adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra Review

Posted on September 10, 2024 by talkultra

The adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra shoe was one of the most anticipated trail shoe releases of 2024. Let’s be honest, this shoe was a long time coming…. We had seen early versions of the shoe on the podiums of Transgrancanaria, MIUT, Transvulcania, Western States, UTMB and more. There was a soft launch of the shoe at UTMB 2023 that only whet the appetite of runner’s even more, however, it was the spring of 2024 before the shoe became commercially available.

adidas did a great job of building the anticipation and it is fair to say, that until the release of this new shoe, adidas were not really considered a contender in the trail market. This new incarnation most definitely changed things and I have seen the shoes on countless runner’s feet, in countless races, all over the world in 2024.

I have been testing the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra shoes for a year. I picked up my first pair in August 2023 and I have been through two pairs in the last twelve months.

The previous ‘Speed Ultra’ shoe is my personal favourite adidas shoe, it was developed with the input of Tom Evans and was the shoe the helped Tom place third at his first Western States. This new incarnation has nothing to do with the one that has gone before, the only connection, sadly, is the use of the Speed Ultra name. So, if you liked the first shoe, there is no guarantee you will like this new one! They are like chalk and cheese.

Serious cushioning and rocker ©iancorless

A whopping 42mm of cushioning at the rear, 34mm at the front gives an 8mm drop. The shoe has Energy Rods and an extremely curved rocker. The outsole is Continental rubber with 2.5/ 3mm lugs. The cushioning is Lightstrike Pro. The upper is extremely light and breathable with overlays for durability and a gusseted tongue provides foot hold and support. Sizing is hit and miss, so, I recommend trying this shoe on before purchasing to ascertain what size is correct for you.

The shoe has the ‘Terrex’ branding, which means trail running, but it feels like an adapted road shoe, if you are familiar with the Adizero range, there are similarities.

The shoe is promoted as ‘Our fastest trail running shoe yet.’ And in all honesty, it’s hard to argue with this based on the results of the adidas Terrex team in the last two to three years, and just recently, once again, we saw this shoe on the podium of Transvulcania, OCC and the CCC.

But is this shoe for you?

I must be honest here, it is definitely NOT for me. I have tested and tried to adapt wanting to really like this shoe, but I just don’t get on with it. It’s light, it has an incredible propulsion phase and it’s very fast. But…

If you go on any trail with just minor technicality, the shoe is horrendously unstable. Quite simply, it’s too high and the outsole footprint is not wide enough, especially in the middle and rear. This causes the shoe to twist left and right; they are an ankle injury waiting to happen.

The rocker is so pronounced, that walking is unpleasant. Of course, it is maybe fair to say, this is not a shoe to be walking in! But any shoe that has the ultra-tag in it’s name, will almost certainly mean that walking will be required at some point, maybe with the exception of the top athletes, for example, the adidas Terrex team!

So, is this shoe for you?

The answer is yes! If you are fast, have great running form (forefoot striking) and are training or racing on fast, single-track trails with little or no technicality. Go buy them.

However, if you are an average trail runner like me, looking for a comfortable and durable shoe that will see you through many training days or ultra races, with and without technicality, then no. This is not a shoe for you!

Just as the Nike Alphafly for road running will not make me Kipchoge, the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra will not make me Tom Evans. The shoe may well be state of the art and fast, but they need a fast athlete inside the shoe, otherwise, they are actually more of a liability.

IN USE

This is a premium trail shoe from adidas, years of development and with a string of results from the Terrex team that makes you desire to rush out, get your own pair and run like Ruth Croft or Tom Evans and set PR’s, CR’s and top the podium of the races that you enter.

No matter how good the shoe, 99.9% of us just don’t have the Ruth or Tom natural ability to bring the best out of a super shoe like this.

Peba energy rods visible in the midsole ©iancorless

This is a fast shoe, four pronged Peba Energy Rods are encapsulated between a Lightstrike Pro midsole. An extreme rocker and 42/34mm cushioning make this a beast to be unleashed. It’s a Ferrari for trail running on non-technical trail.

