by Tom Mangan
Adidas is serious about carving a chunk of the outdoor recreation market for itself, judging from the broad expanse of shoes, jackets, parkas, and pants it introduced Thursday at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City.
Adidas is bringing nearly 60 shoe styles for adults and children to the U.S. market this fall.The company has been a household name in athletic shoes and apparel for decades, but until now it's been mostly absent from the U.S. outdoor recreation field dominated by sturdy boots, pricey technical jackets, and puffy down parkas.
Materials from Gore-Tex, PolarTec, and PrimaLoft appear up and down the new product line, which was introduced in Europe two years ago and will appear in the U.S. market this fall.
The line is divided into two main segments: Terrex, designed to be light and fast; and Super Trekking, built for more traditional hiking and backpacking.
Footwear include hiking boots, winter boots, approach shoes, water shoes, and several children's models.
Apparel includes base layers, hard shells, puffy jackets (down and synthetic), and soft shell jackets, tops, and pants. All told Adidas is bringing more than 150 products to the market this fall. A few highlights:
Footwear
Adidas Terrex Fast X FM Mid GTX.
The Terrex Solo, left, is an approach/multi-sport shoe, and the Terrex Mid 1 GTX is a children's hiking boot.Terrex Fast X FM Mid
Men's and women's fast-packer with Gore-Tex waterproofing. Adidas says this model "provides the best grip and agility during fast activities."
- Sizes: 6-11, 12, 13, 14, 15 (M); 5-12 (W)
- MSRP: $160
Terrex Solo
Men's approach and multi-sport shoe developed with Adidas athletes.
- Sizes: 4-11, 12, 13, 14
- MSRP: $110
Terrex Mid 1 GTX
Host of technical features crammed into a boot for trekking tykes, including Gore-Tex waterproofing.
- Sizes: 2K, 3K, 4K, 5-10K
- MSRP: $45
Terrex Conrax CP
Beefy winter boot for men featuring ClimaProof waterproof membrane, PrimaLoft insulation, and Traxion outsole, which includes red bars that harden in freezing weather to provide more grip (see video below).
- Sizes: 4.5-11.5, 12, 13, 14
- MSRP: $160
Outerwear
Women's Terrex Gore-Tex Active Shell, left, and men's Hiking Down Hoodie.
Terrex Gore-Tex Active Shell jacket
Featuring the all-new, super-light Gore-Tex Active Shell waterproofing, this jacket has removable sleeves to help heat escape. Athletic fit cut to the distinct body shapes of men and women.
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL (M); XS, S, M, L (W)
MSRP: $395
Hiking Down Hoodie
Part of the Super Trekking line, this 600-fill jacket features 80 percent goose down/20 percent feathers.
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL (M): XS, S, M, L (W)
- MSRP: $250
