Adidas Boston 11 Review: More Facelift Than Update

Introduction

The Adidas Boston 11 sits in an awkward spot for a shoe that carries a premium price. It is essentially a revamp of the Boston 10, and after spending time in both, the differences are hard to call a genuine update. If you loved the Boston 10, you will love the Boston 11. It is the same shoe, and it is difficult to argue otherwise.

That firm, no-nonsense ride is still here, and so is the polarizing break-in period. What changed is mostly up top, and not every change lands well. Here is what you need to know before choosing between the two.

Upper: Where the Changes Are

Adidas positions the new upper as more accommodating to a wider range of feet, but on foot it fits and feels nearly identical to the Boston 10. The tongues are the same as far as padding goes, and the gusseted construction carries over. In some ways, the previous upper had the edge.

The one thing missing is heel counter padding. The Boston 10 had a bit of pillowing around the heel that made it fit really well and feel more comfortable. The Boston 11 skimps on this: just a little padding inside, with a hard heel counter behind it. Honestly, the shoe feels less comfortable in this area than its predecessor.

Midsole and Ride

Underfoot, the story is simpler. The Boston 11 maintains the solid, brick-like feel of the Boston 10 midsole, with only a little give when you press into it. On first trying it on, there is a moment where it seems like you are getting a bit more flex and softness, but that impression does not hold up. The ride feels identical.

The firm character also means the often-mentioned break-in advice still applies. Plenty of runners say you need a hundred miles to break this shoe in. Whether anyone has time for that is a fair question, but if you already run in a Boston, you know exactly what you are signing up for.

Boston 10 vs Boston 11: Which Should You Buy?

Both shoes share the same midsole, the same outsole cutouts, the same gusseted tongue, and effectively the same fit. The Boston 11 is best described as an upper refresh, and not a universally successful one. This is the kind of situation where a special edition upper would have been a more honest framing than a full model number bump.

If you already own the Boston 10 and it fits well, there is little reason to switch, especially with the softer heel padding in your favor. If you are buying new and find the Boston 11 at a discount, the ride is exactly the same, and the heel counter trade-off may not bother you at all. If both are priced the same near you, the Boston 10’s extra heel cushioning makes it the more comfortable pick on paper.

Conclusion

The Adidas Boston 11 is a firm, brick-like tempo shoe that changes very little from the Boston 10. The upper fits the same and the midsole feels identical, while the reduced heel counter padding makes it a slightly less comfortable shoe in one key area. Fans of the Boston 10 will feel right at home. Everyone else should weigh whether the minor upper changes justify the upgrade price over hunting down the Boston 10.