Our Award: Best for Winter
Adidas are a brand that it’s pretty much impossible not to have heard of and they’ve been making waves for a number of years now with their outdoor range named Terrex. It’s a versatile hiking shoe that punches well above its weight for the cost and offers something very tough, durable and capable of taking on tough terrain.
Great news: This shoe is also available in a men’s fit.
Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Feels durable, tough and strong
- Offers excellent traction on slippery surfaces
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Can run a little large for those with narrow feet
- You might find this hiking shoe stiff if you’re used to a lighter trail runner
See the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex in more detail:
Editor’s note: This article is part of our guide to the best hiking shoes, be sure to check out the rest of this guide for our top buying tips:
We’ve been very impressed with the hiking shoes offered by Terrex – their range may have started small as the sub brand offered by Adidas, but now their product portfolio has continued to grow to create a strong offering for even the toughest of adventures. The Swift R3 is no different, and we’ve found it holds up extremely well on harsh terrain and rocky surfaces, through rain and everything in-between thanks to its solid build and Gore-Tex waterproofing. If you decide to buy this hiking shoe from Adidas Terrex, we think you’ll be impressed!
Compare to Similar Products:
Product | Danner Womens Trail 2650 | Columbia Women's Trailstorm | Hoka Speedgoat 5 | Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex | Keen Zionic Speed | Altra Lone Peak 7 | Adidas Terrex AX4 Gore-Tex Hiking Shoes | Keen NXIS EVO Low Height Waterproof Hiking Shoe | La Sportiva Spire GTX | Merrell Moab Speed | Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof | On Cloudwander Waterproof | Merrell Siren Edge 3 |
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Our Ratings | Best Overall Women's | Best Budget | Best Lightweight | Best for Winter | Best for Long Distances | Best for Trail Running | |||||||
Pros | Durable build. Extremely comfortable | Exceptionally good hiking shoe for the price point. Clever traction design in the lugs | Extremely well cushioned and comfortable fit. Deep lugs offer good traction on slippery surfaces | Well protected and durable. Great traction and feels very grippy | A great fast and light shoe. Roomy toe box, and comfortable for wider feet | Roomy toe box. Excellent traction. | Striking design. Makes use of recycled material | Light weight. Good environmental credentials | Light Weight. Ultra breathable | Lightweight. Iconic Moab fit and comfort | Durable build. Good water resistance | Excellent balance of weight and waterproofing. Stiffer design gives a more technical feel | Very light. Often very reasonably priced |
Cons | Not the cheapest. We found they didn't keep our feet warm in wet conditions | Breathability concerns in warmer temperatures | Colorways are divisive. lacking in stiffness between outsole and midsole | Pretty rigid - not the most fast and light shoe on the market, can feel a little big | Not waterproof. Durability concerns on the sole | Less durable. Pricey | Looks may be too much for some. Slightly narrow fit may be unsuitalbe for wider feet. | May not be best fit for narrower feet. A bit pricey | Pricey. Some may prefer a more rigid shoe | Not most supportive. More expensive than the regular Moab | Heavy. Longer break-in period | Some may find them too stiff. Can be pricey. | Not Waterproof. Some durability concerns |
Traction | Vibram outsole with medium/deep thread pattern | Extremely good | Very good | Extremely good | Average | Full rubber outsole with medium/deep thread pattern | Continental outsole with medium deep thread depth | Full rubber outsole with medium thread depth | Vibram outsole with deep thread pattern | Vibram outsole with medium/deep thread pattern. | Very good | Very good | Good |
Breathability | Perforated suede outer with breathable mesh inner | Not so great | Good | Good, but Gore-Tex membrane does play in here | Excellent | Full mesh upper | Breathable mesh upper with Core-Tex membrane | Breathable mesh upper and lining with anti-odor treatment | Breathable mesh upper with Gore-Tex | Full mesh upper | Average | Good | Very good |
Ankle Support | Minimal - Low top shoe with minimal ankle support | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal - Low top shoe with minimal ankle support | Minimal - Low top shoe with minimal ankle support | Minimal - Low top shoe with minimal ankle support | Minimal - Low top shoe with minimal ankle support | Minimal - Low top shoe with minimal ankle support | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal |
