Waterproof Jackets

Adidas Terrex Techrock Gore-Tex Pro Jacket | Review

This flagship shell from Adidas’s Terrex line of climbing-focused apparel is a top-quality technical waterproof designed for winter mountaineering. But despite its rugged Gore-Tex Pro fabric, it’s impressively lightweight

Why We Chose The Adidas Terrex Techrock Gore-Tex Pro Jacket: Well-built, top-level performance, very lightweight for a four-season shell

We reckon most people, at one point or another, will have owned some clothing or footwear made by Adidas. If you grew up in the ‘80s, you probably had a pair of shell toe Superstars or Stan Smith trainers. If you grew up in the ‘90s, it was more likely to be a pair of Predator football boots, or maybe a pair of ‘poppers’: those three-stripe track bottoms with side press studs that were the height of teen fashion.

You might not have worn much of their outdoor kit though. Adidas only truly entered the outdoor scene in 2008, when it launched its hiking and climbing-focused Terrex brand. Since then, the range has expanded massively, and now covers the full spectrum of clothing, equipment and footwear. The latest range also includes some real top-of-the-mountain kit, including the Techrock Pro jacket, made with Gore’s high-spec Gore-Tex Pro waterproof-breathable fabric.

Who is the Adidas Terrex Techrock Gore-Tex Pro Jacket for?

This technically advanced mountain-ready shell was developed by Adidas in conjunction with their elite team of high-altitude athletes, including German Alpinist and boulderer Fabian Buhl. As you might expect then, it’s built for nailing hardcore climbing and mountaineering routes in seriously gnarly conditions.

“The Gore-Tex Pro fabric performs superbly.”

In short, if you’re an all-weather adventurer and need a rugged and reliable waterproof jacket, this might be the shell for you. Why look at the Techrock rather than rival offerings from other outdoor brands though? Well, this one brings Adidas’s distinctive style to the summits, for one thing, but more significantly it’s also lighter than many other similarly-specced jackets. That’s an impressive bit of design from the German brand.

Materials and Construction

The Techrock Pro is made from three-layer Gore-Tex Pro fabric, which sandwiches the membrane between a rugged nylon face and a soft knitted tricot backer. This ensures top-quality waterproof-breathable performance, excellent moisture wicking and maximum comfort for a hard shell.

It’s also a striking-looking jacket, particularly in the brighter yellow- and gold-hued colourways. It’ll certainly help you stand out in the mountains, which wins you brownie points from a safety perspective as well as style points. Mountain Rescue will find you much easier to spot in an emergency scenario. Having said all that, it comes in black too if bold colours aren’t your thing. In all cases, you get the brand’s trademark three stripes emblazoned on the hood.

Features

The Techrock ticks all the boxes for a technical shell. You get a high, protective collar, combined with a fully adjustable, helmet-compatible hood, two large external chest pockets complete with water-resistant Vislon zippers, fully adjustable cuffs and hem, and a highly water-resistant two-way main zipper. That’s pretty much the standard feature set for a mountaineering shell, but all the elements are present and correct, and well designed too. There are no added extras, but that befits the Alpine-style design ethos: all you need and nothing you don’t, providing maximum functionality and minimum weight.

That latter point is a stand-out feature. The Techrock tips the scales at just over 400g in a men’s medium, which makes this one of the lightest all-season, winter-ready mountain shells around – comparable to premium brands like Arc’teryx.

Conclusion

Adidas Terrex may not have been in the outdoor game as long as some brands, but when it comes to ‘proper’ mountaineering shells, the Terrex Techrock is right up there with the best of them. This is a very protective jacket that is impressively light without skimping on too many features. Real-world performance is excellent and it’s worth reiterating again that this is one of the lightest winter-grade Gore-Tex Pro jackets out there too. It’s not cheap, but it’s pitched at around the same price as comparable jackets like Mountain Equipment’s Lhotse or the Arc’teryx Alpha.

Tester’s Verdict

Matt Jones – Freelance outdoor writer and editor, @mattymountains

“This is a fantastic jacket BUT it’s vital to get the fit right. I think it runs big, and looking at other customer reviews, most people seem to agree with me. I ended up with a medium rather than my usual size large. And for reference, I’m well over 6ft with a 42” chest. But sizing down basically transformed the jacket from a sack-like shell to a well-cut waterproof, and from then on, I was truly impressed.

“The Gore-Tex Pro fabric performs superbly. As you’d expect, it’s fully windproof and waterproof, but it is also breathable enough to prevent too much ‘fug’ build-up inside the jacket. The pit zips are also useful if you need to dump heat quickly (though these only have one-way zippers). The fabric does feel slightly thinner than some other jackets – I’d guess it’s a 40-denier nylon rather than the 80-denier nylon used in some heavyweight shells. But it’s still pretty tough and came through a Snowdonia winter with no problems. The weight savings on the fabric also ensures it’s way lighter and more packable than most other winter jackets.

“The helmet-compatible hood is great, and three-way adjustment gives you a snug fit with or without a climbing lid. I also liked the fact that the twin face drawcords tuck down inside the jacket, so they don’t dangle around, get snagged in pockets and pack straps or whip you in the face. The hand pockets are good too. They have an internal expanding gusset, so they’re roomier than you think, ideal for stashing bulky winter gloves. It’s just a shame there’s no inside pocket. But that’s a small trade-off really.”

Neil Irwin – UK outdoor and adventure photographer

“This is my new go to outdoor jacket. With robust zips all round and underarm vents along with the integrated Goretex Pro, it’ll no doubt be up to the job in keeping me dry out on the hills. The fit is comfortable and not too baggy in places whilst still having room for extra layers underneath. Really can’t compain. It’s a great all rounder!”