Short verdict: the Adidas Adizero Prime SP 3 Strung is a highly specialised sprint spike built most directly for the 100m. Adidas lists a 195.62g weight in size 9, Lightstrike Pro cushioning, a full-length synthetic spike plate and six pins. Its 17.78mm forefoot measurement and stiff, forward-biased construction put it firmly in race-spike territory—not everyday running, gym work or long-distance training.
This is a researched review. Zone2 has no retained test log, sample size, photographs or session notes that verify the old article’s claim of testing the Prime SP 3 over 100m, 200m and 400m. Those first-person conclusions have been removed. The verdict below separates Adidas’s published specification from practical buying guidance and does not claim an independent wear test.
Zone2 verdict
Buy it for: short-sprint racing when you already have sound spike experience, want a very stiff six-pin platform and can confirm that the close STRUNG upper fits securely.
Think twice for: beginners buying a first spike, wide or high-volume feet, athletes who want one forgiving shoe for every track session, and 400m runners who prefer more rearfoot support or a less aggressive platform.
Main trade-off: Adidas has reduced the shoe to the components needed for short sprinting, but the same light upper and stiff full-length plate leave little margin for a poor fit or casual use. This is a competition tool, not a faster version of a normal running shoe.
Adidas Adizero Prime SP 3 Strung specifications
The table uses Adidas product code IG4330, checked on 17 July 2026. Colour codes can change without altering the model, and the listed weight applies only to the manufacturer’s size-9 sample.
| Feature | Official specification | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Track and field; launched as made for 100m | A short-sprint specialist rather than a general running spike |
| Listed weight | 195.62g in size 9 | Your size and colour may weigh differently |
| Upper | STRUNG textile upper with textile lining | Threads are data-mapped to create a light, seamless structure |
| Cushioning | Lightstrike Pro | A small amount of Adidas’s performance foam underfoot |
| Outsole | Synthetic, full-length spike plate | A rigid track-specific base; Adidas does not identify carbon in the product specification |
| Pin layout | Six-spike configuration | Check the supplied pin shape and length against the venue rules |
| Heel measurement | 7.87mm | Minimal material behind the forefoot |
| Forefoot measurement | 17.78mm | More material under the loaded sprinting area |
| Manufacturer-labelled rise | 9.9mm | This is a forefoot rise, not a conventional heel-to-toe drop |
| Fit label | Regular fit; lace closure | Shape still needs an in-person sprint-spike fit check |
| Product reference | IG4330 | Use the exact reference when checking old stock or competition approval |
The exact figures come from the official Adidas Prime SP 3 Strung product record. Adidas’s April 2024 launch announcement adds the intended 100m use and describes the model as providing energy return and maximum stiffness. Those are manufacturer claims, not Zone2 laboratory findings.
What STRUNG actually is
The original review called STRUNG a “robotic weaving process”. Adidas’s own technical explanation is more precise: STRUNG is not knitting and it is not weaving. Individual threads are selected and data-mapped, with their direction and placement varied to create a single performance textile. Adidas developed the process using robotics, software, athlete data and prototype testing.
On the Prime SP 3, Adidas describes the result as a seamless, lightweight cocoon around the foot. That is useful context, but it does not mean the retail upper has been individually mapped to the buyer’s foot. The athlete data informs the product design; buying a standard pair is not the same as receiving a personalised upper.
The construction also does not prove superior fit for everyone. A low-volume sprinter may value the close hold while a wider or higher-volume foot may meet pressure across the forefoot or instep. STRUNG explains how the upper is made; only a properly laced try-on reveals whether this particular pattern suits you.
For more detail on the technology, Adidas’s original STRUNG development account describes how thread selection and placement are informed by athlete movement data.
Plate, foam and sprint geometry
The Prime SP 3 combines a full-length synthetic spike plate with six pins and Lightstrike Pro cushioning. Adidas does not publish a plate-material breakdown on the cited product page. Descriptions of a carbon plate elsewhere should therefore not be treated as an official specification for IG4330 without further evidence.
Adidas lists 7.87mm at the heel and 17.78mm at the forefoot, a 9.91mm difference that it rounds and labels as a 9.9mm “midsole rise”. That is the reverse of the positive heel-to-toe drop normally quoted for road shoes. It concentrates the platform beneath the forefoot, where a sprinter applies force, and leaves little rearfoot structure.
The product description says Lightstrike Pro supplies light cushioning and energy return. The foam sits within a much smaller track-spike package than it does in a road racer. It should not be interpreted as plush cushioning, protection for easy mileage or a promise that every athlete will run faster.
Stiffness can help a spike act as a direct lever at high sprint velocity, but it also changes the demand on the foot and lower leg. The old article said the geometry “forces” a forefoot strike; that is too absolute. It strongly favours forefoot loading, while an athlete’s technique, speed, strength and fatigue still determine the actual movement.
Is the Prime SP 3 for 60m, 100m, 200m or 400m?
| Event | Zone2 assessment | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 60m | Strong conceptual match | Short, maximal sprinting aligns with the model’s 100m-led design, provided fit and rules work |
| 100m | Primary intended event | Adidas explicitly launched the Prime SP 3 as made for 100m |
| 200m | Possible after curve testing | The stiffness may appeal, but comfort and control on the bend need personal assessment |
| 400m | Individual, not the default conclusion | Adidas’s source does not position it specifically for 400m; a less aggressive feel may suit some athletes better |
| 800m and above | Poor match | Choose a middle- or distance-spike geometry designed for the event |
| Road running | Do not use | The pins and plate are designed for a suitable track surface |
A 100m label is not a rule that prevents a good 200m athlete from choosing the shoe. It is evidence about design intent. Test block exits, upright sprinting and bend running progressively rather than inferring suitability from an elite athlete or a product name. For general running, compare appropriate road and trail shoes in the Zone2 shoe finder.
