By Brian Metzler

No matter what level of trail runner or how experienced you are, finding your next pair of trail running shoes can be a challenge. It’s not as simple as buying the baby blue ones from the brand you’ve always worn on the roads. Nor is it as easy as finding a shoe with a lot of soft cushioning or aggressive-looking tread. 

But it doesn’t have to be complicated, either, if you prioritize what you need and want in a shoe. The biggest factors to consider when shopping for new trail running shoes are (a) how well a particular model fits your feet, and (b) how agile and comfortable you can be running in it on the types of trails you most commonly run. I live in Colorado, so I’m often running technical rocky trails, but they can also be dry and sandy or wet and muddy, depending on where I’m running. I need a versatile shoe that is well-cushioned, durable, protective, and breathable. Occasionally, I come across a shoe like the Adidas Terrex Agravic 3 ($130) that’s not only a good fit for the terrain I run the most, but is also versatile enough to handle just about any type of terrain on trails around the world.

The Agravic 3 has just the right amount of cushioning that allows it to provide a cushy, semi-responsive ride, but it’s also close enough to the ground to offer really good proprioceptive “feel” for the trail surface. Running in the Agravic 3, I have been able to engage my foot-brain connection and sense precisely how my feet need to land and move while cornering on smooth dirt, jagged rocks, or loose gravel. That’s true if I am running down a steep descent or maneuvering slowly while going uphill over bigger boulders. This shoe has a thin, flexible TPU protection plate embedded in the midsole that helps avoid underfoot “stingers” from sharp rocks, and it has a durable rubber outsole with low-profile lugs that provide great traction and protection on everything I’ve encountered out in the wild. 

Is this the best trail running shoe for you? It all comes down to what kinds of trail terrain you run on most of the time and perhaps how fast you want to run. It’s not as fast and light as the race-ready Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra, but it’s much more stable and comfortable. If you need a versatile trail shoe that’s durable, protective, and comfortable, the Adidas Terrex Agravic 3 is a good one to consider. 

What’s New: The Agravic 3 has all of the key components I appreciate in a trail running shoe – a breathable, protective upper, a cushy, responsive midsole (with a thin, flexible TPU protection plate embedded in the middle), and a durable, grippy low-profile outsole. The mesh upper is reinforced with thin strips of TPU that also play a role in securing your feet to the midsole/outsole chassis, while the midsole is made from the soft, responsive Lightstrike foam found in a lot of Adidas road running shoes. Perhaps the best feature is the rugged Continental rubber outsole with low-profile 4mm lugs.

Fit/Feel/Ride: The Adidas Terrex Agravic 3 fits true to size with a medium interior volume and some extra space in the toe box that gives room for toes to wiggle and can avoid stubbed toes. The interior feels soft and smooth, but not necessarily overloaded with creature comforts. The thin, fully gusseted tongue has a little bit of padding and it integrates nicely with the TPU-reinforced engineered mesh upper to create a locked-down fit that’s adaptable to a wide range of foot shapes. 

Combined with the thick, soft and responsive midsole, the Agravic 3 fits, feels, and rides a lot like a road running shoe, offering loads of comfort and a good amount of energy return. Although it’s not a lightweight cruiser, it feels appropriately light and nimble on more burly terrain features. There is just enough moderate trail-specific protection – including lightly reinforced toe bumpers, abrasion-resistant sidewalls, the rugged and durable Continental rubber outsole, and the interior rock plate – to defend against the elements.

Why It’s Great: I think it’s great because it’s comfortable, versatile, and durable – which just happen to be three of my main criteria for a good trail running shoe. It’s cushy and comfy without numbing the feel for the ground that some max-cushioned trail shoes tend to do. Its rugged outsole and stable platform has allowed it to chew up roots, rocks, debris, and other obstacles on numerous runs I’ve done this year in Boulder, Colorado, Auburn, California, and Portland, Oregon, without complaints or shortcomings. While it’s probably more shoe than I’d ever want on a mild bridle path or basic dirt trail, if you run a lot of trails you know that almost every route you run will have sections of milder surfaces along with more technical terrain. 

Specs

Weights: 8.6 oz. (women’s 8), 10.3 oz. (men’s 9)

Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 32.5mm (heel), 24.5mm (forefoot)

Why You’ll Love It: You’ll love it because its versatility means it’s a shoe with no limitations. It can tackle dirt trails, rocky trails, muddy trails, sandy terrain, and everything in between. (I’ve only encountered a little bit of snow on high-altitude trails in Colorado this summer, but the Agravic 3 held its own with reliable grip.)  I’ve enjoyed running in this shoe on technical dirty and rocky trails, gravel roads, sections of muddy trails, and even up and down 14,440-foot Mt. Elbert. Its versatility makes it a shoe that could be viable for running trails just about anywhere in the U.S. because it can handle the specific terrain variability of any region. I’ve run several multi-hour long runs in the Agravic 3 and have loved it for its long-haul comfort, trail protection, and reliable traction on all of the wet and dry surfaces I’ve encountered.

Pro: At $130, you get a durable, high-quality shoe at a steal of a price. I understand that $130 isn’t pocket change, but it’s the base level of trail shoe pricing and yet the Agravic 3 is probably going to outlast a lot of your road running shoes that cost considerably more.

Con: If your definition of trail running is easy cruising on bridle paths and flat dirt routes in a local park, this might be too much shoe for your needs – similar to how driving a Jeep with oversized off-road tires through city and suburban streets is a bit out of place. This shoe is built for tackling more challenging semi-wild terrain and might feel a tad bit heavier and burlier than what you’d need for running on flat, smooth terrain (although I did enjoy it running on smooth gravel roads).