adidas Terrex Agravic Tech Pro Multi Tester Review: Versatile, Fun to Run, Winter Ready, BOA Dialed In!

Article by Jeff Valliere, John Tribbia, Canice Harte and Sam Winebaum

adidas Terrex Agravic Tech Pro ($250)

Introduction

Sam: The Agravic Tech Pro is called out by Terrex as a "trail running shoe" designed for “.. crossing glaciers or scrambling up a serious piece of rock, .. adidas Terrex Agravic Tech ProTrail Running Shoes were made to push limits. The high-cut shoes are water repellent and have adjustable laces that let you dial in the fit without taking off your gloves. Responsive cushioning stays comfortable in low temperatures.”

Sitting in weight at just over 14 oz / 400g so closer to a light hiker than a trail runner, the Tech Pro essentially has the undercarriage of a trail runner and the upper of.. I say.. a nordic classic ski race boot with in the mix a super easy to use BOA fit system which dials in a precise easy to adjust fit.

We’ll get into the details but the upper has a high water resistant exterior shell while the interior “shel boot” wrapping the midfoot is relatively stiff for a trail shoe but broad in its opening over the thin BOA laces.  

This upper design, in combination with the midsole/ outsole,, delivers both lots of rear and mid foot support and stability and lots of forward flex for climbing and moving along.

Underfoot, we have “classic” adidas Boost construction with a stout upper EVA frame for stability with below that bouncy Boost which yes we have experienced over the years and as adidas says is a midsole compound which is more temperature resistant than EVA so doesn’t harden in cold.  Below the midsole we have some front rock protection and finally a full coverage Continental outsole with about 4mm lugs. Quite a tasty sandwich!

So what did our testers in Colorado, Utah, and New Hampshire discover as they took the b to the mountains on snow, dirt and rocks and more mellow forest paths? Is the Tech Pro fun to run and versatile and does it justify its steep price at $250 and hefty weight ? Read on to find out. 

Pros: 

Canice/Sam:The BOA provides a great fit and feels incredibly secure. It’s also very easy to use.

Canice/Sam: Built in gaiter provides weather protection and the Boost midsole has lots of bounce.

Jeff V: BOA is easy and convenient, traction, built in gaiter, quality, protection

Sam: Classic adidas Boost powered shoe that doesn’t overdo the Boost in its stable sandwich of EVA foot frame and full coverage 4mm lug Continental rubber outsole

Sam: Well balanced with plenty of heel stable cushion, mid foot lockdown, lively Boost, flexible, agile, protected forefoot.

Canice: Feels good on the road and trail.

John: Form fitting and easily adjustable, decent bounce, agile, great traction in variable conditions

Cons: 

Canice/Jeff/John/Sam: Price

Sam/Jeff: Heavy on the scale at 14 oz yet runs far lighter

John: Stiff gaiter zipper difficult to use with cold hands

Stats

Estimated Weight: men's 14.3 oz / 405g (US9) 

  Samples: men’s  15.2 oz. / 428 grams (USM10.5), 14 oz /396g (US8.5)

Available now at Amazon here

Tester Profiles

Jeff V.  runs mostly on very steep technical terrain above Boulder often challenging well known local FKT's. 

John Tribbia (5' 6", 130lbs) is a former sponsored mountain/trail runner who has run with La Sportiva, Brooks/Fleet Feet, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon. Even though he competes less frequently these days, you can still find John enjoying the daily grind of running on any surface, though his favorite terrain is 30-40% grade climbs. He has won races such as America's Uphill, Imogene Pass Run, and the US Skyrunner Vertical Kilometer Series; and he's held several FKTs on several iconic mountains in Boulder, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. If you follow him on Strava, you'll notice he runs at varying paces between 5 minutes/mile to 12 minutes/mile before the break of dawn almost everyday.

Canice is a 2 x finisher of the Wasatch 100, the Bear 100, Moab 100, Western States 100, and Leadman as well as many other ultras. He regularly competes in Expedition Length Adventure races with his longest race to date 600 miles as well as in traditional road races and triathlons.

Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is 63 with a 2018 3:40 Boston qualifier. Sam has been running for over 45 years and has a 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range training 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah. He is 5'10" tall and weighs about 163 lbs.

