adidas adizero Terrex Agravic SL Review

The Agravic SL performed well as a super trainer for our variety of trail runs. You want to go kind of far? This works. You want to go a little faster? This works. Starting on rocky terrain and finishing on the roads? This is your shoe. And at sub-10oz, it’s a good weight for the package you get.

It’s a fun, well-rounded go-to for daily trail running. It feels energetic when we pick up the pace, fades comfortably into the background when cruising, and gives us confidence in more technical trail sections. We were happy with the traction and lug depth on the outsole, and didn't experience any issues there.

While not as fast as a true race-day shoe, or as plush as a max-cushion shoe, it offers a great middle ground between them—quick, comfortable, and confident. In fact, Becky noted she would personally consider wearing it for a race because it has a bouncy midsole and works well for her at faster and slower paces.

If you found the Agravic Speed Ultra to be too unstable or aggressive for you, the Agravic SL has a wider base that gives you more stability and confidence. These geometries worked well for a majority of our testers. For Billy, he is used to running in shoes that are slightly narrower, so this wide base took him some getting used to—but after the first couple of miles, he found his flow and completely forgot it had ever been an issue.

Overall, the Agravic SL is very comfortable. The midsole cushioning is sitting in the Goldilocks region—not too much cushion or stack, but not too little. We were excited see how all that Lightstrike Pro foam felt, and it did not disappoint. It’s lightweight, bouncy, and makes for a fun experience to run in. It does feel more stable than the Evo SL, and not quite as squishy-soft, which is great for more technical terrain.

The upper has a nicely accommodating fit (more on this in the Fit section), and a plush, nicely padded heel collar. The tongue has strategically zoned padding—Erik enjoyed this and felt that it kept the upper from feeling overbuilt. Becky, however, found the tongue to be too thin for her liking, and also wished that the mesh material in the upper was a bit softer.

Billy, for the most part, found the shoes to work comfortably for him, with the cushioning feeling particularly forgiving in the heel. He noted that the front regions of his feet felt mildly battered after some higher mileage, which may indicate too-shallow squish/protection in the front of the shoe for some.

Out of the box, the Agravic SL fit and felt great. They run true to size, with a surprisingly accommodating width that will work well for a variety of foot types. While we wouldn’t call them noticeably wide, the overall internal volume and width make the shoe unobtrusive, even if your foot reacts to heat, and miles, with a bit of swelling. For our wider-footed runners, this is a breath of fresh air after the lower-volume experience in some other shoes in the Terrex lineup.

The upper felt both unobtrusive and secure, molding well to our feet without pressing or creating hot spots. After many miles, we unanimously experienced no hotspots or issues on a variety of runs and conditions.

"The Kjerag 02 is a more nimble shoe than the Agravic SL, better suited to be worn for fast and technical runs or races. The midfoot fit is more secure and snug, with an overall lower volume. The foam of the Agravic SL is softer and feels more substantial, and has a notable rocker.

I’d choose the Kjerag 02 when I want better ground feel, and am worried about precise footing and navigating technical terrain. I’d choose the Agravic SL for smooth terrain and less technical trails, when I want more comfort and a livelier feeling underfoot." -Becky

"I much preferred the SL to the Kjerag largely due to the fit. Although a good shoe, Nnormal’s offering was shaped in a fashion that didn’t play well with my feet. In comparison, the SL’s shape and upper made them a fabulously comfortable experience. I’ll give the Kjerag a slight edge on traction, but preferred the quick feel, and comfort, and all-around awesomeness of the adidas." -Billy