It is bold in looks, so much so, even the three stripes are subtle with TERREX in striking in white. There is no mention of adidas!

When you put the shoe on, you immediately feel the height and sadly, you also feel the instability. I am going to scream this again and again, the ‘footprint’ is not wide enough for the stack height of the shoe.

The foot hold from the gusseted tongue is very good and the sawtooth laces work well. However, the tongue lacks padding and when the laces are tied tight, there is pressure on the navicular bone. The heel cup is minimal but holds well. The toe box is wide and expansive which only makes the middle and the rear of the shoe feel very narrow. The rocker is immediately noticeable, you rock while standing still. If you are NOT a forefoot runner, forget this shoe. If you are a heel striker, you may as well leave this review now!

Seamless overlays
Lightstrike Pro
Energy rods
Dynamic rocker
Continental outsole

The combination of rocker, rods, cushioning and amazing propulsive phase make this shoe fly. As soon as you build cadence, the shoes start to propel you forward asking you to go faster and faster. I quite simply cannot keep up with the shoe. This is a positive if you have the fitness, speed and run form to do this.

Uphill and climbing, the shoes work exceptionally well. Downhill not so. The instability really comes to the fore and they just feel scary and unstable.

The shoes zip along and are nimble, lightweight and quick on slick trails, gravel roads and single-track.

Too narrow in the middle and rear result in instability ©iancorless

Encounter rocks, tree routes, uneven terrain and the ride becomes worryingly unstable with constant twisting and rocking. They are not good on anything technical. The Energy Rods work like fingers, so much better than a single plate (also seen in Hoka Tecton X2 and the new X3) as it allows more adaptability and flexibility on trail, but here it doesn’t work due to the stack height and narrow footprint.

Continental rubber for the outsole is good with excellent grip, however, with 2.5/3mm lugs, this is only ‘just’ a trail shoe. But I guess that is the point! This shoe is meant to be fast for a Western States type of course where ‘grip’ is not really required. They are not for tough, technical and challenging mountain terrain.

Forefoot running required for this shoe ©iancorless

Ultimately, don’t be fooled by the performances of the adidas Terrex team, they are superb athletes with the speed, great run form and ability to really make the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra shine. If you are running slower, trying to walk or just out for an easy run, these shoes are clunky and awkward.

The shoe also requires adaptation. Early runs will work muscles in a different way, particularly calf and glutes. If you get these shoes, adapt over time and distance adding a day off with another shoe between runs until you feel adapted.

CONCLUSION

I this a bad shoe? Absolutely not, it is state of the art and the results of the adIdas Terrex team endorse that. A fast shoe for slick trail and on the right feet a real joy.

Sadly though, most of us are not fast, don’t have great run form and this shoe will not only be a waste of money, but ultimately may well result in in a worse performance and maybe injury, especially if trying to run on technical terrain.

The Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is quite simply not for me!

However, should you wish to pursue an adidas shoe, the Terrex Agravic Speed (review to follow) with 34mm/ 26mm cushioning and no Energy Rods may well be a better consideration. I have used this shoe considerably more than the big brother Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra with better sensations and run feel. Sadly though, despite the reduced stack height, it is still worryingly unstable on technical ground.

Finally, if a super shoe is what you require, the Hoka Tecton X3 is a revelation. Hoka understand that if you increase stack height, you must also increase the platform on which this increased height sits. The Tecton X3 has a superbly wide base at front, middle and especially the rear with a great Vibram outsole. In addition, the two parallel carbon rods have now been developed with ‘wings’ that come up the sides of the shoe providing a considerably more stable platform. This is how a cushioned, plated super shoe should feel. Yes, it’s a super light and responsive shoe and while the adidas requires a top athlete and great running form to bring out the best of the shoe, the Hoka does not. The Hoka is superb when running fast but equally at home when running slower or walking. A full review HERE.

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adidas Terrex Agravic Flow

Posted on May 6, 2020 by talkultra

The development and progress of the adidas brand in the trail running world has for many years been spearheaded by Luis Alberto Hernando, and what an ambassador he is!

Now, ‘TERREX’ is changing at an alarming rate and in the past 12 to 18-months there has been significant growth and development in shoes, apparel and athletes. Without doubt, adidas are now pushing hard in the trail and mountain world.

