Adidas Terrex Agravic TT Review: Is it a Yak? A Goat? Or Something Else?

Introduction to the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT

SAM: My kid is really into animals. He found he loved animals about two years ago, and he’s made it his whole personality. He watches shows about animals (Zoboomafoo, iykyk), pretends to be animals, and spends time building habitats out of everything in our house that isn’t nailed down. This kind of obsession is pretty common, I think. You have kids and construction equipment (an area of previous obsession for my son), Pokémon, or baseball. And if you think about it, none of this is too different from what I did with running as an adult… and climbing before that… and surfing before that.

Now, I know there’s a whole thinkpiece here, mostly about how our personal identities have been intrinsically joined to consumeristic tendencies, lightly sprinkled with generational patterns of arrested development. As much as I want to wander into that tangent, that kind of digression ignores that this is a shoe review, and I can’t turn every one of these into a personal treatise on the character flaws in our shrivelling cultural landscape.

Now, since this is a shoe review, I started with my kid’s animal obsession for a reason. His animal thing is particularly great because he loves mainly weird animals, and because of this, I spend an inordinate amount of time talking about Black Crowned Cranes, Binturongs, Okapis, and about one thousand different reptiles and amphibians. So, when I got the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT and slipped it on, the very first thought that popped into my head when I looked down was “oh, cool, my feet each look like the head of an eastern timber rattlesnake.” Let me tell you what, it’s a great look.

The Terrex Agravic TT is Adidas’s technical distance option, as the brand seeks to take the success of the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra to trails that call for more stability than that shoe could offer. It has a sleek and lightweight mesh upper with a rebuilt heel, a Lightstrike midsole that cradles a puck of Lightstrike Pro, a finger-shaped nylon plate between those foams, and a full coverage Continental rubber soleplate. Just like a timber rattler will find its home on rocky Appalachian peaks, the Terrex Agravic TT is built for the longest technical trails you can find.

TAYLOR: While Sam is living vicariously through his kid’s love of animals, I’ll be the first to admit that I also love animals. I will delve into random facts at any point in time. I’m also down for Nat Geo documentaries any Friday night.

The boonies of the NOCO Rockies, where I reside, contain a plethora of animals both grand and small. I routinely run into Clover and her mom (the neighborhood moose my kids have named), follow bobcat tracks daily, and search for signs of the elusive cougar along the way. I, too, tend to compare my shoes to wildlife adaptations. In fact, when I was a teacher, my team and I created an entire unit centered on this very idea.

The Adidas Terrex Agravic TT has been a shoe I’ve been looking forward to testing, mostly because it seemed like the mountain goat equivalent of the bucking bronco we’ve come to know as the Agravic Speed Ultra 2. This shoe was designed with technical terrain in mind. While my testing period certainly proved that notion, a mountain goat is not the spirit animal I would bestow on them.

What we like about the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT

SAM: Like the rest of Adidas’ Terrex line this season, this shoe looks amazing. I especially love the shape of the midsole and outsole together. The forefoot spreads into a diamond shape (thus my comparison to a rattlesnake above). The midsole is all sharp angles that somehow maintain a refinement, and the exposed edge of the nylon plate adds a pop of color.

I really like this upper. It’s thin, very breathable, and feels aggressive and totally dialed in for technical pursuits. Often, we’ll see these race-focused uppers sporting a pared-down heel construction (to save weight or allow for a more precise fit), but the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT features a very comfortable heel that kept my heel in place perfectly. On the other side of the foot, the padding and protection of the tongue are also exactly what I’m looking for. It’s slim but won’t cause lace bite. Speaking of those laces, the Agravic TT comes with the braided edge laces most race day options come with, and I’m always pleased to have them.

Underneath that sleek upper is a dual-density midsole, as I mentioned in my intro, made up mostly of a firm chunk of Adidas’ Lightstrike that cradles a puck of Lightstrike Pro. The Lightstrike Pro runs from just behind my toes to just under my heel. Between the two is the fork-shaped nylon plate you can see sticking out of the midsole. This arrangement results in a medium-firm and ridiculously stable ride that still maintains some dynamism from the Lightstrike Pro. This is highly protective — trail feel is not a thing with this shoe — but very comfortable. Because I did my testing in the winter, I noticed that it hardens in the cold and feels better when it’s warm.

Finishing out the Agravic TT, underneath the foam and plate, is a full-coverage Continental rubber outsole. I found this to be remarkably grippy, even on snow and ice, and likewise very durable.

The whole kit and caboodle here makes for a shoe with some spectacular technical capabilities. This is a grinder that can cruise over whatever you throw at it, and it’s not going to disappoint. Regarding its race-day pedigree, I also felt like the Agravic TT runs better at faster paces, like 7:30-8:00/mile or faster. When you pick up the pace, everything livens up and gets more snappy. This was, however, counteracted in ways I’ll get to in the next section.

TAYLOR: I will admit that the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT has a little bit of ground leveling to do. There’s a graphic Terrex made that displays Distance, Pace, and Terrain. This shoe ranks about three-quarters of the way up the mountain across all three, indicating it’s for long distances, relatively hot paces, and more technical terrain.

With that knowledge, many of the components make sense. For starters, the 39/31 mm stack immediately told me comfort is a priority, and I definitely felt it. The underfoot experience is where it’s at! No, it’s not nearly as extreme a ride as the Agravic Speed Ultra 2, but it does feel on the premium end of the spectrum. The initial sensation of Lightrike Pro kept the ride both softer and moderately lively.

