adidas Put Its Marathon Racing Foam Under the Terrex Freehiker 3 Ultra GTX

Back in 2019, adidas bolted its springy Boost foam, the stuff built for marathon PRs, onto a hiking boot. The Terrex Free Hiker was never made to be the most rugged thing on the trail, but it was comfortable, it was light, and it looked enough like a sneaker that slated right into the growing gorpcore wave.

Six years later, the franchise is on its third act. Meet the Freehiker 3 Ultra GTX, the most technical shoe in a freshly expanded family, and once again adidas is raiding its running lab for parts.

This time, however, the magic isn’t Boost. adidas decided to swap in its Hyperboost Pro midsole, which is the same foam lifted straight from its road-racing shoes, and layered it with Dreamstrike+ cushioning for a ride meant to feel soft without folding over sideways.

You’re standing on a 43mm heel stack, which is straight-up marathon super-shoe territory, yet each shoe tips in at just 354 grams. For a GORE-TEX mid carrying this much cushion underfoot, that’s pretty impressive.

Waterproofing comes courtesy of a full GORE-TEX shell, while off-road traction falls to a Continental rubber outsole.

Up top, a sock-fit collar wraps the ankle and seals out dust and grit, and a speed-lacing system cinches everything down in one pull.

The Freehiker 3 family rolls out June 15 at adidas.com/terrex, plus REI and Backcountry.com, priced across the range from $150 to $220. As the most technical shoe of the bunch, the Ultra GTX sits at the top of that spread.

adidas Terrex Freehiker 3 Ultra GTX

adidas reworks its gorpcore-defining hiker with a racing-derived Hyperboost Pro midsole and full GORE-TEX shell. The result is the lightest, most cushioned Freehiker the line has built.

Learn More: adidas