Arch support | Gentle arch support | Regular | Regular | Regular | Minimal | Gentle | Subtle arch support | Gentle arch support | Gentle arch support | Gentle | Good | Regular | Regular |
Fit | Available in medium width and in sizes from US 5/ UK 3.5/ EU 36 up to US 11/ UK 9.5/ EU 44 | Regular | Standard/slightly wide | Regular/wide | Standard/slightly wide | Roomy and good for wider feet with natural movement. Available in sizes from US 5.5/UK 3.5/EU 36 to US 12/UK 10/EU 44.5 | Available in sizes from US 5/ UK 3.5 /EU 36 up to US 12/ UK 10.5/ EU 45.3 | Iconic Keen fit' - Wider fit with extra space at forefoot. Available in sizes from US 5/ UK 3.5/ EU 36 up to US 12/ UK 9/ EU 43 | Fits true. Typically suitable for normal to narrow feet. Available in sizes from US 5/ UK 3/EU 36 up to US 11/ UK 9/ EU 42 | Similar to the Moab 3 - but a little more narrow but still suitable for most hikers. Available in sizes from US 5/UK 2.5/EU 35 to US 11.5/UK 9/EU 43 | Normal and wide verisons available | Standard/slightly narrow | Normal and wide versions available |
Materials | Suede and synthetic | Synthetic | Synthetic | Synthetic with 50% recycled upper | Synthetic | Fully synthetic | Fully synthetic with Gore-Tex membrane. Adidas claims upper contains a minimum of 50% recycled material | Fully synthetic with waterproof 'KEEN.DRY' membrane | Fully synthetic with Gore-Tex membrane | Fully synthetic. Merrell claim these sheos are vegan. | Synthetic and leather | Synthetic | Synthetic |
Appearance | Modern design with classic elements and materials. Available in a wide range of colour ways. | Modern cross between hiking shoe and trail runner | Trail running shoe | Modern hiking shoe | Trail running shoe | A really nice looking shoe that could work well for multiple purposes such as hiking and trail running - with a variety of striking color designs | Striking angluar design available in a wide rang eof colour ways | Distinctive good looks available in multiple colour ways | Available in multiple colour ways with striking styling, typical of La Sportiva. | Does something inbetween a hiking shoe and trail runner and comes in a variety of striking colourways | Modern hiking shoe | Modern hiking shoe | Modern hiking shoe |
Durability | Very high | Considering the price point, seems durable | Average | Rip resistant synethetic finish with durable Continental sole | Longer term durability concerns | Medium to high | Medium to high | Medium to high | Medium to high | Medium to high | Excellent | Good | Some durability concerns |
Weight (pair) | 680g/1lb 08oz | 500g/1lb 3oz | 460g/1lb | 700g/1lb 7oz | 544g/1lb 2oz | 635g/1lb 4.5oz | 758g/1lb 11oz | 644g/1lb 6oz | 740g/1lb 10oz | 640g/1lb5oz | 800g/1lb 12oz | 640g/1lb 7oz | 560g/1lb 4oz |
Insoles | Removable three-layer cushioned insoles | Standard insole | Standard insole | Standard insole | Standard insole | Removable padded insole | Removable insoles | Removable padded insole | Removable padded insole | Removable padded insole | Paded, shaped 'O FIT' insole | Standard insole | Standard insole |
Break-in Period | Minimal | Minimal break in | Minimal | Minimal break in | Minimal break in | Very minimal | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal | Very minimal | Short break in period | Short break in period | Very minimal |
Lacing system | Standard laces | Ghillie lacing | Standard lacing system | Traditional laces | Traditional laces | Standard laces | Standard laces | Standard laces | Standard laces | Standard laces | Standard laces | Standard laces | Standard laces |
Toe Protection | Rubeerized, semi-rigid toe cap with rubber rand around front section of shoe | Rubber toe rand | Rubber toe rand | Rubber toe rand | Minimal rubber toe rand | Hard but not solid | Rubberized, reinforced, but non-rigid toe and front section | Hard, but not solid, rubber toe cap. | Non-rigid PU 'TechLite' toe cap | Hardened rubber toe cap | Reinforced toe | Rubber toe rand and small toe cap | Reinforced toe |
Analysis and Test Results
We overall found that the Terrex Swift R3 performed very well and is a great hiking shoe for winter due to its waterproofing and rigid build. If you’re used to more flexible hiking shoes, you may find this shoe a little stiff at the start, but once you get used to it, you’ll love it. We’d particularly recommend it for alpine, mountainous, rocky, and craggy terrain as it has excellent grip.
