Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 Review: A Meaner Mountain Monster

Introduction to the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2

TAYLOR: The Adidas Terrex team has mastered the fine art of the Crockpot update. Bear with me here, it’ll make sense — I promise. The crew takes its slow cooking methods seriously, and all we can do is bask in the aroma of what’s to come.

I mean, the original Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra was seen on athletes’ feet for literal years before we ran in it. It was absolutely worth the wait, though, because it revolutionized trail design in a way that is yet to be replicated. Call that the original recipe if you please.

So, it’s now been a few years since that shoe debuted, and the timer has finally dinged on version two. Thankfully, it seems like Adidas kept its base recipe almost the same, but has apparently found some inspiration from chef Emeril Lagasse to *bam* kick it up a notch.

Although the base recipe is almost the same, every ingredient in this shoe has been given attention. In its own way, this style of update runs the same risks that a crowded potluck does. The first of those risks is its redundancy, because who knows how many people will bring buffalo chicken dip? Then, there’s the potential of too much spice — the simple pressure of making your recipe stand out.

After getting a solid taste of one of 2026’s most anticipated racers, let us tell you where the update to the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 falls.

What we like about the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2

TAYLOR: One of the first ingredients I looked for in the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 was its improved comfort. Raise your hand if you were also impacted by the minimalism of the first version’s upper. Interestingly, I experienced different irritations based on different sizes, but the most common issue among other runners was related to the heel and collar construction. Version two seems to have solved both issues for me.

While appearing very similar, the Agravic Speed Ultra 2 actually received a meaningful construction update. First, there was a bolstering of the whole upper that added structure, which just means creating a better fit.

Firstly, Adidas has corrected its sizing. I was all over the place with the original version — enough so that I tried many different sizes. I landed best at a half size down, which was odd because if I do size differently, I typically go up.

At any rate, the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 fit true to size for me. Lengthwise, I had a little extra room (less than a thumb’s width), which gave it a fitted but not too snug feel throughout. The forefoot was slightly more roomy than the previous generation, though that could be due to the sizing corrections. Again, I felt comfortable with my true-to-size choice enough to run confidently for a handful of hours before considering sizing up.

A new engineered mono-mesh upper offered multiple benefits, including maintained (or perhaps enhanced) durability. I didn’t have any issues with the first version, and I think the Agravic Speed Ultra 2 will easily follow that same path.

What’s deserving of more of the conversation is how the new upper addressed the overall build issues that included some better mapping and strategic cushioning.
Some of that came in the mid and forefoot. It was most noticeable in the heel, though.

A slingshot-style overlay wrapped the heel, which took care of the weeble-wobble in the ankle for me. Adding that kind of structure and stability will make a massive difference for some runners. One of the major reasons the first version was viewed as unstable was simply because the upper didn’t allow the foot to stay on top of the footbed. This, along with a few other internal reinforcements, should solve that issue.

Most importantly, subtle bulges of padding in the heel and a redesigned collar provide a level of support and comfort that wasn’t present in the first version. Even though it doesn’t look much different and it’s not 100% satisfactory, IMO, it’s a crucial addition that allowed for a more functionally secure lockdown.

Obviously, comfort is most important here. I didn’t experience any heel slippage or irritation on the heel side, nor did I get any rubbing around the adjusted collar, which is specifically designed for comfort around the medial and lateral malleoli. While there were a couple of other minor issues I had with the upper, they weren’t in the high-friction areas from the first shoe.

Enough about the upper. The lower components of the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 received equal attention. This is where most of the added weight comes in; however, coming from someone who has run in hundreds of trail shoes, I could not perceive any weight gain or bottom-heaviness in this version. That was my initial concern, but it was settled after my first run.

Also settled was the fact that this is a softer, more energetic iteration of Lightstrike Pro foam. I wouldn’t say it’s WAY softer, but the difference is noticeable. I felt like this was the right move for that true super shoe sensation. This shoe already boasted a very unique, aggressive gyro-sphere-like rocker that made the original version feel super. Thankfully, that structure remains. Many will appreciate the extra zip and comfort from the foam tooling.

Oddly enough, I felt like the stability remained the same or even improved underfoot because the foam can compress and utilize the TPU Energy Rod system inside, which is designed for (and does) add responsiveness and stability to the package.

As mentioned already, some of the stability is certainly due to the upper restructuring.

Another positive is the new, grittier outsole. Deeper, reconfigured, sharper lugs make all the difference on softer and more technical terrain where the previous version lacked confidence. I was able to take these on Rocky Mountain singletrack, gravel roads, and some grass cross-country-like boggy trails. The only scenario where it did not perform well was on mud or soft snow that was much deeper than the lugs themselves. The outsole was another area where the minimal weight gain was worth the change.

What we don’t like about the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2

TAYLOR: For better or worse, again, this is a “runner’s shoe.” That’s what it does best… no duh, Taylor.

The Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 is actually somewhat of a limited shoe from that standpoint. To really get the most out of it, you need to land in a certain cadence and footstrike. If you tend to heel strike, you’ll probably find this one just a bit unstable. In fact, the Agravic Speed Ultra 2 almost requires a forefoot or midfoot strike to operate, unlike other favorites in this category, like the On Cloudultra Pro, La Sportiva Prodigio Pro, and Hoka Rocket X Trail, which aren’t as particular with footstrike.

From that standpoint, it’s also an odd one to hike in. So, this shoe won’t be best for ultras with a bunch of hiking miles.

While most of the comfort issues have been solved from the original Agravic Speed Ultra, not all have disappeared for me. They actually seemed to just trade places. In the first version, I had noticeable irritation in the heel, around the pinky toes, and some lace/collar bite on the lateral side. In the updated model, my problems are over the top of my big toe joint, some very mild medial lace/ankle collar bite, and the flimsy tongue bunches up in weird ways. While the irritation wasn’t nearly as severe as before, there are still some issues that need to be addressed.

Lastly, while I personally think that the weight gain was worth the performance gains, weight gain is an objective measure that we can look at, which isn’t ideal. If your ride or die for a shoe is weight, know that this one gained single percentages across the board.

Final thoughts on the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2

TAYLOR: To my last point, I think that the new Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 knowingly sacrificed some weight points for performance. Actually, due to the more dynamic underfoot ride, a toothier outsole, and more comfortable fit, I believe most will prefer this version, and it will likely outperform its predecessor. It’s still an explosive, purely fun ride that is more versatile than ever. I would personally recommend this to runners who want a speedy trail shoe for low- to moderately technical trails over distances that lend well to running rather than hiking — especially if you can keep that forefoot strike.

You can pick up the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 for $225 from adidas.com by using the buttons below.