Adizero Boston 13 vs Spectur 2

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 Salomon Spectur 2 is the brand's road running shoe for runners who spend most of their week on tarmac but want that unmistakable Salomon security underfoot. It is a cushioned, do-most-things trainer rather than a stripped-back racer. At 250g it is on the heavier side for a shoe Salomon files under tempo, so treat it as a versatile daily training shoe that can lift to a steady effort rather than a featherweight speed tool. What you get for that weight is a planted, confident ride and a grippy outsole that shrugs off wet British pavements and the odd gravel path. The 8mm drop keeps you connected to the road. At £170 RRP it sits at the premium end, and there is no carbon plate here, so you are paying for build and grip rather than propulsion. We rate it as a reassuring everyday miles shoe for road runners who value durability and stability over snap. If you want a lighter Salomon road option, the Aero Glide 4 is the softer, bouncier stablemate.