Verdict: 4.5/5. After 50km in the Adidas Boston 13, this feels like the Boston line has found a wider lane: still robust and supportive enough for high mileage, but now bouncy enough to be a track-session favourite.
Check the Adidas Boston 13 price on Amazon.
Adidas Boston 13 review: the short version
I have always liked Bostons for their robust and supportive design. They have been perfect for high-mileage weeks and long steady runs, but they were never my automatic choice for faster sessions. The Boston 13 changes that. It still has the structured, protective feel I want from a durable trainer, but the ride now feels softer, bouncier and more willing when the pace lifts.
That is the headline for me: the Adidas Boston 13 has broadened out from a solid long-run shoe into a genuine all-rounder. I have used it for steady mileage and track work, and it has felt far more at home in quicker stuff than the Boston 12 ever did.
What I like
- Bouncy but supportive: enough pop for sessions without losing the stable Boston feel.
- Good build so far: after roughly 50km there is nothing worrying in the upper, outsole or midsole.
- More range than the 12: it feels happier at track pace, tempo effort and long steady running.
Boston 12 vs Boston 13
The key difference is the foam. Public specs and reviews point to more Lightstrike Pro in the Boston 13 midsole, and that matches the run feel: softer underfoot, more rebound through toe-off, and less of the firm, slightly blunt feel I found in the Boston 12.
| Spec | Adidas Boston 12 | Adidas Boston 13 | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | About 270g / 9.5oz | About 266g / 9.3oz | Very similar on paper; the 13 feels livelier rather than dramatically lighter. |
| Stack height | 38mm heel / 31.5mm forefoot | 36mm heel / 30mm forefoot | The 13 is a touch lower but softer, which makes it feel more connected at faster paces. |
| Cost | GBP 140 launch RRP, now often discounted | GBP 140 RRP | Still good value against many modern super-trainers. |
Fit and comfort
The only real warning is fit. Compared with the Boston 12, the 13 feels slightly tighter to me. Not uncomfortably tight, but snug enough that I would be careful if you have a wider foot or like a roomy toe box. The lockdown is good, and for faster work that snugger hold helps, but I would try before buying if you sit between sizes.
Ride feel
For long steady runs, it still does the Boston thing well: protective, efficient, stable and not precious. You can rack up miles in it without feeling like you are burning through a fragile race shoe.
Where it surprised me is on the track. The softer foam and springier toe-off make it much easier to get into rhythm during reps. It is not a pure racer, and it does not have the dramatic trampoline feeling of a full super-shoe, but it is far more enjoyable when running hard than I expected.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Bouncy and supportive
- Better session range than the 12
- Robust build after 50km
- Good do-everything value
Cons
- Slightly tighter fit than the 12
- Not as light or aggressive as a pure race shoe
- May not suit runners wanting a very plush daily trainer
Should you buy the Adidas Boston 13?
This is the best kind of update: the Boston 13 keeps what made the Boston useful and adds more range. It is still a reliable high-mileage shoe, still supportive enough for long steady running, but now it has enough bounce to make me reach for it before a track session too.
If you want one shoe that can cover long runs, steady aerobic work, tempo efforts and sessions without feeling like a compromise every time, the Boston 13 makes a very strong case. For me, it is a 4.5 star shoe.
Buy or price-check the Adidas Boston 13 on Amazon.
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Specification note: weights and stack heights vary slightly by sample size and retailer, so treat the table as a practical comparison rather than a lab measurement.
