Review: adidas Terrex Freehiker 3 Ultra GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes

There’s been a fairly significant shift in hiking footwear over the past few years. Traditional stiff-soled boots have increasingly found themselves sharing the hillside with something altogether more trainer-like. Lighter, softer, more cushioned and, in some cases, looking suspiciously like footwear designed for an energetic trip to the shops.

I’m generally in favour. For most hiking, particularly when you’re travelling light, comfort and freedom of movement matter considerably more than the ability to kick steps into frozen mountainsides.

But there are limits. I want a hiking shoe that can soak up the repetitive punishment of long days on hard trails without feeling disconnected from the ground beneath it. I want grip that works when the weather inevitably turns Welsh, enough protection to cope with rocky descents and a fit that keeps my feet properly contained when the path gets awkward.

The Freehiker 3 Ultra makes some fairly ambitious promises here. With two different cushioning technologies, a waterproof membrane and a whopping 43mm of foam under the heel, adidas has clearly decided that, well, more is more.

The question is whether all that technology translates into a better hiking experience or simply a more complicated way of walking.

Mid-autumn in Mid Wales is a pretty good place to establish whether a hiking shoe’s technical promises amount to much. The Cambrian Mountains offer a reliably untidy combination of waterlogged grass, rocky tracks, slippery slate, boggy sections and persistent mizzle.

On long stretches of forestry track and compacted trail, the combination of Dreamstrike+ and Hyperboost Pro came into its own. 

The more interesting question is what happens when the terrain becomes less predictable. On uneven, off-camber paths and rocky descents, that enormous midsole could make precise foot placement more difficult.

The Continental rubber offered useful traction across wet stone and firm trails, although the real examination would come on greasy grass and deep mud, where outsole geometry becomes at least as important as the rubber itself.

Waterproofing is another obvious priority here. The GORE-TEX membrane was a valuable addition during prolonged rain and encounters with shallow puddles, although no low-cut shoe is going to prevent water entering over the collar when you accidentally step into something considerably deeper than anticipated. An occupational hazard of Welsh hiking.

The Freehiker 3 Ultra is aimed squarely at hikers who prioritise comfort, agility and versatility over traditional mountain footwear support.

It makes particular sense for long-distance walkers, day hikers and anyone regularly covering substantial mileage on established trails, especially where hard-packed surfaces and mixed terrain can leave your feet feeling thoroughly battered. There’s also an obvious crossover appeal. 

For hikers carrying substantial loads, regularly scrambling over technical ground or tackling particularly challenging mountain terrain, a lower-profile shoe with a stiffer, more supportive construction may make considerably more sense.

And if you prefer feeling every contour of the trail beneath your feet, this probably isn’t your shoe. With 43mm of cushioning under the heel, subtlety is not really the point.

– The cushioning. Combining Dreamstrike+ and Hyperboost Pro creates a particularly punchy proposition for long-distance comfort, with a substantial amount of impact absorption and an emphasis on energy return.

– The weight. At a claimed 354g per shoe, the Freehiker is impressively light considering the amount of cushioning, waterproof protection and outsole technology packed into its construction.

– The crossover versatility. GORE-TEX, Continental rubber and a contemporary, trainer-inspired aesthetic make this a shoe designed for considerably more than conventional hiking. Whether that’s a selling point depends on how much of your life happens away from the mountains.

At £180, the Freehiker 3 Ultra sits in premium hiking-shoe territory, although it’s some way short of the prices commanded by certain specialist mountain footwear brands.

For that money, you’re getting a fairly sophisticated package: two complementary cushioning technologies, a GORE-TEX membrane, Continental rubber and a lightweight construction that borrows heavily from adidas’ considerable experience in performance running footwear.

There are certainly cheaper waterproof hiking shoes available, including within the Terrex range itself. But the Freehiker’s appeal lies in its combination of generous cushioning and all-round versatility rather than outright technical mountain performance.