adiZero Recommendation

All of these will be thicker than the RC. The Adios actually has the thickest heel, which I found too high. The Mana rides a little lower and has a small medial post in the rearfoot and forefoot. The heel:forefoot dimensions are a little closer to the RC. I didn't find the small posts to do too much. I haven't run in the Ace, but it sounds like it might be similar to the Mana, but without the posts. Additionally, I really like the Adizero Pro. It rides very low, but is a little big firmer. If you want a softer ride, I highly recommend the Asics Hyper Speed 3.

Adios are very very nice and I enjoy running in them a lot but are the most expensive of the Adizero flat line. The Ace is like the CS(now the ace) (or mana without the posting which I don't like) another good shoe. I stocked up on RC's and still have 3 pair left at my disposal..... I would definitely recommend both the Ace and Adios.... as I probably do more mileage in the ACE even compared to the RC's.... I like the Adios for actually racing because they $$$ so I use them sparingly.... or for rainy days because they do not have the air vents in the bottom. The Adios is the same as the ACE without the holes and the fore foot of the shoe is lowered and extra 2mm or something along those lines.... Adidas figured out when they lowered the front of the CS( or ACE) they got more energy return......

The Adizero Boston is not a flat by any means..... more like a light weight trainer

I can't speak for the Mana, but the Ace and Adios are both very nice shoes.

The Ace is the lighter and more flexible of the two, a little bit firmer cushion. Pretty much no arch in there though.

The Adios is a bit nicer cushion with a full Adiprene forefoot, and a little bit more contoured fit around the arch. The outsole on the Adios is probably not quite as durable as the Ace, though. If you wear hard under the ball of your foot and big toe, you might run into some wear issues, because the duosole they use there is not particularly tough when it comes to pavement.

stipe wrote:

I highly recommend the Asics Hyper Speed 3.

I should have mentioned that the Hyperspeed 3 is what I am in now. It's not bad, but for some reason hurts my right heel sometimes. I didn't have the heel problem when I ran in the Nike Mayfly, which has no heel counter. Of course they stopped making the Mayfly too.

Thanks for everyone's responses so far.

Wow I didn't know I lined up so closely with other's shoe choices.

I ran through a bunch of the RC's too and have been looking for a replacement.

- Right now I'm switching between my last pair of RC's and the Hyperspeed 3's like you guys. I've been liking the Hyperspeed's so far.

- I tried a pair of Mana's and wasn't a big fan. Felt like a thicker shoe and was too stiff.

- I've got the Pro's which I've raced in, but for some reason makes my knee more sore if I run in it every day. This may be a superstition at this point b/c I haven't figured out anything thats different about it.

- I haven't tried the Adios but my friend has a pair. They look a lot like the pro's and have that hard racing tack on the bottom as opposed to the rubber of the RC.

- Right now I'm switching between my last pair of RC's and the Hyperspeed 3's like you guys. I've been liking the Hyperspeed's so far.

- I also have the PRs which are awesome for races, but not so great for day to day b/c they seem designed to pickup pebbles. I've been thinking about trying out the Piranha's to see if they'd last at all, but I doubt it.

That's another problem with the Hyperspeed, the lattice pattern that picks up rocks and mud. I've had the Piranhas in the past, but ended up with a metatarsal stress fracture in them. I don't think it was caused by the shoes (more like training issues), but I don't want to risk it. I think it fractured while I was doing hill repeats on a very rocky dirt road. Since then, I've become a little weary of flats with too thin of a sole.

I've looked at this Mizuno Musha Wave too and it kind of reminds me of the RC's, but it looks a little beefier and heavier which is a bummer.

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/viewlargeshoecomp.html?pcode=MWMUM

Drop some lbs before going minimalist, particularly on the 'crete.

The Mushas are also very good. While they have a little stiffer wave plate, the heel:forefoot ratio is very good, with a low heel.

The Pirhanas feel great but the soles simply don't have the durability for daily training.

Nike does have Streak XCs left and a new version coming July 1st. Those have always been great for me.

adidas will also have the adiZero Rocket coming very soon. This will be lighter and lower, actually it should be nearly perfect.

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/sneakpeek.html?ccode=SNEAK107

Thanks, the Rocket looks great.

Stipe you're the man. I need to keep a better eye on these upcomings.

The rocket's do look cool, and the new Pro's look good too. But maybe thats just the colors, I can't tell if they've actually changed much.

I actually just got the new Pro. They are essentially the same as last year's version.

How do the PRO compare to the PR? And the Rocket - can't play the video here at work?

I'm in the Adizero/Hyperspeed club too: love the PR (even on the 'crete) and wear Hyperspeed 2 for longer races.

Tried on Mushas last week: nice low heel but definitely felt like a lot more shoe, not very natural/flexible.

Pro & the PR are completely different.

Pro is similar to many racing flats - fairly low, the hard tack on the forefoot, a little bit of stiff plastic around the arch which restricts a little of the flex.

The PR is like a featherweight sock, but some nice cushion in the lightweight sole.

The Rocket looks like more of an RC/Pro combo - not a super light like the PR but a nice steady, flexible bottom covered in more durable rubber.

Man, I am pissed off that the RC line is gone. Trained in them for years. I currently have one new pair left.

Even though it does have a little bit of a heel, I love the Adios. I ran my last marathon in them and it was the easiest marathon I've ever run. The Ace just annoyed me for some reason. It just felt bulky and flimsy.

I have a few rc's in stock. What size are you?

Oohh. Rocket looks good. My last pair just needs to hold out until the fall.

got a pair of Adidas Running Response-Cushion 17, a month ago. Love them. btw...will we see you at the National Championships next week in Eugene? Any interviews with that guy who had a crush on you at Track Town Pizza at the Trials last year?

these are super sweet! Tokyo 08 adiprene ..wowie

http://www.miadidas.com/US/Main.action