PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 vs adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

Tested using Methodology v0.16

Updated Sep 23, 2026 01:31 PM

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PUMA

Tested using Methodology v0.16

Updated Sep 22, 2026 08:04 PM

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Adidas.com
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Picture

Track

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Picture

Track

  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Marathon

Our Verdict

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 is a better marathon racer than the PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 for most runners. The adidas is more accommodating of different foot strikes and is also a bit more cushioned and significantly more stable, so it'll protect your legs better and is easier to trust late in a marathon. That said, if you're chasing the fastest time and load the front of the shoe, the PUMA is the more aggressive option for chasing a PB.

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Variants

  • Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 (Mint Melt/Speed Blue - (Men - US 9))
  • Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 (Mint Melt/Speed Blue - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Adios Pro 5 (Solar Turbo/Core Black/Lucid Red - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Adios Pro 5 (Solar Turbo/Core Black/Lucid Red - (Women - US 7))

Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

8.4
8.5

Outsole Arch Width 
 

25 mm (1.0")
71 mm (2.8")

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

8.9
8.9

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

173.3 g (6.11 oz)
170.3 g (6.01 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.3 mm
38.2 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

30.4 mm
30.9 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.9 mm
7.3 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.0 mm
6.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

82 mm (3.2")
78 mm (3.1")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

25 mm (1.0")
71 mm (2.8")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

113 mm (4.4")
116 mm (4.6")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.09
2.04

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.72
3.75

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

273 mm (10.7")
277 mm (10.9")

Internal Heel Width 
 

60 mm (2.4")
64 mm (2.5")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

93 mm (3.7")
95 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
No

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.4
9.3

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

-1.0 mm (-0.039")
0.6 mm (0.024")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-2.3 mm (-0.091")
-2.9 mm (-0.113")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

6.9
5.2

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-3.7 mm (-0.146")
-5.7 mm (-0.222")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

8.8
5.3

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-2.2 mm (-0.087")
-6.6 mm (-0.258")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

8.4
6.0

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

30 mm (1.2")
9 mm (0.4")

Heel Apex Position 
 

22.2%
14.6%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

24.8°
27.9°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

7.8
8.0

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

55 mm (2.2")
57 mm (2.2")

Toe Apex Position 
 

59.0%
58.3%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

24.6°
25.4°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Primary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Secondary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

Nitrofoam Elite
LIGHTSTRIKE PRO

Primary Foam Type 
 

A-TPU
TPEE

Secondary Foam Name 
 

No Secondary Foam
No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type 
 

No Secondary Foam
No Secondary Foam

Laces 
 

Laces Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Laces Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Flat
Sawtooth

Width 
 

6.0 mm (0.2")
4.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

2.1 mm (0.1")
1.2 mm (0.0")

Stretch 
 

15.0%
7.0%

Breathability 
 

9.0
6.0

Breathability Video  

Upper Breathability 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Upper Breathability
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Upper Breathability

Upper Microscope Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Upper Microscope Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Upper Microscope Photo

Time-To-Dry 
 

9.5
9.2

Time-To-Dry Timelapse  

Time-To-Dry Graph  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Time-To-Dry Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Time-To-Dry Graph

Time To 30% Dry 
 

3.5 hrs
4.1 hrs

Time To 70% Dry 
 

8.6 hrs
10.2 hrs

Time To Dry 
 

13.1 hrs
15.2 hrs

Water Absorption 
 

9.6
9.5

Dry Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Dry Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Dry Weight Photo

Wet Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Wet Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Wet Weight Photo

Water Absorbed 
 

22.8%
24.7%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

Carbon Fiber
Carbon Fiber
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

8.8
8.3

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

86.1%
82.3%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

8.9
8.6

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

86.7%
84.4%

Heel Cushioning 
 

8.1
8.4

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

4.30 J
4.19 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.78 J
10.22 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.43 J
16.58 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

8.7
8.6

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

5.56 J
5.55 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

9.67 J
9.43 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

14.13 J
13.73 J

Heel Firmness 
 

5.9
6.3

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

32.8 N/mm
35.6 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

46.2 N/mm
47.6 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

68.5 N/mm
69.0 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

6.0
5.5

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

49.5 N/mm
47.2 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

64.5 N/mm
62.7 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

89 N/mm
88 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

8.0
8.2

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

8.81 J
9.06 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

8.60 J
8.88 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

8.47 J
8.79 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

8.39 J
8.73 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

8.5
7.3

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

144 N
92 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

8.9
8.7

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

80.2%
77.9%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

8.3
8.3

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

23.0 N/mm
25.2 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

322 N
295 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

7.2
6.9

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Heel Compression Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

16.8 mm
15.4 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

23.8 mm
23.1 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

27.8 mm
27.5 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

6.9
7.1

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3 Forefoot Compression Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

16.2 mm
16.9 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

20.2 mm
20.7 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

22.9 mm
23.4 mm

PUMA Fast-R NITRO Elite 3

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5

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