Adizero Boston 12

This is a firm, fast, direct ride with a clear forward bias. The Boston wants to be run at pace. The energy rods and the geometry give it a propulsive, slightly stiff roll that comes alive once you are on your toes and holding threshold or marathon effort. Hold race pace and it feels purposeful and snappy. Drop to an easy jog and the same firmness reads as harsh and a little lifeless, with none of the soft, cushioned bounce you would get from a plush daily trainer. The 7mm drop keeps you fairly low and connected to the road. It is a shoe that flatters strong, efficient runners and punishes lazy, heavy-footed plodding. Treat it as your workout and long-run tool, not your recovery slipper, and the ride makes a lot of sense.

There is a good stack of foam under the Boston 12, but it is tuned for propulsion rather than plushness. The cushioning is protective enough to see you through a marathon-distance long run, yet it stays firm and responsive instead of soft and absorbing. Heavier runners and dedicated heel-strikers may find it lacks the give they want for high mileage, while efficient midfoot and forefoot runners will appreciate how stable and connected the platform feels at speed. It is not a max-cushion shoe and it does not pretend to be. Think of the foam as a fast, supportive layer that protects your legs while still letting you feel the road and drive off it, rather than a soft pillow that swallows impact on easy runs.

The Boston 12 is a neutral shoe with no dedicated stability features such as medial posts or guide rails, so runners who need genuine pronation control should look elsewhere. That said, it is a fairly stable neutral ride. The firmer foam and the broad, planted forefoot give a secure, grounded platform that does not wallow or roll at pace, which is reassuring when you are pushing a tempo or working through the late miles of a long run. The energy rods add a degree of structure through the midfoot too. Mild overpronators who run efficiently may get on with it fine, but if you rely on real support to keep your gait in check, a true stability trainer is the safer choice.

The engineered mesh upper is built for performance first. It is thin, light and breathable, with a racy, stripped-back feel that suits the shoe's tempo brief. Breathability is good, so your feet stay cool on warm runs and harder efforts. The trade-off is comfort and plushness: the tongue is thin, the padding is minimal, and the lockdown is firm rather than cosseting. Most runners will find it comfortable straight out of the box for faster sessions, but those used to a soft, well-padded daily trainer may notice the lack of cushioning around the collar and tongue on longer outings. The fit is secure and there is little heel slip once laced properly. It is a no-nonsense upper that does its job without fuss.