5 Best Adidas Hiking Shoes in 2023

Paul Ronto
Paul Ronto on
5 Best Adidas Hiking Shoes in 2023
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When it comes to hiking shoes that underscore athleticism, you can’t go wrong with Adidas.

This household name features fantastic kicks that give adventurers the edge they need to conquer the outdoors. We’ve tested Adidas hiking shoes to provide you with our top picks. Not only that but we also weighed all their actual pros and cons and discussed them one by one. So, whether you need a great all-rounder, an Adidas hiker that makes you go faster, or perhaps a highly affordable pair, we’ve got them all here.

Best Adidas hiking shoes overall

What makes it the best?

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. 

 

Pros

  • Boot-like stability
  • Highly durable and protective
  • Lightweight for what it offers
  • Excellent waterproofing
  • Breathable for a GTX shoe
  • Generously cushioned
  • Very secure foothold
  • Top-notch grip with deep lugs

Cons

  • Stuffy for summer
  • Can be too stiff (even stiffer in cold)
  • Break-in needed
Full review of Adidas Terrex Swift R3 GTX

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Men
Women
Any color
Core Black Grey Three Solar Red (HR1310)
Brown (FZ3275)
Black (FW2769)
Grey/Wonder White/Solar Red (GW0254)
Green (GY5075)
Black (HR1311)
Black (FW2770)
Black / Blue (GZ0351)
More colors

Best budget Adidas hiking shoes

What makes it the best?

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. 

Pros

  • Excellent value for money
  • Feels like a trail running shoe
  • Breathable
  • Water-repellent
  • Solid grip
  • Durable for the price
  • Stable platform
  • Contains recycled materials

Cons

  • Lacks toe protection
  • Flimsy insole
Full review of Adidas Terrex AX4

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Unisex
Any color
Negbás Carbon Gricua (HP7388)
Gray (IF4872)
Blue (HP7392)
Silver Violet/Blue Fusion/Black (HP7393)
Coral Fusion/Crystal White/Impact Or (HQ1047)
Black (FY9673)
Wonder Red Linen Green Pulse Lilac (GY8621)
Core Black/Grey Four/Mint (FZ3255)
More colors

Best lightweight Adidas hiking shoes

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • Extra lightweight
  • Amazing in-shoe comfort
  • Highly breathable
  • Balance of cushion and ground feel
  • Stable for a light shoe
  • More flexible than average
  • Welcomes wide feet
  • Secure lockdown (bootie upper)

Cons

  • Outsole lacks durability
  • Not enough grip on wet terrain
Full review of Adidas Terrex Trailmaker

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Men
Women
Any color
Black (FU7237)
core black/crystal w (FX4615)
Grey Two/Core Black/Hi Res Aqu (FU7238)
Black (FX4616)

Best Adidas hiking shoes for winter

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • Impressive comfort
  • Keeps your feet toasty
  • Waterproof
  • Grippy
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Missing pull tab
  • Too expensive
Full review of Adidas Terrex Free Hiker Cold.RDY

Today's best price

Unisex
Any color
Shadow Maroon/Wonder Red/Pulse Lilac (GY6759)
Focus Olive/Pulse Olive/Impact Orang (GY6757)
Black (FU7224)

Best Adidas hiking shoes for urban hiking

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • Grippy outsole
  • Immensely comfortable
  • Supportive feel
  • Ankle security
  • Remarkably light
  • Glove-like fit
  • Training-ready
  • Sleek design

Cons

  • Dirt magnet
  • A bit heavy
Full review of Adidas Terrex Hikster

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Men
Women
Any color
Grey (FY1544)
Core Black Dgh Solid Grey Signal Orange (EH3534)
Black (EH3535)

Comparison of the 5 best Adidas hiking shoes

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How we test hiking shoes

At RunRepeat, we strive towards honest footgear reviews. Here is our approach:

  • We buy Adidas hiking shoes with our own money. This affords us to come up with objective reviews.
  • We hike in every Adidas kick. Each shoe goes through a particular process unique to its area of expertise, gauging every pair in various terrain and weather conditions.
  • We find more reasons as to why a shoe makes us feel in terms of fit, breathability, support, bending of feet, and others. We do this by conducting more tests inside our lab such as our smoke test in which we determine if a pair is leaning toward waterproofness, breathability, both, or neither. What happens is we pump smoke inside the shoes and assess subjectively how much smoke escapes, thus telling us about how permeable the upper is.
Author
Paul Ronto
Paul Ronto

Over the past 20 years, Paul has climbed, hiked, and run all over the world. He has summited peaks throughout the Americas, trekked through Africa, and tested his endurance in 24-hour trail races as well as 6 marathons. On average, he runs 30-50 miles a week in the foothills of Northern Colorado. His research is regularly cited in The New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic, etc. On top of this, Paul is leading the running shoe lab where he cuts shoes apart and analyzes every detail of the shoes that you might buy.