In first appearance, the Swift R3 looks very much like a trail running shoe, but as you start to look more closely it becomes obvious that this is built for hiking on serious trails. There’s a lot to like about the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex – it’s definitely mountain-ready thanks to those tough rubber soles, which provide great grip even in awful conditions, and the Gore-Tex membrane provides robust waterproofing. Although you’ll find cheaper hiking shoes on the market, the Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex is well-priced for such a high-performing shoe. The toe-box has a particularly wide set of lace eyelets, which helps pull that area in tight, and it’s easy to get a good fit without fiddling around with the lacing too much, which is aided by the friction of the tube-style lace grommets. The top pair of eyelets are nicely-finished aluminium through-rivets, which should stand up to a lot of punishment. For this special selection, we employed our outdoor expertise and hiked hundreds of miles to field-test all the Gore-Tex hiking shoes in our inventory. That means wearing each pair on actual hiking trips, covering 30+ miles across wet trails and muddy routes. Our selection process includes: Tipping the scales at just 11.4 oz (323g), this shoe is 2.5 oz (72g) lighter than the average for this category. We found it most noticeable on our longer hikes when our legs had plenty of energy to spare at the end of the day.

That stiff midfoot provides a great platform on sloping terrain, just like a boot where you can use the edge to cut into the turf (albeit less successfully than a boot due to the lesser ankle support). The ankle support may not be quite up to boot-level, but it is certainly unusually good for a hiking shoe. The cushioned midsole adds a plushness to the ride, which is also enhanced by that stiffening armour, which lets you float over the rough stuff with ease.

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Starting in 1958, Bill and Genevieve Gore were onto something special. They were curious about a revolutionary and new polymer called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). PTFE is a synthetic polymer called a fluoropolymer. It’s well known for being hydrophobic, having a high melting point, and resistant to abrasion via a high tensile strength. There isn’t a lot we would change here – the only issue we noted is that the Adidas Terrex Swift isn’t the most breathable hiking shoe in the world, due to its sturdy build and waterproof membrane. Personally, we’d save it for use from autumn through to spring, and switch to a more lightweight and breathable hiking shoe such as the Salomon Vaya for hiking mountain trails in hot dry weather.

The unique mesh and synthetic materials of the TERREX shoe range contribute to a comfortable foot environment. Perspiration is routed away, to ensure a dry and comfortable shoe even after hours of jogging. Both adiPRENE® and TORSION® provide extra heel or midfoot stability, for traction on all types of surfaces. Even after many hours of exertion, the EVA midsole softly cushions every step. Final verdict GTX stands for Gore-tex. If GTX is included in the name of a hiking shoe or labeled on the shoe itself, it utilizes a waterproof membrane made with Gore-tex fabric. High-quality materials are used in Adidas TERREX items to ensure you are ready for any weather. GORE-TEX®, for example, is both waterproof and breathable, making it excellent for long journeys. Polartec Alpha also performs well in terms of moisture control and breathability, ensuring that you keep warm without overheating. Swift R3 GTX gets the "best stability" medal because, in the world of Gore-Tex hiking shoes, we don't want just superb waterproofing but also a super stable platform that allows us to hike over wet and slippery terrain with no ankle twists, slips and falls. And the Swift R3 GTS nails it!After comprehensive lab tests and putting a number of waterproof hiking shoes through their paces, we declare that the Merrell Moab 3 GTX is the most comfortable Gore-Tex hiking shoe! They are delightfully comfortable straight out of the box, keep our feet completely dry on our wet hikes, and are designed with wear and tear in mind. While looks are far from the most important factor in an outdoor shoe, we love the smart urban feel of the Terrex Swift. You could easily wear it for more casual outings when you aren’t off on any outdoors adventures. There’s a quirky but fun extra, too – you can personalise the R3s by adding up to nine characters on each of the shoes. Both GORE-TEX versions of these respective models offer excellent protection from wet weather, although breathability is greatly reduced in hot conditions. Therefore, I would opt for the non-GORE-TEX version of either shoe if you want increased ventilation and airflow, particularly during the summer months. Bob Gore understood that he was onto something with great potential. In 1970 Gore applied for a series of patents to make Gore-tex fabrics more seriously. And shortly afterward, in 1976, he started marketing their family brand, Gore-tex. At the time, it was the first waterproof and windproof fabric.