Kit & Gear

REVIEW: adidas TERREX Agravic Ultra

Made for the mountain trails. Introducing the new adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra, co-created with one of the world's fastest ultra-trail runners, Ekaterina Mityaeva, this innovative new trail running race shoe features technologies made to excel on tough and technical mountain trails.

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Pictured: The adidas TERREX Agravic Ultra in action. Photo credit: Jake Baggaley

Our SportsShoes.com Trail Running athlete, Ben Mounsey, has been busy putting the adidas TERREX Agravic Ultra Shoes to the test. Here he provides a detailed review and compares them to other trail shoes in the adidas TERREX range.

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The Agravic Ultra is a tough no-nonsense trail shoe, purpose-built for the toughest of trail running terrain. With a thick midsole and increased stack height, this shoe really stands out and offers something completely different to the other Terrex models in the trail running range. For a start, this the first trail running shoe from adidas to feature a bio-based TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) plate that's made out of 90% renewable carbon to help with rock protection on technical mountain trails. This, combined with a blend of Boost and Lightstrike in the midsole, ensures maximum energy return and provides cushioning with every stride over rugged mountainous terrain. In short, this is the ultimate trail racing shoe, specifically designed for tough ultra-distance trail races like the UTMB®.

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Pictured: adidas TERREX athlete Ekaterina Mityaeva testing the Agravic Ultra. Photo credit: www.adidas.co.uk

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So, where exactly does the Agravic Ultra fit into the TERREX range and how does this shoe compare to other adidas TERREX models?

At 299g and slightly heavier than the TERREX Speed Ultra (240g) and TERREX Speed Pro SG (225g), the Agravic is more focused on providing comfort, propulsion and protection, rather than lightweight speed. And this is clearly evident in the build and feel of the shoe. There is significantly more protection in the upper, particularly around the areas of the heel and toes, with thick layers of protective material providing a super-strong barrier against rocks. This protection extends beneath the foot, with the carbon TPE plate providing propulsion, whilst also serving as a rock-plate. Like other TERREX models in the range, the majority of the upper material is highly breathable and made from a thin mesh for improved ventilation and increased air flow.

I also really like the traditional lacing system, which features two extra eyelets on either side of the shoe, slightly wider than the rest. This allows some degree of adjustability, ensuring a more personalised fit and the option to tighten the shoe between the top of the forefoot and midfoot. The only thing I would improve is the design of the tongue, which is made from a relatively thin material and sits quite low in the shoe. Personally, I would prefer it to be longer, with more padding and also featuring a gusseted design, like that of the Speed Ultra – meaning it’s connected inside the shoe to both sides of the upper by a thin piece of stretchy material and designed to help repel small stones, mud and debris.

The Agravic Ultra features the same Continental outsole as all the TERREX trail shoes, but sits directly in between the Speed Ultra (2.5mm lugs) and Speed Pro SG (7mm) in terms of grip, with a lug depth of 4mm. Therefore, it is capable of handling a real mix of terrain and surfaces, with the Speed Ultra more suited to lighter trails and the Speed Pro an ideal choice for fell running. This information alone really helps to distinguish between the three models depending on what you want from an off-road shoe.

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Pictured: The adidas TERREX Agravic Ultra tackling tough terrain. Photo credit: Jake Baggaley

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The Agravic Ultra isn’t a racing shoe I would recommend wearing straight out of the box and does require some ‘breaking in’ before tackling your first big event. Initially, it feels a little stiffer to wear than a shoe like the Speed Ultra, but this is obviously because it’s more heavy-duty and designed to tackle the tougher, technical trails. However, once you get used to the fit and feel, you will really start to notice the Agravic’s star qualities. The stand out feature for me is the performance of the midsole, packed full of technology, which includes a full carbon plate, Lightstrike and Boost, collectively providing the perfect balance of cushioning, protection and propulsion – more than worth the extra grams in weight compared to the other more lightweight models in the TERREX range, especially if you’re looking for a new trail shoe for a race like UTMB®.

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HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ADIDAS TERREX TRAIL SHOE TO CHOOSE?

Here are my top three adidas TERREX trail shoe recommendations to suit different types of terrain and purposes.

If you are someone who runs on soft and muddy off-road surfaces, where grip and close connection with the ground are the two most important factors e.g. fell running, then I would recommend the adidas TERREX Speed Pro SG

Check out our in-depth review of the adidas TERREX Speed Pro SG here

If you want a lightweight, fast and snappy racing shoe, built to go the distance and provide you with plenty of cushioning for hard-packed trails, then I highly recommend the adidas TERREX Speed Ultra.

Check out our in-depth review of the adidas TERREX Speed Ultra here

And finally, if you are looking for a long-ultra distance trail shoe which is purpose built for tackling the toughest of terrain, one that is built to last and offers the highest levels of protection, rebound and cushioning, then in my opinion, the new adidas TERREX Agravic Ultra is the perfect weapon of choice.

SHOP ALL ADIDAS TERREX AGRAVIC ULTRA TRAIL RUNNING SHOES HERE

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