First Impressions and Fit:

Jeff V:  A somewhat large shoe factoring in the tall built in gaiter, further evidenced by the huge box they arrived in.  Out of the box, the Agravic Tech Pro looks sturdy, well built and purpose driven and has a high quality feel.  Then of course there is the white Boa dial standing out in contrast with the all black of the shoe to add to its character and unique look.  

As is almost universally normal for me when ordering winter running shoes, I sized up a half size to accommodate for a thicker sock and some air space to retain warmth, despite being forewarned that these already run a little bit big.  I am pretty sure I would have been fine sticking with my normal size 10, but I do appreciate that the 10.5 easily offers the added room I am looking for.  Since I sized up, there is plenty of additional room in the toe box for those mid weight to thick wool socks, but they do not feel excessively large.  Heel hold is great with no slippage and the Boa dial does a good job with secure midfoot retention.

John: I was super excited there was a size in the Agravic Tech Pro available for me to test. Out of the box, it looks solid and ready to tackle the most adverse conditions. I love the shoe’s sleek profile and eye-catching details. 

It has an enveloping gaiter and BOA system that holds the foot in place really well. I normally wear a US Men’s 9.0, but I fit comfortably in an 8.5 with no issues.  I have a slightly narrow foot and wear a medium weight sock most of the time. Even though the weight exceeds 13 oz, I’m really surprised how light the shoe feels on my foot. 

Canice: Living in Park City, Utah we run in the snow both on and off trails and I am always excited to test winter running running shoes. The adidas Agravic Tech Pro is a perfect shoe for both the Wasatch Mountains and the more “urban” trials of Park City. It has plenty of weather protection, deep lugs, a flexible midsole and thanks to BOA, a secure fit that feels great on foot. The shoe fits true to size and though some have said it fits half size large, that is not the case for me. My recommendation is to purchase your normal size.

Sam: Sleek and yes highly “tech” in appearance they immediately reminded me of the look of a nordic classic race boot.with the high outer shell completely covering the inner boot, and just as in such a boot, the outer is water resistant and not waterproof for some lighter wet protection plus breathability.

Pop the BOA dial and the very soft and thin cords instantly loosen making it easier to pull them on past the stiff inner shell. 

Brief Video Demo of the Agravic Tech Pro's BOA System

I say stiff and shell as the inner is not the usual engineered mesh but a stiff thick mesh that wraps the foot instead of “conforming” when the laces are pulled. Not to worry this approach is super comfortable as the tongue on top of the foot while also fairly dense but more pliable and thinner, is broad in opening and the BOA laces are very soft and thin so support comes more from the sides than directly on top of the foot which is quite broad leaving the foot freer to also flex forward than a conventional lace wrap.

Upper

Jeff V:  The upper consists of a water resistant covering over a somewhat normal shoe, with a tall zippered gaiter, topped off by a velcro strap with a wide range of adjustability.  The inner shoe has a thick and durable, non breathable upper, a minimally padded (though well protected) gusseted tongue with a booty like fit.  Of course the key standout feature of this upper is the Boa lacing system.  

The twist knob Boa is easy to use and provides a nice and secure cinch over the midfoot, providing good stability and predictable handling.  Adjusting the Boa on the fly, either tighter or looser is quick and easy, even with gloves, however I have found that after my first run or two, I learned exactly where I needed to be to achieve proper security and never have to adjust on the fly after that.  I will note that I do have to crank the dial quite tight to achieve the midfoot retention that I prefer for technical terrain, but for more straight line, less technical running, I do not have to crank quite as tight.

I am also noticing a bit of stiffness around the collar of the inner shoe, near where the upper lace holes are located and in line with the Boa dial on either side.  This is most noticeable when running in choppy snow/technical terrain where the ankle is flexing side to side, but otherwise goes unnoticed on less complicated terrain.

The water resistant outer layer does a good job at keeping out dry and fluffy snow and light moisture, but I do notice very minor seepage after prolonged running in slush and when submerging.  

