4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Dec 7, 2023
30 mpw training for a marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 3/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
adidas adizero Boston 12
Speed shoe · Neutral · Road · 8.7 oz · 38/31mm stack · 7mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The adidas adizero Boston 13 replaced it
How it ranks
The adidas adizero Boston 12 is one of the strongest running shoes in our data. Looks and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Comfort scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 58 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the adizero Boston product line.
Good
88
Overall
88
Appearance
97
Durability
95
Value
87
Cushioning
70
Comfort
60
Confidence
98
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
98 Very high
External retailer ratings
We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.
The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Our ratings
- Product line track record
- External ratings
What runners say
“Fit quite long and wide—size down half a size.”
“Laces are absolute garbage; come undone during runs.”
“Forces you up onto your toes, helping increase cadence and decrease overstriding.”
“Runs about ½ size bigger than Saucony and Nike.”
“Lasted only 200 miles before sides separated from base.”
“Outsole is grippy and looks new after 100km.”
“Needs about 30 miles to break in; feels overly firm before that.”
“Less calf muscle fatigue late into runs.”
“Rolls through the toe with obvious ease.”
“Upper is race-like and lacks comfort for longer runs.”
“Feel fast and slightly bouncy/springy.”
“Carbon fiber rods give good push without overdoing it.”
“Handled 23-mile workouts with no issues.”
“Lacing makes it hard to keep snug; heel is a bit loose.”
“Felt best for longer and faster runs; too aggressive for easier runs.”
“Perfect foot shape and forefoot room with good heel lockdown.”
“Great cushioning, excellent comfort, not chunky/clunky.”
“Relatively light with good response and very durable.”
“Good for easy runs to tempo; not so much for intervals.”
“Toe box is large with 50-100 mile break-in period.”
“Hard to find trainers that don't look/feel clunky on easy runs.”
“Full-length plates can mess up your form.”
“Tongue is flimsy and not secured properly.”
“Lacing system and lockdown are the only flaws.”
“Energy rods don't feel super snappy.”
Prefer this shoe over another
60% 18/30
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers rate it a clear step up from the Boston 11.
- Runners use it for easy miles, long runs and tempo work.
- Several reviewers call it durable, one naming it the most durable shoe they have owned.
Cons
- Several reviewers criticize the upper, the laces and the heel lockdown.
- Three reviewers report a firm break-in of 20 to 100 miles.
- Comfort is its lowest-rated dimension, and one reviewer finds the race-like upper uncomfortable on longer runs.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Confidence
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the adidas adizero Boston
Each dot is one version of the adizero Boston, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Rating
40
60
80
100
80
2014
73
2014
80
2017
88
2018
94
2019
81
2020
89
2021
67
2022
88
2023
86
2025
90
2014
Release year
-
2014 · 35 reviews
90 Very good
98 Confidence
-
2025 · 0 reviews
86 Good
69 Confidence
-
adizero Boston 12 This shoe
2023 · 58 reviews
88 Good
98 Confidence
-
2022 · 14 reviews
67 Below average
90 Confidence
-
2021 · 11 reviews
89 Good
88 Confidence
-
2020 · 2 reviews
81 Good
79 Confidence
-
2019 · 20 reviews
94 Excellent
96 Confidence
-
2018 · 34 reviews
88 Good
99 Confidence
-
2017 · 41 reviews
80 Good
98 Confidence
-
2014 · 9 reviews
73 Decent
88 Confidence
-
2014 · 8 reviews
80 Good
91 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 8.7 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 9.4 oz · Women's 8.0 oz
- Release
- 2023 Q2
- MSRP
- $160
- Stack
- 38/31mm
- Drop
- 7mm
Runner reviews
Adidas Adizero Boston 12
3/5
Overall
Not a big change from previous models. At this price range you can get other shoes better for the Boston 12 cost.
Daniel Sepulveda · Dec 2, 2023
50 mpw training for a marathon
- Comfort
- 2/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 3/5
Good shoe
4/5
Overall
I like this shoe
Anonymous runner · Nov 27, 2023
10 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Skechers GOrun Ride 11
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 3/5
Loving the Boston 12's
5/5
Overall
I have struggled finding a neutral shoe that balances cushioning and performance when you want to squeeze the pace down in workouts or tempo runs. The Boston 12 is really good in this aspect. I have enjoyed it on easier aerobic runs, long runs, and workouts. It's comfortable on foot, and it also has not caused any hot spots during runs.
Ryan · Nov 27, 2023
35 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
It's alright - not a world-beater though.
4/5
Overall
I haven't had any experience in previous models of the Boston so I won't be comparing it to those. I picked it up at 30% off RRP so was willing to give it a go for that price. The upper is a bit race-like and lacks comfort for longer runs because of this. You can tell this is a shoe that was designed to be multipurpose. If you run slow and land further back on the shoe, it feels like a comfortable easy run shoe. If you try to get moving a bit towards tempo pace it gets up and goes a little bit. The energy rods don't feel super snappy and it could be compared to the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 in the way it's a fast trainer that can do multiple things. You definitely don't have that roll on to the forefoot like you get with Saucony's speedroll technology though. I think the flexible rods help the comfort at slower paces compared to a snappier plate. Overall an okay shoe and definitely worth the discounted price but I'm not sure I could quite justify RRP on this one.
Anonymous runner · Aug 3, 2023
25 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 3/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from adidas
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
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Shoe properties
Type
Speed shoe
Speed shoe
Speed shoe
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
8.7 oz
8.4 oz
7.9 oz
Lightest
Stack
38/31mm
38/31mm
36/28mm
Drop
7mm
7mm
8mm
Release
2023 Q2
2025 Q2
2025 Q2
MSRP
$160
$160
$175
Best price
—
$97
Lowest price
$126
Ratings
Overall
88 Good
86 Good
97 Exceptional
Best overall
Comfort
60 Below average
62 Below average
88 Good
Best comfort
Cushioning
70 Decent
66 Below average
89 Good
Best cushioning
Durability
95 Excellent
Best durability
92 Very good
81 Good
Appearance
97 Exceptional
Best appearance
87 Good
89 Good
Value
87 Good
82 Good
87 Good
adidas adizero Boston 12 In Context
More on the adidas adizero Boston
- adidas adizero Boston 13 next version
- adidas adizero Boston 11 previous version
- adidas adizero Boston 10
- adidas adizero Boston 9
- adidas adizero Boston 8
- adidas adizero Boston 7
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40 3 runners
- Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 3 runners
- Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 2 runners