By Adnaan Mohamed
For runners chasing seconds on the world’s toughest terrain, adidas believes it has found another gear. The global sports brand has unveiled the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo, its fastest trail running shoe to date, combining technology from its record-breaking road racing range with innovations developed specifically for the demands of mountain and ultra-distance racing.
Inspired by the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo has been redesigned for uneven terrain, steep climbs and technical descents. At an average weight of only 250g, it is around 5% lighter than the Agravic Speed Ultra 2 while delivering more than 10% greater energy return and a 1% improvement in running economy.
For elite trail athletes, marginal gains often become monumental victories.
The shoe was created during a multi-year development programme involving 13 elite athletes, adidas designers and footwear engineers. Every prototype was tested in laboratories and on demanding race courses to ensure measurable performance translated into real-world confidence.
“Trail running asks so much more of a shoe,” said Korbinian Lehner, Senior Manager Footwear Innovation at adidas.
“Our challenge was finding the balance between speed, stability and confidence, and that’s exactly what the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo was built to deliver.”
Among the standout innovations is a new Dual ENERGYRIM construction, adapted from adidas’ road racing platform. The independent movement of each side of the shoe helps runners adapt to unpredictable terrain while increasing energy return by more than 10% compared to the previous model.
The moulded LIGHTSTRIKE PRO midsole delivers 15% greater deformation, allowing more responsive cushioning without compromising stability. Combined with an optimised rocker geometry and wider landing platform, the shoe is designed to create smoother transitions across rugged terrain.
Completing the package is an engineered woven upper featuring an integrated debris collar and minimal stitching, providing a secure second-skin fit while helping keep stones, sand and trail debris outside where they belong.
As trail running continues its rapid global rise, footwear innovation has become one of the sport’s fiercest battlegrounds. Every gram saved and every stride made more efficient can prove decisive over marathon and ultra-marathon distances.
The adidas Agravic Speed Ultra Evo will be available from 24 August 2026 through adidas, the adidas app and selected retail partners, retailing at €500/$500.
For runners preparing to take on mountains rather than pavements, adidas believes its latest innovation is built to keep speed alive long after the trail begins to bite.
