Adidas Terrex Skychaser Gore-Tex Hiking Shoe

Review by Kate Agathon

The Adidas Terrex Skychaser Gore-Tex Hiking Shoe is my surprise favorite hiking shoe this spring. They are comfortable, sturdy, and have one small, but extremely important standout feature that makes them my favorite.

Look and Fit

I really like the overall look of the shoe; a nice hybrid design between a trail runner and a hiking boot. I’m probably in the minority here, but it’s nice to wear a shoe that doesn’t have a super high cushy stack height that looks like I’m bouncing around on meringue (sorry trail runners, I just can’t).

The Burgundy/Preloved Fig/Grey Too color with the red (why?!) speed lace system was too purple for my taste (I prefer neutral khaki or gray for hiking because they do a better job of hiding dust). Once I got beyond the color and focused on the fit, features, and performance, I really began to like the shoe.

I have small, narrow feet. Unfortunately, I often find shoes that I like where the smallest size is a US Women’s size 5.5 or a 6- still too large. Thankfully, Adidas not only has shoes in my size, but the fit is somewhat narrow. Yay!

Features and Performance

I recently wore them hiking in the desert highland of Colorado National Monument during Spring Break.

Surrounded by steep canyon walls and raised plateaus, I tested them on dirt, rock, and uneven steep terrain.

The first thing I noticed was how comfortable they were; they provided excellent cushioning! The second thing I noticed was how sturdy they were.

The slightly higher sides offered more protection from brush and debris, and the Continental™ outsole provided adequate traction as I scrambled over slick rock and uneven terrain. In other words, good grip!

Let’s get to my favorite feature: the speed lace system.

My main interest in the Adidas Terrex Skychaser Hiking Shoe was the speed lace system. I am notorious for always having my shoelaces coming undone, so I make it point to shoes with either speed laces or BOA Fit Systems.

To my delight, the speed lace system has one simple, yet awesome feature: it has a piece of fabric near the toe of the shoe where I can tuck the laces. So simple, yet ingenious.

In contrast, I’ve used other speed lace systems where the ends are tucked into a lace garage located at the top of the tongue, and they just don’t stay put. In contrast, the Adidas Terrex Skychaser Hiking Shoe speed lace system makes sense- instead of flipping lace ends up to stash them, I just smoothed them down underneath the fabric strap.

The speed lace system provided a near perfect fit and thanks to the tension, stayed in place. As the day wore on and the terrain changed, I liked the ability to quickly adjust the tightness on my tired feet.I liked that despite the rugged appearance, the Adidas Terrex Skychaser Hiking Shoe was somewhat flexible.

Other features:

• A lightstrike midsole is paired with an Ortholite premium insole
• Stability plate provides midfoot stability
• Recycled upper materials
• Ripstop upper
• Continental™ rubber outsole offers traction in wet and dry conditions
• Gore-Tex upper blocks water

Final Thoughts

If you’re a fan of the speed lace system, then you’ll definitely want to try out the Adidas Terrex Skychaser Hiking Shoe. The little ingenious piece of fabric that holds the laces in place is simple and wonderfully effective (so long, lace garage!).

Available in four colors and 15 sizes, the Adidas Terrex Skychaser Hiking Shoe is a comfortable hiking shoe that is great for day hikes with a variety of terrain.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbabies, Sansa and Benjen.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing.

Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers. She and her fiancé, Paul, live in Summit County with their dogs, Benjen and Sansa.

Kate earned a BA in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving two terms on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

The Dr. of Stoke has been part of the Engearment team since 2016.