Adizero Boston 13 vs Mach 7

The Adizero Boston 13 is adidas at its most versatile: a firm, fast daily training shoe built to handle tempo work, threshold sessions and steady miles in one pair. It is not a race shoe and it is not a soft cruiser. It sits in the middle, the workhorse you reach for when the session asks for pace but you still want a shoe that lasts. At 254g it is on the heavier side for a tempo running shoe, and you feel that weight on truly easy days, but the trade is a platform with real durability and a planted, controlled ride. The internal rod system keeps the forefoot snappy and stiff, so when you push the pace the shoe pushes back. Compared with the lighter, livelier Adizero EVO SL, the Boston is the more rugged, do-everything option. If you want one shoe to carry your whole week, this is a strong pick.

The Hoka Mach 7 is the brand's do-it-all tempo trainer, a lightweight road shoe that wants to cover almost everything between an easy jog and a genuine session. There is no carbon plate here and that is the point. Instead you get a supercritical EVA midsole that feels lively and quick without the aggressive, one-pace demands of a racer. With a low 5mm drop and a 37mm heel stack it sits in the sweet spot for runners who want one shoe for daily miles, tempo runs and the odd longer effort. It is a clear step on from the Mach 6, keeping the versatile, pick-up-and-go character that made the line popular. At £130 it is fairly priced for a modern lightweight trainer. We rate it as one of the smartest single-shoe buys for club runners who log steady mileage but still like to push the pace once or twice a week.