About two-thirds of the midsole consists of a Lightstrike 3.0 midsole material. It is by far the softest version of Lightstrike I have experienced. It is dense enough to provide structure and a surefootedness that is absolutely necessary in this package. At the same time, it’s soft enough for a true medium/soft cushioned experience.

There’s a certain sense of dynamism that comes into play because of the unique polyamide rock plate (stiffer than the TPE rod system). While a traditional rock plate offers protection against underfoot elements, this one also enhances stability. Like with the Hoka Mafate 5, this forefoot structure really allowed a hefty shoe to roll with the punches on truly technical terrain.

While the upper appears nearly identical to the Agravic Speed 2 and the Agravic Speed Ultra 2, there is a key difference in the Agravic TT. Like the Agravic 4, this TT features a more structured, heavily padded heel collar. And when I say padded, I mean padded. Akin to the midsole recipe, this combo (albeit a tad overdone) really allowed for a comfortable, secure fit, helping me feel confident going to distance and/or over dicey terrain. I had zero comfort or fit issues in this region.

The midfoot and forefoot had a similar fit to the other Adidas Terrex racing models, with a fitted yet not too slim silhouette. I felt secure enough not to worry about fit while on the run. If anything, the forefoot has a little more wiggle room comparatively. At any rate, I was locked in, comfortable, and ready to roll.

4.5mm lugs of any sort are typically enough to tackle most terrain. Full coverage of Continental rubber doubles the grip. Phenomenal. As per usual, I had zero grip issues across the gamut of conditions. Because of the fat stack of foam, I also didn’t mind this outsole on gravel paths and less-techy trails.

What we don’t like about the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT

SAM: The wide, venomous snake-looking and very stable midsole/outsole combination accomplishes both its looks and technical capabilities with a whole lot of foam, nylon, and rubber. That makes the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT bottom-heavy. In fact, there’s so much weight underfoot that it makes the whole shoe feel heavy overall. Taylor gets into this below, but I really want my technically oriented shoes to be lighter and more nimble than this one feels, and the weight of this shoe somewhat counteracts its stated purpose.

When considering distance, I had an issue with the lateral sides of the toe box cutting in and causing irritation. There is plenty of width normally, but my pinkie toes feel banged up on downhills or even running on flats if I can’t get the shoe laced up exactly right. The end of the toe is just a touch long, as well.

TAYLOR: As much as I appreciate the focus on fit and function, I can’t deny that this shoe carries some extra weight… I can’t be too critical about that because I am personally guilty of the holiday weight. It’s cumbersome and unnecessary, and I’m quite aware of how just a few extra pounds can affect my performance. I think that shows here, too.

The Adidas Terrex Agravic TT, like the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide, Hoka Mafate X, and Speedland GS:BLK, is simply overbuilt. The heel collar (as much as I love it) could be trimmed to half its size, the outsole could lose some coverage, and I even think it didn’t need to be so broad, given the inherent stability from the rod system.

After all, my men’s US 10.5 came in at 11.5oz. The Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide 2 (11.2 oz), La Sportiva Prodigio Max (11.3 oz), Hoka Mafate 5 (11.8 oz), Saucony Xodus Ultra 4 (11.9 oz), Merrell MTL Adapt (11.9 oz), and Speedland GS:BLK (12.2 oz) are all fairly similar in terms of being high-stack shoes that can take on challenging terrain. Only one of these is outrightly pinged as being a racer and is the lightest of the bunch.

Weight isn’t the be-all, end-all. At the same time, a lightweight build has been a hallmark of a technically oriented shoe. This thing can cruise on some crazy stuff! Don’t get me wrong! I feel the need to spell this out for those of us expecting this shoe to have a stature closer to the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2. We simply need to shed that expectation. The Adidas Terrex Agravic TT is not outrightly unfit; it’s a little clunkier than it could be, though.

On a more practical level, I had the same pinky-toe rub as recorded on the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2. The volume and shape of the toe box bring the ceiling into contact with the lateral side, making it hard to avoid. As Sam mentioned, the rest of the toe box felt fine!

Yes, sock choice and some lube help, but that’s only triage if you’re considering taking these the long haul.

Final thoughts on the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT

SAM: I put this shoe on expecting a quick, aggressive rattlesnake. After all, it looks like one. I didn’t get that, exactly, but once I had divorced the shoe itself from my expectations, I found that I was really fond of what the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT offers. This is a highly capable shoe with a lot of life underfoot. For trail runners looking for a high stack, technically capable, protective, and stable shoe, this will check all their boxes with the bonus of a premium fit and materials.

TAYLOR: Hey! Did you know that Yaks are actually extremely sure-footed animals despite being the size of an average American Bison? Rather than the mountain goat I expected (and hoped for), the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT is closer to the high-alpine bovine.

I don’t say that with despair, though! This shoe is actually another solid option in a growing pool of truly high-performance max-stack trail shoes that can romp among the heights. The Agravic TT will certainly find a home among the more technical terrain, but it will best serve the runner who desires protection, dynamic stability, and comfort for the long haul.

To be frank with you, for most of my testing period with this shoe, I thought it was a $200-plus shoe. While my perspective on performance didn’t change after finding out it was $185. My views on value did, though. I think, compared to many shoes, the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT actually offers a lot of premium qualities at a nice price, with minimal qualms.

You can pick up the Adidas Terrex Agravic TT for $185 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.