Gear Review: Adidas Fast X High GTX Hiking Boots

Over the last years I’ve had MANY pairs of hiking boots from Salomon to Merrel to Zamberlan. When I started using the Adidas Fast X High GTX I already had a pretty new pair of burly, heavy backpacking boots, but I found myself not wanting to wear them on day hikes or adventure photography trips due to their weight and bulkiness. So a little over a year ago I started testing the Adidas Fast X High GTX Hiking Boots and I really fell love!

These boots are hardly boots in the traditional sense of the word. They don’t have stiff, heavy leather, no welted sole, and no uncomfortable foot bed. They are the complete opposite of that, almost like an upgraded technical, high-top, outdoor sneaker. The Adidas Fast X High is a lightweight (under 1 pound), waterproof (thanks to Gore-tex) and breathable piece of footwear technology. They have a Continental rubber outsole that has an amazing amount of grip and traction in almost any conditions. The Adiprene under the entire footbed makes these things more comfortable than you would believe, and the woven synthetic upper with synthetic overlays makes these far more durable than your average sneaker.

After a little over a year of use, I have to say these Adidas are 100% rad. I’ve worn them into the rugged, wet Olympic National Park, deep into the forests of Mount Rainier National Park, and all the way over to dusty, red rock mesas in Sedona, AZ. No matter where’ I’ve taken them they’ve been a comfy, reliable day hiker.