Customer feedback

Comments: I have been wearing Barricades since the very first model and always love them for a nice match or practice shoe. The Vs are another great model as far as comfort and playability go. The downside is that they are not as durable as advertised. 6 weeks is not long enough for me. Hopefully Adidas can make their 'durable' shoes somewhat durable. I am a 5.5 player and teach and play in them a lot, but give me some more life to the shoes, their too expensive even with the free pair! From: Nick, MN. 9/08 Comments: These are probably the best tennis shoes on the market! Balance is amazing, probably the best part of this shoes. The support it has on the ankle makes you feel more confident when attacking the shots and when you have to make hard breaks (specially on hard courts). On clay, they offer a great stability while slicing over the surface. They are very light and comfortable, so it shouldn't be a problem when you are playing a very intense match or a long one (both shouldn't be a problem either). From: James, Bradenton, FL, USA. 8/08 Comments: Great shoe!! Feels a bit lighter than the IVs but also more stable and breathable. However, I think they narrowed down the toe box, because I’ve started to get blisters that I never got with the IVs. From: Joe, New York, NY, USA, 08/08 Comments: Very comfortable shoe, and they look great too. Great traction and stability, and no feet/ankle problems. Durability was decent. Playing every day or every other day I wore these out in 2 months. A little disappointed with the durability due to all the hype, but a great shoe nonetheless. At least I have a replacement pair coming, haha. From: David, San Francisco, CA, USA. 8/08 Comments: Not good! Very stiff and clunky...too much weight and not enough cushioning or give. Also they do not breathe at all. Like wearing plastic. Inferno feet! I haven't been able to suffer through the "break-in period" -- I will retire these dreadful things after 3 matches and go back to K-Swiss comfort. From: Stephen P, Los Angeles. 8/08 Comments: These shoes were a little too heavy for me. They worked well, but after a couple hours, I could feel the shoes getting heavier. Also, the inside of the shoe gets scraped very easily, which is kinda annoying. I recommend the Nike Breathe Cage II. From: david, seattle, wa. 8/08 Comments: They run a little short in size. I have played IIIs and IVs and a 10 1/2 was perfect for my 'tweener feet. Often 11s feel a little boaty so I try for 10 1/2. Like I say, the previous models were great, this one is disappointing because quick stops ram my toes into the end. I played 4 or 5 sets on a court that was NOT very hard and by the end of the day, blisters on the ends of my middle and big toes. I may have to give these away or keep as a knock around pair, but they won't work for actual play. Too bad, they look great. The heel cup design may force feet too far forward. From: Randy, Grand Canyon, AZ, USA. 8/08 Comments: I really have enjoyed these shoes. They are so comfortable and play very consistently. The only downside is the way they attract dirt on the breathable parts. I don't see me wearing them out anytime soon. From: Jon, Cumming, GA, USA. 7/08 Comments: These shoes were not as good as the IVs. These shoes didn't seem to grip the court as well as the IVs. Also these shoes are a little on the heavy side. From: Tim, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 7/08 Comments: The Barricade V is by far the most durable and sharpest looking out of all the Barricades. I noticed very quickly how light and streamlined they were compared to the previous model and how quickly I was able to break them in. I play about 4 times a week and after about 4 months I can hardly notice any wear. These are great shoes if you're a serious 4.0+ player, otherwise I would recommend a lighter shoe, probably the Adidas CC Feathers. I switched to these after trying out various Nike models including Federer's and Nadal's shoes. I found the Federer Air Vapors too narrow and pointy in the toe box and way too stiff in the heal for hard-courts. And although the Nadal Air Breathes are very light and offer much ventilation, I noticed that they were more "pretty" than functional. All my experimentation has lead me to the Barricade Vs, which have more than won me over and will continue to have a great fanbase for many years to come. From: Mike, Las Vegas, NV, U.S. 7/08 Comments: This shoe is sweet, takes about half an hour to break in. I went with the black and yellow, and I do not regret it! They feel great on the court. They are just as great as the IVs(if not better)! From: Ian, Franklin, Ky, US. 7/08 Comments: I'm very disappointed in this update. My main complaint is that, unlike the Barricade IV which had its flex-point close to the toe (in the first 1/3rd of the shoe), the new version V flexes far too near the centre of the shoe. As foot specialists point out, the further toward its centre a shoe flexes, the worse it is for your foot. Given that it is geared toward those playing on hard-courts (a surface much tougher on the foot than grass or clay) the extra flex makes it an inappropriate choice and somewhat undermines the reputation it has built over the years. It would appear that, in making the Barricade V a softer fit they've diluted one of its key attributes. The fit is still as good as ever and stability is still excellent but it can no longer be considered one of the best in terms of foot support. From: Andrew, Brisbane, Australia. 