Adidas stored its powder dry for many of 2023 almost about new racing shoe releases, then introduced flagship super-shoes for the street and trails within the area of a month. The Adidas Adizero Pro Evo 1 seems set to be among the many best carbon plate running shoesif outrageously costly, whereas the Adidas Terrex Agravic Pace Extremely is a super-shoes for the paths, constructed to rival the likes of the Nike Ultrafly.
A number of manufacturers have now launched off-road super-shoes, however the Agravic Pace Extremely is the primary to seize the sensation of street sneakers, and one of many best trail-running shoes you may get for races at any distance. Nonetheless, its speedy design means it lacks stability, and it could not work so effectively on sure terrains. Some runners may not get on with its aggressively rockered design, both.
Adidas Terrex Agravic Pace Extremely: Value And Availability
I used to be capable of pay money for the Adidas Terrex Agravic Pace Extremely earlier than its launch date in spring 2024 by attending an Adidas occasion in Chamonix at Extremely Path du Mont Blanc 2023. Whereas the shoe was nonetheless being described as a prototype, I consider it’s the model that can go on sale. It’ll price $230 within the US and €230 in Europe (UK value but to be confirmed), which is a bit more inexpensive than the Nike Ultrafly however nonetheless among the many costliest path sneakers I’ve examined.
How I Examined This Shoe
I’ve run slightly below 70 miles (112km) within the Adidas Terrex Agravic Pace Extremely, together with one 30-mile run, which was the primary six laps of a 10-lap, 50-mile ultra-marathon of which I did the ultimate 20 miles within the Nike Ultrafly to check the sneakers. I’ve additionally completed sooner, shorter runs within the shoe, utilizing it totally on tame and dry trails in a forest close to London, with one run on rockier, trickier terrain in Chamonix.
Design and Match
Crucial characteristic of the Agravic Pace Extremely is its midsole, which is created from Adidas’s springy Lightstrike Professional and has EnergyRods working via it so as to add each stability and propulsion to the tender foam.
The Agravic Pace Extremely’s rods are completely different from these within the street shoe, which has 5 prongs working beneath the forefoot. The Agravic Pace Extremely has 4, and these are unfold throughout the broad forefoot of the shoe to extend stability with out being as rigid as a plate on uneven floor. There are additionally two rods prolonged again into the heel of the shoe.
The shaping of the Agravic Pace Extremely’s midsole is dramatic in a number of methods. The rocker is pronounced and encourages a forefoot strike, one thing additionally demanded by the various width alongside the size of the shoe. The forefoot is broad, with a slender pinch-point behind the midfoot and a comparatively slender heel part. Because of this the shoe shall be extra steady for forefoot strikers, and probably a bit wobbly for heelstrikers, given the tender foam used.
Adidas hasn’t confirmed the stack peak or drop of the shoe, although it’s not a low-profile shoe. The best level is definitely on the midfoot due to the rocker form. Regardless of the massive quantity of froth, the shoe is mild for a path shoe at 9.7oz/274g in my UK measurement 9. That’s partly right down to the woven higher, which is light-weight and breathable and designed to not soak up water. There are solely minimal overlays on the shoe, with further safety across the toes, and there’s not a lot padding across the collar and tongue.
The shoe fitted effectively in my regular working shoe measurement, whereas typically with Adidas running shoes I’m going half a measurement up. It additionally proved to be a snug higher over lengthy distances for me, with no rubbing or different issues in any respect on my 30-mile run within the shoe.
The Agravic Pace Extremely has a Continental rubber outsole with lugs starting from 2.5mm to three.5mm in size. It’s constructed to deal with a variety of terrain and I discovered it gripped effectively on the whole lot I examined it on, together with dry grass and forest trails, and moist rocks and rooty trails. It’s not constructed for deep mud however ought to deal with most different terrains, and it feels comfy for prolonged spells on the street as effectively.
Operating Efficiency
I used to be involved earlier than my first run within the Agravic Pace Extremely that it wouldn’t go well with me. As a shuffling heelstriker, the forefoot-focused design appeared like it could be unstable and I fearful the rocker would really feel unnatural.
Nonetheless, after a number of weeks working within the shoe these issues have been lengthy gone. It felt comfy and fluid at a variety of paces, ticking over properly at gradual speeds after which being extra bouncy and propulsive after I did push the tempo. I did an hour-long development run of simply over 10 miles on undulating forest trails and the shoe had the springy, environment friendly really feel of a carbon street shoe.
The massive distance take a look at I did was to make use of the shoe for the primary 30 miles of my first ultra-marathon: The Orion Harriers Epic Epping Forest 50-mile occasion, which concerned 10 laps of a five-mile route on a wide range of forest trails. Most of those have been dry and well-groomed paths, with a number of sections of the loop on rooty single-track and grass to combine it up a bit.
All through the 30 miles the sneakers felt nice. It was comfy and, at a slower tempo of round 8min/mile, the rocker felt prefer it helped to maintain me ticking over and preserve a excessive cadence. Though I’m a heelstriker, the shoe felt pure and didn’t place any uncommon pressure on my physique due to its distinctive form.
I retain some issues in regards to the shaping of the shoe, although that will come extra into play on steep descents on extra technical trails, with rocks and plenty of twists and turns. I’m nonetheless not sure if it will be a superb shoe for me in these situations as a result of when you land within the mistaken spot on the slender midfoot or heel it could possibly be a recipe for a rolled ankle.
On the run I did in Chamonix on a route with rocky and rooty sections and sharp descents I felt much less safe in pounding downhill within the Adidas shoe than in one thing just like the Nike Ultrafly, which is heavier and feels much less fast, however has a wider base to land on and feels extra steady and dependable to me on downhills. Extra skilled path and mountain runners could have much less to fret about with the Adidas shoe.
Is The Adidas Terrex Agravic Pace Extremely Value It?
As soon as it launches, and assuming it sticks to the design I’ve examined right here, the Adidas Terrex Agravic Pace Extremely shall be the most effective trail-running sneakers out there. For long-distance occasions it’s the closest a path shoe has come to feeling like a street super-shoe for me, and it’s comfy and speedy.
The Nike Ultrafly is much less speed-focused however extra steady and comfy, making it higher for these beginning out in path working. It’s much more costly although, and there’s a case for taking a look at cheaper plated path choices just like the Hoka Tecton X2 or Saucony Endorphin Edge.
An much more compelling different is the Asics Fujispeed 2which is $160/£160, lighter than any of the sneakers above and fast, as a result of carbon plate in its midsole. The Fujispeed 2 is much less comfy than the Adidas and I wouldn’t prefer to go to ultra-marathon distance in it, however when you’re sticking to shorter path occasions it’s the one I’d get, since it’s so less expensive.
I’d additionally say that whilst you’ll really feel the advantages of the plates/rods in path sneakers, they’re much less pronounced than with street sneakers, the place the even floor permits for longer, stiffer plates and softer foams that add extra bounce. There are nice trail-racing sneakers with out plates which might be less expensive than the Adidas Terrex Agravic Pace Extremely, just like the Saucony Xodus Ultra 2 or Hoka Speedgoat.
