Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 Women's Review

Comfort - Score: 3.6

The TW playtesters have a wide range of foot types, so it was no surprise that the Wilson Rush Pro 2.5s received mixed reviews when it came to fit and comfort. Tiffani has playtested multiple Wilson shoes in the last couple years. She said, "I was a little bit skeptical heading into another Wilson shoe review. I've struggled with the two Wilson shoes I've worn before these Rush Pro 2.5s. When I slipped on the 2.5s I felt pressure in the same area that the Amplifeel and Kaos shoes had bothered me— primarily on the lateral side of my forefoot. It took an hour or two for that area to soften up and feel more comfortable, but once these shoes broke in I could appreciate the ample cushioning. My feet felt well protected from hard landings. The arch support felt minimal, but I didn't end up needing to install my Superfeet insoles. Ventilation was just average, but unless shoes run really hot I don't find it to be a major detriment. These Rush Pro 2.5s are the most comfortable Wilson shoes I've worn in quite some time."

"There was a small break-in period for me before the shoes began to mold to the shape my feet," continued Brittany. "It took about 30 minutes before I felt fully comfortable with the uppers and midsoles. The medium width fit my feet pretty well. However, I did notice that my narrow feet had some extra room in the toe box. The cushioning was supportive, but nothing really stood out to me. I did have a couple instances of toe jamming. This took my comfort score down a couple notches. Lastly, we tested these shoes in cooler weather so I couldn't fully test the ventilation, but I didn't experience any overheating."

Michelle had some ups and downs when it came to overall comfort, saying, "Luckily, I didn't have the toe jamming that I experienced in the Amplifeel or Kaos shoes. However, the shoes ran slightly short for me, and if I wore thinner socks the edges of my toes were feeling the end of the shoes. They have good cushioning, and the heel has comfortable padding, but it is supportive cushioning rather than plush cushioning. I remember the original Rush Pros having a plusher feel, and if the Rush Pro 2.5s are going to weigh more than 12 oz I wish they had more of that. Also, I never felt fast in these shoes. Normally I don't mind stable shoes, but I didn't feel like I could get going quick enough in the 2.5s. I definitely was having issues moving forward to all of the drop shots Chris was hitting against me! All in all, the comfort was good -- not phenomenal but also not detrimental. The uppers seemed a bit lighter and more breathable, so that was a positive as well."

Hannah's narrow feet had some issues with the fit of the Rush Pro 2.5s. She offered, "Out of the few Wilson shoe playtests I have done, this design is the most performance oriented in my opinion. These shoes feel lighter and more streamlined overall than both the Kaos and the Amplifeel shoes, making the comfort an upside for me. I did wear my insoles with these shoes, which allowed me to appreciate the cushioning under the balls of my feet and heels. The biggest issue was the way the Rush Pro 2.5s specifically fit my narrow and flat feet. Although my insoles did help with the fit, there was a significant amount of room in the toe box, which caused my toes to plunge forward during any directional lunging movements. This led to intense toe jamming that I would not wish on anybody. I do know that I was the only playtester who experienced this, though, so only those with a similar foot type should beware."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.9

The support and stability were standout features of the Wilson Rush Pro 2.5s. Michelle felt confident in her movements on the court. She said, "As far as stability and support go, I thought these shoes did pretty good. The tongue offered a bit of a locked-in/bootie like fit and feel, which helped me feel secure in the shoes. I never felt like I was going to twist an ankle or roll over the edge of the shoes. Support and stability weren't a concern, which is usually a good sign."

Tiffani felt secure moving in the Rush Pro 2.5s. She said, "The 2.5s provided a stable base for both lateral and up and back movements. I did have a couple of instances of toe jamming, but it wasn't too serious. I could move with confidence and without hesitation in these shoes."

"The Rush Pro 2.5s had adequate support and stability when I was moving around the court," added Hannah. "As a whole, they were extremely stable throughout the midsole and provided good support around the uppers and all the way into my ankles. I never had to hesitate when I was pulled out wide, and my ankles never felt exposed or compromised, so I was able to move freely."

