adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra Review
By Chief Editor / Founder Matthew Klein & David Salas
Trail shoes, particularly those for technical terrain, are usually different beasts than road shoes. While road shoes can be streamlined for speed by using lighter materials, trails shoes need to balance that with protection. When it comes to technical terrain, that protection needs to occur on another level to protect from aggressive rocks, roots, steep terrain and many other potential hazards. Adidas has attempted to combine some of the lessons learned from road racing shoes into the latest Terrex Agravic Ultra: A shoe meant for long technical mountain runs. While it may not be as light as a road racing shoe, there are several elements that are well executed, making this an excellent choice for those needing a protective and supportive shoe over tough terrain.
$159.95
Specifications (per Running Warehouse)
Weight: 11.6 oz / 329 g (men's size 9) 10.5 oz / 297 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 38 mm / 30 mm
Drop: 8 mm
Classification: Ultra Distance TPE Plated Trail Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra is a protective, plated ultramarathon shoe for tough and mountainous terrain. A secure fit that features a little extra room for swelling and an upper that drains well yet protects the foot sits up top. On the bottom an extremely tough Lighstrike sole combined with strategically placed Boost, a TPE plate and a lugged outsole provide protection and grip on a variety of surfaces. The firmer ride combined with a rockered sole and sidewalls in the midfoot provide a stable transition even on technical terrain. The Terrex Agravic Ultra sits on the heavier side, but with all the components makes for a long trail run and mountain shoe for those who want some mild stability and high durability.
FIT
Matt: The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra fit me true to size if not slightly long in my normal men's US size 10. The overall fit is on the snug side, but does loosen slightly with time. The extensive lace holes allow for a customized fit in the midfoot, so it can be tightened or loosened as needed. There is a smaller but stiff heel counter in the rearfoot, that somehow did not bother my heel at all (despite beginning to test this shoe when my Achilles insertion was flared up). The heel collar comes up higher around the Achilles and is notched. I have had no chaffing at this area. The heel can be secured easily and I did not have to lace lock this shoe. However, be careful how tight you tie down the laces over the ankle as they are a bit thin and can dig into the area around your anterior talocrural joint if tied too tight. The midfoot and forefoot have durable engineered mesh (made from ocean plastics) that also have thinner panels for drainage. These work well for breathability and any drainage. However I would suggest wear warmer socks as using these in colder weather can be a little drafty. The forefoot is slightly snug at first, but has opened up over time. The thick toe guard definitely equalizes the slightly long fit, allowing for some swelling but preventing the shoe from feeling too long. I have had no blisters using this shoe, but would NOT suggest using these sockless given the thicker materials. The tongue is not gusseted but is secured by the laces. It is thinner, so make sure you lay it down properly before running. The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra has a snugger fit that loosens up as the shoe breaks in, but still provides a surprising amount of durability and breathability.
David: The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra fits true to size in my normal Men's 9.5. The shoe does seem to run on the long side as most adidas performance shoes do for me. The width throughout is normal through the heel, midfoot, and forefoot. The shoe does seem to have some vertical volume from the material of the upper. The material is more of a synthetic plastic like mesh that can come off a little crinkly at first. Through the midfoot there are some extra eyelets to help pull the material down onto the dorsum of the foot. The material maintains its shape very well and feels like good reinforcement when in trail situations. I did have some heel slippage at first due to the length and sharp rocker but when I use the last eyelet that fixes the problem for me. There is a solid toe guard present that does a great job of balancing thin and comfortable and being robust enough to protect you if jam a rock. The dorsum portion of the upper is very breathable and translucent, but the material remains the same so it still feels durable.
