Adidas Terrex Skychaser LT Mid GORE-TEX Walking Boots Review

The adidas Terrex Skychaser LT Mid GORE-TEX is a technical lightweight fast hike boot with a sleek, streamlined look that sets it apart from more traditionally styled walking boots.

We gave Nick, our digital marketing manager, a pair to test out around his local Lancashire hills, famed for its boggy, wet and peaty moors. The perfect place to put both the waterproofing and grip through its paces.

Initial thoughts:

With a name like Skychaser, it’s quickly apparent that this isn’t going to be your run-of-the-mill traditional hiking boot. This boot clearly has aspirations. Straight out of the box, you’ll notice how light these are, but also how solid and well constructed they feel.

The black/grey colourway I tested was very subtle and smart, with the slim visibility of the white Boost sole adding an accent. The real attention-grabber however is that Continental sole and those aggressive lugs, which I’m more used to seeing on a technical mud fell running shoe.

The real test would be how well they fared out on the boggy moors of Lancashire during mid-winter, possibly the ultimate testing ground for this boot.

Fit

hese are dead easy to get on, helped massively by that big heel tab (which is always appreciated when you’ve got such a high instep like me).

Putting these on for the first time, I noticed the ample amount of room in the toe box, which was perfect for my flipper-like feet. They almost have a sock-like fit as your foot drops into them, with more initial ankle support than I anticipated, almost feeling more like a full height hiking boot rather than a mid. That said, once laced up, they didn’t feel overly snug or nearly as rigid as a stiffer boot, definitely a good balance.

I have to also highlight the effectiveness of the lacing system, quite often I find, when a boot doesn’t have lace hooks, it can be painful keeping the tension through the lacing process. With the Skychaser, this wasn’t really an issue at all and the reinforced textile eyelets combined with the metal eyelets at the top, which allow the laces to double back on themselves, ensured that tension was kept throughout the boot.

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Traction

This is where the Skychaser really shines. As I headed out into the moors for a socially distanced walk with a couple of friends, it quickly and unsurprisingly got very muddy. Along the way were a series of significant inclines and declines, all of which were slick with mud after the recent torrential rain. Whilst my friends’ boots were losing traction, particularly at the extension of their steps, I experienced solid grip with the Skychasers.

To the point where I decided it would be a great idea to push them to the limit by sprinting up and down some of the hillsides, as though I was wearing a fell running shoe. And that’s when that trail-inspired sole came into its own and really inspired confidence.

Stability

No doubt about it, these boots are confidence inspiring in muddy conditions, but also deliver the perfect balance of being lightweight with that feeling of being locked in, with no sloppiness or movement within the boot. As mentioned before, these don’t really feel like a standard mid-cut boot, as they possibly sit a little higher up the ankle than other alternatives, but in no way do they feel restrictive, just incredibly supportive.

Sensitivity

Again a really good blend here of fell running shoe meets lightweight hiking boot. You can feel the terrain underneath your feet with decent sensitivity, but the midsole protection plate clearly does its job well by reducing the protrusion of rocks when compared to a fell running shoe.

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Comfort

I’ve got to say, if I wasn’t already an advocate of the adidas Boost technology, I am after wearing these. The comfort and spring of the Boost midsole, combined with the lightweight construction means you can wear these for hours and hours without feeling any real fatigue or discomfort. The Boost midsole also noticeable puts a bit more drive into your step, which is definitely appreciated after a full day on the hill.

It’s also always a big bonus when you’ve been stomping around the boggy moors, coming home with dry feet. So that’s a big tick for the performance of the GORE-TEX Extended Comfort from me.

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Weight

The Skychaser is impressively light (at 425g for size 8) given that amount of stability and support it provides. This makes it, in my mind, the perfect day hiking boot.

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Materials

I’ve mentioned the Continental sole unit and the Boost midsole, both of which undoubtedly add to both the agility and lightweight technical nature of the boot. The mesh uppers also appear to replicate the quality seen throughout the boot, with sleek welded construction and minimal stitching, which results in a very clean style for a non-leather boot.

The uppers look like they could take a beating and have some abrasion resistant reinforced areas, along with a slightly raised section of padded ankle protection with a rubber toe cap to finish it off.

Aesthetics 

The Skychaser has clearly taken its styling cues more from adidas’ heritage rather than try to adhere to a more traditional hiking boot design. Personally, I think this works its favour, offering sleek clean design aesthetics (especially with black on black Three Stripes), which stand out from the rest of the competition.

Honestly it’s nice to see something that just looks a little different to most other hiking boots out there.

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Durability

After a couple of hikes, I can’t see any obvious issues with potential future durability. As mentioned previously, the quality of the construction is high and the uppers seem very abrasion resistant, and would have no trouble warding off sharp rocks etc.

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Overall verdict:

The Skychaser is ideal for someone looking to tackle trails in a fast & light manner, carrying minimal weight, whilst keeping constantly on the move. The traction from the continental sole is exceptional, and the abrasion resistant mesh uppers do not in any way comprise the stability or durability. Definitely a solid choice for anyone looking for a more fashionable hiking boot, perfect for day hiking or lightweight backpacking.

Pros Great fit out of the box. Exceptional traction in muddy conditions. The Boost sole combined with the lightweight construction adds a spring to your step. The abrasion resistant uppers promise decent durability.

Cons The wide fit possibly isn’t for everyone.