Adizero Boston 12 vs Hyperion 2

The Boston 12 is where adidas fixed the Boston. Versions 10 and 11 had a reputation for a hard, brick-like midsole, and reviewers mostly agreed this one rides softer and livelier while keeping the snap that makes it a tempo running shoe. On paper it's 267g with a 7mm drop and fibreglass rods rather than a carbon plate, so think of it as a training partner for faster sessions and marathon-block long runs, though one reviewer reckoned it could double as a budget racer. Women's Running UK gave it four stars, and Runnea's reviewer picked out how stable it stays on long runs. Where it falls down is fit: a thin tongue, laces that slip and a soft heel counter that heel strikers may not trust. Adidas has since released the Boston 13, which keeps a similar ride and pads the heel and tongue. So the 12 makes most sense when it's clearly the cheaper of the two.

The Hyperion 2 is Brooks at its most versatile: a light, non-plated speed trainer built to make your fast days feel fast without asking you to save it for race morning. At 204g it sits comfortably in lightweight-trainer territory, and the ride is snappy and low to the ground rather than soft and plush. There is no carbon plate here, which is the whole point. You get a natural, flexible foot feel that rewards a quick turnover, so it handles tempo runs, intervals and strides better than it handles slow miles. In our view this is one of the more honest running shoes in its class: it does not pretend to be a marathon super-shoe, and it is better for it. If you want a single pair for structured speed work, or a first proper 5K and 10K racer, the Hyperion 2 earns its place. The newer Hyperion 3 refines the same idea if you want the latest version.