Adidas The Gravel: Adidas cycling shoes are nothing new. A few years ago there were attempts to gain a foothold in the bike industry. With the purchase of the mountain bike shoe specialists FiveTen, know-how was recently brought back into the company. After a racing bike shoe and a lifestyle shoe with clipless function, there is now another model. With the Adidas The Gravel, Adidas joins the gravel hype and brings a shoe for gravel roads that we have already been able to test for you.
Adidas The Gravel Shoe - Innovative features for the gravel
The packaging of The Gravel is inconspicuous and can hardly be distinguished from a standard Adidas sports shoe. Inside the box is our very eye-catching test model in bright light blue with dark blue and orange accents. In the hand, the shoe makes a very high-quality impression. The outer shell looks robust, almost similar to a rubber boot. The outer shell should not only be robust, but also sustainable. Adidas calls the material prime green, which consists of 50% recyclable material. Safety is also taken care of; The typical "Three Stripes" on the side of the shoe are reflective and ensure more visibility. Another innovative detail on The Gravel is the raised cuff, similar to what you've seen on some football boots. The tight-fitting "sock" closes the shoe well and prevents dirt and small stones from getting into the shoe. There are generous rubber elements on the underside of the stiff sole, which are intended to ensure better running properties and grip.
Adidas The Gravel Shoe – In the field test
The Adidas shoe is compatible with 2-hole clipless pedal systems, such as Shimano SPD. We mounted our Crankbrothers cleats for the test. The position can be adjusted via 2 different screw connections and slight shifts forwards and backwards, so that everyone should find a suitable position. Two straps on the cuff of the shoe make it easy to get into the shoe. The lacing ensures good stability and the shoelaces can then be stowed in another strap so that they cannot get caught while driving. The only disadvantage compared to twist locks is that you can hardly adjust the stability while driving.
When pedaling, the Adidas shoe is one of the stiffer representatives and is therefore also fun for sporty drivers without being uncomfortable. Stiff shoes are often less comfortable for running passages; Adidas finds a good compromise here. Thanks to the large rubber coating on the sole, The Gravel also walks surprisingly well. The grip on slippery surfaces is also at a high level.
We mainly tested the footwear over the winter months and in spring. The robust outer shell has held up well against various weather influences such as moisture and cold. With the right socks, you could even leave your overshoes at home. The sole in the shoe is rather flat and offers less support for the arch of the foot. If you already have problems here, you should think about an alternative insole.
Adidas The Gravel Shoe – Conclusion
With clever features especially for gravel use and a good balance between performance and comfort, the Adidas Gravel cuts a very good figure. For 180 euros you get a solid overall package that doesn't have to hide from the established competition.
Further information and current color variants can be found here here.
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