The adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 may be a good hiking shoe for the new generation of hikers who prefer a softer, more athletic trail shoe to the stiff and stodgy hiking shoes that have dominated the boot walls at outdoor gear shops for decades. This athletic-looking mid-cut looks fresh and gets plenty of five-star reviews from happy customers. But it's expensive—and only a match for some hiking styles. That's why my adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 Mid review digs into this shoe's support, weight, fit, comfort, traction, weather protection, and value. That way, you can figure out if it might fit your feet, budget, and hiking style.
The Free Hiker 2 is available as a mid-cut, GORE-TEX shoe (MSRP $230) or non-waterproof shoe (MSRP $200). (TERREX recently released it as a low-cut, too.) Here are quick links to check current prices and available sizes and colors:
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adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 Review
My adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 review is based on a series of test hikes in the mid-cut TERREX Free Hiker 2 GORE-TEX hiking shoe. (Go here for my review of the new low-cut Free Hiker 2.) Most of my hikes took place in Pennsylvania, where I picked a mix of mild to moderate trails that matched this shoe's recommended use. However, I also threw in a couple steeper and slicker hikes—to stretch the shoe's limits—and also wore the Free Hiker on my Irish vacation to walk urban trails, some coastlines, and touristry trails at Killarney National Park.
Here's my review of the adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 GTX Mid—which I've worn off and on for a year and half now:
Support
LIGHT
The Free Hiker 2 is more of a next-generation hiking sneaker than a classic hiking shoe. It's not as stiff or sturdy as the average hiking shoe. At the same time, it's not a simple, overpriced sneaker that's just marketed to hikers, either. There's more tech here than you might think.
In particular, an EVA stabilizing frame adds some mid-foot support and lateral stability to assist hikers' ankles on uneven terrain. The ankle collars are too soft and too short to add much ankle protection over the low-cut Free Hiker 2. However, the 3/4-length frame extends to my feet's natural flex point to give my feet and ankles some more support. I switched to another hiking shoe to summit Ireland's tallest peak, Mount Carrantuohill. However, the Free Hiker provides more support than casual hiking shoes typically offer.
Weight
LIGHTWEIGHT
My men's size 12.5 weighs 2lb 4oz/pair. In my size, that's about a half-pound lighter than the average (mid-weight) hiking boot and approximately the weight of the average low-cut hiking shoe. Given the Free Hiker's over-the-ankle construction, it just meets my unofficial cutoff for a "lightweight." For comparison, the Free Hiker 2 is 2 ounces heavier than the Hoka Anacapa Mid and Hoka Trail Code and a 3-4 ounces lighter than the On Cloudrock. At this weight, it's a good option for casual hikers who want a light-duty mid-cut and fast hikers looking to save a little energy on longer hikes.
Women's TERREX Free Hiker 2
Fit
STANDARD TO SLIGHTLY NARROW
The adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 runs true to size with a slightly narrower fit than most of my hiking shoes. Since my feet run wide, I sized up a full size from my everyday shoe size— and got an okay fit that was still a little snug in the forefoot. It's a better fit for standard-to narrow-sized feet.
Comfort
KEY SELLING POINT
The adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 is one of the most cushioned hiking shoes I've worn, thanks to adidas's BOOST foam midsoles. That expanded thermoplastic polyurethane foam not only provides great energy return, but it's also super-cushy and super-durable—a step up from the cheap EVA foam in most hiking shoes and trail runners. My feet usually get fatigued fast in cities. But they felt fresh after 10-mile and 12-mile days of wandering Dublin and hiking Ireland's Killarney National Park. Closer to home, I've felt some spring in my step as I hiked popular trails ouside of State College, PA and fast-packed forest service roads in Rothrock State Forest.
adidas TERREX doesn't market the Free Hiker 2 as a "max cushion" shoe. However, it rivals the cushioning in my Hoka hiking shoes. No wonder so many people pick the Free Hiker 2 as a hiking shoe, walking shoe, or work shoe. Comfort is a big PLUS.
Traction
MIXED TERRAIN
The TERREX Free Hiker 2 features Continental rubber outsoles with v-shaped lugs. Even though this is a light-duty hiker, that's relatively aggressive tread with climbing lugs under the balls of the foot and braking lugs under the heel. I was pleasantly surprised with my downhill traction on the Kettle trail, a steep trail that often sends hikers slipping and tumbling. Even after a rain—and without my trekking poles—I made short work of a steep descent down a trough of scree, gravel, leaf litter, and mud with no issues. At the same time, I have slipped a few times on wet rocks and roots. Overall, this is moderate traction for mixed terrain.
Weather Protection
ABOVE AVERAGE
adidas TERREX offers the Free Hiker 2 in either a non-waterproof or GORE-TEX style. GORE-TEX remains the industry standard for reliable and breathable waterproofing. It won't work miracles if you're splashing through hours of puddles or miles of wet grass. Also, the non-waterproof Free Hiker will wear cooler than the GORE-TEX style in warm weather. However, the shoe's 3/4 cut extends that waterproofing to five inches above the ground—higher than the average hiking shoe. My pair shed water as expected when I walked through Dublin rains and damp fall trails in Pennsylvania.
Value
AVERAGE
You will pay a premium for the premium features packed into the adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 GORE-TEX. The non-waterproof style starts at $200 with the GORE-TEX style reaching $230 (MSRP). That's steep, especially for a hiking sneaker. That's in the same ballpark as the On Cloudrock—a good comparison—but $35 more than the Hoka Anacapa 2 GTX and $45 more than the Hoka Trail Code GTX. However, that price may be worth it if you fall in love with this shoe's look, fit, and highly cushioned feel.
* Disclosure: Adidas TERREX provided a demo pair for the purpose of this review. However, they neither sponsored nor influenced this post. As always, Hiking Feet only publishes independent and original content and does not accept payment or merchandize in exchange for positive reviews or recommendations. All the words and opinions in this post are my own and based on months of hiking in the Free Hiker 2.
adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2: Pros vs Cons
The Free Hiker 2 is more of a niche hiking shoe than an all-around hiking shoe. It's a great match for some hiking styles—and not a good match for others. That's why it's important to pay attention to its pros and cons:
Overall recommendation:
Most of my hikes call for more robust hiking shoes. However, the adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 scores serious comfort points with me, and it has a lot of plusses for fast hikers, urban hikers, and casual hikers who prefer a lighter, more cushioned trail shoe. I also like the Free Hiker's versatility. It was a killer travel/hiking shoe for my Irish vacation, and many of my customers love it as a trail-to-town shoe, a dog-walking shoe, or a work shoe for long days on their feet.
Best Fit
standard to narrow feet
Best Match
casual hikes, urban hikes, fast hikes with light packs,
traveling, work/casual shoes
Are you ready to buy the adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2?
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