The Adidas Free Hiker is designed with fast and light hiking in mind. It’s a reasonably light walking shoe that’s breathable and grippy and it has enough stiffness to block out roots and rocks underfoot while creating a stable feel too. The version on test here is the non waterproof one but there is a version that features a Gore-tex liner.

I tested the original version of the Free Hiker quite extensively and while I liked the comfort and breathability, I found the shoe was a bit short on durability. In fact, the uppers wore out pretty quickly where the shoes crease at the base of the toes. This seems to be fixed with the new Free Hiker 2.0, which now has a more durable nylon mesh upper with PU overlays for reinforcement. There’s also a very solid plastic heel counter too. 

Performance

The frame within the midsole creates quite a rigid feel that makes this a solid performer on rocky trails – that’s the aspect I liked most about the Free Hiker 2.0. It’s also very comfortable and cushioned too, with the BOOST foam providing excellent levels of shock absorption. The removable insole helps there too, though I would say it feels quite thin compared to other walking shoes I’ve tried recently. 

I found that the lugs, which are 4.5mm in depth, bite really well into soft trails and the rubber compound, which is by Continental, has good versatility. In my tests, it stuck well to both wet and dry surfaces, although, as nearly always tends to be the case, I found that it did feel a little slippy on smooth, wet rocks. I’ve found it’s actually very similar in feel and performance to Vibram Megagrip – which is generally regarded to be one of the best options out there at the moment.

Breathability was good. I’d say this is a good shoe for hot weather hiking. 

Fit

I tried this in a UK 10, my usual size, and it fitted perfectly. I’d describe it as a very average fit – what I mean by that is that it seems shaped to fit most feet. I found that there was a touch of space to accommodate foot swell/splay when putting in a lot of miles. 

How it Compares

For a non-waterproof shoe, I’d say this is a little on the heavy side (410g per shoe), so those who like a really light hiking shoe might want to look elsewhere. For something lighter and with the same levels of grip, I’d recommend looking at the Arcteryx Norvan LD. If you prefer a walking shoe with a bit less rigidity, I’d say look into Hoka’s options – the Hoka Anacapa Low would fit the bill there.