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Think of this new model in the Adidas Terrex lineup as the overlapping Venn diagram of two prominent trends in trail running: one circle is the rise of the luxury performance shoe, and the other is the era of environmental responsibility. Terrex Agravic Pro Trail shoe would be at the intersection of those circles. While the name is kind of a mouthful, it’s an impressively rugged and ready-for-anything trail shoe.
Women’s colorway
Men’s colorway
On the sustainability side, the shoe is included in Adidas’s ongoing Parley project, a partnership founded in 2015 with Parley for the Oceans, whose mission is to remove plastic waste from ocean waters. The Parley organization harvests plastics such as discarded fishing nets and single-use bottles from the water and sends those raw materials to supply chain partners who then shred and rework the raw materials into high performance polyester yarns that are used in Adidas clothing and shoe uppers. On the Terrex Agravic Pro, the mesh is impressively abrasion resistant and has also proven very effective at keeping grit out of the forefoot area without compromising breathability.
In combination with a BOA lacing system, the uppers are constructed with a three-panel PerformFit wrap system that provides a remarkably secure fit on all kinds of technical terrain. The system is micro-adjustable through BOA’s lightweight L6 dial made for a precision fit and fast release; the ratcheting is uni-directional for tightening, and the dial pops up to release tension. TX4 laces are made to be flexible and low-friction, and are built with a Dyneema/polyester compound for extreme tensile strength. Tightness is easy to accomplish with this lacing system, but we found that the application of tension feels greater on the distal part of the foot in comparison to the upper part. The overall comfort of this system is commendable; even when we increased the tightness prior to steep descents, we didn’t have that uncomfortable feeling of lace pressure across the top of the foot that we’ve experienced with other shoes. And the overall lock-down feeling is among the best we’ve felt in trail running models.
BOA lacing system and PerformFit wrap
PerformFit wrap system
Another benefit of the PerformFit wrap is that it keeps dirt from intruding into the midfoot area of the shoe. Grit resistance is further enhanced by a tall, gaiter-style collar that wraps the heel in an elastic neoprene-style mesh, which basically prevents any debris from falling into the top of the shoe. Between the tight-weave Parley mesh upper, the PerformFit wrap and the elastic collar, you’ll never have to wear external gaiters with the Terrex Agravic Pro. One side effect of this construction combination is that the shoes can be a bit tricky to put on, but thankfully the dual pull tabs on the front and back of the collar facilitate this process. Once the shoe is on, the overall fit of the upper is very secure. There is sufficient room in the forefoot area where we’ve never felt constricted—even on 20-mile efforts. Some will see the upper as slightly overbuilt, and this rugged construction does contribute to a heavy spec weight relative to shoes with similar stack heights. However, this is one of those rare shoes that you can lace up at the beginning of a long run and never have to think about adjusting or having to empty out later—and for many of us, that’s worth a few extra tenths of an ounce.
High neoprene gaiter collars; dual pull tabs
The midsole compound of this shoe is Lightstrike, a super-lightweight compound first developed with tennis and basketball players in mind. It was designed to provide cushioning and quick responsiveness for rapid changes of direction and frequent lateral movement. Coincidentally, those same dynamics make this compound great for trail runners on technical terrain, and the Lightstrike compound has been incorporated into many of Adidas’s performance-focused Pro running shoe models. We were pleased with the compound’s ability to maintain speed on level surfaces and its quick responsiveness on technical terrain. Generous stack heights of 33/29mm provide great cushioning over long miles, and a flexible, full-length rock plate minimizes the sharp impact of rocky trails; these two elements together gave us confidence to let our legs spin a bit more quickly on sketchy downhill stretches.
Medial aspect
For the outsole, Adidas stays with the tried-and-true Continental rubber with multi-directional 5mm lugs for strong grip in all conditions. In our testing, this outsole has proven notably secure on steep, gravelly downhills as well as on sloppy mud. Combined with the lockdown fit described earlier, our confidence on tricky terrain is higher in these shoes than most others we’ve tested as of late. Aside from a moderate cut-out area in the midfoot, outsole coverage is full-length, which is outstanding for overall protection and grip but does contribute to the overall spec weight.
Continental rubber outsole with 5mm lugs
With its rugged build and secure, comfortable fit, the Terrex Agravic Pro Trail shoe is certainly capable of handling 100-mile efforts, although the higher-end weight and size might make it better suited for logging high base mileage prior to using a lighter race day shoe. It is available in men’s and women’s versions from www.adidas.com.
Features and Specs:
- Weight: 11.2oz men’s / 9.8oz women’s
- Stack height (heel/toe, in mm): 33/29
- Heel-toe drop (mm): 4mm
- Upper: Abrasion-resistant textile with at least 50% Parley Ocean Plastic recycled polyester
- Lacing: BOA PerformFit wrap with L6 dial and TX4 laces
- Midsole: Lightstrike foam with full length rock plate
- Outsole: Full coverage Continental rubber with angled 5mm lugs
- Single color option for men or women
- MSRP: $220