Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 1 vs Catamount 3

The Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is Adidas at its most single-minded on the trail: a lightweight competition racer built to move fast over long, technical ground. At 259g it is featherweight for a trail shoe, and the moderate 8mm drop still lets you react quickly to the ground on rough terrain. This is a running shoe for the sharp end of a race, not a plush daily trail cruiser. It rewards a runner with a quick, midfoot-led stride and enough strength to handle a firm, ground-feel ride over the miles. In our view it slots in as a premium trail racer, sitting alongside plated rivals like the Hoka Tecton X 3, though the Adidas takes a leaner, more natural route with no carbon plate. At £190 it is a serious investment, so we would save it for race day and key sessions rather than everyday muddy plods.

The Brooks Catamount 3 is a lightweight trail running shoe built to be raced, not just run. At 269g with a 6mm drop, it sits at the fast end of Brooks' trail range: a nimble, propulsive shoe for runners who want to hold a hard effort over technical ground. This is not a plush ultra cruiser and it is not a rugged tank. It is a trail racer, tuned for tempo efforts, short-to-medium trail races and fast days on rolling singletrack. You get an energetic, connected ride that rewards a quick cadence, with enough underfoot protection to keep the sharp stuff at bay without deadening the trail. It is a neutral shoe at a race-day price, so it asks something of your legs and your wallet. In our view the Catamount 3 earns its keep if you actually race trails or push the pace on them. If you mostly plod easy miles, a softer, cheaper daily trail shoe will serve you better. As a fast trail shoe, we rate it highly.