Review: adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 GTX

I was desperate for a great pair of hiking shoes that were waterproof, but also stylish. I love the in-between of shoe and boot, Sometimes my hikes don’t always require the full hiking boot, so being able to have a lower shoe is great and makes a genuine difference.

I took them out on a very wet and muddy day that involved hiking up and down grass banks. I wanted to test the durability when it came to a day with torrential rain, and also the tread on the banks to see how well it does in slippy environments.

In the long run, my concern is the soft Styrofoam style material used on the soles. I’m not sure how long it will last especially on more rocky terrains. This may not endure years of usage, but only time would tell.

Although it was pouring down with rain all day on the day of usage, the GTX membrane certainly kept me dry. I wasn’t concerned at all about getting wet, I do feel like the membrane and mesh upper kept a breathable flow through the shoes and kept me dry.

The shoes use a mid-high design and have cushioning around the ankle, which definitely gives more support than some lower rise trail shoes. With the ankle collar, you still feel a great amount of support in the shoes for the trails. However it certainly won’t give the same support as a higher rise boot, so shouldn’t be used for more technical terrain that would require that.

If you’re looking for that fashionable hybrid, then, yes, these are great; but don’t buy without trying sizing first. At £165, they do come up a little costly, but you know they will last a good couple of years.