Adidas Terrex Trail Running Techrock Belt review: Lightweight yet spacious

The Adidas Terrex Trail Running Techrock Belt makes its presence known, announcing itself rather loudly with a broad shape, bright orange bungee straps and the word ‘TERREX’ in huge lettering along the back.

It's not low profile, and with its unusually generous 4.25L capacity and impressively low weight, it's best for ultra distances or kit-heavy events. Though it’s reasonably priced, the Terrex Techrock sits at the more expensive end of our collection of the best running belts.

On the trails, it easily accommodates a soft flask, snacks and a couple of extra layers, performing well on challenging routes where packing light, but packing enough, matters most. However, while the belt’s spacious pockets kept my gear well-contained and bounce to a minimum, the width of the belt makes it less suitable for shorter runs, especially for those who value a more minimal feel.

After testing this belt on long runs across the gritstone edges, dales and moorland of the Peak District, here’s how it performs in detail.

Design and construction

The Adidas Terrex Techrock Belt has a 4.25L volume, which is more spacious than most alternatives in our group test. Yet it’s also one of the lightest, weighing just 85g on my scales. So you get a lot of space for not much weight, which is ideal for long-distance runs.

Unlike most running belts, the Terrex Techrock features three large compartments: two on the sides and one slightly larger compartment in the back. Although the pockets are fairly shallow, they’re wide and long, providing plenty of storage.

You can see why Adidas have designed it this way. Three close-fitting pockets keeps everything much more contained than one loose pocket, so you can fit more items with less bounce. However, I find there’s a compromise on comfort – more on this below.

The fabric is mesh-style, which is nicely breathable. It’s secured in a similar way to the Terrex Multi Climacool Trail Vest. That’s to say, there’s two loops of bungee cord on one side that attach to two hooks on the other, tightened by pulling on a loop in the middle.

This works well – the belt needs to be really stretched for it to loosen, and there’s plenty of room to adjust the fit. The hook and loop fastener is less restrictive to breathing than a buckle, as it expands and contracts slightly as you breathe.

There’s no dedicated water bottle storage, but this is fairly normal among running belts. At just over 24cm in length and 13cm in width, the back pocket is easily large enough to fit a 500ml soft flask.

 Storage capacity and organisation

Adidas states that the Terrex Techrock has a volume of 4.25L, which is spacious for a running belt (they start just under 1L and go up to about 6L).

What does 4.25L actually mean though? Well, it’s just about large enough to fit my FRA mandatory minimum summer kit: waterproof trousers, lightweight rain jacket, hat and gloves, map and compass, some energy bars and an emergency whistle. Though if your waterproofs are bulky, you might struggle for space.

The main problem for me is that there’s nowhere safe to store my key. At the time of writing, the brand site mentions there’s a zip pocket, but this actually doesn't exist. Some runners might be okay with attaching their key to one of the exterior loops, or putting it loose in one of the compartments, but I prefer an internal pocket. Of course, this won’t be an issue if your running shorts have a zipped pocket – and plenty do.

Rather than zipping shut, all of the compartments are covered by a flap over the top. This makes it easy to reach in and grab your things on the move, especially items in the side pockets. It’s less secure than a zip closure, but I haven’t had an issue with things falling out.

The central back compartment keeps its contents contained best, as the opening is stitched in the middle. The pocket itself isn’t divided though, so it’s still relatively easy to access on the move – a clever touch.

Some extra features include two toggles at the top, one of which could be handy for attaching a race whistle to. There are also two bungee enclosures underneath for stashing trail running poles.

Fit and comfort

The Adidas Terrex Techrock Belt is noticeably wide. This means it can fit a lot in its pockets, but it makes it look and feel slightly obtrusive. Unlike some slimmer belts, you definitely notice that it’s there, clasped around you like a tool belt.

For me, having the storage space spread around the sides of the belt isn’t so comfy. Whatever you put in the pockets ends up pressing against you from all sides, so you’re fully enclosed by your gear. The upside of all of this is that, as mentioned, there’s little bounce. Everything is contained so well that there’s not much room for things to move around.

And thankfully, the fit is highly adjustable – the bungee cord allows you to tighten or loosen by several inches. It comes in three different sizes: small, medium or large. I tested the small option and found I could easily adjust it to not bounce without restricting breathing too much (my waist is 26”).

Price and competition

At £45 RRP, the Adidas Terrex Techrock is more expensive than most running belts. The average price of all of the belts we’ve reviewed is £35.55, but then most of these have much less capacity. Because of this, I don’t think it’s priced unreasonably.

The closest competitor I’ve tested is the Inov8 Race Elite Waist, which is currently available for just under £20 less. With about 1L less capacity, it’s less spacious, but I find it slightly more comfortable as there’s one main compartment at the back. It’s slightly heavier though, so the Terrex Techrock gives you more capacity for its weight.

In my experience, belts of this capacity are more likely to bounce when full. So the Terrex Techrock does well to avoid this. Of course, you can also get lower capacity belts, like the Rab Veil or Salomon Pulse, both of which have a volume of around 1L. For day-to-day running, this might be all you need – and could prove more comfortable.

Verdict

All in all, the Adidas Terrex Trail Running Techrock Belt is well-suited to kit-heavy races and long runs. Its generous capacity is slightly overkill for everyday running – I only use it if I truly need the space, and there are more comfortable lower capacity options out there.

But for such a spacious belt, it does well to not bounce around when full. Ultimately, where the Terrex Techrock really excels is in its weight to space ratio: it manages to be both lighter and more spacious than most alternatives.

About the author

Based in Sheffield, Evie is a big fan of running pell-mell around the Peak District. She’ll carefully plan a sensible route, but then end up going on a long detour because she found a new trail, and won't get back till dark. Her preference is for a running belt which she can over-stuff with snacks.