Adidas Adizero Boston 13 Review (2025): Good Super Trainer?

Julien Guyod

Published on 07/18/2025

Updated on 07/28/2025

The Adidas Boston are clearly an iconic series—I will always remember the era of the Boston Boost, once considered one of the best marathon shoes.

The arrival of carbon plate shoes changed the game, and the Boston evolved over time to keep up with the trend.

Where does this 13th version stand? Is it suitable for your profile and goals?

This is what we will find out in this in-depth review.

Our Verdict

Cushioning

We find a similar design to the Adizero Boston 12, namely a combination of Lightstrike pro and Lightstrike 2.0 foams sandwiching the Energyrods 2.0 fiberglass rods.

The rod system has been redesigned, and there is 14% more LightStrike Pro foam, especially in the forefoot where the foam touches the outsole.

Upon closer inspection, a different geometry is also observed.

The foam is more cut out in the lateral midfoot wall for better flexibility. The feel is also a bit firmer, a bit too much according to some runners. It’s always interesting to gather all opinions on this point.

Having the privilege to run with a great number of shoes allows me to have a fairly objective opinion on this point. I find that the sensation is well balanced, neither too firm nor too soft.

The height is 36 mm under the heel and 30 mm at the forefoot, 2 mm less.

Despite this, the shock absorption is very good and should allow any type of runner to extend the distance serenely.

It is more the firmness that could be an issue on this point for some runners. Personally, the cushioning seems sufficient to me to go up to the marathon.

Note also that the drop is now 6 mm (compared to 7 mm previously), which may require some adaptation time if you are not used to it.

Energy Return

With a weight of 257g in size 42, the shoe is not heavy, but it’s also not light compared to the competition. The choice was made for versatility rather than responsiveness.

Note, the dynamism is very good and will allow you to accelerate without worry to vary gears. But don’t expect the bounce or energy return of carbon rockets. However, with the new geometry and more aggressive rocker, transitions are very smooth.

Support and Stability

The shoe is for neutral running and doesn’t have any technology to stabilize the gait.

However, the fairly firm ride, the relatively wide base, and the very good traction make the Boston 13 a naturally stable shoe for safe driving.

Foot Hold

The technical mesh upper needed a makeover, this one not having won unanimous support on the 12 model. The main reproach came from the lack of structure, which gave an uncertain fit.

The brand corrected the situation, and the few extra grams probably come from these additions. The mesh is well spaced and ensures good ventilation. The paddings contribute to good comfort.

The breathability is very good, and the textile lining also provides satisfactory coverage in cold weather. A good moisture evacuation and quick drying are also confirmed.

The upper is quite flexible and does not compress the foot, but there is more structure thanks to:

• A thicker, rigid heel counter
• A plastic band on the forefoot

Some testers with narrow feet found it had too much room in the Toe Box. I was not bothered by this point (I have wide feet), but it is better to try before buying or take ½ size below in case of doubt.

The gusset tongue, padded for more comfort, is very effective—no slippage to report.

Finally, the lacing system is very classic and seals a successful foot lock (despite this point of vigilance on the adjustment to the forefoot).

The upper is therefore overall very successful for the Boston 13.

Traction

The new LIGHTTRAXION technology (already used on the Adidas Adios Pro 4) translates to a fairly thin rubber that is very effective for grip.

It’s associated with the classic Continental rubber. According to the brand, grip is improved by 30% on the latter.

The combination of the two delivers excellent traction. The grip is very effective, even on wet surfaces.

As a road shoe, you can venture onto classic trails, but you should avoid technical parts.

Finally, the numerous micro-grooves and the central groove ensure very good flexibility.

Use scenarios

With a slight increase in weight (for the upper) and a slightly firmer (and also more stable) ride, one feels the brand’s intention to make the Boston 13 more versatile at the expense of some reactivity.

Nonetheless, the extra LightStrike Pro foam offers better energy return.

While dynamism is not comparable with the best, it remains very good.

In training, you will have no problems for tempo or traditional marathon paces. It will be a bit more limited on pure speed sessions, but more than sufficient for a very large number of runners.

Moreover, I find the Boston 13 more pleasant at low speed than previous versions.

In competition, more performant models are available (like its big sister, the Adios Pro 4). But the shoe is a very good option for runners looking for a unique pair of shoes.

The substantial cushioning ensures very good shock absorption, allowing any type of runner to extend the distance serenely—the fairly firm nature could be a constraint for some.

Thus, the Boston 13 is a solid training partner, covering all paces and scenarios.

Quality and Durability

The outsole is of good quality, and the upper is more robust than I would have thought initially. The foam is fairly dense and durable. Thus, it has the usual durability for this type of shoe.

The price-quality ratio is therefore within the market standard.

In terms of eco-friendliness, there are at least 20% recycled materials. Note that these shoes are not vegan and therefore contain animal materials.

Conclusion

The Adidas Adizero Boston 13, in my opinion, positions more as a very versatile training shoe rather than a super shoe. Less focused on speed and more on stability and comfort, the shoe is ready for any scenario.

There are more specialized models in all domains, especially for competition, but it’s one of the best shoes for runners in search of a single pair to do everything.

Facts

Technical Specs

Cushioning

Technologies

Use

Reference: official site