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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Weight
    2. Stack Heights
    3. External Shape
    4. Internal Shape
    5. Other Features
  5. Performance
    1. Heel Energy Return
    2. Forefoot Energy Return
    3. Heel Cushioning
    4. Forefoot Cushioning
    5. Heel Firmness
    6. Forefoot Firmness
  6. Comments

adidas Adizero Boston 12 vs adidas Adizero Evo SL

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

adidas Adizero Boston 12
adidas Adizero Evo SL

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 15, 2025 02:53 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 15, 2025 02:52 PM

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adidas Adizero Boston 12 Picture
adidas Adizero Evo SL Picture

Variants

  • Adizero Boston 12 (Black/White/Carbon - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Black/Zero Metallic/Spark - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Black/Zero Metallic/Spark - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Blue Spark/Zero Metallic/Cobalt Blue - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Cloud White/Aurora Met./Solar Red - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Cobalt Blue/Zero Metallic/Lucid Blue - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Core Black/Cloud White/Carbon - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Dash Grey/Lucid Red/Lucid Lemon - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Preloved Ink/Zero Metallic/Aurora Ink - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Sandy Pink/Aurora Met./Solar Red - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (Silver Violet/Cloud White/Silver Daw - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Boston 12 (White/Dark Blue/Pure Ruby - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Carbon/Lucid Red/Solar Slime - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Cloud White/Core Black/Cloud White - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Cloud White/Core Black/Cloud White - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Core Black/Cloud White/Core Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Core Black/Iron Metallic/Core Black - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Lucid Blue/Silver Metallic/Lucid Lemon - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Lucid Lemon/Core Black/Matte Silver - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Orbit Grey/Zero Metallic/Halo Silver - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Silver Metallic/Iron Metallic/Halo Silver - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Wonder White/Cyber Metallic/Warm Vanilla - (Women - US 7))

Our Verdict

adidas Adizero Boston 12

adidas Adizero Evo SL

The adidas Adizero Boston 12 and the adidas Adizero Evo SL are two versatile options from the German giant, but despite the Boston 12 being named after a major marathon, you're probably better off racing one in the Evo SL. This is thanks to the Evo SL's superior cushioning, lighter build, and more responsive midsole. The Boston, however, remains the better choice if you highly value stability and prefer its full-length ENERGYRODS.

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Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 

6.7
7.3

Plate 
 

Fiberglass Rods
Plastic Shank

Weight  

5.7
7.5

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

7.3
8.4

Heel Energy Return 
 

5.9
8.3

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

4.9
8.0

Heel Cushioning 
 

5.8
7.7

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

5.7
7.5

Right Shoe Weight Photo  

adidas Adizero Boston 12 Right Shoe Weight Photo
adidas Adizero Evo SL Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo  

adidas Adizero Boston 12 Left Shoe Weight Photo
adidas Adizero Evo SL Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

265.3 g (9.36 oz)
220.0 g (7.76 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo  

adidas Adizero Boston 12 Stack Height Photo
adidas Adizero Evo SL Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

36.6 mm
36.9 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

28.9 mm
30.2 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.7 mm
6.7 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.0 mm
6.0 mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

adidas Adizero Boston 12 3D Model Full Shoe
adidas Adizero Evo SL 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

83 mm (3.2")
84 mm (3.3")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

68 mm (2.7")
64 mm (2.5")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

114 mm (4.5")
114 mm (4.5")

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

adidas Adizero Boston 12 3D Model Internal
adidas Adizero Evo SL 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

272 mm (10.7")
276 mm (10.8")

Internal Heel Width 
 

61 mm (2.4")
61 mm (2.4")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

93 mm (3.7")
94 mm (3.7")

Other Features  

Other Features Photo  

adidas Adizero Boston 12 Other Features Photo
adidas Adizero Evo SL Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Semi-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

Fiberglass Rods
Plastic Shank
Show Text 
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

5.9
8.3

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Heel Energy Return 
 

77.8%
87.3%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

7.3
8.4

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

82.1%
87.9%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

5.8
7.7

Heel Cushioning Picture  

adidas Adizero Boston 12 Heel Cushioning Picture
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Energy Absorbed At 300N 
 

0.89 J
1.12 J

Energy Absorbed At 600N 
 

2.86 J
3.89 J

Energy Absorbed At 900N 
 

5.26 J
7.03 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

4.9
8.0

Forefoot Cushioning Picture  

adidas Adizero Boston 12 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Energy Absorbed At 300N 
 

0.77 J
0.98 J

Energy Absorbed At 600N 
 

2.36 J
3.11 J

Energy Absorbed At 900N 
 

4.27 J
5.43 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

8.2
5.6

Heel Firmness  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Average Firmness 0 To 300N 
 

48.8 N/mm
39.0 N/mm

Average Firmness 300 To 600N 
 

68.1 N/mm
48.3 N/mm

Average Firmness 600 To 900N 
 

94.1 N/mm
71.3 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

9.1
7.9

Forefoot Firmness  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Average Firmness 0 To 300N 
 

55.4 N/mm
44.2 N/mm

Average Firmness 300 To 600N 
 

84.2 N/mm
63.1 N/mm

Average Firmness 600 To 900N 
 

118.4 N/mm
96.3 N/mm
Show Text 

adidas Adizero Boston 12

adidas Adizero Evo SL

Comments

  1. Comparison

adidas Adizero Boston 12 vs adidas Adizero Evo SL: Main Discussion

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