REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable cushioning
Great traction
Highly water resistant
REASONS TO AVOID
Fits wide
Can be hard to get laces snug
Adidas Terrex Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 Low Review
This beefed up trail runner adds support and waterproofness to create a well-balanced hiking shoe
Credit: Adidas
RELATED: Best Hiking Shoes for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Adidas Terrex Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 Low is another model that is part of the growing trend of blending the comfort and lightweight of trail running shoes with the support and waterproof membranes typically found in hiking shoes. We found the Free Hiker to fit a bit wide, making it an appealing choice for those who like a roomy fit. The BOOST midsole is springy and provides plenty of cushion over both on and off-trail, and it boasts excellent traction. There is a lot to love about these shoes, though they weigh more than other models that offer the same or better performance in a couple of metrics. Go ahead and read more of our men's hiking shoe review to find out more.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Adidas Terrex Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 Low | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Hiking Shoe |  Best for Scrambling | Best Lightweight Technical Hiker |  Best Bang for Your Buck | |
| Price | $111.94 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $180 List $179.95 at Backcountry | $179.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $149.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $59.99 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This wide-fitting hiking shoe is a blend of trail running and hiking shoe attributes | Unbelievably comfortable and supportive, these awesome hiking shoes can do it all | This is a supportive hiking shoe that is perfect for scrambling and peak bagging | This is the definition of a solid hiking shoe, and is a perfect choice for those not wanting to compromise on off-trail performance | This inexpensive but good quality hiking shoe is a perfect choice for just starting out on the trails |
| Rating Categories | Adidas Terrex Free... | Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX | Salewa Mountain Tra... | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | Columbia Crestwood |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Adidas Terrex Free... | Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX | Salewa Mountain Tra... | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | Columbia Crestwood |
| Measured Weight (per pair, size 11) | 2.18 lbs | 1.99 lbs | 2.16 lbs | 1.76 lbs | 1.83 lbs |
| Upper | Abrasion resistant mesh with overlays | Recycled mesh, nubuck leather | 3F System with Kevlar® Cables, Armoured Mesh, Protective TPU rand | Synthetic, textile | Suede leather, mesh, webbing |
| Lining | Gore-Tex membrane | GORE-TEX Invisible Fit | Gore-Tex Extended Comfort | Gore-Tex membrane | None |
| Flood Height | 3.5 in | 3.0 in | 3.5 in | 3.25 in | 1.5 in |
| Last Board/Shank | EVA stabilization frame | Not specified | Nylon | ADV-C chassis | Not specified |
| Midsole | BOOST | EVA (30% sugarcane) | EVA | EnergyCell | Techlite |
| Outsole | Continental rubber | Vibram Megagrip rubber | Pomoca MTN Trainer Lite | Contagrip MA rubber | OmniGrip |
| Width Options | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular, Wide |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
We tested the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 Low on some midsummer hikes in the Sierra Nevada. We encountered dry and dusty conditions as well as wet crossings, off-trail travel over talus, and lots of pounding over hard surfaces. We found that traction and waterproofness were the Free Hiker's top attributes, but they also did well in comfort and support thanks to the BOOST midsole and lightweight EVA stabilization frame.
Performance Comparison
Whether scrambling over rocks or dealing with wet conditions, these are great hiking shoes
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Comfort
When slipping into the Free Hiker 2.0 shoes, once of the first things to notice is that they fit a bit on the wide side. Not so baggy that you are sliding around, but enough to make you want to wear thicker socks if you have a medium volume foot. We found the heel cup to feel sloppy when wearing anklet socks, though when wearing thicker hiking socks the fit was adequately secure. If you need to lace these tighter, it can be tough since there is so much friction from the lacing eyelets. The mid foot area felt secure, though the toe box is also pretty roomy. This could be great if you have either wide feet or want room for your toes to splay out, or impact stability as we'll discuss below.
When pounding miles over firm trails and rocks, these shoes offer plenty of comfort
Credit: Ryan Huetter
The mesh upper conforms easily to the foot and we did not feel like there was any break in period to get out and enjoy these shoes.
Support
The Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 uses a combination of useful technologies to give more support and stability than a typical trail running shoe might. Built on a BOOST midsole that feels both springy and absorbent, we felt like we could conserve energy while tackling miles on trail, even when the surface conditions were firm or uneven underfoot. The EVA stabilization frame adds some stability for when the trail ends - we noted good front to back stability and torsional rigidity, though a minimal impact to side-to-side stability was experienced that we attribute to the width of the shoe and how it fit our foot.
With a balanced midsole and an additional shank, we felt stable and secure when bounding over off-trail terrain
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Traction
The Free Hiker 2.0 has an outsole that is made of Continental rubber, which is a medium/soft rubber compound that grips quite well. The lugs are sharp, and spaced out far enough that they can easily shed mud. They are multidirectional, ensuring that both uphill and downhill traction is secure. We found them to do very well across all terrain types, but they impressed us especially on smooth granite slabs. Where others slipped, these shoes stayed put.
These soles are burly! Meant to tackle virtually any conditions you can find, we found them to be exceedingly grippy
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Water Resistance
Using a tried and true Gore-Tex brand waterproof/breathable membrane, the Adidas Free Hiker shoes do a fantastic job at keeping water where it should be, out of your shoes. The synthetic mesh upper has a tight weave allowing it to shed water during short exposures to water, but during longer submersions like when fording a shallow creek, the GTX membrane works as advertised and did not allow any water to enter during our water bucket challenge.
No leaks noted whatsoever during our bucket test.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Weight
We verified the weight of these Free Hiker 2.0 shoes on our own scale at 2.18 pounds in a size 11. This is not a weight that causes our heads to spin, they are still right in the middle of the pack when it comes to overall weight among the shoes we reviewed, but they probably should't be considered lightweight. The extra ounces are worth it for the support provided, though there are a few models that do as good of a job as these shoes while weighing significantly less.
Weighing the Free Hiker shoes on our own scale to verify their weight.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Durability
We did not experience any firsthand issues regarding the durability of the Adidas Free Hiker shoes, though judging by the materials used, could anticipate some future issues arising. They use abrasion-resistant mesh on the upper, though it is protected in part by a seamless TPU overlay that should keep the mesh from being abraded too much as long as it does not begin to delaminate, which is always a concern for this type of construction.
The uppers use mostly mesh, though there are some protective panels along the edges. Just watch out for peeling or delamination here.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Should You Buy the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 Low?
These are great hiking shoes, and will serve you well if you size them down or have wider feet. They will do best in wet weather environments or places you need high performance traction. They provide good value for their price.
Look good, feel good, hike good! These shoes won't let you down when the going gets tough.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?
For those who are seeking a hiking shoe that has trail runner attributes, we can't recommend the Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex enough. It is significantly lighter and narrower-fitting. We also love the La Sportiva Spire GTX, which shaves weight and has improved support.
—
Ryan Huetter
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