7/08 Comments: Out of box comfort was amazing. Great Shoes. I play about four hours a day. Six days a week. Great Shoe. Lasts long. From: Anon. 7/08 Comments: I've played IIIs, IVs and now these Vs. I love the IVs. Thought the Vs would be only better. They are not for me. I cuss these shoes a lot because they don't bite the court like my IVs. I slip far to often on abrupt change of direction. I also don't find them quite as supportive as the IVs. If you are a very aggressive player who covers lots of court, I'd recommend the IVs over the Vs all day. If you're fairly casual in your style of play, you may prefer the lightness and breathability of the Vs. I'm gonna buy some more IVs and just use these for social play. From: Ken, Marietta, GA, USA. 7/08 Comments: I don't know if it was just a bad batch of shoes I got or something, but I got these after a month of them being out and they literally lasted me 2 weeks and 1 day. I played about 4 hours a day, give or take an hour or two, but they just did not last. And they broke really badly too. Also I played probably 45% on clay, and hard court shoes should not wear out on clay. From: Michael, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. 7/08 Comments: In terms of cushioning and durability, I fully agree with Daniel from California. From: Joey. 7/08 Comments: I love these shoes. The 6 month durability guarantee is great! From: Jay, Eagle, ID, USA. 7/08 Comments: I have played with the IVs (3 pairs) and was excited to try the much hyped Vs... big disappointment. The narrow toe box is very uncomfortable and my heel slipped so much while moving forward for a short ball while playing doubles yesterday that I thought my foot would completely come out of the shoe. I am hoping the IVs come back into production or I may return to Nike! From: Bruno, Walnut Creek, CA, USA. 6/08 Comments: Great shoes, comfortable, not too bulky, unmatched durability. I had the IIs before, and these are lighter and feel sleeker, not as pillowy. From: QT, Lafayette, CA, USA. 6/08 Comments: Great shoe, snug fit, lots of support and cooler than I thought they'd be. I bought these largely because Adidas stopped production of the Barricade Grass shoe (I'm still pissed about this Adidas), but this is a good replacement. And you folks at TW rock, best price on the market and great service. From: J, PDX, OR, USA, 06/08 Comments: These shoes are comfortable and look good. Also very durable. I play about 12 hours a week and have had these shoes for just over a month and I have not noticed any wear in the tread yet. A bit heavy, though. From: Andrew, Hamilton, New Zealand. 6/08 Comments: I love these shoes. I've had two pair's of IVs and two pairs of IIs and these are my favorite by far, except for the durability. I've worn quite a large spot through the rubber under the toe in about two months. I only play about an hour at least 5 days a week. Their definitely more snug and comfortable, and lighter, and higher performance than the IVs and even the IIs, but not more durable than the IIs, in my experience. They look the best too. If only Adidas would use the tread pattern or material from the IIs to make them more durable. Even with a free warranty pair $100+ for about 5 months of play is too much. If money is not much of an issue, then I highly recommend them. From: Anon. 6/08 Comments: I just got this shoe and wore it around the house. They had a short break-in period. They're comfortable, stable, and look great. I can't tell now, but I'm sure durability is good too. They look so nice I dont want to get the white part of it dirty. Overall great shoe 9.5/10 From: Minsong, Diamond Bar, CA, USA. 6/08 Comments: It feels similar to the Barricade IVs, but feel noticeably lighter. Durability remains similar. While I love these shoes, they will wear out with reasonable play. Both my fiancee (3.5ish) and I (5.0ish) wear these shoes out well within the 6 months. Seeing that I wear out every other pair of shoes just as quickly if not more so, the 6-month warranty justifies the rather expensive price. From: W, Rochester, NY, USA. 6/08 Comments: Decent shoe. At first, my feet were slipping all over the place in them- mostly my heel. I had to use the last set of lace holes closest to the tongue in order for my foot to feel secure. After that, I was pretty much happy. Nice traction. The arch doesn't seem to be in the right place to me, though. A little uncomfortable. From: William, Pontotoc, Mississippi. 