The adidas adizero Tempo 9 sits about average for daily trainers in our data. Value and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Cushioning scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 13 runner reviews and 5 other rated shoes in the adizero Tempo product line.
Decent
75
Overall
Decent75
Value
Very good92
Durability
Very good90
Appearance
Good83
Comfort
Below average63
Cushioning
Bottom-tier53
Confidence
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on
confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long
record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we
have few ratings or when runners disagree.
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
Product line track record
Our ratings
External ratings
What runners say
“Stability positioned toward front while soft boost foam at back makes for amazing gait transition. Soft landing, firm push off.”
Reviewers report the Continental outsole rubber lasting well over many miles.
Light at 8.9 oz, and reviewers use it for tempo and speed work.
Many runners use it for everything from easy miles to races.
Cons
Cushioning is its lowest-rated dimension, and several reviewers want more of it for longer runs.
Five of the thirteen reviewers say it runs small, and two describe it as narrow and short.
Two reviewers find the laces and the upper tighten uncomfortably during runs.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how
much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both
well rated and well established.
Confidence
5060708090100255075100
Better Shoes Rating
adizero Tempo 9 rates 75.
This shoe has high confidence.
See how we rate shoes.
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the adidas adizero Tempo
Each dot is one version of the adizero Tempo, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Rating
406080100
662014702014682014822016682017752017
Release year
We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating.
See why.
I bought these online, as they are currently no more available in regular stores.
After reading reviews, I decided to buy a half size bigger than my usual Adidas size. But they still felt tight, both in length and room in mid and toe box. Laces were also very not flexible and putting pressure on my feet.
But after changing the laces to regular stretching ones, and changing the lacing style, they felt much more comfortable. Only the length now prevents me from using these shoes for over 15km runs, otherwise I would have used them for at least half marathon distances.
In term of ride, these shoes are stable, fast in rolling and toe off, and good for speed work thanks to a harder midsole in the front. Compared to regular full Boost shoes, like Ultra Boost, these are definitely more efficient for faster runs.
Tempo 9 - old school light trainer, mild stability
4/5
Overall
I snagged the Tempo 9s for something like $60 a couple years ago and put 200 miles on them pretty quickly, as I had been seeking a lighter stability shoe for longer workouts and easy runs. I had a few pairs of an early model Tempo and never had any issues, but this time around I was originally disappointed. I'm usually a 10.5 in trainers and a 10 in flats, so I bought a 10. Maybe the 10.5 wasn't in stock or something. Anyway, my little toe got rubbed raw just about every time I wore this shoe. It's also not soft, if you're expecting a "boost" shoe to feel more cushioned. They sat on the shelf for a year or two until I was in the market for more stability shoes and thought I'd try out altering them. I cut some slits where my big toes and pinky toes were and almost immediately the shoes seemed much more comfortable. Going with a 10.5 or 11 would've been a smart call in retrospect. My rating for this shoe was ignoring the sizing issues I had, though it's worth noting that the shoes run narrow and a little short.
It is a real shame this shoe is discontinued. It is one of the only true lightweight stability shoes of the last couple years. The brooks Ravenna is another one, but that shoe just doesn’t do what this shoe can. I have done everything from fast 18 mile long runs, to tempo runs, to slow maintenance mileage 10 mile days, easy slow doubles, even to some faster intervals. This shoe didn’t have a lot to it, but the way the stability was positioned more toward to front of the shoe while the soft boost foam was at the back, it made for and amazing gait transition. Soft landing, firm push off. I wear a lot of neutral shoes, but I definitely need the stability sometimes. No matter what I was feeling, this shoe had just the right amount of whatever I needed for that day. Never felt bulky, never too Light. I could go on about this shoe for a while. It is just a real damn shame that adidas discontinued one of their last really good shoes just to make space for the flimsy/soft/weak/flashy shoes that appeal to sneaker heads and sneaker heads only.
Very stable due to the stiffness, not great cushioning but very bouncy shoe, great for medium long and long runs due to smooth transitions and ease of running experience, bad for easy runs
I have worn the Tempo 9 for over a year. I am a marathon runner and have run in more brands and models of sneakers than I’d like to admit. These have become my #1 favorite running sneaker. They provide a touch of support that I need without being too much. They are lightweight and durable at the same time. I’m hoping they don’t discontinue the line!!!!
