Adidas Barricade IV Tennis Shoe Review

Adidas Barricade IV Shoe Review

Since its introduction as the Equipment Barricade, the Barricade shoe line has continued to find mass praise from serious tennis players around the world. For the 2006 tennis season, Adidas has introduced the fourth shoe to carry the Barricade name.

With fans of the still in production Barricade II and the still in circulation Barricade 3 chomping at the bit for Adidas's latest adaptation of this classic shoe, the Barricade IV comes to fruition with some high expectations to meet.

From what we've gathered on the Talk Tennis message boards, fans of the Barricade II were seeking another lightweight shoe that offered plenty of durability and a similar comfort and glove-like fit. Fans of the Barricade 3 were seeking another exceptionally durable and stable offering. Could Adidas rise to the challenge and create a shoe to please both camps?

We felt the only way we'd find out was to take the Barricade IVs out for a three-week playtest. Read on to find out how they compare to the Barricade II and 3.

Comfort

Our team found the Barricade IVs to offer a comfortable, yet supportive ride. These shoes definitely required some break-in and our team's average break-in period was about two days of casual wear. We were very impressed with the performance of the adiPRENE and adiPRENE+ cushioning systems, as well as the overall fit and feel of the shoes.

Finding a comfortable and performance inspired fit was Granville. "Aaaaahhhhhhh, now yer' talkin'! Like slipping into the leather contoured seat of a Ferrari 308, this shoe is made for my foot both on and off the court. It has a contoured fit like none other. My foot slips right in and makes comfortable contact just about 360 degrees, all around, top to bottom. The width of this new Barricade seems to be right in between the barricade II and 3. I found them to be very comfortable." Josh found some improved cushioning in the Barricade IVs. "I thought the Barricade 3s had good cushioning, but the Barricade IVs are even better. I felt elevated in these shoes and never really noticed any hard pounding on the court. When I first slipped the shoes on, the first thing I thought was how snug they fit compared to the Barricade 3. The fit felt glove-like but still left enough wiggle room for my toes. My biggest complaint would be the pinching that came from the natural flex-point in the upper. I had hoped the pinching would dissipate following the break-in period, but it didn't. My left foot felt bruised for a few days following one of my on-court sessions. I couldn't even wear my Barricades the next day because of the soreness. If it weren't for the overlapping section of leather at the inner flex-point, the comfort would have been superb."

Arun offered, "Once broken in, the shoes were very comfortable overall. They fit snug to the foot which provided minimum sliding around when changing directions. Cushioning in the forefoot felt more cushioned and responsive compared to most tennis shoes I've used." Also finding a supportive yet comfortable fit was Paul. "When I slid my feet into these shoes, I noticed the plush comfort and snug fit right away. Also immediately evident was the restrictive nature of the lateral and medial synthetic leather sidewalls. Because this design supported my feet so well, holding them in place, I found it unobtrusive. The cushioning was very good. I had no problem planting my feet hard or pounding them around the court.

Chris wore the Barricade IVs casually for several days to break them in before venturing to the courts. "It took me a good three to four days of casual wear to get these shoes broken in. While at the end of the first week they were still feeling a little stiff for extended casual wear, they had already started to feel great on court. My feet felt very locked in and the fit and feel just kept getting better and better as the test wore on. The cushioning was firm but very effective and comfortable - kind of like a well-tuned sports car suspension. I found the uppers to hold my feet like the Barricade IIs, but the ride on court was very reminisent of the Barricade 3s." Danny found the Barricade IVs to be one the most comfortable shoes in the Barricade line. "I think the Barricade IV is the most comfortable Barricade model since the original Barricade. I experienced no poking, pinching or rubbing. My feet were comfortable on and off the court."

Arch Support

The Barricade IV offers a generous arch support which met with favor from our entire test team. Finding excellent support was Chris. "I found a perfect fit for my medium height arches. Like the Barricade III, this version cradled my arches and offered exceptional support. My feet felt very secure when sprinting forward, changing directions or when coming to an abrupt stop." Also finding a good fit was Danny. - "The arch support was just right. I would say that the arch support was a litte low, but I think that my foot favors this type of arch." Arun found a better fit after break-in. "Initially the arches seemed a little high, but once broken in, they seemed to contour to my feet and felt very comfortable."

Granville was pleased with the level of comfort he found from the arch support. "The arch support was noticeable and well suited for my foot. I have a low arch and find the arch in the "Barricade IV to be just enough to offer some enhanced comfort." Josh was also impressed with the level of arch support. "I thought the arch support was excellent. I didn't experience any soreness in the arches after play, and the support seemed to take a higher arch into consideration." The arch support proved to be unobtrusive for Paul. "The arch support was not uncomfortable or intolerable in any way. It wasn't too high or too low for my feet, and it didn't pose any problems during the test period."