I find the Agravic Tech Pro to be warm enough for running in temps in the 20’s and 30’s, but for me, even with a thick sock, are not quite warm enough if just for hiking or casual use in temps in the 20’s F.  I did run in temps as low as 11 degrees F, but was running hard and was only out for about an hour, so found them to be adequate for that scenario.

Canice: Jeff does a great job explaining the upper and I agree with his assessment. We have plenty of snow here in Park City. I ran the shoe on a mix of mountain trails and along paved trails in town. I love that the upper kept the snow out of my shoes, kept my feet warm and thanks to the quick drying upper they were ready to go the next morning. The upper is soft and flexible and with tights on you do not feel the velcro strap at the top of the gaitier. You will notice it if you wear shorts, but it is not a problem. 

Canice: The BOA lace system really shines in the adidas Agravic Tech Pro. It’s easy to dial in your perfect fit, it holds your foot securely in place and when you’re finished with your run a quick pull of the BOA dial releases the tension and you’re free and out of the shoe. The BOA system also works incredibly well with running gloves.

John: The upper is very effective at keeping the elements out while providing some warmth above the ankle. I ran in similar conditions as Jeff and experienced no temperature discomfort. The material is only water repellant and I was hoping it was more waterproof, because it would add some warmth and add another dimension to the shoe’s ruggedness. The upper helps protect from abrasions while navigating tight foot spaces through rock gardens and stepping over fallen trees or branches. 

Like Jeff and Canice said, the BOA is the star of this shoe by providing an on the fly, easily adjustable, lacing system that secures my foot really well. It’s especially convenient to secure your fit or make minor adjustments while wearing gloves in colder weather. It is important to note that the BOA is really easy to use when you get your foot in the shoe and that it takes a few tries to figure out the right method of inserting your foot in the inner and then dialing in the desired tightness. 

On the other hand, I had a lot of problems with the zipper that encloses the upper over my foot. I found it really stiff and challenging to pull up, especially in the cold. 

Sam: The guys have described the upper well. The BOA and midfoot hold is particularly well executed for any trail shoe and particularly for a BOA runner. 

Credit I think goes to combining an inner more rigid mid foot wrap with the BOA instead of what we have often seen a “regular” upper material where the thin cords don’t quite lock the foot and the dial and laces can be felt if you really crank down.

Here the fairly rigid side panels wrap the mid foot as a unit instead of conforming with the BOA cords sitting on top of a thin but densely padded tongue completing the hold. 

The design of the upper from that more substantial mid foot wrap to a single layer outer shell with plenty of front upper flexibility is very very similar to a classic nordic ski boot race boot upper where midfoot stability and rigidity needs to be combined with front flexibility. See our contributor Adam Glueck’s nordic race boot below 

These boots also have a high cuff gaiter to keep out snow and moisture and typically as here are water resistant and not waterproof to insure some breathability and for lighter weight.

The only major difference is that below the upper the ski race boot would have a very rigid high carbon heel cup/shell under foot running to the midfoot

The Tech Pro's heel counter is relatively pliable and while torsionally rigid at the rear not as rigid as a ski boot's. Different sport after all but both shoes rely on flexible agile toe off.

My running was in dry conditions around 45 F. I will say the upper kept me pleasantly “warm” about the same as a Gore-Tex upper would maybe a touch warmer as it may not be as breathable. I am not sure this would be an ideal upper for full on summer conditions unless as I often do in the White Mountains of New Hampshire you encounter wet trails and rapidly varying conditions no matter the season.

The fact that the upper is water resistant but not “waterproof” breathable is not a big concern for me. While in deep cold uppers such as those made with Gore-Tex do keep me warmer when actually running I rarely get cold feet. The advantage of this upper is the basic protection from debris, wet, snow in the shoe etc.. and related there is no need for extra gaiters. As it is more pliable, especially up front, the shoe flexes with its upper better than Gore-Tex membrane uppers do which tend to be stiff and certainly stiffer than this upper.

Midsole

Jeff V:  The Boost midsole with grayish blue top EVA support frame is adequately cushioned and responsive for its intended purpose.  While not plush by any stretch, the midsole, while firm, is adequately cushioned and protective for long days out on the snow and rocks, with very good underfoot protection from rocks and traction devices.  While not not particularly responsive, much of that I think is due to the weight of the shoe (over 15oz. In my US men’s size 10.5) the overall design of the shoe with a tall gaiter.  