The TERREX AGRAVIC FLOW is a shoe that encompasses the road history of the brand and welcomes the development of the trail brand. The shoe clearly transitions from road to trail and back again all packaged in a really good-looking shoe.

My pair are solar red/ core black and grey two. There is no hiding in these shoes, they are colorful!

For clarity, Adidas use three descriptive names for their shoes: SPEED, AGRAVIC and TWO.

SPEED offers a narrower fit and is arguably a more performance orientated shoe.
AGRAVIC offers a standard fit and is arguably more of an ‘everyday’ shoe.
TWO offers a wider fit and more cushioning for longer trail days.

The TERREX AGRAVIC FLOW falls into the everyday category and adidas confirm, ‘Pavement to trail and back, your feet stay cool and the transitions are seamless with a smooth roll-off and fresh energy in every stride. Foot-hugging support and sure-footed grip let you move across rocky, rooted terrain, wet or dry.’ I often do not like the way a brand tries to sell a shoe in a sentence or two, but I have to say, adidas sum up the Agravic Flow well in this description.

THE SHOE

Billed as a regular fit shoe, I have to say, to me, it feels a little wider in the toe box than many other regular fit shoes. So, keep that in mind when looking at them and trying them on. I also personally feel that they size a little larger. I always use a UK9.5 but have found a Uk9 to be far more preferable with the Agravic Flow.

With 15mm cushioning at the front and 22mm at the rear, the shoe is a cushioned ride without compromising feel for the ground and the 7mm drop fits perfectly for an everyday shoe ensuring that a day on the trail will be relaxed and comfortable.

The outsole is by Continental and the German brand really do know how to make a grippy outsole. With 3mm lugs, the Agravic Flow is never going to cut it when the trail gets sloppy and/ or muddy. However, on hard pack trail the grip is superb. On rock, wet or dry, grip also excellent and importantly it gives a real feeling of confidence which allows you to run without hindrance. The transition to road is seamless and comfortable, no doubt contributed too with the BOOST cushioning.

Cushioning comes from BOOST technology and you really feel the comfort as soon as you put the shoes on. There is also EVA in the frame to reduce weight and this in turn, provides some stability. If you have not used a BOOST shoe before, give them a go, the energy return and comfort levels are excellent.

The upper is one the stars of the Agravic Flow, it is mesh with abrasion resistant welding. It is seamless and uses a sock-like construction. If you have read my shoe reviews before, you will know I love sock-like construction and the same applies here for the Agravic Flow. You slide your foot in and immediately it feels snug. You could, if you should wish too, use the shoe without socks?

The laces sit on top of the upper and are sewn in offering 5 eyelets on either side, the middle eyelet set back allowing on option to loosen or add more tightness to the upper when fastening. There is no option lock-lace as there is only one eyelet.

The toe box, as mentioned previously, feels wider than standard and at the front there is an overlay to add a little protection and the outsole curls up to add some reinforcement. But toe protection is minimal. At the rear of the shoe, the heel box is plush and comfortable, and it held my foot well both when going up and down trails.

There is no tongue as the shoe is a sock-like, so, comfort levels are high. You see the number ‘310’ this refers to the weight in grams of a UK8.5 shoe.

Built on a neutral last, the EVA on the medial side wraps up to offer some arch support. It’s subtle, but noticeable. I wouldn’t call the Agravic Flow a support/ pronation control shoe. Equally, I could not call it neutral. It sits somewhere between but being a runner who uses neutral shoes, I find the Agravic Flow very comfortable.

IN USE

The Agravic Flow is a great everyday shoe when the trails are hard packed, and you want comfort, support and reassurance. They are not for muddy days! The transition from road to trail is superb and seamless, you can feel adidas’ road heritage in the shoe.

The BOOST technology is really noticeable and gives a real bounce, especially on rock, gravel, tree roots and so on. This is not at the compromise for feel for the ground though. So, when the trail becomes more technical, I was never worried about foot placement and confidence. The toe box is wider though, so, when running on very technical trail, I would prefer a firmer hold at the front. You can’t have it all and the Agravic Flow does a great job of allowing toe splay. So, it’s a great shoe for longer trail days when comfort is needed. The outsole is excellent in the wet and dry on non-muddy trail.