Foot Support/Stability

The level of support offered by the Barricade IVs proved to be excellent. Our entire team found a very supportive fit and felt confident moving aggressively in the shoes. Josh was feeling secure on court in the Barricade IVs. "The Barricade IV is incredibly stable and supportive. The shoe is clearly built to withstand any type of movement on the court. I had no fear of rolling an ankle and my feet felt completely secure." Chris was also very impressed. "The Barricade IV is the most stable shoe I've ever worn. The midfoot and heel areas are incredibly well built, and it is almost impossible to twist the shoe by hand when holding it by the midfoot and heel. When making aggressive lateral cuts on the court, the Barricade IV stays firm. The level of support is just incredible. The uppers wrapped my feet perfectly and the all-around fit and feel was very supportive. I couldn't help but feel very confident when moving in these shoes."

Arun offered, "The foot support was excellent as my foot felt very stable in the shoe while making hard cuts and changing direction. Ankle support was adequate. However, as with any low shoe, this wasn't much of a factor." Danny found lots of support even during his most aggressive on-court movement. "The support and stability was great with every move I made. I was confident that the shoes would support my feet. Although I felt the cut of the shoe was low, it was very supportive." Granville found a secure fit from the contoured feel of the Barricade IVs. "Excellent support; very stable. I was immediately comfortable on the court. The contoured fit left no room for any slipping or sliding around inside the shoe. Very stable when moving side to side, as well as on the split step. I have not played in these shoes with my ankle braces on, but it may be a tight fit (and that's fine.)"

Finding the Barricade IVs to help his recovery time was Paul. "Excellent support and stability. I experienced no foot slippage. These shoes held my feet in place exceptionally well and the stability was remarkable. The Torsion System design was most effective when I had to 'catch' myself after sprints. It allowed only minimal twisting. To determine the extent of the system, I grabbed the shoe with both hands, one at the heel and one at the forefoot, and tried to twist the shoe (like wringing out a towel). It hardly flexed at all - that translated on-court to a very firm foundation. The thick heel is wider at the bottom than the top. It creates a broad base in which the foot sits down inside. This design allowed my body weight to be dispersed toward the center point of the heel when I launched into sprints, and the shoe's design provided for a steady recovery every time."

Overall Sole Durability

When we tested the Barricade IIs and 3s we were impressed by the durability of the outsoles. The Barricade IVs continue the trend, turning in a durable performance on the hard courts. Paul was blown away by the durability of his Barricade IVs. "The adiWEAR 6 rubber outsole is phenomenal. Much like the Barricade 3s, it took a lot of court time to put a dent in the outsoles of the Barricade IVs. Over 20 hours of hard court tennis, and upon examination they were virtually unscathed." Danny found the Barricade IVs to exceed his expectations when it came to outsole durability. "The overall sole durability was superb. The Barricade model (in general) has always been a great design for durability, but I think this model might be the most durable of all."

"This may be the most durable outsole I have tested thus far," said Josh. "I didn't think the Barricade outsole could get better than the previous model, but it did. The overall durability of the sole would rank above the Prince T10 and T9 Roadsters, aa well as the Nike Air Max Breathe Free IIs." Also feeling the durability was better than previous Barricade models was Arun. "The sole durability seems even better than the Barricade II and 3. I generally wear shoes out at the ball of my foot region, and so far the shoes are showing only slight wear." Chris found the durability to meet his expectations in a Barricade shoe. "As with the Barricade 3s, durability was excellent. The outsoles still look full of tread after three weeks of heavy play. I was very impressed with the durability of the outsoles considering the level of traction they offered." Granville offered, "While I have yet to see any significant wear, the outsole looks to be the same compound as previous versions of the Barricade, which proved to be very durable."

Toe Durability

Our three toe draggers, Josh, Danny and Chris, found the Barricade IVs to hold up well in the toe area. Josh found the Barricade IVs to raise his expectations for toe durability. "The toe guard on the Barricade IV is tough. The material may be even stronger than that of the Barricade 3s, which had the best abrasion resistance I had seen until now." Surprised by the level of toe durability was Danny. "The toe area is the most common part of the shoe to show wear for me. However, the toes were surprisingly strong and durable and held up well during the entire test." Chris said, "I also drag my toes but had no durability issues with the Barricade IVs. The toe area was well built and able to handle the abuse of hard court play. Even the mesh, which extends down towards the toe tip, is protected by rubber strips, and one would have to get pretty low down to scrape that part of the shoe."