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra is clearly an ultra/mountain trail shoe. The ride is on the firmer and stiff side thanks to the thick amount of firm Lightstrike and the full length TPE plate with 90% recycled carbon. There is posterior lateral heel bevel and a solid amount of toe spring. The forefoot has a very smooth transition and those who land farther forward will love the laterally placed Boost for initial contacts. The heel is stiff and clunky the first 10-20 miles and then breaks in a little bit. This feels fine on softer trails, but on hard packed trails and road it is obvious. The Boost under the heel helps with this as at the shoe breaks in, but landing farther forward still feels a bit better. Although there is Boost in the heel, the Lighstrike foam compresses very little. This makes the 8mm drop feel very consistent. The plate acts more for protection and stability than propulsion here. The Lightstrike foam and plate combination are extremely tough and protect from even the roughest terrain. I have taken these through a variety of normal and mountain trails and have never had even the slightest soreness hammering across rocks, However, at 11.6 oz, the Terrex Agravic Ultra isn't a fast shoe, but the plate does make it feel a little lighter than that when you get into a rhythm. The weight is noticeable when you first start running, then the plate and rockered sole contribute to smoothing out the ride. For that reason, the Terrex Agravic Ultra works best at easier paces on trail or technical terrain. It can handle pace changes, but the weight keeps it from really being able to pick up the pace like road shoes. Thus it is best as an ultramarathon distance shoe where you need solid protection over long miles. The traction on the outsole is good enough for technical rocks and some mud, but is not so aggressive it can't handle road. It also is not the best shoe for extremely soft mud, but can softer dirt. The lugs are durable enough that I have almost no wear on them after using this shoe as a door to trail shoe and the outsole/midsole have almost no wear after 60 miles of rough terrain. Thus I expect an incredibly high number of miles out of these as they are quite durable. The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra is a little on the heavy side, but the trade off is a tough and protective sole that keeps you rolling once you warm up.
David: The adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra will work pretty well for a specific population. This shoe certainly is a maximum cushioning shoe (though the ride is very firm with Lightstrike and plate present). There is plenty of protection underfoot for long mileage and smashing rocks down. The geometry of the shoe is a pretty sharp rocker throughout as well. This essentially is a high stack rocker shoe that runs firm and applies itself to the trail of any condition. There is some Boost midsole planted in the heel and in the forefoot which do seem to help with softening the landings in those region. The ride remains firm and protective though. The shoe has an 8mm drop but actually feels lower due to the significant rocker geometry. It feels more in the 4 to 5mm region similar to say a HOKA model. The 4mm lugs do a great job of providing traction and grip in every setting for me. The continental rubber also seems to stick pretty well to most surfaces. The shoe is heavy though. This is certainly not a shoe looking to go fast per se. It's an Ultra shoe. This is for those looking to go nice and steady for a long time and for this the shoe does perform pretty well.
STABILITY
Matt: One of the things Adidas has done well is using sidewalls in many of their shoes for natural stability. This isn't always consistent, which is why I was surprised to see these in the Terrex Agravic Ultra. However, the medial and lateral side walls in the heel and midfoot work extremely well to provide natural mild/moderate guidance. This is great given that the midfoot outsole does narrow, but I did not notice this during the ride. The Terrex Agravic Ultra is technically a neutral shoe, but there are several methods that put it above the rest in regards to stability. The sidewalls provide a good level of stability, in the midfoot, enough that I notice it on longer trail runs and I do not fatigue as I would in more neutrally designed shoes. The forefoot is stable thanks to the thicker plate and smooth transition thanks to the well placed toe spring. The heel could be more stable, but the stiffness is a bit too much and becomes clunky. This is offset by the transition into the midfoot however. The stiffer Lighstrike sidewalls work extremely well in this shoe and do not bias the foot. Regardless of the slant of the terrain my foot felt secure and when I started to fatigue, the medial sidewall supported my foot well. Although this is a neutral shoe, those with mild to moderate stability needs will do well in this shoe. Those who are sensitive to sidewalls however should approach with caution as they are significant.
