REASONS TO BUY
Great traction
Durable sole
REASONS TO AVOID
Feel stiff
Uncomfortable
Hard to lace tight
Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex Review
Offering stellar traction and a supportive sole, this shoe is good for off-trail travel
Credit: Adidas
RELATED: Best Hiking Shoes for Men of 2023
Our Verdict
The Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex is a robust hiking shoe that will chew up the miles spent in cross-country and off-trail terrain. The heavy-duty Continental rubber outsole is one of its finest attributes, which sports a very aggressive tread for multi-surface traction. It is not the most comfortable, especially out of the box, but its stiff upper may prove to be more durable than competitors in the long run.
Editor's Note: This hiking shoe review was updated on November 1, 2022, to recalibrate our metrics and update our recommendations for other options.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $136.93 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $119.96 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $132.20 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $97.12 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Great traction, durable sole | Super comfortable, durable, stable | Excellent performance, lightweight, great traction, water resistance, support | Supportive, great traction, lightweight | Wide and roomy fit, great traction, lightweight |
| Cons | Feel stiff, uncomfortable, hard to lace tight | Not great for off-trail, average traction | Cuff can be uncomfortable on ankle for some, Quicklace lacing not everyone's favorite | Stiff, lacing is hard to tighten | Some comfort issues, less durable |
| Bottom Line | Offering stellar traction and a supportive sole, this shoe is good for off-trail travel | These super plush hiking shoes feel like you are walking on clouds, perfect for long days on hard surfaces | This is a rugged hiking shoe that can do everything from day hikes to tackling long multiday backpacking trips | This is a burly hiking shoe capable of getting off the trail and onto rugged terrain | This cushioned shoe is light and nimble, and offers great traction at a bargain price |
| Rating Categories | Adidas Terrex Swift... | Hoka Anacapa Low GTX | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | Salewa Mountain Tra... | Columbia Facet 75 O... |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Support (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Adidas Terrex Swift... | Hoka Anacapa Low GTX | Salomon X Ultra 4 G... | Salewa Mountain Tra... | Columbia Facet 75 O... |
| Weight (per pair) | 1.94 lbs (size 11) | 1.79 lbs (size 11) | 1.76 lbs (size 11) | 2.16 lbs (size 11) | 1.86 lbs (size 11) |
| Upper | Synthetic, textile | Nubuck leather, GTX Textile | Synthetic, textile | Synthetic | Mesh |
| Lining | Gore-Tex membrane | Gore-Tex | Gore-Tex membrane | Gore-Tex Extended Comfort | OutDry |
| Flood Level | 3.0 in | 3.0 in | 3.25 in | 3.5 in | 3.0 in |
| Last Board/Shank | Pro-Moderator | Not specified | ADV-C chassis | Nylon | Not specified |
| Midsole | EVA | Compressed EVA | EnergyCell | EVA | Techlite PLUSH |
| Outsole | Continental | Vibram MegaGrip | Contagrip MA rubber | Pomoca MTN trainer Lite | Adapt Trax |
| Width Options | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular | Regular |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Adidas Terrex Swift R3 is a modest overall performer when compared to other models in our hiking shoes review, but there are some attributes that we want to highlight which might make it a good choice for you. While comfort was sacrificed, we found these shoes to be highly supportive and offer ridiculous traction, making them better for off-trail than many others.
Performance Comparison
While these shoes resemble running shoes, they are burly and ready for XC adventures.
Comfort
Right out of the box, the Terrex Swift R3 felt incredibly stiff compared to our other tested hiking shoes. The synthetic and textile upper on its own is quite unflinching, and immediately upon donning the Swifts, we found the ankle collar to bite sharply. The upper construction is made even stiffer by the Pro-Moderator, a cradle-like addition that holds the foot in place and anchors the uppers so that when laced, they can effectively prevent lateral movement.
The "stiff and sturdy" upper material is strong and will last longer than other synthetic shoes, but it is hard to get them to feel comfortable on the trail.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
The fit is fairly wide, making them a better choice for those who like to wear liner socks or are looking for a less narrow model. We found the lacing system to be a bit lacking - the laces are slim and can't secure the entire foot with a single movement, and the stiff upper makes it hard to get a tight fit, especially for those with narrower feet.
Support
The Terrex Swift R3 uses a molded cradle that wraps around the midfoot and increases the lateral support in the shoe. This Pro-Moderator cradle is effective, and we found that these shoes embody the "stiff and sturdy" mantra of hiking boots in a package that looks much more like a trail runner.
The fit will ultimately have a lot to do with how supportive these shoes end up feeling. Those with wider feet will be able to fill them out and benefit from their supportiveness, while those with narrower feet will find the laces hard to tighten and attain a secure fit.
The support offered by these shoes is actually pretty good if you can get them snug. We like them for off-trail hiking routes.
Credit: Tim Johnson
Traction
Using a Continental rubber blend to construct the outsole, we found the Terrex Swift R3 to offer superb traction on all surfaces in which we tested it. The rubber effectively grips in both wet and dry conditions, and in trail types from muck to loose sand, the sharp and aggressive lug pattern bites in and gives excellent purchase.
The outsole of the Terrex Swift R3 is made from sticky and grippy Continental rubber. Expect excellent purchase on all types of terrain in these shoes.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Water Resistance
These hiking shoes utilize a tried and true Gore-Tex textile liner to create a waterproof shoe, and although they only sport a flood height of 3 inches, they do a great job at keeping water out of shallow stream crossings and muddy trails.
The relatively low flood height of these shoes made us search for the shallowest crossing, but the Gore-Tex liner does a great job at keeping the water out up to three inches.
Credit: Tim Johnson
Weight
Coming in with a weight of 1.94 pounds, these are reasonably lightweight shoes compared to hiking boots and many other hiking shoes in our lineup. This weight sets them apart for the burly upper and above-average traction. There are lighter shoes that score better in key metrics like comfort and heavier shoes that are more versatile.
Weighing under two pounds for US Men's size 11, this model is lightweight for a pair of hiking shoes.
Credit: Ryan Huetter
Durability
Durability is one more metric where we feel that the Terrex Swift R3 has both pros and cons. We found that the upper materials will resist wearing much better than the exposed mesh materials that we see on a lot of hiking shoes. On the other hand, the laces are pretty darn thin, and for how much effort we have to put into getting these things tightened down, we would imagine breaking them sooner than later and replacing them with something tougher.
Scrambling up the final block to reach the summit of Vogelsang Peak, we were glad to have the sticky traction of the Continental rubber soles, and they will likely hold up to this kind of abuse for quite a while.
Credit: Tim Johnson
Should You Buy the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex?
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?
Unless you're just married to the Adidas brand, the Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex is the better option with an equal price. This shoe scored better overall in testing and offered better performance for comfort, weight, support, and versatility. If you need a more budget-friendly option, the Columbia Facet 75 Outdry is an impressive shoe with better comfort and support.
—
Ryan Huetter
You Might Also Like
Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Learn More