Traction

Our team found the Barricade IVs to offer excellent traction without any of the loud squeaking other high-traction shoes generate on hard courts. Finding good traction when making aggressive lateral cuts was Paul. "The ground hugging traction was extraordinary, especially on lateral movements. The outsoles stuck to the ground quite well when I planted my feet. It felt a lot like the stick-to-the-court feel you get in a pair of soft rubber, squeaky indoor basketball shoes. Just as impressive was the traction on quick starts, cuts and changes of direction." Also finding the shoes to grip well during all his on-court movement was Granville. "Great traction and no surprises. Stopping, starting, pivoting, whatever, the shoe gripped the court with no slipping. Not a squeaky shoe either."

Chris found plenty of grip and some nice heel to toe transition in the Barricade IVs. "I only played on hard courts in the Barricade IV shoes and found the level of traction to be superb. The shoes offered the perfect level of grip. There was enough grip for solid changes of direction no matter how hard I pushed off. The edges of the outsoles never got hung up on the court and I found these shoes to offer a very smooth heel to toe transition." Finding some improved traction over previous versions of the Barricade was Josh. "The best improvement with the newest member of the Barricade family was traction. The Barricade IV is one of the rare shoes that combine the right balance of traction and durability. The previous model was super durable, but I had problems slipping when I transitioned from the baseline to the net. Not a problem with the Barricade IVs." Danny found plenty of grip from the Barricade IVs on all but the most aggressive lateral cuts. "The traction for the Barricade IVs was great. The only time I felt the shoes give slightly was on aggressive lateral changes of direction." Arun found the level of traction to be most memorable. "Traction was very good and I had no trouble making sharp cuts and changes of direction. I don't recall ever slipping when playing in these shoes."

Weight

Probably the most controversial aspect of the Barricade IV introduction was its weight. Many hoped the new version would be lighter than the Barricade 3s and capture some of the lightweight feel of the Barricade IIs. However, at 17.8 ounces for a size 10.5, the Barricade IV is heavier than the 17.3 ounce Barricade 3 and a long way from the lighter 16 ounce Barricade II. Regardless of the listed weight, our team did not feel the weight of the Barricade IVs was an issue. Chris said, "On paper these are not the lightest shoes, but the weight was not noticeable in play. I would guess that making these shoes lighter would result in them losing some of their durability and stability, and I felt those were the features that made the shoes so great. Considering the performance of these shoes, I thought the weight was just right." Also finding the weight in tune with the performance qualities was Arun. "Weight to cushion ratio was good. The shoes didn't feel particularly light nor did they feel heavy."

Danny was very pleased with the weight and feel of the shoes. "I thought the weight was one of the best features about the Barricade IVs. I think this was the best balanced Barricade model since the original Barricade and played surprisingly light." Although feeling the weight of these shoes, Paul still found enough mobility to deliver the killer shot. "All of that great comfort, cushion, durability, stability and protection comes at the expense of some weight. A full half-ounce heavier than the Barricade 3, these big boys tip the scale just shy of eighteen ounces per shoe. Surprisingly maneuverable, these shoes had plenty of muscle to beat back the brutal punishment dished out by playing on hard courts. Not quite light enough to float like a butterfly, but all the sting of a Killer Bee."

Comparing the Barricade IVs to previous versions was Granville. "If you, like me, are a Barricade II fan - this shoe does feel a bit heavier. They feel very similar in weight to the third version. That being said, considering the comfort and stability of the Barricade IVs, the shoes seemed exceedingly light. All in all, there is a reason the Barricade line is the number one shoe line and the Barricade IV exemplifies the point." Josh also noted some heftiness to the Barricade IVs, but didn't feel it slowed his movement. "The weight is noticeable with these shoes, but not so much that it affects play. As performance-oriented as the shoes look, they are built more for durability than either the ClimaCool Feathers or the a3 Accelerates. You won't forget the shoes are on your feet, but the reminder is comforting, and you will know the shoes are going to take care of your feet."

Overall

One of the first shoes we've tested in 2006 and it already looks like we may have found the shoe of the year. With so much to offer the serious player, the Barricade IVs are going to be hard to beat. Our team was impressed with almost everything the Barricade IVs had to offer. We found excellent support and stability, making these a great choice for aggressive movers. We found excellent traction and durability, making these an excellent choice for players who log a lot of court time. In fact, the only common complaint we had from our team was that the shoes felt stiff until broken in. And to us, a slight break-in hardly seems like much of a price to pay considering the excellent performance that follows.

Here's what the playtesters had to say:

The "Likes" of the shoe.

Arun - "The shoes fit nice and snug, which made them feel like an extension of my own feet. Once they were broken in, the comfort level was good. The overall weight, comfort, and traction make this a solid performance offering."

Chris - "Once broken in, I loved everything about these shoes. They were very stable, durable and comfortable. I was very impressed with the on-court performance and this is now my favorite of the Barricades.

