Owners love the Boston 12 as a fast, durable tempo and interval shoe that holds up for hundreds of kilometers, but the gripes are loud and consistent. The biggest complaints are a stiff, plasticky upper with terrible laces that won't stay tied, heel slip and a long fit that forces many to size down, and a firm ride that feels brick-hard until a long break-in. A number of runners also report forefoot blisters and ball-of-foot pain from the narrow, unforgiving upper.
55% of 126 verified owners recommend the Adidas Adizero Boston 12.
What 126 owners say
1,767 comments reviewed · scored on the 126 clearest verdicts
55%
Recommend
69 owners
20%
Neutral
25 owners
25%
Don't recommend
32 owners
Last 6 months:50% recommend(6 recent verdicts)→ holding steady vs older reviews
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
55%
126
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
Affiliate blogsiThese blogs earn a commission when you buy. Across our data they rate products ~35 points more positively than actual owners — shown for transparency, never counted in the score.paid commission
100%
2
Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 55%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.
The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, and blogs with no affiliate links. YouTube and affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out — hover the i for why.
What owners like
Fast, snappy ride for tempo and intervals · 18 · 14%
Very durable, lasts 400km-1000km+ · 12 · 10%
Versatile daily-trainer workhorse · 8 · 6%
Firm but responsive with good energy return · 8 · 6%
Stable, natural ride good for midfoot strikers · 7 · 6%
What owners flag
Stiff, plasticky upper with no give · 8 · 6%
Too firm and hard, brick-like at slow paces · 7 · 6%
Poor heel fit and heel slip, runs long · 7 · 6%
Forefoot blisters and ball-of-foot pain · 6 · 5%
Laces won't stay tied without double-knotting · 5 · 4%
Top quotes, sourced
1,767 reviewed · 128 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“both have been giving me achilles tendon soreness after long runs”
Reddit— neutral
“With a runners knot, the shoe becomes really comfy”
Reddit▲ recommend
“I jako su lagane patike i udobne za veci deo noge”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“Maybe the Boston12 isn't just for me. Will probably retire this pair, or maybe give it away.”
Reddit— neutral
“They've not blown me away but are solid, reliable and stable.”
Reddit▲ recommend
“I used it on a fartlek run this morning, and it was everything I hoped for”
Reddit— neutral
“they are a bit heavy, so I don't like them on faster runs”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“got both asics (novablast) and adidas (boston12) and the latter does not even compare”
Reddit▲ recommend
“Adidas Adizero Boston 12 — all-around trainer tapos pwede ring race day shoe”
r/RunningShoeGeeks— neutral
“The Boston 12 is a great trainer, but defintiely feels a little loose in the upper no matter how tight I get the laces and it feels like there is a slight heel slip”
Reddit▲ recommend
“Last training cycle, I put the most miles into the 12s, and raced in the Pro3s and got PBs in both half and full marathon”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“plus confortables que les Adidas adizero boston 12”
r/RunningShoeGeeks— neutral
“I still have the B12, already ran 300+ km in them. With the foam on my B12 already matured and compressed with such mileage, it is slightly softer than my new B13”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“boston12’s laces dig into my feet”
Reddit▲ recommend
“I recently bought Adidas Adizero Boston 12 and have been super happy with them. Really generous toebox.”
r/RunningShoeGeeks— neutral
“I dont like the B12 for sprint and track/interval work (this is where I use the Streakfly and looking at the Takumi as potential replacement.) It's not a bad shoe for this...there's just better shoes IMO”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“I find mach x2 much more comfy”
Reddit▲ recommend
“favorite all-round "fast" daily trainer and essentially replaced the Speed 3 that I had been using”
r/RunningShoeGeeks— neutral
“at about 17 Km I had this pain under the ball of right foot, so annoying I just limp for some time. Is there anything to remediate ? I really like the shoes”
Reddit▼ don’t recommend
“I can’t get on with my B12”
Reddit▲ recommend
“my Boston12 and PrimeX2STRUNG at 300 and 250 km are starting to feel softer and more responsive”
Reddit⚠ product linkThis comment contains a link to buy the product. Not a confirmed affiliate link, but a buy link in an opinion can be a form of marketing — weigh it accordingly.▲ recommend
“it's hard to find a better all around shoe than the Boston 12 at this $79 price”
r/RunningShoeGeeks— neutral
“the thin and flimsy tongue keep slipping down allowing the top lockdown to directly touch my foot, very annoying but the rest of shoe is fantastic to run in”
r/RunningShoeGeeks▼ don’t recommend
“I had the Boston 12 and realized I hated everything about the upper the most, next is the narrow midfoot. Took me 200km and a lot of achilles pain when I decided it's not for me.”
