adidas Boston 13 Performance Review

The adidas Boston 13, announced and previewed at the 2025 Boston Marathon, takes the adidas Boston formula – largely the same since the Boston 10 – fixes common complaints, adds some juice [Editor’s Note: What does juice even mean?], and takes the shoe to another level of performance.

First, we’re glad that adidas is now introducing the new Boston at the Boston Marathon, a race the brand sponsors. That’s a fantastic move and adds to the excitement of the weekend. Second, we had some complaints about the Boston 12, though we ultimately called it a high-performer (after break-in time and if you could handle the upper’s fit and the stiffness of the energy rods, that is). When we heard adidas was specifically targeting improvement in many of those areas, we started to highly anticipate the Boston 13.

So, did the product team address all our concerns? Is the adidas Boston 13 the best Boston yet? Let’s find out.

What is the adidas Boston 13?

According to adidas, the Boston 13s are “light, fast race training shoes made in part with recycled materials. Speed. Energy. Excitement. Feel the spirit of race day every time you lace into these adidas running shoes.”

That is some flowery marketing speak, but I think the “fast race training shoes” is the most important part. The Boston line is designed for uptempo training to help prepare your body for long-distance road races, and that should be the focus of any marketing for the Boston 13.

Cushion

Expounding on that, this midsole setup is good enough for speed that runners would be justified in using the Boston 13 for those road races. All the elements of a quality race-day shoe are present, if toned down a bit from what you’d get in a marathon racing shoe. The adidas Boston 13 is an intriguing option when any speed work is involved.

The design team at adidas added 13.8% more Lightstrike Pro with most of that in the forefoot. The result is an improvement in forefoot bounce that’s felt most when chugging along at marathon pace or faster. It works well at everyday recovery paces, but shines when some extra speed joins the party.

And though the energy rods haven’t changed shape, they feel less stiff than in the last two iterations of the Boston line. This allows the Boston 13 to live in the goldilocks zone of stiffness alongside many of the best plated super trainers. I prefer when max stiffness is reserved for race-day super shoes, and adidas finally came around to the same thesis.

The reason I prefer the “lesser” stiffening elements in uptempo shoes is that it both reserves the maximum propulsion for race day and also offers those who don’t get along with stiff plates a different, but still propulsive option for racing. The adidas Boston 13, with ample Lightstrike at the heel, offers a high-performance, yet stable option that will appeal to many heel strikers or larger runners for normal use cases like speed days – and, at the same time, will be a tempting option for race day.

I’ve said many times that versatility is king (think adidas Evo SL), and the Boston 13’s midsole is built in such a way that it can do anything a runner would need.

Support

As I mentioned in the midsole section, the adidas Boston 13 features a layer of firmer, stabler Lightstrike underneath the softer Lightstrike Pro and energy rods combo. This layer stabilizes everything above it and results in a shoe that’s dependable when cornering at high speeds or tackling uneven pavement or cobblestones.

The standard heel counter and wide base (ultra wide at the forefoot) also heighten the Boston 13’s stability. It’s a total package of high-end support that makes the Boston 13 a good example of a stable-neutral shoe and a great option for larger runners who need a more supportive shoe to handle the impact forces they generate.

Traction

The outsole is the weakest point of the adidas Boston 13. Not because it doesn’t grip well. I didn’t have any problems with wet or dry conditions, and the Continental rubber and Lighttraxion outsole grabbed the ground nicely. 

The reason it’s a negative is that the outsole durability is subpar. After about 40 miles, the toe-off area on my right shoe was completely bald, and my left shoe wasn’t far behind. The grid pattern using lines of different thickness is gone. Luckily the base rubber is high quality…but…losing it that fast is eye opening. 

While the rubber does seem thick enough to take a beating, I can’t bank on it lasting the typical 300-500 miles due to how quickly it’s worn down. The midsole will outlast the adidas Boston 13’s outsole.

Upper

According to the running Category Director at adidas Adizero, the upper on the adidas Boston 13 was a point of emphasis. I’d guess the adidas running team was tired of the complaints about the tightness, fold-y tongue, and heel collar that could be a source of hotspots.

And focus on the upper they did. The tongue got upgraded to a comfortable, fully-gusseted, medium-thickness mesh and foam build. It’s comfortable even by industry standards…not just compared to the synthetic suede tongue on the previous couple of Bostons.

The collar received a more traditional build but, while still svelte, features a good amount of padding at the Achilles and on the sides of the ankles. There won’t be any hotspots on the Boston 13.

The lacing system and height of the shoe also changed, both in ways that are more standard and generally accommodating. The upper is all-around more comfortable and well built to handle high mileage.

Is the adidas Boston 13 wide foot friendly?

The adidas Boston 13 is more wide-foot friendly than previous iterations, but I’d still recommend wide-footers try it on in-store. The toebox has some good room to wiggle the toes, but the upper isn’t very stretchy. So while I think many wide-footers will find it a good option, I think some won’t have enough room, especially through the midfoot. Better to be safe by trying it on or ordering from somewhere with a good return policy.

Is the adidas Boston 13 worth $160?

Yes, the adidas Boston 13 is worth the $160 price tag. With the proliferation of super trainers at the $180-$220 mark, the Boston 13 delivers much the same value proposition with more emphasis on speedier sessions. At $160, it’s priced the same as many daily trainers, but offers much more in terms of versatility.

How to use the adidas Boston 13

The adidas Boston 13 is best used for a hybrid of easy miles and speedy miles. Whether your training calls for intervals on the track, long-distance tempo or threshold sessions, or fartleks, the adidas Boston 13 thrives when leg turnover increases. It’s a versatile shoe that will allow most runners to get a speed boost while saving their super shoes for race day; while other runners will find it a capable road-racing shoe.

adidas Boston 13 Summary

The adidas Boston 13 is a shoe that’s versatile both in terms of use cases and the range of runners who will find it useful. The changes adidas made to the Boston 13 make it more accessible for serious training and longer distances, no matter the size, shape, or footstrike of the runner. It’s one of the better workout shoes on the market but can handle easier miles just as well – all while priced like a regular daily trainer. Even with the outsole durability issue, this is a shoe we’ll be recommending on many of our best running shoes lists.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While adidas did provide a pair of the Boston 13 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.