Danny - "There wasn't much that I didn't like about the shoe. A couple of qualities that I liked the best were the weight and ventilation. I thought the Barricade IV had the best ventilation out of all of the models."

Granville - "Cosmetics are dynamite. Comfort is unparalleled. Traction is excellent. Sizing is spot on."

Josh - "The cushioning was great, the traction excellent and the durability even better. From a cosmetic standpoint, the shoe is the best looking yet in the Barricade family."

Paul - "These shoes are sharp! That's the first and most stunning feature of these shoes. I'm stoked every time I get to wear them. Teaching professionals and coaches who need to look good will be ecstatic to rock these kicks around the court. One look at them says, "I'm the real deal." If other tennis players build their wardrobe from the ground up, as do I, Adidas will undoubtedly see a spike in apparel sales because of the Barricade IVs. These shoes stand alone in the categories of stability, protection, durability and traction. Truly an engineering marvel wrapped in a striking package."

The "Dislikes" of the shoe.

Arun - "The uppers of the shoes were still pretty stiff even after a considerable break-in period. This is the only complaint I have about the comfort level."

Chris - "They took a while to break in."

Danny - "I guess, the only thing that I could say that I didn't like was the low cut. I would have preferred a higher cut shoe."

Granville - "Struggling to think of anything I did not like. My new favorite tennis shoes."

Josh - "The one drawback of the shoe was the pinching at the natural flex-point. I didn't notice any other complaints about this in the feedback on our site, so maybe the shape of my foot was more susceptible to the pinching. Even with the break-in period, the problem didn't go away."

Paul - "The weight and breathability of these shoes were the only attributes I didn't like. Although tolerable, these two characteristics had to be addressed. They didn't feel clunky or bulky at all, and didn't hinder my movement around the court, but the maneuverability wasn't nearly as good as with the Nike Air Max Breathe Free IIs. Although an attempt was made to design more ventilation into these shoes, my feet still sweated like a New York waiter."

Comparing this shoe to other shoes or brands in fit, durability and cushioning our playtesters said:

Arun - "The fit of this shoe is very good. The cushioning above average. I wasn't overly impressed with the cushioning, however it was not really lacking, just not excellent either. Durability was impressive."

Chris - "Not as soft as the Barricade IIs, this version needs some break-in. However, this is the most stable Barricade yet in my opinion. I really enjoyed playing in these shoes and I have to say they are my favorite of the Barricade line (I did not wear the Equipment version)."

Danny - "Great scores in all fields for this model. Adidas, in general makes one of the best tennis shoes in my opinion, and the Barricade IVs did not disappoint."

Granville - "Feels more stable than the Barricade IIs, thus, my new shoes of choice."

Josh - "The glove-like fit of the Barricade IVs is similar to the Nike Breathe Free IIs and a little better than the Prince T10s. For cushioning and durability, I don't know that you can find a better shoe that combines both as well as the Barricade IVs right now. Again, because of the pinching in the forefoot, I can't say I prefer this shoe over others I have tested."

Paul - "The Nike Air Max Breathe Free IIs are the shoes I've selected to draw a comparison. Not because of similarities, but because of the differences. The Air Max Breathe Free IIs rated higher than any other shoe we've playtested. Both shoes are top of the line performance shoes, each benefiting different types of top level performers. A club player might opt for the lightweight and breathable Nikes. Although the outsoles don't last as long as the Barricade IVs, the durability guarantee makes them a cost effective purchase. Here, maximum cushioning and comfort take a precedence over rugged all around durability. However, a team player (high school or college), ATP, or WTA tour player, that practices two to three hours a day, five days a week, would benefit greatly from the Barricade IVs. These shoes are built to take grueling punishment on every level. Grinding, pounding, scraping, scratching, sliding - you can even bounce a ball hopper off of these shoes and hardly feel it - great protection! A player could probably get through a two to three month season with a couple pairs of Barricade IVs (three tops). The same sort of torture inflicted on the Air Max Breathe Free IIs would probably exhaust three pairs of them, possibly as many as five."

Adidas Barricade IV Summary Sheet

The Up Side

The Down Side

Play Test Scores

Traction
Stability
Durability
Support

Some break in required
Weight might disappoint Barricade II fans

Comfort	4.1
Arch Support	4.1
Foot Support/Stability	4.3
Overall Sole Durability	4.6
Toe Durability	4.6
Traction	4.5
Weight	4.0
Overall	4.5
Scores (1-Horrible 2-Poor 3-Average 4-Good 5-Tremendous)

Playtesters' Foot Types: Chris - narrow width/medium arch, Josh - wide width/medium-high arch, Danny - medium/medium arch, Granville - Narrow/low arch, Paul Medium/Medium arch, Arun - medium width/medium arch.

Review date: January, 2006. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.