Adidas Terrex Agravic 3 Review – Three Dirt Stripes

Of course, Adidas is well-known for every type of footwear. It doesn’t take long to see those three stripes at the gym, road or just about any sport imaginable. But, while they are popular for sports, the Adidas Terrex brand doesn’t have the foothold here in the States like it does elsewhere. I’ve enjoyed several months with the Adidas Terrex Agravic 3 and it has been impressive in every way.

Adidas Terrex Agravic 3 Trail Running Shoes Features:

• Durable mesh uppers breathe and protect
• Continental 4 mm lugged outsole
• Lightstrike 2.0 midsoles
• TPU stability plate
• Heel-to-toe drop: 8mm (31 mm heel / 23 mm toe)
• MSRP: $130

Terrex Agravic 3 Delivers in a Jiffy

I’ve had a few Adidas Terrex items in for review over the years and it’s been a mixed bag, if I’m being 100% honest. The previous Terrex Agravic Pro’s were quite possibly the worst trail runners I’ve tested in years. With that, I didn’t know what to expect with the all-new Adidas Terrex 3’s. And, upon arrival, the unboxing was impressive and the first try-on of equal acclaim. “These are real trail runners,” I thought to myself. And I knew a real test was afoot.

The Terrex 3 starts with durable mesh uppers and ends with Continental rubber outsoles. In between, the Lightstrike 2.0 midsoles do the cushioning, support and control. Out of the box, all I wanted to do was get them dirty. Kudos to Adidas for giving these a toe box with ample wiggle room. No, they aren’t quite on par with Altra or Topo, but there’s plenty of room to allow my toes to splay and do their best work on the trails

After a quick office break-in, I was off to the local singletrack. While there is a place for more aggressive trail running shoes, I have found that the best ones for me are smooth enough to handle pavement duty, but come to life on singletrack. It’s like that beautiful feeling when you go from pavement to gravel on the Cervelo Aspero — it just feels at home. And, the new Terrex Agravic 3 is 1000% at home on my local trails.

The Agravic 3’s feature standard, flat laces with well-placed eyelets and a gusseted tongue keeping everything together. It’s easy to cinch them up just right and even isolate areas of the tongue for more or less wiggle-room. Further, the tongue features a cutout to accommodate the tibialis tendon. My feet feel well-supported and are wonderfully-enveloped in the entire package. There aren’t any pressure-points or funny-feeling areas anywhere — just a great, no-fuss fit.

My typical trail pace is in the 8:30 min/mile range. I’ll occasionally push harder and when my old legs aren’t feeling it, my pace is a little slower. Some shoes are made for fast-paced running, but these are quite at home when pushed hard or even when just hiking. No matter the pace, the Continental outsole delivers excellent traction with those bowtie-like treads. And, whether you’re climbing an aggressive uphill or descending through a rock-strewn trail, the Terrex Agravic 3’s deliver superb traction with superb stability.

A smooth stride is critical for any trail shoe. The Lightstrike 2.0 midsoles are tasked with absorbing each step and smoothly propelling me into the next. With a 31 mm stack, these are on par with the Hoka Challenger 7 and I had hoped for about the same amount of cushioning and rebound. While the cushioning is smooth, it is just a little firm. It’s not harsh or bone-jarring by any means… It’s just a touch firmer than I expected. The result is a fast and smooth stride that feels great everywhere I’ve run.

At 11.6 oz, these aren’t ultralight shoes, but they are about what I would expect and each step feels great. I didn’t think about them at all, so the overall construction and weight is just right. With it, I love the support they provide. Have a look at how the uppers are inset into the midsoles and it’s easy to see why they are so stable and supportive on the trails. I can dance through the most technical terrain with the utmost confidence and haven’t had even a slight amount of instability. The wide forefoot and inset uppers are a great combo to avoid any type of ankle-rolling.

Proper trail feel is important and I feel like these deliver that “just right” sensitivity on the trails. I can feel the nuances of the terrain with each step and don’t feel sharp rocks (so that’s good). I can run long distances without my feet becoming fatigued due to the terrain.

Fit: I wear a size 11.5 trail running shoe across almost every major brand and that’s the right size with the Terrex Agravic 3. My regular-width feet also have low arches and these are a great fit. 

Buy Now: Available from REI