5 Best Adidas Hiking Shoes in 2023

It's very cushioned and comfortble. Its structure is as stable as it gets. Its grip is superb. Its Gore-Tex membrane works like charm. And that's why we choose the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 GTX as the best overall hiking shoe from Adidas. 

While it scored a perfect 5/5 on the torsional rigidity test, which means that it is very stiff and almost impossible to twist, even a little bit, this hiking shoe is actually rather flexible. It's actually 6.7% more flexible than the average hiking shoe. We needed a force of 34.1N to bend it to 90 degrees on our flexibility test, while the average force needed for hiking shoes is 36.4N. This translates to a more natural ride and we loved how the shoe flexed with our feet, especially on more demanding hikes. 

On the bottom of the shoe it reads "Lugs 4.5 mm". In the lab, our caliper measurements confirmed this, they are indeed 4.5 mm thick. They are not just thicker than average but their bite is very secure. We appreciated that especially when going downhill. 

With a heel stack height of 36.6 mm (the average is 33.5 mm) and a footbed that's 18% softer than the average, this is a very comfortable hiking shoe. We noticed that our feet experienced much less fatigue after hikes, especially the longer ones. We definitely attribute this generous cushioning and stability. 

When testing the shoe, we did not plan for it but we ended up doing a rather rainy hike. Our feet and socks remained completely dry. 

We don't recommend this shoe to hikers who want the straight-out-of-the-box level of comfort. When a shoe has the stability of the boot, it asks for some break-in. 

 

A hiking shoe that can do a little bit of everything, feels very secure, loves biting the softer ground and even has some recycled elements? And it retails at $90? Of course, it must be our best budget pick in the world of hiking shoes from Adidas! 

The price is what dreams are made of. This makes the Adidas Terrex AX4 30% cheaper than the average hiking shoe. But when we took it to multiple hikes and cut it in half in our lab: that's when we realized why this is such a great budget hiking shoe. 

The grip is solid! We took our caliper and measured the depth of the lugs to be 3.7 mm. Now, that's 0.5 mm less than the average thickness, but we can't say we felt that. We felt very secure in Adidas Terrex AX4. 

What also helped immensely this overall secure feel was the wide base. Both at the heel and the forefoot, the Terrex AX4 is wider than average (2.6 mm and 3.8 mm, respectively). We felt no traces of instability! 

Where we noticed something that is significantly different is the insole. It's only 2.6 mm thick, while the average is 4.9 mm. Some hikers might need to use a thicker insole if they want a softer, more cushioned feel. 

Amazingly lightweight, the Adidas Terrex Trailmaker is a perfect option for an easy hike minus the unwanted bulk. We instantly got lost in the shoe's plush confines which made us want to keep the shoe on even after the hike. On the trail, this Adidas offering feels more natural and grounded as opposed to being stable and protective. Some durability was sacrificed to keep the weight of the Trailmaker down but we believe that its comfort is well worth the price.

There is no shortage of winter fun in the Terrex Free Hiker Cold.RDY. Indeed, sporting this insulated Adidas shoe translates to ending up in your icy trail destination triumphantly with happy, cozy feet. While it does hide behind a steep asking price, its strengths spell hiking confidence, especially for cold-season adventurers.

Part of RunRepeat’s selection of high-quality urban hikers, the Terrex Hikster offers hiking empowerment without necessarily looking like you have two brown tanks on your feet. Yes, in this confidence-inspiring pair, wearers are exploring both cityscapes and trails speedily and in style. So if you are looking for a highly versatile shoe, the Terrex Hikster from Adidas is far from a bad choice.