Kit & Gear

REVIEW: adidas TERREX Free Hiker XPL

Feet on the earth. Heart with the oceans. 

These adidas hiking shoes are made with energy-returning BOOST and a supportive canvas upper for long-range comfort and durability. The Continental™ Rubber outsole provides superior traction on all terrains, so you can go anywhere you set your sights on.

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Outdoor enthusiast Mel Sykes has been busy putting the adidas TERREX Free Hiker XPL Hiking Boots to the test;

Price: £179.99

Weight: 450g

Drop: 10mm

Length: Small fit

Width: Standard

RATINGS (out of 5):

Comfort: 5 

Cushioning: 5 

Support: 4 

Grip: 3.5 

Protection: 3.5

OVERALL: 4

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Pictured: adidas TERREX Free Hiker XPL Women's Hiking Boot (Savannah)

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When I was offered the chance to take the adidas TERREX Free Hiker XPL out for a test I was keen to see whether adidas could make a hiking boot to rival other more well-known hiking brands. First impressions out of the box were great, the boots felt sturdy and looked like they were going to be high enough around the ankle to offer great support over the kind of uneven terrain I like to hike on. The sole looked to be grippy, without having overly deep lugs, so I was expecting them to be comfortable over rocky terrain. The only downside for me was the colour (I tested the cream version) and I was unsure how the boots would hold up to getting dirty. 

The fit was true to size and I wore my usual shoe size in them with various different thickness of socks. 

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Pictured: adidas TERREX Free Hiker XPL Hiking Boot (Utility Green)

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I put the boots on for my first long hike across the moors towards Derwent reservoir and they were instantly comfortable. I like to be able to wear my hiking footwear straight out of the box and not have to ‘wear them in’ which I did not have to do with these boots. They came high enough around the ankle to feel supportive, but not restrictive, and the high lacing helped to ensure my ankles were sturdy. They have a piece of looped material at the back of the boot which allows you to slide your foot into them easily and they fit perfectly around the midfoot which made the boots feel comfortable throughout the whole hike. The boots are surprisingly lightweight and you really do forget that they are a high-cut boot. 

You can check out Mel’s hike around Derwent reservoir here on komoot:

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One thing I was particularly fond of was the cushioning that the boot offers. I wore them for 6 hours across rocky moorland paths on one occasion and they felt just as comfortable at the end of my hike as they had done at the start. There were parts on some long sections of track that I was able to jog in them and felt that they were offering the amount of cushioning needed to be able to do this whilst still being comfortable, and I would recommend this boot if this was also something you were interested in.  

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Pictured: adidas TERREX Free Hiker XPL Women's Hiking Boot (Savannah)

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The days I used the TERREX Free Hiker XPL were dry and on mostly well used paths and I can’t help but feel that, as a boot at that price point, they are missing a trick not offering a waterproof version as I think most people would tend to use a boot in winter for poor weather hikes and they would opt for the trainer version of this shoe for summer hiking (which SportsShoes do sell other Free Hiker styles in GORE-TEX).

That being said, I myself prefer to wear a boot all year round as I like the protection that it offers around the ankle, and this boot being so lightweight and comfortable is one that you can use for summer hikes without your feet overheating as the canvas upper is breathable and not too restrictive. 

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Pictured: adidas TERREX Free Hiker XPL Hiking Boot (Utility Green)

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SHOP ALL ADIDAS TERREX FREE HIKER XPL WALKING BOOTS HERE

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Follow Mel and all her outdoor komoot adventures here.

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