Adidas Terrex Agravic SL review: possibly the best trail shoe they've made
The bouncy EVO SL magic finally comes to the trail, wrapped in grippy Continental rubber and a stable ride, for a very fair $160.
Adidas Terrex has made plenty of trail shoes over the years, but none of them clicked with me the way the Agravic SL does.
The idea is simple and smart: take the bouncy Lightstrike Pro foam and lively feel that made the road EVO SL such a runaway hit, then build a proper trail shoe around it.
The result, for my money, is the most well-rounded trail shoe Adidas Terrex has put out, and at $160 it is a lot of shoe for the money.
I have been running the Adidas TERREX Agravic SL across easy miles, tempo efforts, and mixed terrain, and it has quickly become a trail shoe I reach for without thinking; here's why.
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Key specifications
- Price: $160 at adidas.com
- Weight: 9.8 oz (278 g) in my tested men's US 9
- Drop: 6mm | Stack height: 39mm heel / 33mm forefoot
- Upper: Engineered woven mesh with a secondary liner, seamless TPU overlays, gusseted winged tongue, braided serrated laces, padded heel collar
- Midsole: Full-length Lightstrike Pro superfoam with a nylon midfoot shank and a moderate-to-exaggerated rocker
- Outsole: Full-coverage Continental rubber with aggressive 3.5 to 4 mm lugs
- Extra attributes: Wider, stable platform with raised sidewalls and a neutral ride backed by supportive geometry
Sizing and fit
The Agravic SL fits true to size (in US sizing) for a trail shoe, which is worth flagging if you know the road EVO SL for running a little large.
This one lands right where I expect a trail shoe to with just the right amount of expansion and breathing room for long trail days.
The toe box is accommodating with good structure, the heel collar is well padded, and the midfoot is roomy without feeling sloppy.
Lockdown stays secure, and it holds my feet in place without any hot spots.
Performance review
This is where the Agravic SL earns its keep, and it does so across a wider range than I expected from a daily trail trainer.
A bouncy, energetic ride that brings the EVO SL to the trail
The heart of this shoe is the full-length Lightstrike Pro superfoam, the same premium foam Adidas puts in its Adizero Adios Pro racers, paired with a moderate-to-exaggerated rocker.
That foam and rocker combination is the single biggest reason to buy these.
The foam feels soft yet responsive with real energy return, and the rocker rolls you through each step for a smooth, efficient turnover.
It captures the lively, bouncy character that made the road Adidas Adizero EVO SL such a hit, and brings it to the trail in a way that feels purposeful rather than compromised.
Terrex Agravic SL (left), EVO SL (right)
The ride is more controlled than the wilder Agravic Speed Ultra, but it keeps plenty of that energy.
A pace range from easy miles to honest tempo
What also surprised me is how wide the pace range is but I should have known based in my experience with Lightstrike Pro foam.
It is comfortable and protective enough for easy days, recovery runs, and long efforts, with the soft cushioning taking the edge off hard ground.
Then, when I want to press, it comes alive.
The bounce and efficient rocker make it easy to lift the pace and hold a tempo, and that lively underfoot feel keeps my legs fresher deep into longer runs. For a daily trail trainer, the efficiency here is very good.
Planted and stable without being a stability shoe
This is a neutral shoe, but the geometry does a lot of quiet work.
The wider midfoot and forefoot, the broader base, and the raised sidewalls give it a planted, confident feel on uneven ground. It is noticeably more stable than the EVO SL, which is exactly what you want once you leave the road.
None of that makes it a dedicated stability shoe, of course, but the supportive geometry keeps it composed when the trail gets rough.
Traction that bites everywhere but slick wet surfaces
The full-coverage Continental rubber and aggressive 3.5 to 4 mm lugs handle the terrain where most of my running happens.
Grip is confident on mud, gravel, dry rock, and soft ground, with enough bite to trust on typical all-mountain trails. Durability has been strong too, which I have come to expect from a Continental outsole.
The one honest caveat is slick wet rock and polished roots, where the traction gets a little sketchy and asks for more care. On everything else, it holds firm.
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A breathable upper with a real road-to-trail streak
The engineered mesh upper is very breathable, and it will drain quickly after wet crossings, so soggy feet do not linger.
Lockdown stays secure even on technical ground, the TPU overlays add durability and splash proofing where needed, while the toe box stays roomy enough for toe splay, foot expansion, and airflow on longer efforts.
Here is the part I did not expect: the soft, bouncy cushioning and tall stack make it protective enough for road sections and hardpack, so it doubles as a genuinely lively hybrid.
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If you want more energy than a typical road-to-trail shoe, it slots right in alongside my picks in the best road-to-trail running shoes roundup.
My verdict
The Agravic SL is one of the most complete trail shoes Adidas Terrex has made, and possibly one of the most attractive too; so it is an easy one for me to recommend, especially at $160.
It nails the thing I care about most in a trail running shoe: a ride that is protective and comfortable for easy miles yet lively and efficient when I want to push. Add strong grip, a breathable upper that drains well, and real road-to-trail range, and you get a true do-it-all trail running shoe.
At $160 it delivers premium performance without the premium price.
It suits runners who want one versatile all-mountain trainer to cover easy days, long runs, and mixed terrain, and it is an obvious pick for EVO SL fans who want that bouncy feel on the trail.
Who should skip it: if you need a specialist for extreme technical mountain racing, this is not really that; it's an all mountain trail cruiser with real range and versatility.
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For where it sits against other all mountain trail runners, see my guide to the best trail running shoes roundup.
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