Free delivery on orders over £80TERREX Speed Ultra Review
Photos: adidas TERREX & Andy Johnson
adidas TERREX have released the Speed Ultra, a lightweight trail running shoe designed for speed and agility.
We tested the Speed Ultra on various trails to see how its responsive midsole and aggressive traction perform on the hill.
Written Review Contents: | Summary | Our Tester | Initial Thoughts | Thoughts after a few months | Recommended for |
Key Stats
Model: TERREX Speed Ultra (Women's & Men's)
Ideal for: Racing on dry terrain for neutral or mild over-pronators.
Main Features: Lightweight low-stack trail race shoe featuring a mix of BOOST and Lightstrike cushioning. Designed in conjunction with athlete Tom Evans.
Stack Height:
MENS - 26mm (heel) / 18mm (forefoot)
WOMENS - 25mm/17mm (forefoot)
Drop: 8mm
Fit length: Runs small – size up by ½ size. Our tester is normally a size UK 4 and received a UK 4.5 - which was perfect.
Width: Narrow
Continental rubber outsole: 5mm centre lugs / 3mm outside lugs
Price: £160
Summary
An ultra shoe that’s been around for a couple of years with a lower stack, than would be seen in new releases today.
The shoe was developed with runner Tom Evans over a 2-year period and was designed for all race distances.
Does the shoe still stack up against the new competition, or was it always better suited to shorter distances?
Our Tester
Aileen – Aileen is a dedicated and experienced runner who has been on the trails for as long as she can remember with her father. Although residing in Manchester limits her access to trails and fells, she maintains a consistent running routine, covering a diverse terrain of approximately 25 to 30 miles each week, including road segments.
Aileen actively participates in various races and events throughout the year, with a fondness for The Stoop, a muddy and spirited 5-mile race.
Aileen's neutral forefoot strike helps keep her injury-free and she usually prefers low-drop shoes with a minimal stack height.
Initial Thoughts
I was excited to try the adidas TERREX Speed Ultra Trail Shoes, and in the end, they weren’t what I was expecting. They were different, but actually much better.
Lifting the shoe box made me double check someone hadn’t emptied it before me, because it was so light you could easily believe there wasn’t a pair of shoes inside. Slipping them on, I was instantly convinced of their comfort.
I had, upon recommendation and never having worn adidas trainers before, gone up half a size, and that made them the perfect fit for me. They genuinely fit like a glove, especially thanks to the lightly padded gusseted tongue, which creates a really comfortable cradled feel. I did have to double, and eventually triple, tie the long laces to stop them from coming undone though.
Thoughts after a few months
At the time of writing this review, I have run 100 miles in them, over a period of a few months, and have tested them on a range of terrain and on different length runs. My longest run in them was a gentle 27km run, running for over two and a half hours along an undulating river path that varied from tarmac and gravel through to dry mud and sand. I have also worn them for a couple of 5km Parkruns on off-road or mixed courses, where I have attempted to go pretty flat out.
From the get-go I was impressed by how they combine stability with agility; they enabled me to feel confident in my foot placement and relax into my stride. I definitely found their limit fairly quickly as far as the grip is concerned, and they are not for deep mud or really soft wet ground, but they are not supposed to be, and they did hold their own elsewhere, like rocks, gravel paths and hard-pack trails.
While the TERREX Speed Ultra is designed for trails, it is a versatile shoe. I live in Manchester, and so also gave it a bit of a go on tarmac as I was heading towards some more interesting terrain and it did not compromise on comfort while running on hard ground or sections of road. They therefore make a fantastic door-to-trail shoe, for those not lucky enough to have the trails at their doorstep, or for events where you are anticipating mixed ground.
At 26mm/18mm they are slightly less stacked than a lot of other racing shoes out there, and this suits me down to the ground. They do still feel cushioned and bouncy, with Lightstrike EVA throughout, but they don’t have the wallowy marshmallow feel of high stack options, which doesn’t suit my personal taste for an off-road shoe. I was excited to feel the benefits of the famous BOOST, however, I run with a mid to forefoot strike, and I just felt like the BOOST, which is all in the heel, wasn’t doing much for me. I think you would gain more from its responsive cushioning as a heel striker. I can also then feel the slope of the 8mm drop, because of the placement of the BOOST. This made me feel reservations at the beginning, but if I’m honest, I did get over them.
I have tried them running for a long time, slowly, and running a short distance at race pace. I am most impressed by the fact that this shoe has felt equally at home doing both, and equally comfortable doing both. You could easily wear them to race long or short distances or use them for long, slow training runs. An exciting combination of light and snappy, but cushioned and comfortable; they do not fit in just one category. I cannot stress their versatility enough, which makes them perfect if you anticipate doing a little bit of everything, and don’t want to invest in 3+ pairs of trainers.
They are lightweight, which is definitely noticeable while you move, and that combines with a snappy precise sense that overall makes them feel fast. TERREX weighs them in at 210g, though when I popped them on my kitchen scales (everyone does that right?) my size UK4.5s came up at a superlight 204g each. It’s no wonder they don’t feel like they are weighing you down. Despite that, the upper appears to be durable, with a surprisingly tough mesh that is still breathable and dries quickly. It does also let water in quickly, but that hasn’t bothered me in the spring months. At the toes, there is a reinforced rand that also comes further up to protect the big toenail. While the shoe is overall narrow, there is still room for a decent splay in the forefoot, and I didn’t have any trouble with rubbing even during a longer run.
Trail shoes don’t often win many points in the fashion world, but these may be an exception. I think they look fantastic, a really stylish shoe with a low profile, sleek but with cleverly located pops of colour. Which doesn’t matter, but hey, looking good always makes you run faster right?
Recommended for
I have been swapping them out for road shoes, and a deeper lugged fell shoe when the terrain has demanded it, meaning they won’t become my go-to shoe in all cases, but they definitely will be keeping a top spot in my rotation. I think I will be wearing them more in the spring and summer months, but if you’re after a shoe that can comfortably do a little bit of everything, and do it in style with ease, then the adidas TERREX Speed Ultra is a fantastic choice.
The adidas TERREX Speed Ultra is available now in-store and on our website - Women's and Men's
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