Fit and sizing
Adidas labels the shoe regular fit, while its current Australian product page shows a returns-based “runs small” recommendation to move up half a size. Those two statements are not necessarily contradictory: regular describes the intended last, while the recommendation reflects purchase returns on that storefront. Neither guarantees the right size for an individual foot.
Try your normal Adidas sprint-spike size and the adjacent half size with the thin socks you race in. Lace from the bottom upward, then check:
- the heel stays seated during a forceful calf raise and short acceleration;
- the toes are close to the end without being curled or compressed;
- there is no sharp pressure across the metatarsal heads or instep;
- the upper holds the foot without requiring painful lace tension;
- the shoe remains controlled when leaning and running a bend.
Do not size down solely to create a “race fit”, and do not assume sizing up solves a width mismatch. Excess length can allow movement inside a very stiff platform. If neither adjacent size holds the heel and forefoot comfortably, a different spike shape is the better choice.
Competition legality and spike-pin rules
Competition status should be checked before every important meet. World Athletics tells athletes to identify the exact model in its Shoe Checker; a shoe absent from the application is not authorised for competitions to which its rules apply. Approval can be discipline-specific, so do not rely on an old retailer description or another colourway’s listing.
The World Athletics shoe regulations effective 20 April 2026 set a 20mm maximum sole thickness for track events. They also limit the projecting part of each spike to 9mm outdoors and 6mm indoors, unless an indoor venue permits up to 9mm. A track operator can require a shorter maximum or prohibit particular pin shapes. The Prime SP 3 has six pin positions, but the allowable pins depend on the meeting and surface.
Adidas’s 17.78mm published forefoot figure is below the general 20mm threshold, but a product-page number is not a substitute for checking the approved-shoe list. Keep the exact model reference and follow the organiser’s instructions.
How to introduce a stiff sprint spike
A race spike should not replace warm-up footwear. Use a normal trainer for easy running, mobility and drills, then introduce the Prime SP 3 during short, high-quality work when you are fresh. Start with a small number of controlled accelerations and generous recovery. Progress only if the fit remains secure and you recover normally.
There is no universal break-in mileage. Sprint spikes accumulate intense contacts rather than useful road-mile totals, so judge them by fit, plate condition, pin sockets, upper damage and how you recover. Stop if you develop pain, numbness, loss of control or a new pressure point. A coach or qualified clinician can help when symptoms persist; no plate or foam technology prevents injury.
For the wider training context, see Zone2’s speed-training guide. The Prime SP 3 belongs in the specific-work portion of a programme, not every run.
Value and alternatives
The old review quoted roughly £200–£250 without a dated source. Adidas UK has listed the model with a £170 regular price and periodic clearance discounts, but stock and promotions change. Compare the live price, return conditions and replacement-pin availability rather than treating an old sale as the normal value.
Value depends on whether the shoe solves a real racing need. An established short sprinter who likes a firm forefoot and close upper can justify a specialist spike more easily than a beginner still learning which last and plate geometry works. The cheaper Adidas Sprintstar is an internal comparison point for a simpler sprint-spike route. The Nike Maxfly 2 guide covers a different premium sprint concept. Those legacy reviews are not substitutes for trying the shoes and will receive the same source-checking process.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Adidas Prime SP 3 Strung weigh?
Adidas lists 195.62g for a size-9 sample. The page does not state that every size or colour has the same weight.
Does the Prime SP 3 have a carbon plate?
Adidas’s cited product specification says “synthetic outsole with full-length spike plate” and does not identify the plate as carbon. Zone2 therefore does not describe it as a carbon plate.
Is it suitable for the 400m?
It can be an individual option, but Adidas launched it specifically as made for 100m. A 400m runner should test bend control, late-race comfort and calf/foot demand against a less aggressive alternative.
Should I size up?
The product is labelled regular fit, while Adidas’s returns-based guidance on the cited regional page recommends half a size up. Try your usual spike size and the adjacent half size; choose secure heel and forefoot hold without pain or excess length.
Can I train in the Prime SP 3?
Use it selectively for sprint-specific sessions and race preparation on a suitable track. It is not intended for warm-up jogging, easy mileage, road running or gym work.
Is the Prime SP 3 legal for competition?
Verify the exact model in the current World Athletics Shoe Checker and follow the meeting’s pin rules. Do not infer approval solely from the published stack measurement.
Final verdict
The Adidas Adizero Prime SP 3 Strung is easiest to understand as a 100m-first race spike: light at a listed 195.62g, strongly forefoot-biased, stiff, and secured by a data-mapped STRUNG textile. Its six-pin full-length plate and Lightstrike Pro package are credible reasons for an experienced short sprinter to try it.
Those specifications are not evidence that the shoe is automatically faster, durable for a set mileage or right for every 100m–400m athlete. Confirm the fit, introduce the stiffness gradually and check the exact model and pins before competition. That narrower conclusion is more useful than the old claim that this was simply one of the best sprint spikes money could buy.