Adizero Boston 12 vs Adizero EVO SL 1

The Adizero Boston 12 is adidas at its most versatile: a £160 tempo running shoe built to be the one trainer that handles almost everything bar your easy days. It is the rod-equipped middle child of the Adizero family, sitting below the Adios Pro racers but with enough snap to make threshold sessions and long runs feel purposeful. At 267g with a 7mm drop it is not feather-light, and the ride leans firm and direct rather than soft and forgiving. That is the point. Push the pace and the Boston rewards you with a propulsive, slightly aggressive roll through toe-off. Jog it slowly and it can feel stiff and a touch dead underfoot. In our view this is a do-it-all daily trainer for committed runners who like a firmer, faster shoe, and a genuinely capable marathon training partner. The newer Adizero Boston 13 softens and lightens the formula if this version reads too stiff for you.

The Adizero EVO SL is adidas taking its marathon race foam, stripping out the plate, and giving you a lightweight speed trainer you can actually run every day. At 224g it feels closer to a racer than a daily shoe, and that is the whole point. This is a running shoe for the runner who wants one pair for tempo sessions, strides, parkrun and the odd long run, without the rigid, all-or-nothing feel of a carbon racing shoe. You get lively, propulsive cushioning and a low 6mm drop that keeps you up on your forefoot. At an RRP of £150 it undercuts most super-trainers and plated tempo shoes, which is a big part of why it has been so popular. In our view it is one of the most versatile shoes adidas has made in years. If you want the plated race-day version, the Adizero Adios Pro 4 is the sibling to look at.