adidas Terrex Swift R3, Men's Terrex Swift R3 Mid GTX®

Product Information

Nonetheless, Gore-tex hiking shoes continue to outperform the rest. But why is Gore-tex so good? Because the science of Gore-tex is astonishing. Starting in 1958, Bill and Genevieve Gore were onto something special. They were curious about a revolutionary and new polymer called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). PTFE is a synthetic polymer called a fluoropolymer. It’s well known for being hydrophobic, having a high melting point, and resistant to abrasion via a high tensile strength. While we enjoyed previous iterations of this shoe, the Terrex Swift R3 GTX fell a bit short of the mark for us overall. In traction and support, it does quite well, so it is best suited for those who desire a stiff and stable shoe. In comfort and versatility, we felt it to be of only average performance. Once they are broken in, a benchmark that we were unable to reach during our testing period, they may offer better versatility. Still, it will take much longer to break in these stiff uppers than most models that are ready to go pretty much right out of the box. We feel that these are not too expensive, but they are kind of a niche shoe for the price. Other models may do as good a job or better, for less money. If you're looking for an all-around hiking shoe, we think you can find better value elsewhere. What Other Hiking Shoes Should You Consider? GTX stands for Gore-tex. If GTX is included in the name of a hiking shoe or labeled on the shoe itself, it utilizes a waterproof membrane made with Gore-tex fabric. The unique mesh and synthetic materials of the TERREX shoe range contribute to a comfortable foot environment. Perspiration is routed away, to ensure a dry and comfortable shoe even after hours of jogging. Both adiPRENE® and TORSION® provide extra heel or midfoot stability, for traction on all types of surfaces. Even after many hours of exertion, the EVA midsole softly cushions every step. Final verdict

All the stiffness might sound scary but the shoe is actually quite flexible, 7% more than the average! We loved this because it let us enjoy the outdoors in more natural strides. There are numerous elements contributing to the overall stability of this shoe and we thank our lab tests for documenting all of them. The most important one, for sure, is the torsional rigidity test that showed us why this shoe feels as stable as a hiking boot. Because we weren't able to twist the shoe, we rated it with 5 out of 5, 5 being the stiffest. Thanks to a tried and reliable Gore-Tex textile lining, these hiking shoes are waterproof. Although they only have a flood height of 3 inches, they keep water out of your shoes when crossing shallow creeks and muddy pathways. 3. Traction This shoe finds the perfect balance in the midsole - not too soft and not too hard. What this means in practice is that we get a good amount of ground feel whilst still keeping our feet protected and supported. We measured the midsole for softness by pressing a durometer to it. No surprises there - it showed 32.5 HA, the average for hiking shoes. Both GORE-TEX versions of these respective models offer excellent protection from wet weather, although breathability is greatly reduced in hot conditions. Therefore, I would opt for the non-GORE-TEX version of either shoe if you want increased ventilation and airflow, particularly during the summer months.

The comfy Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex provide good grip and waterproofing – these shoes are ready for adventures in (almost) any weather

Waterproof hiking shoes that utilize a Gore-tex membrane will usually include “GTX” in their name, for example, the Merrell Moab Speed GTX. Gore-tex hiking shoes will also normally have a Gore-tex label somewhere on the exterior of the shoe. For example, the Adidas Free Hiker Cold RDY has a silver “Gore-tex” label on the front exterior of the toe box. These signs will signal Gore-tex was used to waterproof the shoe and not another in-house or proprietary fabric. There isn’t a lot we would change here – the only issue we noted is that the Adidas Terrex Swift isn’t the most breathable hiking shoe in the world, due to its sturdy build and waterproof membrane. Personally, we’d save it for use from autumn through to spring, and switch to a more lightweight and breathable hiking shoe such as the Salomon Vaya for hiking mountain trails in hot dry weather. The good news is for most people, weight differences are pretty negligible. For example, the Salomon Ultra 4 GTX weighs 380 grams, and the nonwaterproof Ultra X 4 weighs 360 grams. With such a plush shoe, it is possible for the stability to be compromised, but the Hoka Anacapa Low GTX has it covered. The widest platform ever to have passed through our lab, the 113.2 mm wide forefoot and 93.1 mm wide heel compensate for the softness of the midsole, making it next to impossible to roll our ankles when hiking on rough trails.

There’s a lot to like about the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex – it’s definitely mountain-ready thanks to those tough rubber soles, which provide great grip even in awful conditions, and the Gore-Tex membrane provides robust waterproofing. Although you’ll find cheaper hiking shoes on the market, the Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex is well-priced for such a high-performing shoe. After comprehensive lab tests and putting a number of waterproof hiking shoes through their paces, we declare that the Merrell Moab 3 GTX is the most comfortable Gore-Tex hiking shoe! They are delightfully comfortable straight out of the box, keep our feet completely dry on our wet hikes, and are designed with wear and tear in mind. A decade later, in 1969, the Gores’ son, Bob Gore, discovered what eventually became known as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or ePTFE for short. To create ePTFE, Gore stretched the PTFE under certain conditions. What he created was a heat-resistant, hydrophobic, and thin fabric.In first appearance, the Swift R3 looks very much like a trail running shoe, but as you start to look more closely it becomes obvious that this is built for hiking on serious trails. Can a Gore-Tex hiking shoe be lightweight, comfortable, and supportive? It sure can! Our best overall Gore-Tex hiking shoe is the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX, which takes first place for its instant comfort straight out of the box, perfect cushioning, and first-rate support. The toe-box has a particularly wide set of lace eyelets, which helps pull that area in tight, and it’s easy to get a good fit without fiddling around with the lacing too much, which is aided by the friction of the tube-style lace grommets. The top pair of eyelets are nicely-finished aluminium through-rivets, which should stand up to a lot of punishment.