Performance Comparison
Traction
Adidas make use of Continental rubber on their soles who you’ve likely heard of as a tire manufacturer. As you’d expect, the lugs and sole offer deep grip and are extremely durable on a whole range of surfaces. You’ll find them to grip just as well to rock as they do more slippery trails and in mud, the well-spaced lugs help to prevent clogging and extra weight being picked up on your shoe.
We’ve packed in a lot of miles in the Swift R3’s and the sole is holding up extremely well without any durability concerns – we feel like they’re in it for the long haul and should last a very long time if treated and looked after well.
Breathability
We had seen some reviews state that the breathability on this Gore-Tex version of the Terrex Swift R3’s made for sweaty feet due to the full waterproofing. However, we haven’t really experienced this problem. Yes, waterproof hiking shoes don’t give the same level of breathability as a fully mesh hiking shoe will do, but we are always happy to take that hit in order to have the waterproofing. If you’re hiking in desert conditions or somewhere with little rain, you may want to go for the non-waterproof version (which is actually a little cheaper too), but otherwise, we think it is a worthy trade.
That said, even through our tests in hotter temperatures, we didn’t really find the breathability to be anymore compromised than any other waterproof hiking shoes in our reviews. We find a thinner, breathable sock helps a long way here, and we think that any breathability differences you get from this shoe won’t be a problem for you.
Ankle Support
The Terrex Swift R3 GTX hiking shoes don’t offer a huge amount when it comes to ankle support – it’s important to keep in mind that a hiking shoe is never going to offer the kind of support you’ll get from a proper hiking boot. However, the ankle feels well positioned. That is only if you get the exact right size – because these hiking shoes can run a little big, you may experience some wobbling in the back. Admittedly, the shoes we tested felt like we could have used a half size smaller and, on some descents, they felt a little on the loose side. So, this is something to bear in mind if you want to feel an even better support around your ankle.
Arch Support
The Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex offers what we’d call a standard level of arch support – this does differ ever so slightly between the men’s and women’s version of the shoe, with the men’s offering slightly more than the women’s. Though this is barely noticeable. The sole of the shoe is extremely rigid, so this allows for very little in arch and foot movement on the trail, allowing the foot to stay well positioned at all times and avoiding fatigue.
Fit
It’s been said that the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex runs a little large. Our reviewer has slightly wider feet and actually found the fit a little snug around the toe box, but it is roomier in the heel. It’s a little hard to keep the heel in place at times, especially as there is no fine control on the heel, so if you have narrower feet, you may want to go down half a size.
Materials
These hiking shoes make use of at least 50% recycled materials in the upper, which is great to see. All the materials used on the Swift R3 GTX are synthetic and are classed as abrasion resistant. We put this to the test in deep, root prone forest and we had no problems at all with rips and pulls. Over longer-term wear, we feel confident that these shoes should stand the test of time.