David: The Agravic Ultra feels very stable for a high stack trail shoe. The platform and midsole do lean on the firmer end throughout and gives you a pretty good sense of the ground when coupled with the firmer lugs. The use of sidewalls is executed very well in this shoe. The Lightstrike acts as a sidewall on both the medial and lateral aspects of the midfoot and continues up until the boosted forefoot. The plate and geometry of the shoe also provide a great feeling of security throughout. The shoe is certainly rigid throughout so if you are someone that likes flexibility this is definitely not the shoe for you. For those that like rigidity and rolling sensations this a good option. The upper is reinforced well and does not stretch much if at all. As long as you lock it down well the shoe will perform well from that standpoint.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
I have discussed before how Adidas does sidewalls well when they choose to add them into shoes. The use of these in the Terrex Agravic Ultra make it effective for someone like me who needs mild to moderate support but doesn't want the pressure from a post. These will also work well for a variety of people who go too much either direction as these sidewalls are on both sides of the foot, working to guide the foot forward father than in a specific direction. However the firmness of the Lighstrike midsole plays into how this works given that the foam does not compress very much. For that reason, the sidewalls are more resistant to motion and seem to provide actual support. This is another factor with any stability method. The softer or firmer the material is, the more or less resistance/guidance it will provide. That is unless you are intentionally using a softer material to guide the foot as motion will usually go the path of least resistance.
Image: Gross et al., (2007)
A great example of this is in the forefoot. I cannot think of many shoes that have a softer cut out of material at the lateral forefoot. This is where most forefoot strikers land and provides a great landing place for that group. Most shoes do not provide any type of special landing mechanisms here as that type of thinking is mostly reserved for the rearfoot and heel strikers. This not only provides a great place to land (I actually switched to a forefoot strike initially because the heel was too stiff), but actually provides some forefoot stability for those who collapse at the 1st ray. We have discussed before that the medial arch of the foot spans from the heel all the way to the forefoot. Those who have trouble stabilizing the medial aspect of the forefoot (who also often have bunions and a weak fibularis longus) may also have what is a called a forefoot varus, meaning that in a neutral foot position, the first ray (1st long bone of the foot to the big toe) is elevated compared to the rest of the foot. That means as you land and transition forward, in order for the forefoot to get flat on the ground the rest of the foot is going to have to collapse inward. In some people this can also lead to compensatory inward rotation at the knee and hip, stressing the medial hip and knee joints stabilizers. Often an orthosis with a built up medial forefoot or simply building up the medial forefoot with padding can offload this, but the ultimate goal should be strengthening and stabilizing the first ray through downward mobilization and strengthening of the fibularis longus, which functions to depress and stabilize this area. In the Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra, this is done subtly through a softer lateral forefoot with the Boost. The harder medial Lightstrike creates a very mild post here, which for people like me with difficulty stabilizing that part of the forefoot, creates some gentle guidance. So for both those with some mild forefoot varus or forefoot strikers looking for a shoe that finally has cushioning where they land, the Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra is an excellent choice for trails and mountain running.
References
Gross, K. D., Niu, J., Zhang, Y. Q., Felson, D. T., McLennan, C., Hannan, M. T., ... & Hunter, D. J. (2007). Varus foot alignment and hip conditions in older adults. Arthritis & Rheumatism: Official Journal of the American College of Rheumatology, 56(9), 2993-2998.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra has many great features, but there are a few suggestions I would like to make. Weight is the first thing, as 11.6 oz is quite heavy for a shoe with a plate. If this shoe is supposed to be inspired by road flats, then I would like to see Adidas drop an ounce of this shoe. Low 10 oz is far more acceptable for a mountain/trail racer and I think this could be done easily. This follows into my second suggestion, that I think the heel is more built up that it needs to be. The stiffness makes the transition a bit rough back there, so increasing the heel bevel may smooth out this section. If this shoe is really meant for ultra running, then I would rocker that rearfoot a little more to increase the efficiency. Especially with a plate which stiffens the shoe that much particularly in the heel.
My third suggestion is one I actually hesitate to give. I would love to see Lightstrike Pro used in this shoe. This material has lasted me incredibly well in the Boston 10 (REVIEW) and Adios Pro 2 (REVIEW). However, this softer foam will change the stability of the shoe and does not appear to be temperature resistant to my knowledge compared to something like Boost. The Boost inserts are great because they are temperature resistant, which means they maintain their feel as you get up into the mountain air with lower temperatures. I do like the firmer Lighstrike when it breaks in, particularly as it adds to the stability with the stiffer sidewalls. So I'll leave this to the expert footwear developers at Adidas.
