adidas TERREX Soulstride Ultra Review

Article by Sam Winebaum

adidas Terrex Soulstride Extremely ($180)

Introduction

The Soulstride Extremely is a max cushion path working and mountain climbing shoe with a twin foam midsole (Gentle Increase and Lightstrike), a Continental rubber outsole and a dense and extremely supportive engineered mesh higher. At 11.3 oz / 320g it isn’t precisely “mild” however when one considers its huge 38 mm heel and 32 mm forefoot stack peak, in depth rubber and stout higher its trendy midsole foams clearly maintain the burden affordable.

I examined them each strolling/mountain climbing and working on snow and pavement in Park Metropolis as I’m getting back from a damaged knee cap in November. The geometry of an nearly inflexible and really efficient rocker which follows a noticeable bouncy and dynamic heel touchdown in deep Gentle Increase had them because the quickest mountain climbing/ strolling shoe throughout my rehab however not practically as efficient a path run shoe due to their inflexible profile, and this, regardless of their Extremely naming.  That’s.. except your extremely efforts are at gradual paces as fairly frankly most are. 

They’re prime contenders for a multi day trek within the Alps coming this summer season (with day packs) and I want I had worn them for our Tuscany trek on largely roads and gravel with packs.  Please learn on for all the small print.

Execs:

Very good quick strolling quick mountain climbing platform and journey, nice heel bounce and efficient rolling rocker geometry

Very steady on smoother terrain.

Dense and protecting but effectively cushioned with a max cushion stack peak of 38 heel / 32mm 

All function, any terrain Continental rubber outsole that includes deep rear lugs and shallower entrance lugs which easy  toe off rocker.

Cons:

Overly inflexible manner up entrance for steeper on the run climbing and flatter terrain working

Whereas steady at any strolling tempo and on any terrain, not an agile path runner

Whereas having a giant stack peak and broad platform, on the heavier facet at 11.3 oz US9 for “working”.

Stiff & slender prime of tongue can slide to the facet and “chew” and in any other case is just not probably the most comfy.

Stats

Approx. Weight: males’s 11.3 oz  / 320g (US9) 

  Samples: males’s  11 oz / 312g US 

Stack Peak: 32/38mm (M), 31/36.5mm (W)

Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 75 mm midfoot / 105 mm forefoot

Stack Peak: 32/38mm (M), 31/36.5mm (W)

Lug Heights: 2.5 entrance /3.5mm rear

$180 Obtainable now

Most Comparable Sneakers

New Steadiness Recent Foam Extra Path (RTR Overview)  

Hoka Stinson 7 (RTR Overview) 

Brooks Caldera (RTR Overview)

First Impressions, Match and Higher

The higher is a really dense, fairly inflexible in really feel however nonetheless pliable sufficient engineered mesh. 

It wraps the foot extraordinarily effectively and securely with its 3 Stripes overlays and fairly stiff toe bumper offering loads of peak in what’s a considerably pointy (and lengthy) toe field. 

The match is true to measurement and between reasonable and slender in width.

The tongue is, to place it mildly, unusual in development. Slim and on the quick facet at lace up it  is sort of stiffly padded down the middle and has a full size gusset. Foot maintain is superb however regardless of not one however two lace loops it tended to slide to the facet on off camber terrain and when it did there was some chew from the fairly inflexible and quick prime space.  It might use some re-design.

The rear maintain and luxury is superb with appropriately padded deep and low ankle collars resulting in a pliable heel counter with “elf” like extension. I want the comfy achilles collar was much less particles “scoop” like in development.

To not fear concerning the pliable heel counter, the foot sits down very deeply into the midsole on the far rear.

All and all a wonderful higher for what I see as the most effective function of the Extremely, lengthy arduous quick  mountain climbing and strolling on all types of terrain. 

Midsole & Platform

The Soulstride Extremely has a twin foam midsole made up of  Gentle Increase and Lightstrike. We first noticed Gentle Increase within the Ultraboost Gentle highway coach/ life-style shoe (RTR Overview). 

This new Increase formulation is an expanded TPU bead foam and led to an enormous 2 oz / 57g drop in weight within the Ultraboost in comparison with prior.variations. In comparison with prior Increase foams, it’s denser and extra steady whereas nonetheless having good rebound  and on the time I assumed it could make an incredible path shoe foam and right here now we have it within the Soulstride Extremely.

