Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 vs Catamount 3

Adidas kept the second Agravic Speed Ultra fast and fussy, and fixed most of what people disliked about the first. The upper is far comfier than on the original Speed Ultra and the lugs bite harder, and the reviews we read broadly agree most runners will prefer it. It is still a trail racing shoe with a narrow heel, a pointed toe box and a rocker that wants you up on your forefoot. Women's Running UK gave it five stars as an ultra racer for runners who put speed and control ahead of plush cushioning. On our spec sheet it is effectively zero drop, and lab testing says the heel rocker makes it feel less flat than that. At a £200 RRP it sits alongside the S/Lab Genesis 2 and Tecton X 3 as a race-day trail shoe. If you land midfoot and race on fast, runnable trails, we'd pick it over both. Heel strikers and wide feet should look elsewhere.

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.