Gear Review: Adidas Terrex Fast GTX Surround Hiking Shoe

Adidas sent us out a few pairs of shoes and boots to test out on our Maui trip. I might review them all, maybe, but today I’m just going to review the ones I liked the best, the Adidas Terrex Fast GTX Surround Hiking Shoe.

I’m gonna start with something simple for the people with real short attention spans… The Adidas Terrex Fast GTX Surround is a rad hiking shoe. Okay, if that’s all you read, I did my job, if you want to know more, then I’ll expand a bit as well.

Now, normally I’m not a hiking shoe kinda guy. I prefer boots. I like my heavy duty Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GTX hiking boots, but I’m not stuck on a heavy duty boot. I also like my lightweight Adidas Fast X hiking boots. So if I like my boots, than why did I decide to try a hiking shoe? Well, to be honest I was picking out some new Adidas to try on our Maui trip and I figured I should probably try something different than what I already had, and after a bit of research I landed on the Adidas Terrex Fast GTX hiking shoe.

So, what made me a believer in this shoe? Well, there’s honestly quite a few reasons. The first reason is that Maui is hot, but it’s also pretty damp. I knew I wanted a GoreTex liner in whatever footwear I was going to bring for hiking but imagining putting on a high or even mid top boot seemed pretty miserable in the heat. This was the perfect compromise. It’s game me the water protection I wanted but offered the better breathability of a low top sneaker.

The second reason I was stoked on these shoes is that they’re small, comfy and lightweight shoes. Being small means they take up less space in my bag when traveling, and as most travelers know, having extra space is SUPER important when traveling long term. Being lightweight also makes travel easier and it means these are real pleasure to wear when hiking or just walking around town compared to a bigger bulkier hiker. As far comfort they fit great. Not too cushy, and not too stiff. They also run true to size which is nice.

Another feature I really like about these shoes is the sole. The Continental rubber outsole is super durable and provides excellent traction outdoors. In fact, I’ve had several boots over the years with same sole and I’ve never had an issue with it, which I can say about other shoes I’ve had. The sole is also just super comfortable comfortable to walk on, even after a lot of abuse.

The last thing I’ll mention is the lacing system. I was a bit wary of venturing away from laces. It’s kinda one of those if it’s not broke don’t fix it things, ya know, but surprisingly the lace system is pretty dope. It allows you to get the shoes perfectly tight which allows these guys to hug your feet, and also helps prevent rocks and other trail debris from getting in the shoes.

To wrap it all up nicely I can say that after 6 months of heavy use on Maui hiking the dry desert terrain, wet muddy jungle trails and trekking through rivers, I can fully say these shoes are legit.