I typically do not expect maximum speed/performance out of a more dedicated Winter shoe with built in gaiter, but I do find that these can handle fast speeds on snow with no issues when the legs are feeling good, yet they are just as adept at slower to moderate speeds as well. They are also quite predictable/stable and adept when running fast downhills in technical terrain.

Canice: If you have run on adidas Boost before you will be very happy here. The midsole has a nice base of adidas Boost and your foot is supported by an EVA frame which controls your foot nicely. I’m a big fan of adidas Boost and am excited to have it with the adidas Agravic Tech Pro.

John: The midsole gives ample cushion, protection, and some bounce for such a heavy shoe. As I mentioned above, I got the feeling that this shoe felt lighter than it actually was, due in large part to the stability and responsiveness. I also think it is because I like stiffer midsoles for running in technical terrain and it sort of reminded me of a heavy duty Brooks Catamount. As Jeff mentions, the shoes perform well on downhills and at fast speeds in a stable and predictable fashion.

Sam: A “classic” adidas Boost construction and much appreciated. First we have a relatively firm EVA top frame/layer for stability and I also felt some rock protection. Below we have a layer of Boost for bounce and softness all well controlled by the top layer of EVA and the outsole. Boost is less sensitive to low temperature hardening than EVA’s so its a great midsole option for winter running on firm terrain or road. The geometry is notably stable front to back with plenty of rear cushion and a somewhat thinner (than say a Hoka) but ample up cushion front. The combination makes for well cushioned landings and an agile, quite flexible toe off for climbing and includes enough trail feel to sense terrain up front yet with very good rock protection. This said this is not a super cushion type forefoot.

The combination of materials and front flex do indeed as the others say make the Tech Pro feel considerably lighter than its weight. If I didn’t know I would have guessed a weight just over 11 oz and not the actual 14 oz plus. I only really felt the weight a bit more on steep climbs.

Outsole

Jeff V:  The Continental rubber outsole with protection plate provides excellent grip underfoot in all conditions and is quite versatile.  I have run in the Agravic Tech Pro on snowy trails and roads, wet rock, dry trails, loose off trail, and slush and mud and they have always been confidence inspiring and durability seems outstanding so far.  

While the lug pattern is effective overallon a wide variety of surfaces, I would love to see a deeper, more angular lugs for snowy conditions, but this is a minor critique, as I am most likely to be wearing a traction device anyways when I reach for this shoe.  

The Agravic Tech Pro also accommodates traction devices very well, as tested it with Microspikes, EXOspikes and YakTrax Ascents.  I do not feel any pressure underfoot or awkwardness from the various traction devices.

Canice: I love that the outsole is so versatile. I have enjoyed running it on snowy trails and while the lugs could be deeper , I love how it transitions to pavement and still feels great. The adidas Agravic Tech Pro outsole finds a great balance between traction and a smooth feel on harder surfaces. You can always add screws or a pair of Microspikes if you’re headed off onto technical trails.

John: I agree with Canice. The outsole is extremely versatile for pavement to hardpack to powder to exposed rock. I was very confident on all surfaces with this outsole design and really appreciate the additional dimension of versatility to easily accommodate and anchor traction devices. The Black Diamond Distance Spike fits perfectly without any dysfunction on the Agravic Tech Pro’s outsole. 

Sam: My testing was on dry leaf covered more moderate single track with roots and rocks in the mix. The outsole gripped everything fine and even with its front rock protection flowed smoothly at faster paces on firm terrain.

Ride

Jeff V:  While not a particularly plush or lively ride, the Agravic Tech Pro is smooth, protective and predictable.  Despite the size and weight of the shoe, and despite not feeling notably springy or responsive (again, largely in part due to the 15+ oz. weight in my size 10.5), they can handle speed when pushed and are predictable and stable in technical terrain.

