adidas isn’t a brand you associate with trail shoes, but the three-stripers have cracked it with these lightweight, grippy, waterproof go-faster boots.

The first thing you notice when you unbox the adidas Terrex Fast R Mid GTX boots is how little they weigh. Then you pick up on the cunning pull-through speed laces, perfect for someone like me who somehow manages to tie a granny bow however much I try and craft a reef.

Snug & comfy

Pull them on and they have that immediately snug and comfortable feel of a running shoe rather than a boot. Breaking in was minimal for me, though we’ve heard of some people taking a couple or three long walks for the Terrex boots to become really comfortable.

adidas has packed a lot of features into the Terrex Fast R Mid GTX. For starters, the Vibram sole you might expect on a £140 pair of boots is absent; instead there’s an outsole from German rubber giant Continental. This sole is claimed to be provide three times more grip in the wet than adidas’ competitors in the dry.

The Conti sole sits on what adidas calls a Formotion unit in the heel, which comprises two overlapping plates that can move independently to increase stability and reduce shock. It’s hard to measure, but the show certainly feels firm but comfortable as your heel hits the ground, even when the surface is all over the place.

Gore-Tex

Up top there’s a Gore-Tex liner to keep your feet dry and lots of light-but-stiff reinforcing to support your foot. If your feet aren’t adidas-shaped, I can imagine this would be less that ideal, but the Terrex Fast R Mid GTX could have been custom-moulded to my feet. As such, it’s supremely comfortable and supportive, even for all-day wear.

If faffing around with old-fashioned laces annoys you, then you’ll also like the Terrex Fast R Mid GTX’s speed laces, which are quicker to fasten and more secure than regular laces. They rest on a rubber section of the tongue so as to not cut into your feet. We have heard reports of the slider getting clogged with very fine dust, but as we didn’t tramp up any volcanos, we had no problems.

adidas is pitching the Terrex Fast R Mid GTX at ‘mountain athletes’, which I’m definitely not. But a light, grippy, waterproof boot has to be a good idea even if speed hiking isn’t on your agenda.

The price is a bit ouchy, but a little judicious use of Google turns them up for a lot less than £140.

↑ The Good

• Grippy and supportive
• Featherweight
• Quick to get on and off
• Waterproof

↓ The  not so Good

• A tad spendy
• Some reports of lace slider problems

Verdict

Grippy and comfortable lightweight boots that are great for a range of uses from general tramping around the hills to taking the dogs out for a quick walk in the rain. A bit pricy at RRP, but it pays to e-shop around.

Score: 9/10

Price: £140

More information: Adidas Terrex Fast R Mid GTX

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Specification

FORMOTION™ for improved ground control

TRAXION® sole with Continental rubber compound

adiPRENE®+ for improved forefoot roll

Ortholite® insoles for pleasant foot climate and comfort

Speed Lacing

Sizes: 5.5 – 12.5

Weight: 870g/pair (weighed)