Running shoes · owner-verdict comparison

Adidas Adizero Boston 13 vs Brooks Ghost 17: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Brooks Ghost 17: 82% of 11 owners recommend it, vs 55% of 309 for the Adidas Adizero Boston 13.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Adidas Adizero Boston 13

55%of 309 owners recommend
55% recommend · 20% neutral · 25% don't
Owners praise
  • Much-improved upper over the 12
  • Versatile do-everything trainer
  • Great for tempo and faster paces
Owners complain about
  • Too firm for easy, slow long runs
  • Laces and lockdown are fiddly
  • Narrow, tapered toe box
Full owner report →

Brooks Ghost 17

82%of 11 owners recommend
82% recommend · 0% neutral · 18% don't
Owners praise
  • A dependable, comfortable daily trainer that owners reach for on the majority of their runs
  • Plenty of cushioning with a higher stack, often described as crazy soft and easy on the feet
  • Handles long runs and half marathons reliably, holding up over a few hundred miles
Owners complain about
  • Runs a bit heavy, so owners suggest a faster shoe for racing or speed sessions
  • The redesign feels like a different shoe to some longtime Ghost wearers
  • Toe box can feel narrow, which was a dealbreaker for a couple of owners
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Adidas Adizero Boston 13 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
Skip it if
  • Runners wanting soft cushioning for slow long runs
  • Wide feet or those needing a roomy toe box
Get the Brooks Ghost 17 if
  • ✓Daily trainers logging most of their weekly miles
  • ✓Half-marathon runners wanting stable cushioning
  • ✓Runners who like a comfy, higher-stack step-in feel
Skip it if
  • Narrow-toe-box sufferers prone to toe pain
  • Racers chasing marathon speed (better with super shoes)

What Adidas Adizero Boston 13 owners say

“I love the 12 so much I will choose the 13 over EVO SL any time”
— @olsa2k on YouTube
“So i bought the Boston 13 and like it much more.”
— @marcojo111 on YouTube
“i found the 12’s. WAY too hard.”
— @neilhulme8426 on YouTube

What Brooks Ghost 17 owners say

“these shoes are IT”
— @Justin.501 on YouTube
“Not a shoe to go fast but a fantastic daily trainer.”
— @Philllin on YouTube
“Its like running with a stiff truck tire for a midsole. Its dead, heavy and depressing”
— @albertteng1191 on YouTube

Adidas Adizero Boston 13 vs Brooks Ghost 17: frequently asked questions

Is the Adidas Adizero Boston 13 or the Brooks Ghost 17 better?

Real owners lean toward the Brooks Ghost 17: 82% of 11 owners recommend it, vs 55% of 309 for the Adidas Adizero Boston 13.

Who should get the Adidas Adizero Boston 13?

Owners point the Adidas Adizero Boston 13 at runners doing tempo and faster workouts, and those wanting one versatile do-it-all trainer.

Who should get the Brooks Ghost 17?

Owners point the Brooks Ghost 17 at daily trainers logging most of their weekly miles, and half-marathon runners wanting stable cushioning.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Adidas Adizero Boston 13 is too firm for easy, slow long runs. For the Brooks Ghost 17, it's runs a bit heavy, so owners suggest a faster shoe for racing or speed sessions.