The sock-like upper is just plush and comfortable. There is nothing to criticize here, I wish all shoes could be this comfortable. Quite simply, you could remove the laces and they would make a great pair of slippers – yes, they are that comfy.

The laces work well, it would be nice to have that extra eyelet to allow lock-lacing, but that is a minor niggle. For me, the shoe does have a wider feel than standard, and I therefore found that I could compensate by adjusting the laces to hold my foot securely.

I do feel that the shoe sizes larger by a half size, so, if purchasing online, keep that in mind. Ultimately, you need to try the shoe on.

CONCLUSION

The Agravic Flow is a great shoe that manages to mix road running and trail running seamlessly. It’s a shoe that you can pretty much put on every day and enjoy its ability to feel like a road shoe and then when on the trail, enjoy the cushioning and grip of the best out and-out-trail shoes. There is little not to like in this package from adidas.

If you are looking for one shoe that covers many options, the Agravic Flow is a great place to start. If you want a road shoe, look elsewhere. If you want a trail shoe with comfort and grip for dry/ wet trails, then this shoe ticks the boxes.

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adidas Terrex Agravic Boa Shoe Review

Posted on July 19, 2019 by talkultra

adidas have been making Terrex shoes for years and Luis Alberto Hernando has been flying the adidas flag for most of them. It’s fair to say, that a runner such as Luis always gave the Terrex brand credibility.

However, I always felt he was a lonely figure fighting the big brands and teams from Salomon, The North Face, La Sportiva, Scott and so on!

Well, that is all changing. adidas with the Terrex brand are moving in to the trail world in a big way. Certainly Dmitry Mityaev and Ekaterina Mityaeva were the start of that process. Then Timothy Olson. Now, with the closing of 2018 and the start of 2019, Tom Evans, Holly Page, Sheila Avilés and many more are joining the line-up.

Listen to Tom Evans talk about his 3rd place at Western States HERE

I witnessed adidas’ plans at the recent Infinite Trails (here) in Austria and here did I not only get to see and try the new apparel, I also got to see some of the new shoes.

One of those shoes being the Terrex Agravic Boa. I was intrigued with this shoe as my initial test/ use of a previous adidas Boa shoe left me somewhat unconvinced.

I spent time at the Boa® stand (at the Infinite Trails expo), discussed the development of the Boa system and got a hands-on- feel of the Agravic. The development was marked but I couldn’t try the shoe as sizes were limited. Gladly that was rectified when Boa sent me a pair in the post.

First off, I love the look of the shoe is stealth black. This broken by a camouflage black/grey/white section before the stark white of the shoes Boost cushioning. The black colour comes from a special dye process (see below) that is more ecologically sound.

They are light shoes with a wide toe box, reinforced toe protection and then a complex series of overlays that give the shoe structure which is all pulled together by the Boa® lacing system.

A notable feature is the shoes sock liner. This is arguably the most immediately comfortable shoes I have slipped on. One could easily use these shoes without socks the liner is so good. It is completely seamless so the risk to rubbing/ abrasion is greatly reduced. This also extends to the heal – a firm hold without rubbing is a winner.

Cushioning comes from adidas Boost technology and one can feel adidas’ road pedigree in these shoes. The cushioning is plush and responsive with 15mm at the front and 22mm at the rear. This gives an unusual 7mm drop. I say unusual as 6mm or 8mm is ‘standard’ in shoe drop across all brands.

The outsole is the amazing Continental rubber. The tread is by no means aggressive and this is certainly a trail shoe designed for fast running on non-muddy trails. But on hardpack trail and rocks, wet or dry, the grip is excellent. I must add here that in my cycling days, Continental were always my tires of choice!