Canice: I think the strengths and weaknesses of the ride are very subjective and depends a lot on what you like and/or are looking for in a shoe. On snowy trails I actually like a stiffer ride as it gives me more support under foot and saves my feet. In these conditions I am not as worried about cushion because the snow provides it for me. Put me on a paved trail, and I value flexibility and a very lively shoe with a lot of pop and rebound. The adidas Agravic Tech Pro sits right between these two profiles and I really like the versatility it offers. I also found them to be a perfect ride to use with my “shoes”!

I am really looking forward to wearing these shoes in the spring when we find ourselves running on dry trails one minute and then post-holing the next minute. It’s the versatility of the ride that makes the Adidas Agravic Tech Pro ride special.

John: Maybe it's the energy you get from the stoke of taking these shoes in untracked winter terrain, but I found the ride to be a combination of stiff, smooth and stable, with decent rebound. Admittedly, taking the Agravic Tech Pro out on the roads is a bit like riding a fat bike in a velodrome or driving an Army tank in a drag race, but I would only use it to get between snow stashes or to the trailhead.

Sam: Smooth, flowing, some bounce, plenty of protected trail feel with a solid stable heel and a flexible and stable toe off. Kind of shocking given the overall weight. Designed for running in high alpine conditions I think they certainly can accomplish that mission but my own testing was on more mellow forest trails unlike the guys who took them high up in the Rockies and Wasatch. 

I  would also say if you want a fun to run or hike ride that is very stable and protective upper to underfoot ride Tech Pro accomplishes that mission too. I ran them easy and daydreaming over rocks and roots with complete confidence. The weight ultimately affects the “speed” of the ride but not as much as one would expect or if trying to run in a more boot like option. The underfoot ride is clearly all well cushioned running shoe and not hiking boot while sharing most of the stability, protection of a boot.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Jeff V:  The Agravic Tech Pro is a very solid Winter trail running shoe, or even road/easy path shoe for when the conditions are snowy and sloppy and you want to keep warm and dry.  Ideal use in my opinion is for mountain trails, specifically when snow and winter conditions dominate, as they have excellent traction, security, stability, predictable handling, underfoot protection, an effective water resistant upper and the built in gaiter is the best I have used yet.  

The BOA lacing system works really well and is especially useful in an application such as a running shoe that is wrapped in an outer weather shell with built in gaiter. It is much easier to simply slide your foot into this shoe and not have to futz with hard to access laces and it is also much easier to adjust having the BOA adjustment external, which can be done while wearing gloves.

Jeff V's Score:  9/10

Ride: 9

Fit: 9

Value: 7 - $250 is expensive.

Style: 9.5 - I really like the red pinstripes on black, these are really sleek looking.

Traction: 9.5

Rock Protection: 9.5

John: The Agravic Tech Pro comes at a steep price of $250 and I would argue that it was made for the steeps! The shoe is my go to trail runner if I need something that can handle snow-covered mountains, a quick scramble up technical terrain, or a snow packed adventure around the neighborhood. 

With versatile traction, a comfortable and adjustable fit, and a well protecting upper, it’s a shoe for running the extreme yet I found it to be comfortable and responsive enough to enjoy on the more casual endeavors after a huge snow storm. 

The BOA fit system makes it easy to enjoy the shoe in any element, because it naturally holds the foot stable and even the most micro adjustments can be accomplished on the fly while wearing thick mittens in the cold. With the BOA system, there is no stress or annoyance of changing your fit on the go since a quick twist of the dial will give you more security as opposed to the cumbersome task of de-gloving then lace tightening with traditional laced shoes. 

John’s Score: 9.2 / 10

Ride: 9 (despite the weight of the shoe, I found it responsive and lighter feeling on foot)

Fit: 9 (BOA system for the win! But it is recommended to order ½ size down)

Value: 7.5 ($250 is steep for a shoe that doesn’t cross seasons very well)

Style: 10 (Sleek, black with white/orange accents are A+)

Traction: 9.5 (I really enjoyed the versatility and didn’t experience much downside)

Rock Protection: 9.5

Canice: The adidas Agravic Tech Pro is an incredibly versatile running and adventure shoe that can take you from a city trail to snow covered mountains then through technical terrain where precise foot placement is required and protection is a plus. The BOA system works perfectly and provides a great fit. 