Beneath the highest Increase layer, now we have Lightstrike, a agency extremely responsive EVA mix additionally seen in newer adidas highway sneakers of the extra responsive selection. It serves as a stablizing and protecting layer in addition to the stiffening to create the pronounced rocker with out the necessity for a plate.

The mixture (together with the outsole) is stacked up huge at 38mm heel 32 mm forefoot on a broad 90 mm heel / 75 mm midfoot / 105 mm forefoot platform. There may be tons of safety and cushion underfoot.

I’ve commented on the stroll hike strengths of the Soulstride and the geometry right here clearly permits that. 

Particularly, as seen beneath one can see the Increase Gentle layer plunges deeply simply forward of the heel. 

At quick strolling paces, this geometry produces a really noticeable rebound up and ahead which is most nice and efficient. Once more at quick strolling paces, the decrease stiff and agency Lightstrike layer produces a really distinct rocker impact off the entrance.  And a really steady one.  

One can see within the picture above, how the Lightstrike extends up forward of the Increase Gentle to realize this.  

The place issues begin to crumble is on the run. The entrance of the shoe took 15 miles or so to develop any far entrance flex because of the prolonged entrance Lightstrike layer and even then it’s a quick and stiff flex. 

To run the shoe successfully one has to essentially push the rocker arduous both because the runner is heavier or by actually pushing the tempo. The dense decrease cushion and inflexible profile make working on firmer surfaces fairly laborious which isn’t in any respect the case quick strolling 

Outsole

The outsole is adidas’ at all times nice Continental rubber.  The sample of two.5 mm lugs upfront and three.5mm lugs on the rear  is clearly designed to intensify the rolling rocker geometry whereas assuring grip. 

The rear lugs angle for aggressive downhill grip and safety whereas the entrance and particularly the decrease central ones for rolling ahead. I completely observed this on arduous packed and tender snow trails in addition to pavement. 

I want the entrance lugs had been the identical peak because the rear for a contact extra ahead grip however I feel to take action Terrex would wish to alter the layer of Lightstrike above to one thing barely softer and extra versatile reminiscent of their newer Lightstrike 2.0 foam.

Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions

The Soulstride Extremely, let me come proper out and say it, is likely one of the finest any terrain quick strolling/mountain climbing sneakers I’ve ever skilled however is just not as efficient a path working shoe on account of its inflexible, sure very steady however not very agile or energetic journey. I’ve to confess that inflexible rocker path “run” sneakers should not my desire.

Whereas its weight to cushion and massive platform width ratios  are simply high quality, I see the very agency and stiff decrease Lightstrike layer because the wrongdoer. The Increase Gentle foam is greater than adequately steady and properly cushioned, the platform huge, the outsole extremely efficient and protecting, and the higher tremendous supportive (tongue points apart)  Sure, the Lightstrike helps give the shoe the unimaginable rolling rocker impact at stroll paces however its will get in the best way of run skill and likewise path agility on the run. I feel the brand new softer Lightstrike 2.0 foam for the decrease layer would have been a wise alternative. 

The Soulstride Extremely is an excellent quick strolling and mountain climbing shoe, one I count on to tackle a 9 day trek within the French Alps this summer season, however for my path un preferences it’s overly inflexible and ponderous. 

Scores:

9.5 / 10 as a quick mountain climbing and strolling shoe on any terrain

8.6 /10 as a path working shoe.

😊😊😊😊 ½ for strolling/mountain climbing

😊😊 working

Comparisons

Index to all RTR critiques: HERE 

I’ve not lately run what I see as probably the most comparable sneakers which I see because the but increased stacked  New Steadiness Recent Foam Extra Path (RTR Overview),  Hoka Stinson 7 (RTR Overview) and comparable stacked Brooks Caldera (RTR Overview) however embrace our critiques right here for reference. 

The Soulstride Extremely is obtainable at our companions

                                                                          REI US

Tester Profiles

Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Highway Path Run. He’s 66 with a 2018 3:40 Boston qualifier. 2023 was Sam’s 51th 12 months of working. He has a many years previous 2:28 marathon PR. As of late he runs halves within the simply sub 1:40 vary if he will get very very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week largely at reasonable paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, mountain climbing or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he isn’t having fun with too many high quality New England IPA’s.

Samples had been supplied at no cost for overview functions. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and should earn fee on merchandise bought through buying hyperlinks on this article. These partnerships don’t affect our editorial content material. The opinions herein are completely the authors’.

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