Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra Review: The Most Super-Shoe-Feeling Trail Racer Yet

Introduction

The Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is the brand’s trail racing super shoe, launched at UTMB in Chamonix and slated for a public release in spring 2024. The version tested here is still labelled a prototype, but it is understood to be very close to what will go on sale. Priced at €230 or $230, it is unapologetically a premium racing shoe, and after 110km of testing, including the first 50k of an 80k ultramarathon, it has proven to be one of the most exciting trail shoes to come out in this new category.

Key Features and Design

The midsole is built from Lightstrike Pro, the same bouncy foam used in Adidas’s road racing shoes, paired with energy rods that are slightly different from the road versions. Four rods at the front spread wider to the sides of the shoe for added stability, while two more run into the rear. The shoe has a very pronounced rocker, which Adidas says encourages forefoot striking even over long distances.

At the rear, a bucket seat design lets your foot sit within the foam, adding stability to what is a high stack shoe for the trails. The shape is deliberately forefoot-focused, with a pinch point around the midfoot, a fairly narrow heel, and a very broad forefoot. The Continental rubber outsole carries lugs between 2.5 and 3.5mm, suited to a broad range of terrains but not designed for soft ground or deep mud. The woven upper with a gusseted tongue is lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying, with some toe protection but less coverage than typical trail shoes, all in the name of keeping weight down.

Fit and Sizing

Fit has been excellent in normal running shoe size. In UK 9 (US 9.5), the shoe is comfortable even though some other Adidas racing models can feel cramped. Long runs of over four hours and a 50k passed without slippage at the heel, with a nice amount of forefoot room and a secure but not oppressive hold. The upper is very breathable. Sticking with your normal running size is the sensible call here.

Ride and Performance

The Agravic Speed Ultra feels the most like a road super shoe of any trail super shoe tested so far. On a hard one-hour progression run covering just over 10 miles, it felt very much like a road super shoe does for that kind of session: fast, responsive, and genuinely enjoyable to push. It has the pace for hard trail half marathons, marathons, and even shorter events.

During the 80k ultramarathon, the first 50k in this shoe felt fantastic. Ticking over at around 8 minutes per mile on runnable forest trails, the shoe maintained a smooth rhythm, adapting well to rain and slightly more rugged ground without being thrown off. The rocker is aggressive but barely noticeable at relaxed long-distance paces, moving you smoothly onto the forefoot, and the big broad forefoot platform is stable and secure.

Concerns about the narrow, pinched heel for a heel-striking runner did not materialise in testing. While stability-focused runners on very technical mountain tracks may still want a broader-based shoe, the shoe held up well across 110km, including some descending. The midsole lacks a full stiff plate, so the shoe adapts to uneven ground rather than turning your foot sideways on awkward landings.

How It Compares

Against the Nike Ultrafly, which was used for the final laps of the same ultra, the Adidas is clearly the faster, bouncier, more enjoyable ride for hard sessions. The Ultrafly is the friendlier, more stable and approachable shoe, and would be the pick for a hard technical course or a first ultra, but many runners will prefer the Adidas for its natural speed.

The Asics Fuji Speed 2 undercuts both on price, with a firm, aggressive carbon-plated ride that feels a lot like a road shoe and is lighter and quicker. For tearing up a 5k or 10k on runnable trails, it would be the choice over any of these shoes, and its value makes shoes above $200 hard to justify unless you specifically want more cushioning for big ultra events. Other trail super shoes like the Hoka transport-oriented alternatives are more stable and reliable across distances, but the Agravic Speed Ultra has more punch in the midsole and does a better job as a pure racing shoe.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is an expensive shoe at €230 or $230, and it is not yet available to buy, with the full launch expected in spring 2024. It has a high stack but gives up some stability, a protective upper, and an aggressive outsole to save weight. It is not built for deep mud or soft ground. Runners who favour technical mountain descents should think carefully about whether the platform suits their style.

Buying Advice

If you want the most super-shoe-like experience on trails, this is very likely it. Compared with the Ultrafly, other big-brand trail super shoes, and road shoes like the Adios Pro 3, the Agravic Speed Ultra gets closest to that road super shoe sensation of bounce and propulsion, coming impressively near road shoe levels while making sensible sacrifices for the trail. On good, mostly runnable trails, for races of any distance from 10k to 50 miles, it is a hugely enjoyable, fast choice.

Conclusion

The Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is a big success: booming, fast, comfortable over ultra distances, and genuinely race-ready. It is expensive and not yet on sale, so a revisit will follow at full launch in spring 2024 to confirm the final spec and pricing. For runners chasing the fastest trail racing experience, it sets the current benchmark.