Specs:

Sock-like construction hugs the foot
Weight: 285 g (size UK 8.5)
Midsole drop: 7 mm (heel 22 mm / forefoot 15 mm)
Product colour: Core Black / Cloud White / Active Red
Regular fit
Boa® Closure System for micro-adjustment and secure and consistent hold
Abrasion-resistant textile upper
Continental™ Rubber outsole for extraordinary traction in wet and dry conditions
Responsive Boost midsole; Moulded sockliner

IN USE

These shoes are wonderfully comfortable. They feel so good as soon as you slip them on and this all comes from the sock liner. There is an immediate notable feel that the toe box is wide and spacious allowing for good toe splay. So, if you need wide trail shoes, add the Agravic to your check-out list.

My previous adidas Terrex shoes left me undecided or should I say, unconvinced by the Boa closure system. Have to say, the Terrex Agravic Boa® has changed that. The Boa® works great here and that is for two reasons:

The adidas shoe is a much better fit and therefore this makes the work of the Boa® so much easier.
The overlays that add structure are well placed and designed allowing the Boa® to pull tight, hold the foot and keep it secure.

I am experienced with the Boa® system, it has been the ‘go to’ on cycling shoes for years and my first experience with run shoes was way back in 2008, I think?

There will always be an argument that laces are easier, and yes, laces do a great job and it’s hard to argue against the tried and tested method. But the Boa® here has me hooked. Speed both on and off is great. Quite simply slide the shoe on, push ‘in’ the Boa button and turn. The laces pull tight and continue to pull tight until you stop. To loosen, pull the Boa® button and voila, the laces release immediately.

I had problems before getting a firm hold on my foot. Not here. The shoes have three lace points on left and three lace points on the right. As you tighten, they pull in. I really like my foot to be held well, especially on technical terrain and here in this Terrex Agravic Boa® I am very happy.

Toe box is roomy, but not too roomy. They are very comfortable upfront and the toe protection is adequate with a good bumper.

Boost cushioning is popular the world over and here one can really feel the plush comfort from adidas’ technology. The cushioning is in two sections : the camouflage section and the white section. I have to say, these are the most ‘road like’ trail shoes I have run in. On hard trail they just bounce along giving a great feel for the ground. It may come as no surprise, road miles are super comfy and I’d have no hesitation to run a road training session or race in these. The outsole may not thank me though!

The outsole by Continental is superb offering great grip and feel, wet or dry, on hard trails and rocks. The outsole is not aggressive though, so forget mud!

SUMMARY

The Terrex Agravic Boa® is a really great trail shoe for those looking for great comfort, cushioning, 7mm drop and a roomy toe box. It’s the type of shoe you can slip on and spend all day in without ever thinking about foot comfort.

Stand out features :

The sock liner – darn it is so comfortable.
The Continental outsole.
The Boost cushioning.
The shoe design, particularly in the overlays that hold the foot.
And yes, the Boa® system really shines here. For me, it’s a turning point (pun intended) that convinces me that I would happily use these shoes and this system on a regular basis. My laces never came lose. Adjusting on the go was quick and fast – faster than any other lacing system. But importantly my foot was held secure and tight when I needed it.

The shoe is for everyday trail running and happily takes road too. It’s not a shoe for mud, but that is obvious when one looks at the outsole.

This is a great adidas shoe and I am in no doubt that shoe has benefited from feedback from the ‘elite’ adidas Terrex team. It’s an exciting time to see what else adidas have in the line-up for 2019 and 2020.

adidas TERREX HERE

Terrex Agravic Boa HERE

BOA® HERE

adidas Terrex Agravic Boa information:

Boa® Fit System adjusts on the go. Sock construction keeps feet snug and comfortable.
Boost cushioning for mountain ready energy. All-day comfort on the fastest trails.
Continental™ Rubber outsole takes hold, even in wet conditions.
Dope dye colouring process saves at least 10 litres of water per product. Dope Dye is a coloring process which uses an innovative twist in manufacturing to conserve water and energy. By injecting color directly into raw materials, the Dope Dye process substantially reduces the eco-footprint of manufacturing, saving at least 10 liters of water for every pair of Dope Dye shoes made. The fibers and filaments are fully impregnated with pigment at the very beginning of the manufacturing process. Starting form a deep black raw material means there is no need to dye the product: less water, fewer chemicals and less energy are needed.