adidas Stella Barricade Boost Women's Shoe Review
Summary
Designed by Stella McCartney, the Stella Barricade Boost blends performance with style, as adidas continues to make its flagship shoes even better. In this update Boost technology is added to the heels for maximum cushioning, while the uppers feature a seamless Primeknit material for step-in perfection. Our playtesters, who have always loved the Barricades, were excited to try the Stella Barricade Boosts. They agreed that these were the most comfortable shoes they have tried from Adidas. Our team was beyond satisfied with the durability, traction, weight and styling. However, they felt the fit and support could be improved. These shoes also stretched out a bit over the course of the playtest, and our playtesters were looking for a more secure fit towards the end of the test. Adidas continues to pay attention to what women are looking for in their footwear, and these Stella Barricade Boosts 2017 are lighter, quicker and more comfortable than ever.
| adidas Stella Barricade Boost Scores: | |
|---|---|
| Overall Comfort | 4,7/5 |
| Ventilation | 4,3/5 |
| Arch Support | 3,6/5 |
| Foot Support/Stability | 4,1/5 |
| Overall Sole Durability | 4,1/5 |
| Toe Durability | 4,1/5 |
| Traction | 4,5/5 |
| Weight | 4,4/5 |
| Overall | 4,5/5 |
Comfort – Score 4,7/5
There was no doubt among our playtesters that the Stella Barricade Boosts are the most comfortable Barricades to date. Featuring a seamless Primeknit upper, this shoe provides the ultimate fit while BOOST technology in the heel offers plush cushioning and responsiveness in every step creating one of the most comfortable on-court experiences.
Foot Support/Stability – Score 4,1/5
The playtesters found more support and stability in the Stella Barricade BOOST 2017s than they did in the previous version. As mentioned, the knit uppers of the Stella Barricade Boosts provide a super soft feel, but they feel much more flexible than other materials typically used to make tennis shoes. The knit uppers opened up and stretch out a bit during the playtest, which left some of our team yearning for a bit more. If support and stability are your first priority, there are other shoes that would fill that need much better. However, if speed is most important to you and you are willing to give up small amounts of support to gain more court feel, these shoes provide the right balance of stability and support to keep you feeling confident on cuts or changes of direction.
Durability – Score 4,1/5
Barricades have always been known for their durability. However, as Barricade shoes have gotten lighter has some of the legendary durability been lost? Of course not. The outsole of the Stella Barricade Boosts features a durable rubber and will hold up for hours of court time.
Traction – Score 4,5/5
The modified herringbone tread pattern on the Stella Barricade Boosts left our playtesters pretty content with traction. A perfect blend of grip and slide gives comfortable confidence in moving aggressively on the court; the ideal quality for every dynamic tennis player.
Weight – Score 4,4/5
If you have ever worn Barricades you know they can feel pretty hefty. As the game of tennis gets even faster, any extra weight in your shoes becomes a liability. Adidas has done a great job taking weight out of the Stella Barricade Boosts to make quick, light shoes.
Overall - Score: 4,5/5
Likes
Brittany - "I loved the comfort, weight, traction and look. I could wear the Stella Barricade Boosts just about anywhere."
Hannah - "I like the unmatched comfort from the BOOST and Primeknit technologies and the low-to-the-ground feel for speed and quick transitions. The Stella Barricade BOOST 2017s feel like your favorite off-court shoe, but with the performance features required for aggressive court movements."
Michelle - "Super comfortable, lightweight, simple style -- they look great on and off the court and perform awesomely."
Dislikes
Brittany - "My one knock was the uppers stretched out toward the end of the playtest and I lost some stability."
Hannah - "Not much to dislike. I supplemented the arch support with my own inserts because I felt a slight lack of support on the outside of my calf. adidas shoes tend to feel slightly wide around my ankles."
Michelle - "The only thing worth noting was the fit -- I sized down a full size and had no issues with fit. Ideally, I think a half-size down would be adequate since the length ran just a tad tight for my feet at a full size down."
Comparison:
Brittany - "This is my favorite update of the Stella Barricades so far. I loved the comfort, weight and traction. The Stella Barricade Boosts are also, by far, the best-looking Barricades. They have similar durability as the previous Stellas but nowhere near the durability of the Barricade V Classics. They also lost support toward the end of the playtest while the other versions didn't."
Hannah - "I feel like the Stella Barricade BOOST 2017s fall into several shoe categories, allowing me to compare them to others shoes from all over the spectrum. They offer the best of both worlds in a lot of ways. Compared to extremely cushioned shoes like the Asics Gel Resolution 7s, they offer the same cushioned comfort without the added bulk and give more court feel. Compared to the adidas adizero Ubersonic 2, they offer the same amount of speed but are more accommodating to comfort aspects with the Primeknit uppers and BOOST technology. They are very similar to the Nike Lunar Ballistic 1.5s in the strengths they offer, but the Stella Barricades offer unmatched comfort and breathability, while the Lunar Ballistecs boast slightly more stability."
Michelle - "I am a big fan of the 2015 Stella Barricades, and the Stella Barricade Boosts are an awesome update because they're even lighter and more cushioned. The Stella Barricade Boosts have the cushioning of the KSwiss Hypercourt Expresses and the speed and quickness of the Asics Solution Speed 2s."
Playtester Foot Types:
Brittany - Narrow width / Medium arch
Hannah - Medium width / High arch
Michelle - Medium width / High arch
Review date: March 2017. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.
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