Adizero Boston 12 vs Deviate Nitro 4

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 Puma Deviate Nitro 4 is a carbon-plated do-it-all running shoe, and that is the point of it. Puma pitches this as one pair for almost everything: easy miles, tempo work, long runs and the occasional race. At 245g it is heavier than a pure marathon shoe, but that weight buys you a plush, durable ride you can rack up training miles in without babying it. The carbon plate sits under a tall 33.6mm heel and a 7mm drop, so you get a smooth, propulsive roll rather than the aggressive snap of a race-day shoe. In our view this is the sweet spot for one runner who wants a single versatile trainer instead of a rotation. It rewards a controlled tempo more than a flat-out sprint. If you want the widest use per pound at £150, few carbon shoes are as adaptable. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is the obvious rival, and it is lighter, but the Deviate feels the more robust daily companion.