Kids Hiking Shoes: Adidas Terrex AX2R CF Long Term Review

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It’s kid of a running joke that kids can bankrupt a house in milk and shoes, alone. Yes, hyperbolic, but directionally true ;)

Part of the reason we like the Adidas Terrex AX2R CF shoes so much is that they have all but eliminated one of the two reasons our kids go through shoes: our kids can still outgrow them, but they’ve stopped wearing them out.

Prior to our finding the Adidas Terrex AX2R CF hiking shoes, we went through all sorts of brands and models. These other shoes either fell apart or were decidedly poor on traction.

…which has been another major advantage of the Adidas Terrex AX2R CF. We’ve found the traction to be excellent. The two biggest tests of traction for a hiking shoe (in my opinion) are performance while scrambling and performance on wet rock.

While wet rock is always going to be some degree of slippery, that question still stands, ‘can you stay up on the rock or will you slip all the way off?’ This is a big deal for a hike, as a fully submerged foot can actually end a trip. If the water is icy or if you don’t have a replacement sock, you could move beyond annoyance and into doing some real danger to your foot. So, can you avoid sliding into the stream or lake? So far, the kids have managed their stream crossings really well. So, we can check that box.

And then there is scrambling, or moving quickly over semi-technical rock where you need some hand holds but when you aren’t using ropes. This is another situation where loosing a foot hold could mean serious injury; so you have to be able to trust your feet. Again, now slips, no injuries on scrambles. Check box two.

You factor in the comfort of our kids preferring to have these on all day every day, and we are really starting to see the value in these. The kids can wear them every day, beat up on them in the outdoors, and stay safe while they are doing it.

All that’s left, then, is to get them in the right size. And for this, I want to repeat some advice that I gave when reviewing the Kamik Snowbuster 1 kids winter boots…

We all know a poorly fitting shoe feels bad, but if a shoes is too small or two big, you are also going to wear out the shoe sooner. In either circumstance, your kid will start walking in a way to avoid uncomfortable pressure points on their feet (like cramped toes or heels sliding up the shoe). That changed gait will create different impact points on the boot sole when it hits the ground, wearing the sole in ways that weren’t intended in the design. And those soles are the key to the traction I was discussing, above.

So, how do you do get a good fit, especially if you are going to order the Adidas Terrex AX2R CF, or any shoe, over the internet and therefore don’t have the luxury of having your kid try them on?

Well, the wildcard in this equation is if the shoe fits true to size. You can search the internet at sites that specialize in shoes, like Zappos, where every review also has a sliding scale on if the boots run long/short or narrow/wide. Just scroll down and see what the consensus is.

For what it’s worth, the Adidas Terrex AX2R CF fit true to size for our kids, and that also seems to be the consensus.

So, now turn your attention to one of your kid’s regular, good fitting, shoes. What does the consensus say about its fit on those shoe specialty websites?

Now, you put all that information together. If your current shoe fits “true to size” and the Adidas Terrex AX2R CF fits “true to size” then you know the size you need to buy. If the shoe fits “large” and the Adidas Terrex AX2R CF is “true to size” then consider purchasing a half size up.. and in reverse if you have a current shoe that typically fits “small.”

Most of these places have great return policies, too, if they turn out to not fit; but this is a great way to narrow down the probability of that happening.

A great shoe like the Adidas Terrex AX2R CF with the right fit can make for many a happy outing.