4 is 10 g heavier than the Adistar 5. It has 5 mm less foam under the heel. Its drop is 5 mm against 6 mm. It costs £10 more at full price.
Side by side
| Spec | Adistar 4adidas | Adistar 5adidas |
|---|---|---|
| Review score | 79/100 (1 review) | Not enough reviews yet |
| Type | Max cushion | Max cushion |
| Weight (men's UK 8.5) | 275 g | 265 g |
| Heel stack | 40 mm | 45 mm |
| Drop | 5 mm | 6 mm |
| Cushioning | Balanced | Balanced |
| Bounce | Lively | Lively |
| Plate | No plate | No plate |
| Support | Neutral | Inherently stable |
| Fit | True to size | True to size |
| Widths | standard | standard |
| Waterproof version | No | No |
| UK RRP | £130 | £120 |
Weights are for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. Prices are UK RRPs; shops often sell for less.
What the critics say
The reviews comparedIndependent reviews of the adidas Adistar 5 aren't out yet, so the published verdicts are on the adidas Adistar 4. RunRepeat's Carlos Sánchez found it comfortable for easy running, with a natural-feeling rocker and a very durable outsole, but flat, a little stiff and warm. Running Shoes Guru's Brandon Law also praised its rocker and outsole, though he found the upper too built up.
Adistar 4
- Comfortable, stable ride for easy and long runs
- Very durable outsole
- Natural-feeling forefoot rocker
- Little bounce and somewhat stiff
- Warm upper and narrow heel
Scores from RunRepeat.
Adistar 5
Paraphrased from published reviews.
What's new in each
adidas Adistar 4: An upper-focused update: the midsole and outsole carry over, with a new internal fit panel, reworked heel, much thinner tongue padding and no Primeweave, trimming a few grams.
About each shoe
About the Adistar 5
Adidas designs the Adistar 5 for challenging runs and long distances, describing its Dreamstrike cushioning as "a blend of soft and stable". It replaces the Adistar 4 and sits at the top of the brand's cushioned road range, with a 45 mm heel, a 39 mm forefoot and a 6 mm drop.
The midsole is shaped with rocker geometry intended to encourage a rolling motion from heel to toe, a design covered in more detail in the guide to rocker running shoes. Adidas pairs it with a textile and synthetic upper, what it calls a distance-running-friendly last for a tailored lockdown, and a rubber outsole intended for grip on flat surfaces.
For a lower, lighter everyday option on similar foam, the Supernova Rise 3 has a 36 mm heel. The Hyperboost Edge matches the Adistar's heel height but uses adidas's PEBA-based Hyperboost Pro foam instead.
Specs and features from adidas.com.ph, runrepeat.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Adistar 4 vs Adistar 5
In short
The adidas Adistar 5 replaced the adidas Adistar 4. Here's how the two versions compare on specs, review scores and price.
- LighterAdistar 5
- CheaperAdistar 5
- More foamAdistar 5
Get the full story
adidasEverything on the Adistar 42 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Adistar 4
adidasEverything on the Adistar 53 video reviews, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Adistar 5Still torn?
The shoe finder checks every current shoe against how you run and shows your two best matches.