Lotto Mirage 100 SPD Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.9

When our playtesters laced up the Lotto Mirage 100s they found a narrow fit, but very little break-in was required. The cushioning in the Mirage 100s was on the minimal side, which kept our players feeling quick on their feet. Having tested many wider shoes this summer, Michelle was excited for a bit of a snugger-fitting option. She said, "I could tell these shoes would hold my feet well when I first put them on. There was not a lot of extra room anywhere, which I appreciated; I like that snug, cinched-up fit. I also didn't think they required any break-in, and I immediately felt comfortable moving in them. The cushioning wasn't super plush, but the shoes were low to the ground and made me feel connected to the court and quick with my steps. After a few weeks of wear, I did notice some slight rubbing at the top of my ankle. Aside from that, I had no issues with comfort."

"When I tried these Lotto Mirage 100s on for fit, I was a bit worried they were going to be too narrow for my D-width feet," began Tiffani. "These shoes were a little tough to get on and felt glove-like throughout, so I made sure to use my thinnest socks the first time I wore them on court. I was pleasantly surprised that I played pain-free, without any squeezing through the forefoot or midfoot. After about six hours, the shoes opened just enough for me to begin wearing my preferred medium-cushion socks. I felt comfortable on the court with the low cushioning, especially in the forefoot. These shoes felt match-ready, but I would usually want to remove them right after playing. The ventilation and arch support were average for me."

After the last few playtests, Brittany's feet were missing the nice, snug feel of a narrow tennis shoe, so she couldn't wait to get these on. She said, "I was extremely happy when I opened the box and tried on the Mirage 100s for the first time. I would describe the fit as a snug medium, with no extra room anywhere in the shoes. The length was true to size, and I stayed in my typical size 8. After lacing up the shoes, I headed straight to the court and was able to immediately start playing without any break-in period, which I didn't expect after looking at the uppers, so that was a nice bonus. When I started to move around I did notice the cushioning underfoot was more on the minimal side. However, the shoes absorbed shock well, so I did not have any discomfort."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.8

With a snug fit and a low-to-ground feel, the support and stability of the Mirage 100s did not disappoint our team. That being said, a couple of our playtesters did find their feet sliding a bit within their shoes at times. Tiffani explained, "As the shoes loosened up I had just a little forward movement on hard stops. This started happening after about 10 hours of play, and I had one instance of toe jamming. On the plus side, I liked the support around the ankles, and there was plenty of stability for me."

Brittany felt like her feet sat nice and low in the Mirage 100s. She said, "I did use one of the extra eyelets to get a more locked-in feel, and I appreciated that there was an additional eyelet I could use to lock in even more if needed. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of ankle stability I received, which was enough for my ankles (with previous injuries) to feel fully supported. However, I was a little surprised by the support. Even with the snug fit, I was moving around within the shoes more than I expected. This wasn't a major problem because there wasn't a lot of extra room to move in, but I did have a couple instances of toe jamming when I was really pulled out wide."

Michelle thought the Mirage 100 performed very well in this category, especially considering their light and speedy feel. She said, "I thought the upper was really supportive, and I felt stable in these shoes. Quicker shoes don't always inspire much confidence in terms of stability, but these Mirage 100s felt good when I was scrambling side to side."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.0

The Lotto Mirage 100s were quite light on the scale, which made our team wonder how durable they would be. Brittany found them to hold up quite well. She said, "There was nothing to note at the end of the playtest. The outsoles showed minimal to no wear, and the toe bumper did its job as well. Although I wouldn't categorize these shoes as high-durability, I think they will last a couple months after the playtest."

Michelle was also satisfied with the Mirage 100's durability. She said, "I was expecting these shoes to wear down pretty fast, but they seem to be holding up well after a solid month of use."

"My Mirage 100s are holding up pretty well," added Tiffani. "The outsoles are showing only minimal wear. The plastic protection over the toes did its job, just showing minor scuffing that's easy to wipe clean after play. Overall, these Mirage 100s have impressive durability for their weight."

Traction - Score: 3.5

The traction of the Mirage 100 was definitely on the slicker side. While some of our playtesters would have preferred a bit more grip, the outsoles worked well for Tiffani. She said, "I had only one instance of slipping, and it was when I was pulled way off the court where it's a bit dustier. Other than that one time, the shoes allowed me to move seamlessly from shot to shot. As a side note, these shoes did feel quite slippery on polished concrete. Obviously this isn't an issue while playing on a hard court, but if you're wearing them in a store, beware!"

Michelle recognized that these outsoles might be perfect for some players, but they weren't quite her cup of tea. She said, "These Mirage 100s have a one-piece outsole, and they did feel pretty slick at times, especially on a line. I alluded to feeling like I was on skates at one point during this playtest. I just prefer a bit more stick and tack, but I understand the traction in these might be ideal for players looking to slide on hard courts."

The Mirage 100's traction wasn't quite right for Brittany either. She added, "I was a little confused at times with the traction. At the beginning of the playtest I thought they were on the stickier side. As the playtest wore on I realized it was actually the opposite, and they were slicker than I realized. Regardless, I would have liked to feel a little more connected to the court, especially when I was pulled out wide."

Weight - Score: 4.3

With a sleek fit and a low ride, the Lotto Mirage 100s felt very quick around the court. "Their lightweight feel was a highlight of the playtest for me," said Tiffani. "I appreciated how quick they felt, and they offered durability and support to boot."

Michelle was surprised how light these shoes were on the scale. She described, "The Mirage 100s felt relatively substantial when they were on and laced up, so I was expecting them to weigh a bit more. I definitely felt light on my feet and quick in these shoes. I enjoyed the weight!"

With their glove-like fit and minimal cushioning, the Mirage 100s were light and quick on Brittany's feet, though they could feel a bit stiff at times. She said, "I would describe these more as match-day shoes and not necessarily for long practice sessions. One thing I would have liked to see was better flex. I wasn't getting a smooth heel-to-toe transition, so I found them to be a little slappy."

Overall - Score: 3.9