adidas Barricade 2015 Men's Shoe Review

Price:

€

Upsides

Little to no break-in
Support
Stability
Durability

Downsides

Nothing we could agree on

Summary

The instant we slipped our feet into the Barricade 2015s, we knew these were Barricades like no other. The first thing we took note of was the fresh, aggressive look that's highlighted by the new midfoot Barricade chassis that replaces the signature forefoot Barricade Claw technology. As soon as we tried the shoe on, we realized what this change did: The upper was much softer and very comfortable right out of the box. Yes, you heard that right. These new Barricades required no break-in. Taking them to the courts reminded us of all the great attributes this legendary shoe line is known for -- unmatched support, stability and durability for performance tennis shoes -- all the while remaining more flexible and comfortable than any Barricade we could remember. While they may not be the fastest feeling shoes on the market, these may be the most improved and impressive version of the Barricade in our recent memory.

ADIDAS BARRICADE 2015 SCORES
Overall Comfort	3,5/5
Ventilation	4/5
Arch Support	4,4/5
Foot Support/Stability	4,8/5
Overall Sole Durability	4,6/5
Toe Durability	4,3/5
Traction	4,7/5
Weight	4,1/5
Overall	4,7/5

Comfort – Score 3,5/5

All of our playtesters couldn't believe how comfortable the Barricade 2015s were right out of the box, since past Barricades normally take quite a while to break in. They offered excellent cushioning, and the uppers were supple and flexed naturally with every step. One tester even commented on the plush 'pillow-like' tongue that sits on top of the foot. All in all, there was a level of comfort and cushioning that very much impressed our team right from the first wear- unlike any Barricade we've seen in years!

Ventilation – Score 4/5

Mesh cutouts in the welded TPU upper allowed for plenty of air movement through the Barricade 2015s. None of the playtesters had any issues with the level of breathability the shoes offered. Even with thicker socks or on hotter days, the testers' feet never got too hot and sweaty. While it may not be the MOST breathable shoe around, there were no major issues here.

Arch Support – Score 4,4/5

There were a few mixed feelings about the more pronounced arch support of the Barricade 2015s, but for the most part the opinions were quite positive. In typical Barricade fashion, the shoes offered plenty of support through the arch area, which really pleased two of our three testers. The shoes flexed in the right spots and never caused any sort of discomfort for them. However, our wider, flat-footed tester did experience some pain on the lateral side of the shoe in the arch area. Whether it was the high arch or more narrow fit, this wasn't an ideal fit for him.

Foot Support/Stability – Score 4.8/5

Just like its predecessors, the Barricade 2015s continue to offer unprecedented levels of support and stability. Each playtester felt very locked in and supported for almost all of his aggressive on-court movements. Even though the upper material was much softer and flexed much more easily, it did not have any ill effects on the overall stability of the shoes. The new chassis design firmly locked in the midfoot during any hard cut. One tester had a slight fit issue with the ankle collar, but for the most part these shoes continue the Barricade tradition of the highest level of support a tennis player could ask for.

Overall Sole Durability – Score 4,6/5

Once again, the Barricade 2015s continue the tradition of extraordinary durability that the iconic shoe line has always offered. The resilient adiwear 6 rubber compound barely showed signs of wear for a couple of our testers even after 20-30 hours on a hard court. One playtester noted that, while still offering durability that's unmatched by any other shoe on the market, this version wasn't quite as durable as past iterations. The shoe is significantly lighter than its predecessors, though, so it's understandable that some rubber was taken out of the outsole. All in all, it's still one of the most durable shoes on the market, only beaten in this category by its predecessors.

Toe Durability – Score 4,3/5

Chris, our lone toe-dragging playtester on this test, once again found more than adequate protection in the toe area, but noticeably less than past versions of the Barricade. He explained, “As with the outsole durability, these shoes are impressively durable at the toe but not as impressive as recent versions. I have started to wear through one small area of the toe guard on my left shoe after 15 hours of play. Other areas of the toes are showing plenty of scuffing but are holding up better. I still feel like I have plenty of life left in the shoes and at the end of the test I'm not sure if the toes or the outsole will go first?”

Traction – Score 4.7/5

Traction was another area that went relatively unchanged in the Barricade 2015s compared to past versions. Barricades have always offered the highest level of grip on the hard courts, and this iteration is no different. Our testers were able to move at top speeds with full confidence the shoe would grab the court and help propel them back in the other direction when they needed to make a hard cut. Traction received almost top marks from all our playtesters.

Weight – Score 4,1/5

While still not the fastest feeling shoe on the market, the Barricade 2015s were noticeably lighter and quicker than their predecessors. Ultimately, they really impressed our team because of the level of support they still offered, too. The team found the shoes to flex naturally with the foot and ride a little lower to the ground, allowing them to be connected to each step. We also felt the dreaded toe jam issue was gone, so we felt motivated to chase down every ball at top speed.

Overall - Score: 4,7/5

Likes

Chris - “I loved them! The comfort is vastly improved without any sacrifice to support or stability. The traction was perfect, and I felt like I was moving exceptionally well in them. I also love the look of the blue version I tested.”

Jason - “Just about everything! No break-in period is huge! Lighter than ever. Great stability, traction and of course durability.”

Andy - “Comfortable right out of the box, breathable, extremely stable and durable. They look pretty sweet, too!”

Dislikes

Chris - “Nothing to dislike for me -- these are good shoes.”

Jason - “Narrow fit through the arch area resulted in some soreness on my lateral arch of my right foot.”

Andy - “Slightly on the clunky-feeling side, and I found the heel cup required just a little bit of time to mold to my foot. I'm being picky here, though, because I really liked these shoes.”

Comparison:

Chris - “Compared to recent Barricades this version felt lighter and faster. I guess I would put this midway between a Barricade 8+ and an adizero Feather III in terms of how it blended the Barricade support with Feather-like speed. Compared to other brands, Nike doesn't really have anything that competes since both the Lunar Ballistec and Air Zoom Vapor Tour are softer/flexier shoes with nothing even close to Barricade durability. The Asics Gel Resolution 5 would likely be the closest in terms of on court performance since it is also durable and blends support with speed.”

Jason - “They're Barricades through and through but faster and with no break-in!”

Andy - “Compared to previous versions, they're way more comfortable right from the first wear. They're also a little lighter and faster-feeling while still providing loads of support and durability. They're definitely my favorite Barricade yet! It also reminded me a bit of the Lotto Ultra Raptor IV Speed, especially because of its slightly narrow fit through the midfoot.”

Playtester Foot Types:

Andy - Medium width / Low arch

Chris - Narrow width / Medium arch

Jason - Wide width / Low arch

Review date: January 2015. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.