Adidas Outdoor Terrex Fast X Mid Gore-Tex - Women's Review

The Adidas Outdoor Terrex Fast R Mid GTX vs. The Adidas Outdoor Terrex Fast X Mid GTX

Adidas no longer offers the Terrex Fast X version on their website, with the Adidas Outdoor Terrex Fast R Mid GTX, retailing for $200, being the only version that is available; we have contacted Adidas for additional information. In the meantime, check out the side-by-side comparison below, with the new Terrex Fast R shown on the left, and the Terrex Fast X (the older version) shown on the right.

Hands-On Review

A well-fitting, lightweight shoe, the Terrex comes in high-cut and low-cut models, both of which are conducive to fast and light, comfortable hiking.

Performance Comparison

Weight

Weighing 1.99 lbs per pair, the Adidas Terrex Fast X is on the heavy side. Though this is the weight for the mid-cut version, it weighs 4 ounces less than the Oboz Yellowstone, which is another high cut hiking shoe. When hiking in these shoes they don't feel heavy on your feet, but instead fit well and feel easy to wear.

Comfort

The Adidas Terrex holds the foot extremely snugly, cradling the bridge of the foot. There is no sliding around inside the shoe, which means no blisters or uncomfortable rubbing. These shoes, even with a higher cut than most other shoes we reviewed, feel more dexterous than any of the other shoes and are excellent to hike in.

Support

This shoe, like the Oboz Yellowstone bridges the gap between a boot and a shoe. It is lightweight and comfortable like a shoe, yet adds a tiny bit of ankle support, which is perfect for backpackers, hiking on uneven terrain, or for women with vulnerable ankles that are prone to rolling. One of our testers rolled her ankle while on a trip, and continued to day-hike in these shoes, feeling that her ankle was well protected, yet she didn't have the extra weight of a boot.

Traction

The toe of the shoe feels very precise and sensitive, which is usually a feature of an approach shoe for climbing or a barefoot style shoe. Rather than a clunky protective toe like on the Keen Voyageur - Women's that inhibits sensation while hiking, this shoe allows your toes to engage more and also makes the shoes feel extra grippy.

Durability

The primary downside to this otherwise noteworthy shoe is the speed-lace. In general we like speed-lace systems on hiking shoes, such as on the Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX - Women's, however the one of this pair of shoes does not work properly. The plastic mechanism that is supposed to release and lock the lace does not actually release, and requires more brute force than finesse to loosen. Eventually, after multiple times of wrestling with the lace, one of the laces ripped, which was the only durability issue we found with these shoes. Once Adidas refines their speed-lace mechanism they will have a really top-notch product competitive in the outdoor market.

Water Resistance / Breathability

With a waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex membrane, these shoes protect from weather, and with a higher cut, they can keep water out of your shoes in slightly deeper puddles than a low-cut version. If hiking in hot weather, these shoes are not as breathable as the Merrell Moab Ventilators - Women's. They also come in a non-Gore-Tex version if you prefer extra breathability over waterproofing.

Best Application

Since this shoe is so well fitting, it excels at any type of hiking, whether long-distance or just for a quick day-hike. The mid-cut doesn't transition to everyday use as well as other hiking shoes, but they are extremely comfortable on the trail.

Value

As the most expensive hiking shoe in this review, the Adidas Terrex is an investment. If this shoe fits you well, you can be sure that you are buying a comfortable, well-made shoe. Test the laces before you buy them. If they work well, then this shoe would be worth the cost. If the laces are hard to operate, we wouldn't recommend spending almost $200 on them.