The briefing to adidas' designers was simple. "We need a trail running shoe that can win!" Easy to say, hard to execute. It seems, however, that has done it. So far, prototypes have collected an impressive 30 wins, some very notable. We'll get back to that in a moment.
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If you want to know what I like and don't like about the shoe, check the video above or scroll down for more details.
How to Make a Winning Shoe!
Creating a winning trail shoe is not just a copy-paste task from what adidas has done on the road scene. It simply doesn't work that way. Of course, they've drawn a lot of inspiration and knowledge from their development of road shoes, but the varying terrain alone requires more robust materials and a more stable base.
Not to mention, most trail races are ridiculously long compared to "normal" road distances, as an example, the World Championship in short trail is a 45 km race! Agravic Speed Ultra is made to win all kinds of trail competitions, including the resilience to endure runs of 100 miles, wading through rivers, slipping down rocky trails, or worse.
This is what Agravic Speed Ultra prototypes have been doing for the last two years. Ruth Croft won the Western States 100 with the 2022 prototype with the third-fastest time ever, and Tom Evans emulated Ruth in 2023, surpassing the field with the fourth-fastest time ever. These are just two out of 30 very impressive wins, which include competitions like UTMB CCC, Transgrancanaria, MIUT 85k, and many more.
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With Agravic Speed Ultra, adidas fuses internal knowledge from their road and trail series with experiences from world-class athletes, creating something the world hasn't seen before. A true trail racer that can overtake the competition on descents, yet still give you the pop you need when hitting easier sections.
Fit – adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra
Agravic Speed Ultra fits like a race shoe. It has an extremely lightweight upper with an incredibly solid grip around your midfoot. There is no padding in the shoes whatsoever, adidas tries to save as much weight as possible, so don't expect a plush feel around your heel. The laces are thin, lightweight, and have an added white outer seam that makes them hold better in the eyelets. Overall, the upper is made to be light and durable.
Like adidas' other race shoes, this upper is very static, meaning it takes a bit of time to get them to fit comfortably on your feet, but holds your feet better once you have the correct lock. Agravic Speed Ultra is a snug shoe around the arch, and I imagine runners with a wider midfoot might find this shoe a bit tight in that area.
Despite being a static upper, I haven't had trouble tightening the laces and achieving a good lock myself. I believe the lacing is the main reason for this.
We've had all sorts of weather in the past week, and I've tried Agravic Speed Ultra on mud, gravel, and asphalt, on a warm spring day and wetter, colder days. I'm pleased with how it performs, especially on wet days.
This upper doesn't hold water, it feels as dry as the desert a few seconds after I leave the puddle, and the midsole hasn't given me any indication that it would change and become soggy when soaked. This shoe handles wet days like no other shoe I've tried.
Midsole – adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra
And speaking of the midsole, you can rejoice, has finally done it. The midsole is pure Lightstrike Pro, and it is wonderful! This midsole works best when you leave the road, where the softness of the ground lifts you, in return you feel more energetic and faster. But for a trail shoe, it's not bad on asphalt either.
One of my runs had a long transport section between two forests, and it just felt like a fantastic and fun shoe throughout the run. But to be a good it also needs to be stable, and the midsole, despite being high, has a firmness and base width that makes this shoe agile, versatile, and stable enough for most normal trail scenarios.
Grip – adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra
On the outsole, you'll find a large layer of Continental rubber, something you can always rely on.
Some shoes have more grip and are better for technical or muddy trails. But Agravic Speed Ultra excels in so many different areas that I much prefer this versatility over extreme performance in a shoe like this.
What you get with Agravic Speed Ultra, is a versatile and very stable ultra race shoe that can handle most of what a trail runner throws at it, regardless of weather or distance. If you're looking for an extreme performer or a mud monster, there are other shoes. But if you want the ultimate all-in-one shoe, Agravic Speed Ultra can distance the best.
What is it for? - Agravic Speed Ultra
The shoe is great, but there are some scenarios where it works better than others. This is the case with most shoes, and the same applies here.
I would gladly run a long run in varied terrain in Agravic Speed Ultra, but it works better if it's on a steady moderate to higher pace run, or a training session with changing paces through.
It can handle a surprising amount of technical trail, but if you're running a very technical race, I would suggest a shoe more suited for that; adidas Terrex Agravic Speed. It's lighter, has more grip, and should be better for running at very fast paces.
Agravic Speed Ultra can also be used for slower runs, but I wouldn't use it for a recovery run. In that case, I desire more comfort in the upper and a softer, more forgiving cushioning underfoot.
The Continental outsole will last a while, and Lightstrike Pro can hold up too, but it's not as resilient as the foam used in daily trainers. Because of this, I would save adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra from being used on boring everyday runs and use it on days when you want something extra.
That leaves you with all the long run days, the fast days, races, and the days when you want that extra pop when you leave the ground.
has created something special here.
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