David: I do think adidas could make the forefoot a tad more flexible. With how rigid the rest of the shoe is the transition at toe off can be a little much and hard to push off with. At easy rhythmic paces it doesn't seem to matter but with large climbs or pushing the pace it does. I think the length could also be dialed in a little bit better.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra is for those looking for a snug (but adjustable), tough and stable shoe for long trail and mountain runs. For those with stability needs at the midfoot, the sidewalls provide excellent guidance no matter which direction you go. For those with forefoot varus issues or forefoot strikers, the forefoot lateral Boost provides light guidance and cushioning regardless of the temperature. The plate and rocker provide a smooth ride from the midfoot forward, so those who land farther forward will enjoy this shoe more. The heel does break in with time, but some patience is required. This is a long distance shoe and just because it has a plate does not mean it should be used for shorter distance racing. The heavier weight is noticeable, especially during the warm up. However, the durability, rocker, secure fit, durable outsole and moderate traction make it excellent for long runs and ultramarathon distances/racing when you need a consistent and protective shoe that will support you during these efforts.
David: It's in the name. The Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra is for those looking to long distances and steady paces. The shoe brings a firmer platform that is composed mostly of Lightstrike with a plastic plate that runs through the shoe and helps maintain the geometry. There are some small pockets of boost that help with transition but the majority of the shoe is firm riding, though still max protection. For those that like high stack shoes with rockers and don't mind a little weight and firmness this is an excellent option for long trail efforts.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B (Slightly long and snug fit. Adaptable midfoot with snug forefoot that adjusts with time. Stiff heel counter lower and secures heel without being obtrusive somehow. Good security and breathability, but might want thicker socks for cold weather. Laces do cut into ankle a bit)
Performance: B (Smooth forefoot with clunky heel. This does slowly improve with time. Heavy ride that smooths out as the shoe breaks in. Extremely durable and can handle tough terrain.)
Stability: A (Excellent use of sidewalls and forefoot boost location for midfoot and forefoot stability.)
DPT/Footwear Science: A- (Excellent design for those with stability needs in midfoot and forefoot. Heel bevel could be a bit bigger to improve transition and stability at rearfoot)
Personal: A-/B+ (A tough and stable shoe that I keep reaching for even though it is heavy. Midfoot and forefoot stability work very well for me and I would like to see more shoes that provide that lateral forefoot cushioning for forefoot strikers, despite not being one most of the time. )
Overall: B+/A- (A tough trail/mountain shoe with some unique methods of stability and a rocker/plate for a consistent ride over technical terrain and long distances. Heavier than it needs to be, but the plate and rocker take away some of this feeling as the miles pack on and the shoe breaks in)
David
Fit: B (A little on the long side, some heel slippage, otherwise secure and reinforced well)
Performance: B (At easy efforts smooth and firm rocker from heel to toe, weight certainly is heavy, toe off could be more responsive or forgiving with inclines)
Stability: A (I agree with Matt. Excellent example of stability in trails)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (I like the direction of the shoe. A firm rocker max cushion option has not really been introduced into the trail market as most are focused on being soft. some small tweaks in heel and forefoot could benefit further)
Personal: B (I really like the Agravic Ultra but for personal use it is a little heavy and I tend to stay below 13 miles when I'm in trails, so I like a little more responsiveness through the forefoot)
Overall: B+ (A pretty niched trail shoe but great for long sustained steady efforts, high stack and firm riding but can tackle pretty much any terrain)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
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Doctor of Physical Therapy
Dr. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon. He typically runs 60 to 70 miles per week and trains from about 7:30 recovery runs to fast shorter efforts at 4:30 pace. He normally prefers neutral shoes with a firmer ride, but is completely open to other types of shoes. He is a footwear enthusiast at heart and will always appreciate a high quality shoe when it comes around. For updates on training or testing,
Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.
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