Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra Review

The Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is designed for runners who excel in form and seek a competitive edge. Its standout feature is a dynamic, springy bounce, the most pronounced among the carbon models we've tested. We enjoyed the premium materials but found the upper to have higher-than-average volume, which didn't lock down our feet as well as others. With its high stack and intensely rockered profile, it's great for easy to moderate trails. We don't find it to be suitable for hiking, as the heel strike is lower than the forefoot due to its highly pronounced rocker. If speed is your top priority, and you're sticking to easier trails, this carbon-containing model is worth considering.

Comfort and Fit

We loved the materials of this upper but weren't in love with the fit. While the length was right, the volume of our foot left it feeling spacious and insecure. The heel lift was a problem, and the arch lockdown didn't inspire confident footing when we tried to take it on more technical terrain. We tried using this model with thicker socks, but it didn't offer much improvement. The laces were also exceedingly long, which was annoying to deal with — maybe this is another sign that our foot volume was too small for this model. For running comfort, the shoe performed excellently, offering a comfortable ride over a variety of trails thanks to the plush comfort of the cushioning. This helped reduce fatigue on longer runs and kept us springy and lively throughout more intense efforts.

Traction

We liked the continental rubber, and the 3.6 mm lug depth and pattern fit the shoe style well. As with any shoe, if you take it out of its intended use, the lugs will suffer, and this model was no different. The shoe feels at home on a hardpack and doesn't perform well in loose environments. Its stack and cushioning prevent the model from cornering quickly, and the shoe can quickly feel over-engineered in technical terrain. But for fast racing and consistent directional running, the model is sure-footed.

Stability

With such a thick stack and extreme rocker, it's no surprise that this shoe was less stable than the other models we tested. That said, the wide forefoot outsole of 4.8 inches does add stability when landing on your forefoot. Strong runners won't have issues on moderate terrain, but those with less experience may find the model tweaky. Off-camber terrain makes the lower stability more noticeable, and extended periods caused fatigue during our testing. The Agravic Speed Ultra is best for straight-ish hardpacked trails where there are fewer sharp changes of direction and more consistent footing. In a race or PR attempt, you will likely receive more stability as your focus narrows and your effort increases — generally, the most instability occurs when your are more relaxed. Due to this, we recommend this more for tempo style efforts, whereas another shoe is supplemented for everyday training.

Foot Protection

The high cushioning and carbon “energy rods” allowed for comfortable long runs, but they required more focus than other shoes. The model's stack, bounce, and extreme rocker require constant attention, leaving us only wanting to run in the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra when we were pushing that pace. Lacking a thick toe bumper wasn't a big deal, as we tended to keep this on easier trails with less rock. The height of the stack and the strong rocker also prevent most interference with trail debris. While the carbon produces some stiffness, the foam is surprisingly soft, giving a more muffled sensitivity. This shoe excels on buffed track, hardpack, and easy-to-moderate trail with minimal tech, where you can maintain an efficient and consistent stride.

Weight

At 9.95 ounces per men's US size 10.5 shoe, the Speed Ultra packs a lot of tech into a fairly lightweight package. While not as light as others, the shoe still feels fluid and easy to lift when trying hard. The noticeable propulsion adds a nice touch and feels like it offsets any of the heaviness that might be felt from the actual shoes. When running hard on easy to moderate terrain, these felt the fastest in our test group. The breathable upper was also a nice touch, and we are happy that it's not overkill. We were impressed with the durability and the overall platform, and while niche, it still has a lot to offer.

Sensitivity

The Agravic Speed Ultra lacks sensitivity due to a combination of thick foam and extreme rocker. At 30 mm in the forefoot and 31 mm under the heel — yes, you read that right — this may not sound like the highest stack in our lineup, yet this amount of foam and the serious rocker of this shoe dampen its sensitivity. It scores lower than most others we've tested — though this is less of an issue with these particular shoes because they're not great on the technical terrain you'd need sensitivity for, for other reasons.

The rocker on these shoes is so different from most other models that using World Athletics standard heel-toe drop measurements actually results in a rise of 1 mm from the heel stack to the forefoot stack. While this intense rocker can encourage steady turnover on smooth, flat surfaces, it's rather unwieldy on rocky ground, uneven surfaces, and through intense elevation changes. If technical terrain is where you're heading, you will want something firmer with a lower stack that gives you a better ground feel, which will help your body positioning.

Should You Buy the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra?

If you are at the front of the pack on easy or moderate terrain or looking to PR, you might consider these pricey shoes. In terms of performance gains from carbon, these feel the most noticeable, and we think they probably provide the best energy gains. You'll want excellent form so you can land on your forefoot and ankle strength to handle the rocker. If you want the feeling of bounce propulsion and speed, give the Agravic Speed Ultra a try. We would not recommend these if you are looking for an everyday trainer or something to tackle more technical terrain.

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