Adizero Boston 13 vs Deviate Nitro 4

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 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.