Teva Aventrails Are Laceless & Fearless

First impressions of the Teva Aventrail? This shoe makes a statement. Its laceless design might raise eyebrows among traditionalists, but what it lacks in laces it makes up for in clever construction and intuitive support. The external W Strapping System wraps across the foot like a harness, locking it in with minimal fuss. Add in Velcro grip zones across the midfoot and a rear Velcro heel strap, and you’ve got a fully adjustable fit system that’s surprisingly secure – even on angled single track and scrambly descents.

And then there’s the tongue, or rather, the smartly perforated upper section that acts like a dynamic foot wrap. The ventilation holes here aren’t just for show, they work to wick moisture, drain water fast, and allow the shoe to flex and move with your foot. On a 10km loop that involved one-too-many water crossings over winter, I noticed how quickly the upper expelled water and let air circulate – no squelch, and no swamp foot. Winning!

Read more trail running shoe reviews
– Asics Metafuji Review 
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Underfoot, the Spider Rubber outsole is the real MVP. The multi-directional 6mm lugs are grippy, aggressive, and confidently bite into everything from dry gravel to damp rock. They’ve got a bit of depth to them, but aren’t overkill, making them perfect for mixed terrain that shifts from groomed to gnarly in seconds. And they’re also tiered in design, meaning they vary in height within the overall 6mm depth to help create a more stable platform by optimising grip toward different parts of your foot under varied terrain pressures. 

The HYPER-COMF in the Teva Aventrail’s midsole delivers that Goldilocks cushioning – soft without losing shape, responsive without being harsh. There’s a plushness to the underfoot feel that makes long kilometres more forgiving, especially when the trail throws in a surprise rock garden or uneven zones. It’s not overly bouncy, but just enough rebound to feel efficient.

Fit-wise, the Teva Aventrail runs true to size with a standard-width toe box and enough give to accommodate swelling on warm days or longer efforts. Narrow-footed runners will benefit from the adjustable straps, while wider-footed folk should still try them on first – the midfoot structure doesn’t stretch like mesh-based uppers typically do.

One caveat: this isn’t your cold-weather shoe. It thrives in warmer temps, river crossings, and summer adventures, but lacks insulation for alpine missions or chilly pre-dawn starts. It has a highly breathable, perforated upper which is fantastic for ventilation and drainage, but lets in cold air when temperatures drop. The Teva Aventrail is designed for lightness and airflow, not heat retention. That said, it’s ideal for runners who want a hybrid they can run, hike, splash, and scramble in – all without sacrificing style or support.

The Teva Aventrail – available in Burnt Olive/Vivid Violet for women and Total Eclipse/Green Flash for men – is a shoe for people who want to stay comfortable, and look like they mean to wear trail runners to brunch afterwards. In short, it’s weird, wonderful, and wildly capable – a shoe that proves performance doesn’t have to be boring.

Key Details of Teva Aventrail

Great for: Summer trails, water crossings, fast hikes, fun runs, mixed terrain
Not so great for: Road-heavy routes, ultra distances 
Ideal foot type: Neutral
Test terrain: Fire trails, single track, sandstone slabs, pea gravel, shallow river beds
RRP: $300.00 AUD / $320.00 NZD
More info: au.teva.com / nz.teva.com
Conditions: Shoes in Burnt Olive/Vivid Violet provided for testing by Teva