Adidas Terrex Conrax BOA
Warmest Boot
Brand: Adidas
Model: Terrex Conrax BOA
Our Take We’re used to thinking of winter boots as sloggers, but the adidas Terrex Conrax BOA was surprisingly nimble on snowy day missions. The 200 grams of PrimaLoft Sport insulation, thermo-welded upper, and waterproof membrane kept one tester toasty and dry down to the low single digits on hikes around Utah’s Wasatch Range. When we were moving fast, adidas’ Boost midsole—the same one used in their running and athletic shoes—provided ample rebound, helping stave off foot fatigue. (Boost is made of an encapsulated PU, which doesn’t compress like EVA when the mercury plummets.) “The cushioning is much better than any other winter-duty boot I’ve used; it felt like I was walking on air even when moving fast with a 25-pound pack,” our tester says.
The Details A Boa lacing system helps keep bulk to a minimum, and let us make quick and easy fit adjustments, even when we were wearing thick gloves. One tester praised the padded cuff, which enhances stability: “While sidehilling across a snowfield under a 35-pound pack, the boots stayed rock-solid,” he says. The Stealth rubber outsole with 4.5mm-deep, triangle-shaped lugs kept us sure-footed on hard snow, but lost grip in slush and mud.
Trail Cred “Putting on traction devices is easy,” our Utah tester says. “It doesn’t have a traditional heel welt, but the small plastic lip easily accommodated crampons for an ascent of Box Elder Peak.”