Babolat Propulse BPM All Court Red Men's Shoes Review
Upsides
- Light weight
- Toe durability
- No break-in needed
Downsides
- Not as supportive as earlier versions of the Propulse
Summary
The Propulse BPM proved to be a lighter, faster-feeling update to Babolat's flagship performance tennis shoes. A lower profile design with added technology to make every step feel more natural had our playtesters flying around the court. The cushioning also was soft and plush from the instant we took them out of the box until the final ball of the playtest was struck. However, our team found the shoes to soften up a little too much, so their feet slid around a little too much during play. The testers struggled to get a locked down fit, even when tying the shoelaces very tightly. Furthermore, there was also some issue with the traction, causing even more slipping and instability. All in all, while this version doesn't quite have the same level of support and durability as previous versions, it's certainly the fastest-feeling Propulse yet.
| Babolat Propulse BPM Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall Comfort | 3,5/5 |
| Ventilation | 4,3/5 |
| Arch Support | 4,4/5 |
| Foot Support/Stability | 2,8/5 |
| Overall Sole Durability | 3,7/5 |
| Toe Durability | 4,6/5 |
| Traction | 3,1/5 |
| Weight | 4,3/5 |
| Overall | 3,4/5 |
Comfort – Score 3,5/5
The comfort and cushioning of the Propulse BPM proved to be more than adequate for our playtesters, but they both struggled to get the shoes laced down and feeling secure on their feet. One tester felt the shoes were ready to go right out of the box while the other thought they took a little while to break-in. However, over time they both found that the shoe really softened up. This was nice for cushioning but made it difficult to get a secure, locked down fit.
Ventilation – Score 4,3/5
Breathability never proved to be an issue with the Propulse BPM, and both playtesters felt there was plenty of ventilation to stay comfortable during play. It wasn't outstanding, but our team never felt they were getting uncomfortably hot in their shoes. Chris was able to wear two pairs of socks with no problems. “While these shoes are not the most ventilated shoes I've worn, my feet stayed comfortable during play in the Propulse BPM even in hot weather,” said Chris. “To help get a more secure fit in the shoes I was wearing two pairs of socks and even then my feet were able to breathe decently.”.
Arch Support – Score 4,4/5
One of the standout features of the Propulse BPM was its arch support. It was able to satisfy both of playtesters, even though they have very different types of feet. Chris and his high arches were more than satisfied, while the flatter-footed Jason was equally as pleased. In fact, Jason found this version to be a noticeable improvement in this category over the previous one for his foot type.
Foot Support/Stability – Score 2,8/5
Throughout the playtest our team struggled to get a secure, locked down fit in the Propulse BPM. Both testers had to really crank down the lacing system, and even still their feet were sliding around inside the shoes. The rigidity of the chassis as well as the strap system did help with stability, but ultimately there was just too much slipping around inside the shoe to provide supreme confidence for moving and cutting at top speeds.
Overall Sole Durability – Score 3,7/5
Both testers noticed a lower profile design in the Propulse BPM compared to Propulse 4s, but they had different opinions about how it affected the overall durability of the outsole. "Impressive," exclaimed Jason, as he was blown away by how much durability was able to be preserved, even with a lighter, thinner outsole. His pair barely showed any wear until the last couple hours of the test. On the other hand, Chris felt that some of the durability was compromised in the lighter, thinner design of the outsole. He quickly noticed balding of the outsole right under his big toe.
Toe Durability – Score 4,6/5
Our lone toe dragging playtester was very impressed with the toe durability of the Propulse BPM. Chris drags his toes often on his serve and slice backhand, and both the tip of the toe and upper material held up very well throughout the test.
Traction – Score 3,1/5
We did have some issue with the traction of the Babolat BPM. Throughout the test our players were having trouble getting the grip they needed to cut aggressively on the hard courts with aplomb. Both players were slipping and sliding a little too much for their liking. Though a little bit of give takes some stress off the joints when changing direction, this shoe offered just a bit too much.
Weight – Score 4,3/5
Another strength of the Babolat BPM proved to be they're lightweight design. Both testers felt quick moving around the court and never felt bogged down by the weight of the shoe. They felt it was a great improvement over the previous version, which had a more stable and sturdy profile.
Overall - Score: 3,4/5
Likes
Chris - “I liked the toe durability, and the ventilation was pretty good.”
Jason - “No break-in needed, nice cushioning, and they felt lightweight.”
Dislikes
Chris - “I struggled to find a supportive fit, I wanted more traction and the durability was far from impressive.”
Jason - “The support wore down during playtest, which led to painful toe jamming problems.”
Comparison:
Chris - “I've always liked the Propulse, but this update misses the mark for me. The previous version offered more support, better traction and durability. I would choose the Propulse 3 or 4 over this BPM update. From other brands I'd compare this shoe the New Balance 996 and the Lacoste Repel.”
Jason - “Like a stripped down model of a Propulse. It has a ride and feel similar to the New Balance 996.”
Playtester Foot Types:
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.
All content copyright 2015 Tennis Warehouse Europe.