The adidas Agravic Tech Pro is now my go to winter trail running shoe and when spring arrives and the trails are a mix of dirt, mud, snow and Ice this is the perfect shoe to pull from the quiver. It’s flexible and has an enjoyable ride thanks to the adidas Boost foam and with a built in gaiter, it keeps your feet dry and free  of debris. 

Price is an interesting topic given this shoe costs $250. I used to work for Salomon when we were owned by adidas and I worked in the adidas Village for years. I can assure you the product managers are designing the best shoes possible to achieve a performance goal and the price is a result of the materials they use, customs duty rates, construction techniques, etc. Consumers get to decide if we want to part with $250 but if you do the shoe will deliver, as promised. The adidas Agravic Tech Pro is a premium shoe made of premium materials and thus it performs incredibly well. You get what you pay for.

Canice’s Score: 9.3 / 10

Ride: 9.2

Fit: 9.5 (the length is off by about a ¼ size, otherwise it would be a 10)

Value: 8

Style: 10

Traction: 9.5

Rock Protection: 9.5

Sam: I got past the very considerable weight of 14 oz, at least a couple ounces more than I like in a trail runner, very quickly here. This is clearly a run shoe more than it is a “boot” despite its high and protective upper. It ran very, very well on a wide variety of the dry surfaces I tested on with notably smooth transitions, plenty of stable cushion, and enough front protection yet also while not eliminating trail feel and agility. I can’t wait to take them on snow where the water resistant high upper will shine and extra gaiters not required!

This is the best implementation of a BOA based upper I have tested. Super easy to “lace up” and adjust by adding a more rigid inner shoe to the mix and a dense thin and well padded tongue the BOA system really shine. The mid foot is locked to the platform while allowing the front of the shoe (upper and midsole/outsole) to flex yet remain stable and secure.

At $250 and at its weight, the Tech Pro gives pause. Yet, this highly evolved, very well executed shoe/boot is totally run able anywhere and is, as my fellow testers have said,, a great winter run option on trails. Given its Boost powered somewhat bouncy ride it is also fun on roads and smoother trails especially in miserable winter conditions or in fall and spring. But I also think, as marketed, it can be a wonderful fast high alpine and rough terrain scrambler and I can also well see it as an ideal fast packing and fast day hike option.

Sam’s Score: 9.2 /10

Ride:9 (30%) Fit:9.5 (30%) Value:8.5 (10%) Style:10 (5%) Traction:9.5 (15%) Rock Protection:9 (10%)

Watch Sam's Video Review of the Tech Pro

Comparisons

Index to all RTR reviews: HERE

Nike ACG Gore-Tex  Mountain Fly (RTR Initial Video Review)

Sam: At $30 less and a bit more than an ounce lighter, the Mountain Fly is another highly technical evolution of something between a trail runner and a hiking boot. It has a Gore-Tex upper so more water proof and breathable, an OK but not great non BOA type quick lace and yes a full carbon plate similar to the Vaporfly. It is as such a completely stiff shoe unlike the flexible Tech Pro. It favors smooth terrain and is clearly faster there than the Tech Pro. Less stable on rougher terrain with a good if not as “dialed” upper, I see it as a great winter road and hard packed flatter snow run shoe which likely will be warmer than Tech Pro due to its upper. A scrambler on technical terrain it is not and in the versatility equation of these premium shoes it lags the Tech Pro.

Sportiva Blizzard (RTR Review):  

Jeff V:  The Blizzards are a bit lighter, $50 less expensive with a more waterproof Gore-Tex upper.  Unlike many Winter running shoes with built in gaiter, the laces on the Blizzard are external, making normal laces an appropriate choice with the built in lace garage preventing your knot from icing up.  The Blizzards are studded, which is great when conditions become very slick and icy, but could perhaps be limiting at times depending on terrain/conditions.  The BOA on the adidas however is very convenient, especially if you ever need to adjust quickly and do not want to expose your hands and the Agravic Tech Pro has by far the best gaiter with velcro adjustable ankle cuff one that is imperceptible over a sock and keeps snow out very well (though the Blizzard cuff, while not adjustable, also works very well for my thin ankle.

