Scored on 309 verified owner verdicts, from 1,311 comments read across 4 communities
TL;DR
The Boston 13 wins praise as a versatile, firm, durable tempo trainer with a much-improved upper, though owners still fight fiddly laces, a narrow toe box, and a ride too firm for easy runs.
55% of 309 verified owners recommend the Adidas Adizero Boston 13, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
1,311 comments reviewed · scored on the 309 clearest verdicts
55%
Recommend
169 owners
20%
Neutral
63 owners
25%
Don't recommend
77 owners
Last 6 months:73% recommend(33 recent verdicts)↑ trending up 26pts vs older reviews
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
55%
112
YouTubeiOrdinary owner comments (not the reviewer). They line up with what owners say on Reddit and forums — within a few points — so we count them here. When YouTube comments skew too far from other trusted sources, we leave them out.owner comments
54%
195
Other forums
0%
1
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
67%
3
No clear verdictiGood-to-know notes — setup, tips, and things to watch for. We use them for the pros, cons, and who it's for, but they don't reflect a definitive opinion on the product, so they're never counted in the score. See the 'Good to know' section below the quotes.Setup, tips & quirks
—
34
Affiliate blogs here say 67% 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, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. Affiliate blogs is shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.
What owners like
Great for tempo and faster paces · 28 · 9%
Versatile do-everything trainer · 24 · 8%
Firm, stable platform · 22 · 7%
Much-improved upper over the 12 · 18 · 6%
Durable outsole, long life · 12 · 4%
What owners flag
Too firm for easy, slow long runs · 20 · 6%
Laces and lockdown are fiddly · 14 · 5%
Narrow, tapered toe box · 12 · 4%
Slippery stock insoles · 4 · 1%
Not made for wide feet · 4 · 1%
Who it's for
A great fit if
Runners doing tempo and faster workouts
Those wanting one versatile do-it-all trainer
Runners who like a firm, stable ride
Heavier runners needing stability and durability
Look elsewhere if
Runners wanting soft cushioning for slow long runs
Wide feet or those needing a roomy toe box
Synthesized from what Adidas Adizero Boston 13 owners say — not a spec sheet.
Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.
Top quotes, sourced
1,311 reviewed · 290 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube— neutral
“I have 200k on Boston 13s now and love the feel. But, they have wrecked my calves, soleus specifically, and led to some tarsal tunnel issues as well.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I love the 12 so much I will choose the 13 over EVO SL any time”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“i found the 12’s. WAY too hard.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“I went with the same size as my boston 12 for the 13, and had to return them due to how small they ran.”
YouTube— neutral
“No veo grandiosos cambios respecto a la 12 , será un poco mejor, pero no tiene una razón muy importante y diferencial para comprarla si ya tienes la maravillosa anterior”
YouTube▲ recommend
“So i bought the Boston 13 and like it much more.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“not having laces that stick in place isn't acceptable”
YouTube— neutral
“Vietnam are bigger and they also dig lateral ankle whereas the Chinese are perfect and actually feel a better shoe”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I myself have enjoyed running in the Boston 13”
YouTube— neutral
“perfectly good shoe like me with a slow pace but the down side i noticed a tilt inner back of shoe which lil bit off when i walk”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I find them a significant improvement over the 12s in the comfort side of things”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“al estrechar las hormas, ninguna”
YouTube▲ recommend
“Bostons > evo SL”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“I never got along with B12. They just don't work for heel strikers”
YouTube— neutral
“Se ven muy lindas, pero en mí opinión, con todo respeto, están empezando a mezquinar la suela continental, uno de sus puntos más fuertes.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I like my 13's, ran 3 5k PB's in a row and ran my longest distance 19.1k.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“no entiendo por qué una Boston 13 tiene todavía una capa de Lightstrike común, que es un material bastante duro y que devuelve poco.”
YouTube— neutral
“I'm on my third pair of Boston 12s.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“Me gusta más la 12 por el lightstrike 2.0 en medio pie, favoreciendo la duración”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I think from durability and stability pov boston makes sense”
YouTube— neutral
“I wouldn't use it on asphalt too long, as it would shred my knees.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“you realize that it’s in fact an amazing shoe”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“Son como correr con una plantilla de madera. Malísimo me lesionaron el tendón.”
YouTube— neutral
“Es la zapatilla definitiva? Si. Pero cada vez más elitista.”
Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.
Redditⓘ good to know
“It's important to note that the midsole on the B13 is quite similar to that of the B12. The forefoot also has LS 2.0, you can see it on the medial side of the shoe.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“I made this mistake went half down in the 13s as I did that in the 12s and they were too short. Think the extra padding at the back has swallowed up the half size.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“I will take my Bostons out for a 15+ mile run but will not take the EVO for more than 10. Bostons are a marathon training shoe the EVO is not”
Redditⓘ good to know
“if I did size up the shoes would end up too long and cause other issues. I wear the Evo SL in the same size they fit perfect.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“they have energy rods in them making them a bit stiffer than what you'd probably want for a casual walking shoe.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“Comfort isn't the aim of this shoe. The mix of LSP and a firmer Light strike 'carrier' foam under the heel signals it's a daily trainer. The rods signal it can/should be used for faster speedwork. It's not a heavily cushioned long run slow cruiser for sure.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“They feel like they might be a tad more narrow and just a bit shorter, but the same size works for me”
Redditⓘ good to know
“Fast day or long run daily trainer, yes. Not recommended when you want to go slow (but you can still)”
Redditⓘ good to know
“No issue with the Boston 13. Platform width is slightly wider, or comparable to the ES4, MS4, DN2.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“These are more for running faster paced workouts and don't provide as much balance/cushioning.”
Redditⓘ good to know
“I swapped out the insoles with Currex insoles and it great improved the lockdown issues.”