Appearance
The look will be a little bit divisive for some people on these hiking shoes. They certainly look more at the fashion end of hiking shoes – and take a lot of their cues from Adidas’ other shoes. That said, we quite liked the way they look and would have no problem wearing them around town in the evening after a day out on the trail. They’re also offered in a few colorways, with some more understated and others a little bolder. It’s worth noting that if the waterproofing isn’t important to you, that you can actually get more color options in the non-waterproof version.
Unlike some of Terrex’s other shoes, these offer a smoother design from start to finish rather than being boxy, which we think is a nice addition to their portfolio and makes for a streamline shoe that has all of the benefits of a boot (minus the ankle support).
Durability
Given that Terrex make use of both Continental soles and Gore-Tex within their design for the Swift R3, we have no concerns about their durability for longer term wear. So far, these hiking shoes so no real signs of giving up, and they’re going as strong as ever – we think they will likely last you a long time if looked after well. The ripstop and rip resistant finish will also help with longer term wear and there are plenty of areas that when you look at these shoes, you’ll see they’re reinforced well in key areas.
Sustainability
We were happy to see Adidas making use of 50% recycled materials on the upper of the Terrex Swift R3 GTX hiking shoes. Hopefully over time, this will be more until it reaches a point where their shoes are fully recycled. We also truly believe that sustainability comes from not buying as much, or buying less over time, and with that in mind we have no concerns about the durability and useability of these hiking shoes. They should stand the test of time if you look after them well.
Water Resistance
These hiking shoes are marketed as fully waterproof – they make use of a Gore-Tex membrane and from our tests live up to their waterproof claims. Waterproofing is relative though – you can’t expect to go through a deep puddle or deep snow with shorts on and expect for your feet to come out unscathed. You could, however, make use of waterproof trousers and a gaiter to create a really good, waterproof layer with these. That said, these offer excellent protection from the rain.
Weight
The Adidas Terrex Swift R3 GTX hiking shoes weigh in at 700g/1lb 7oz (this varies depending on which size you buy). Compared to the other shoes in our guide to the best hiking shoes on the market, this falls pretty much within the average. They feel very lightweight on the trail and their shape, as well as their design feel very swift and fast moving.
Insoles
On close inspection, these hiking shoes come with a very standard looking insole, and there is no further information from Adidas about this. This will suit most hikers easily, but if your insole is of specific concern, you will have no problem replacing the insole with something more suited to your needs.
Break-in Period
Whilst these hiking shoes were pretty much comfortable straight out of the box, we did find they needed a little bit of a break-in. This is obviously personal preference, and you might find them trail ready pretty much straight away. Our tester found them to be rigid and a little tight around the toe box, so they took a few wears to feel really comfy and get the tension right in the lacing. We’d never recommend heading straight out on a long hike with a new pair of hiking shoes, you should always feel they’re ready before you take them for longer adventures!
Lacing System
The R3’s use a standard lacing system. The laces do feel a little bit thin, and these could fray over time, so you may want to look at replacing them for something a little more durable.
Toe Protection
The rubber toe rand on these shoes feels really robust and durable – we tried a lot of kicking into rocks and general clumsiness to see how they fared, and they stood up exceptionally well. The only thing of concern is that if they are a little large on the heel for you, you may find your foot moves forward and is more prone to kicking the front of the shoe – proper lacing and working out the best pattern for you should stop this – read our article on correct lacing here.
Conclusion
Like most of the Terrex shoes we’ve tested, we liked the Swift R3 Gore-Tex – they felt like a really great contender amongst some of the biggest names in the outdoors world and gave some of those a real run for their money.
If you’re looking for a hiking shoe that feels as close to a hiking boot as you can get without actually being a hiking boot, then you may well have found it with these hiking shoes. They might not be for you if you want something more flexible, but if you want a well versed sole that is ready to take on all weathers and a waterproof model, you will be glad you bought the Swift R3’s.
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