Salomon SnowSpike CSWP (RTR Review)

Jeff V:  The SnowSpike CSWP are closer in weight and price ($215) and I find them to be more waterproof and overall to be warmer.  The SnowSpike also is studded for icy conditions.  The Agravic Tech Pro however is a quicker, more streamlined shoe that is much more stable, which is especially critical in snowy, slippery, technical terrain, where a lower center of gravity is critical (the SnowSpike CSWP with big blocky heel can feel unstable when pushed even a little in technical terrain).  The SnowSpike CSWP is less versatile due to the spiked lugs, so not as good for dry ground or pavement, though that has not been an issue for me, as I only reach for this shoe when snowy.

Canice: Jeff’s comparison is spot on. The pros of the Salomon SnowSpike is that it has spikes which I love in the winter. They work incredibly well not just in icy conditions but also on the dirt and on rock. The platform is much stiffer under foot which I like in soft snow and the shoe is warmer. What I like about the adidas Agravic Tech Pro is that it’s versatile and fun to run. It is also enjoyable on asphalt and feels great on dry trails. It has a flexible base which is better year round and the built in gaiter is more breathable. If you had to choose one shoe to do it all I would go with the adidas.

Speedgoat Mid GTX  (RTR Review)

Jeff V:  The Speedgoat Mid GTX are lighter by about an ounce, are a mid height shoe and cost $80 less. They have much more plush and forgiving cushioning, a wider outsole/platform for stability and comparable, if not better traction.  The upper is Gore-Tex, so more waterproof and warmer as well, somewhat also because of the thicker midsole insulating from the cold ground underfoot.  Lacing is external and lacing is one and done, with no need for me ever to adjust on the fly, but there is no lace garage, so laces can freeze.  While mid height, this is no substitute for a proper gaiter as is so nice with the Agravic Tech Pro, Blizzard and SnowSpike. If running on snow, adding a gaiter to the Speedgoat Mid GTX is an absolute must, as otherwise, snow will fill the cuff of the shoe and form painful ice balls.

Canice: I really enjoy running and adventuring in my Speedgoat Mids. Last year I used them in an adventure race that began with a 27 mile snowshoe leg that turned into bushwhacking and ended in a pack raft and they were perfect. I tend to think of the Speedgoat Mid GTX as a hiking shoe given it’s well padded higher ankle cuff and bulbous midsole. The adidas Agravic Tech Pro is sleek, flexible and when you first see it, it looks like a fast running shoe. For me, thanks to it’s slim design Tech Pro also is the perfect snowshoe running shoe. The BOA system works perfectly and gives you a snug and secure fit without any pressure points. Between the two, the adidas Agravic Tech Pro is the better running shoe and Speedgoat Mid the better hiking shoe.

Terrex Two Boa (RTR Review)

Jeff V:  Two very different shoes, sharing mostly brand name and a BOA lacing system.  I found the BOA system on the Terrex Two Boa to be a bit tough to “dial in” at first, requiring some supplemental lace pulling while Boa dialing, along with a break in period, whereas the BOA in the Agravic Tech Pro is more effective and friendly and also a more appropriate application given the type of shoe with water resistant overlay. 

Sam: While I agree with Jeff the Terrex Two’s BOA is not as easy or secure to dial in this is because its upper, while substantial, does not match the midfoot security of the Tech Pro inner boot and BOA combination. It is a much lighter shoe and a very versatile trail runner albeit not a Boost powered one so denser and not as bouncy.

Inov 8 Roclite G 400 (RTR Review)

Sam: The G 400 clearly has a boot “look” and function with a mid height profile and plastic rear exo skeleton. Yet, underfoot it is, as is the Tech Pro, a running shoe platform with plenty of flexibility for climbing and some running. While it is flexible upfront, its midsole is denser with less bounce and its mid foot lace up wrap is not quite as secure as the Pro and it noticeably more back weighted due to its high cuff and exo skeleton so it feels best.. fast hiking and not running. In summary the G 400 leans more boot and hike than run shoe while the Tech Pro leans more running shoe. 

Available at adidas HERE

The product reviewed was provided at no charge for testing. The opinions herein are the authors'.

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