REVIEW: adidas TERREX Trail Running Collection

The Maverick Race team have been busy putting the new adidas TERREX trail running range to the test. Find out what they think of the new adidas TERREX Speed Pro and the adidas TERREX Speed Ultra trail running shoes.

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1. ADIDAS TERREX SPEED ULTRA MENS TRAIL RUNNING SHOE REVIEW – BEN MACWILLIAM

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Price: £159.99

Weight: 240g

Drop: 5mm

Lugs: 2.5mm

Width: Narrow

RATINGS (out of 5)

Comfort: 5/5

Cushioning: 4/5

Support: 4/5

Grip: 5/5 (Dry)

Protection: 3/5

OVERALL: 4/5

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I’ve been a huge fan of the adidas TERREX Agravic XT for some time now, so I was super excited to slip into some of the new TERREX Speed Ultra. Having been designed for speed over longer distances and co-created with Ultra Runner Tom Evans, I was expecting big things even if our running abilities are leagues apart.

For starters they look great – adidas pushing boundaries again with some ‘risky’ colourways which just work perfectly. But if you’re not comfortable sporting screaming pink and clear mint there are a couple of safer options to suit anyone’s taste.

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Photo credit: Jake Baggaley

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Weighing in at 240g (men’s size 8) with a very comfortable 8mm heel to toe drop. Once on, your foot feels securely wrapped in a lightweight breathable mesh which in damp conditions would drain really well and, in the heat, keep your feet well ventilated. The new unobtrusive tongue system which is anchored to the sole won’t move a bit whilst pounding the trails…so thin you won’t even know it’s there! The midsole is where the magic happens using adidas’s ever trusty ‘Boost’ technology which gives you plenty of cushion and return through the heel, coupled with the new ‘Lightstrike’ EVA on the forefoot which feels very stable and responsive through uneven terrain and all finished off with a Continental rubber outsole. Although the lug depth seems small offering only 2.5mm lugs, the rubber used along with the MTB style tread pattern is ace on dry, or even wet un-muddy trails giving you loads of confidence to push the pace.

In summary I really love these shoes and I think they will be my new ‘go to’ trail shoe of choice. I would just recommend, as a lot of you would anyway, to go up a ½ size.

SHOP ADIDAS TERREX SPEED ULTRA TRAIL RUNNING SHOES

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2. ADIDAS TERREX SPEED PRO WOMENS TRAIL RUNNING SHOE REVIEW – BECKY RENDELL (OCR ATHLETE)

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Price: £129.99

Weight: 170g

Drop: 4mm

Lugs: 4mm

Width: Narrow

RATINGS (out of 5)

Comfort: 4/5

Cushioning: 3/5

Support: 3/5

Grip: 4.5/5

Protection: 3/5

OVERALL: 4/5

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The adidas TERREX Speed Pro are a super lightweight shoe with epic grip. These shoes were ideal on dusty gravel tracks along the South Coast path and held out well down some tricky descents, with outstanding grip on rocky surfaces. The attention to detail on this shoe is immense, with carefully placed multi direction lugs combined with super light quickstrike lugs providing enough grip to keep you powering round corners without any slide out.

The new tongue design is extremely comfortable and hugs the top of your foot, which with the lacing system makes for a perfect snug fitting shoe. The low drop and full-length protection plate, combined with the lightweight Leno weave material give this shoe a ‘running spike’ vibe (for those of you that have raced in spikes before!). Given the reduction in cushioning compared to the other TERREX running shoes, I would keep these aside for shorter runs where speed is the aim (10-15km max).

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Photo credit: Jake Baggaley

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The adidas TERREX Speed Pro are fast and light, and obstacle course racers have been waiting for years for a shoe that is tough enough to survive rough conditions underfoot but not get bogged down in the muddy puddles. This shoe feels secure and drains well without compromising on grip and would be suitable for short speedy Obstacle Course Racing.

These are a great edition to the TERREX range and I think we’ll start to see a few races being won wearing them. These really are the ultimate dry course racing shoe!

SHOP ADIDAS TERREX SPEED PRO WOMENS TRAIL RUNNING SHOES

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3. ADIDAS TERREX SPEED PRO TRAIL RUNNING SHOE REVIEW – JUSTIN BUFTON

Price: £129.99

Weight: 190g

Drop: 4mm

Lugs: Small fit

Width: Narrow

RATINGS (out of 5)

Comfort: 4.5/5

 Cushioning: 3/5

Support: 3/5

Grip: 5/5

Protection: 3.5/5

OVERALL: 4/5

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First impressions- WOW! The Terrex Speed Pro is lightweight and well-constructed, this trail shoe has been purpose built for race day!

Specifically designed to go fast on dry and hard-packed trails, these shoes are extremely light and fast, so much so that I hardly noticed they were on my feet as the contact with the ground is clean and minimal. The second thing you notice is the new construction, Using Primegreen the new Speed Pro has been constructed with a series of high-performance recycled materials, giving the shoe a stiffer and more durable feel. As you move down through the shoe you notice the new gusseted tongue which gives a really locked-in feel and wraps around the top of the foot with a touch more protection. The lace system has two extra holes to allow for a very customised fit. I found that the laces do need to be double tied as they do have a tendency to come loose due to the materials used for them.

As you move down to the forefoot, you will notice the new highly breathable lightweight twin skin materials. These have a mesh-like texture called Leno Weave which increases airflow around the foot, useful when racing in the rain or on wet (not muddy) trails to improve water drainage. This material is also found on the shoe around the heel area, without compromising on support.

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Photo credit: Jake Baggaley

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The Speed Pro is narrow fit in terms of width and also in length. I personally found slightly less give in the toe box area, so it is important to get that fit right.

The Speed Pro is equipped with a Lightstrike midsole which includes a full length protection plate. By using Lightstrike, adidas can produce the lightest and fastest shoe for racing, without any compromise. Runners who want more cushioning or energy return would be better off looking at the 240 Speed Ultra which offers an ultra boost midsole. The Speed Pro is a 4mm drop shoe which some people will find too low for trail, it really is designed for runners who want to go fast over a shorter distance. The Speed Pro is equipped with a Continental sole and 4mm lugs, these offer plenty of grip on hard packed trails in all conditions. The Continental rubber is fantastic and not a gimmick - it has superb grip on rock even in the wet and in my opinion, there is genuinely not another trail shoe out there that can compete on grip with any shoe in the TERREX range.

Overall, the Terrex Speed Pro isn’t your everyday trail running shoe, it’s that race day thoroughbred you pull out when the training block is complete and you feel like smashing some PBs! It’s light, fast and looks the business.

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SHOP ADIDAS TERREX SPEED PRO TRAIL RUNNING SHOES

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