Coming off an ankle injury, Brittany appreciated the extra support in the ankle area. She noted, "The Rush Pro 2.5s met my needs in the ankle region. The ankle collar securely wrapped around my ankles for a tight fit, and I never felt like I was going to tip over in these shoes. Like I mentioned above, the toe box was a tad roomy for my narrow feet. This led to my feet sliding around at times (causing the toe jamming I mentioned above). I could avoid the toe jamming for the most part if I made sure my laces were super tight."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.3

Both the outsole and toe durability of the Rush Pro 2.5s exceeded our playtesters' expectations. Brittany thought the durability of the Rush Pro 2.5s was one of their standout features. She commented, "I played in these shoes for about 15 hours, and I don't see any indications of wear on the outsoles. (Note: Due to an ankle injury I'm not as hard on my shoes as I used to be), and the soles seem to have many hours of play left on them. The toe bumpers and the additional material around the toes was thick and held up to all of my toe dragging. The toe bumpers will hold up long after the outsoles."

Michelle found the Rush Pro 2.5s very durable, noting, "The outsoles of the shoes are holding up well for me. I would say they are on the more durable side. I remember the previous version to be pretty durable as well. No complaints in this area!"

"I scratched up the top of the toes of these shoes pretty quickly, but the damage was purely cosmetic," stated Tiffani. "There weren't any structural issues, and the toes were holding up fine. I had begun to wear off some of the dye on the outsoles after about 10 hours, but there is plenty of tread left. I'm happy with how these shoes are holding up on the hard courts."

Hannah didn't playtest these shoes enough to comment on the durability due to toe jamming issues.

Traction - Score: 4.0

In the Wilson Rush Pro 2.5s, the TW playtesters thought the traction was on the grippier side. Tiffani had only positive things to say about the traction. She praised, "When I don't think about the traction of a pair of shoes, we're on the right track. I can't recall any instances when I had any issues with slipping or feeling stuck to the court in these Rush Pro 2.5s. I think Wilson got the traction level right with these shoes."

The traction was also adequate for Michelle's personal taste. She elaborated, "The traction was on the tackier side, which is what I like. I never felt fast on the court, which I don't necessarily blame on the traction, but the traction may have been a bit too sticky. I wasn't finding that rebound or energy return when I was trying to change directions."

"The herringbone tread had a little bit more grip than give," continued Brittany. "When I needed to make a quick start or stop the shoes were sticking to the court, and I wasn't getting the extra give that I typically enjoy. After about a week I noticed the grip letting up a little bit, which made quick changes of direction more smooth and comfortable."

Hannah had a similar experience. She said, "The traction on these shoes is on the grippy side. I find this in other Wilson shoes, too. The traction complements the support really well, and I found that I was aware of planting on every step. This is not necessarily a negative attribute, but I do tend to prefer a little less traction so I can move more freely."

Weight - Score: 3.6

Weighing in at 12.2 oz (size 8.5), the weight of the Rush Pro 2.5s received mixed reviews from our playtesters. The weight was a highlight for Hannah. She raved, "The Rush Pro 2.5s weighed enough to keep me from feeling unstable, but they were light enough that my steps and explosive takeoffs felt natural."

Brittany found the weight of the Rush Pro 2.5s to be middle of the road. She said, "The weight of these shoes was average. They weren't too heavy and they weren't too light. I never felt them weighing me down, but I could still feel them on my feet when I was moving around the court."

"Perhaps it was because they're so well cushioned in the heel area, but these Rush Pro 2.5s felt a little bit clunky on the court to me," critiqued Tiffani. "They weren't as streamlined and didn't feel as light as a shoe like the adidas Ubersonic. These shoes weren't terribly heavy, so I'd put them more in the middle weight category."

Michelle found the Rush Pro 2.5s to be on the hefty side. She offered, "These shoes felt heavy to me. They aren't the heaviest shoes we have playtested, but they just didn't feel fast. They were a bit bulky, and the shape didn't really feel conducive to speed. Since I'm not the quickest player I can use all the help I can get. While I'm usually OK with some weight if the shoe is more stable or cushioned, these Rush Pro 2.5s just felt clunky, and I felt like I was stuck to the court and heavy on my feet."

Overall - Score: 3.7