Tempo

adidas Adizero Evo SL

adidas' light Lightstrike Pro trainer: race-shoe feel on tempo days, without burning through an actual race shoe.

The Evo SL takes the shape of adidas' racing shoes and leaves out the rods. What is left is a slab of Lightstrike Pro on a 39 mm heel, about 224 g at UK 8.5, and a ride that is bouncy without asking anything technical of you.

It suits a runner who wants one shoe for tempo days and fast finishes but would rather not spend a race shoe doing it, and it is honest enough at easy pace to double as a daily trainer.

It is not a stability shoe, and it is not built for slow miles piled high. The foam is soft, the upper is thin, and it will wear out sooner than a heavier trainer covering the same distance.