This review of the Adidas AX2 hiking shoe is fruit of cooperating with SoleLabz.com, where James and his team test, review and rate hiking shoes.
We don’t need to spend much time introducing Adidas as a company and its place in sports footwear. It’s a well-known fact that they are one of the bigger players, but to that end I believe it’s worth mentioning that they sell around 300 million pairs of shoes. So, it goes without saying, they are doing OK.
What’s interesting, though, is the new branch of the company, Adidas Outdoors that has set out to bite into the pie of the outdoors footwear market.
So, they branched out their platform to products like:
- Shoes and boots for outdoor hiking (ranging from breathable light shoes to waterproof GTX boots)
- Barefoot minimalist shoes
- Tactical and work boots
Let’s focus on the matter at hand – the Adidas AX2 hiking/trail shoe
Let’s take a moment to glimpse at what Adidas is saying about this model.
The upper is made of synthetic materials, meaning the price will be lower, they’ll break in more easily, be lighter and more flexible overall. The material is intersected with mesh sections for breathability.
The choice they made for the inner lining is textile, for better overall comfort. If this is a fact, padding shouldn’t be an issue. Footbed is molded, so they should be true to size and offer pretty comfortable hiking experience.
They’ve opted for today’s standard in midsole production – EVA, which is supposed to provide long-term cushioning without adding to the weight of the shoe. EVA midsoles also offer structural stability.
The overall weight is 10.9 oz (0.31 kg).
The info sheet being terse as it is, it’ll make that much more of an experience testing these babies out.
Let’s kickstart the “meat” of this Adidas AX2 hiking shoes review by lacing up and putting some miles under them.
Impressions About the Adidas AX2 hiking shoe
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February 15, 2016
As it’s been winter here in Vermont, I haven’t yet had the chance to take the shoes for a spin in the mountains. I have, however, worn them on short walks and I do wear them whenever I hit the gym, which is 4-5 times per week. Honestly, I’m very surprised by this pair of shoes. They are the most stable footwear I’ve ever worn, and that includes working boots and hiking boots. I can’t imagine twisting an ankle while wearing these hiking shoes. Additionally, their stability and balance make them ideal for the gym as well, particularly when lifting weights. I love their versatility, the fact that they seem to have more than one purpose, and I can’t wait to wear them on a long hike on some rougher terrain. First impressions: overwhelmingly positive.
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March 26, 2016
I’ve finally taken the shoes out on an actual trail, a steep one-mile climb to Humpback Rocks on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. I absolutely adore these hiking shoes. They fit my feet incredibly well, I haven’t experienced any discomfort whatsoever. Now that I’ve used them both indoors (at the gym) and outdoors (on a hiking trail), I can confidently say that these are among the best pairs of hiking shoes I’ve ever owned.
November 21, 2016
I’ve used these shoes on countless hikes, including the following:
Turk Mountain Trail, Shenandoah National Park
South River Falls Trail, Shenandoah National Park
Trayfoot Mountain and Paine Run Loop, Shenandoah National Park
Dark Hollow Falls Trail, Shenandoah National Park