6/08 Comments: I had a pair of the Barricade I several years ago and found them to be very stiff and hard to break in. In spite of that, I purchased the Barricade V. To me it seems like the same shoe. It looks great and the wear resistance has been good so far but this shoe remains uncomfortable. After at least 10 matches they still do not feel broken in. This is one of the most expensive shoes out there. For the money these should be perfect and they are not. If you want a shoe that looks great, this is it. If you want a comfortable shoe, look elsewhere. From: Steve, Napa, Ca. 6/08 Comments: Good shoe. The IVs are much more comfortable and last longer. The Vs have a little discomfort around the toe area. I bought my Vs in March, and midway through May they were done. I play 3-4 hrs, 3-4 times a week - 5.5 player. From: Greg, Lancaster, CA. USA 5/08 Comments: Great shoe, I used Barricade IVs for about 8 months, and they were excellent. I've been using these for about 3 weeks now, and I've had no blisters or any irritations. Plus they are pretty much the coolest looking tennis shoes I have ever seen. From: Kenny, Clemson, SC, US. 5/08 Comments: This is a comfortable shoe, but the eyelets break off. I lost 5 of 6 on the left shoe and had to Gorilla Glue the eyelets back on. It would seem materials used were "engineered for the task." All play is on clay surface, and I rotate 3 pair of shoes because of the Florida heat and humidity for this reason. Six months is not a long period of time for a guarantee. From: Earl, St. Petersburg, FLORIDA, USA. 05/08 Comments: A superiorly crafted shoe. A trade-off compared to Barricade IV. The Vs are lighter feeling and give you better cooling at expense of some comfort. Vs feel stiffer and more cramped in the toe box. I've had some pain on the front-outside of the foot after putting in some heavy load lateral maneuvers. The IVs have never been less than 100% comfortable, though did feel less maneuverable....8.5, mid-wide, high arch, 165lbs. From: Anton V, Staten Island, NY. 5/08 Comments: Great shoes, but I prefer the Barricade IVs. The only big difference with these is that the leather on the inside of each shoe has been replaced with mesh. You'd think the increased mesh would make them more comfortable, but they don't feel as good on my foot as the IVs. It doesn't look as good or feel as balanced either, though they are a touch lighter and breathe a little better. I bought a couple more pairs of IVs. From: Darin, Richland, WA. 5/08 Comments: I've had the Vs for about a month of playing. It started out great but now I have a major issue with the hard plastic vertical tabs on the outer side of the toe box. They have started to dig into the side of my foot when cutting and stopping. So much so I can't wear them any longer. I even tried cutting the tabs off, but there seems to be something built into the rubber sole as well that was still there and causing pain. Other than that, great shoe that was very comfortable at first. I doubt this is a problem for most, but it's a deal breaker for me. Trying out the Nike Air Max Breathe Free IIs now and so far so good. No tabs! From: Jim, Houston, Tx. 5/08 Comments: I had the same problem at the tip of these shoes. I tend to drag my right toe a little too much, but I would think that these shoes would last a little longer than two months. I already wore out the soles too. I liked the 4s a little better overall, and a little better for the money as well. From: Charlie, Maryland, USA. 5/08 Comments: I've always liked the Barricades and played with IIIs, then IVs. I have a high instep, and the V cuts into my instep on the right foot, so far defying a solution and making playing with the shoe uncomfortable. My coach said that another one of his players has the same complaint about the Vs. So, I'm going to buy some IVs while they're still available. From: Paul, Los Angeles, CA. 5/08 Comments: I got these shoes back in December after discovering that my old Babolat Team III's no longer fit. I started to use them indoors over my Christmas vacation. I immediately noticed that they were heavier than my Babolats, yet they were more comfortable and supportive. To date I have used them about six times and I just started to notice spots of wear near my big toe. My team is going to start practice in June and if what other people have said is true I will have to try to get a new pair soon. Don't get me wrong though, they are great tennis shoes with great feel and comfort. From: Kris, Linton, IN, USA, 05/08 Comments: I have had these shoes for a month and a half and play 3-5 hours a day at a division 1 pennant level and have only seen slight wear where you'd expect to see it just on the inside of the toe I cannot see anyone wearing through these in a month unless you've been rubbing them with sand paper in your free time. Altogether great performance shoe although on the heavy side highly recommended. From: Jordan, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 05/08 Comments: I have had these shoes for a month, and they have already worn out. I have burned a whole in the tip of my shoe and that shouldn't happen so quickly. Overall I was pretty disappointed with these shoes. From: Tyler, Richmond, VA. 5/08 Comments: Great shoe, but honestly I wore through them in about a month. Gotta love the warranty, though! From: Alex, Bridgewater, NJ. 4/08 Comments: These shoes are by far the best shoes on the market. I tried Babolat Propulse, and they killed my feet, and the shock was terrible. These barley require any break-in, maybe 30 minutes. Traction's great; my feet never hurt. These are the best shoes possibly ever made. From: Joe, Palos Park, IL. 4/08 Comments: Honestly, I'm not very impressed. I play strong 4.5 tennis as a No. 1 high school player and these shoes didn't last long at all. I got the shoes and used them nearly every day for a month and a half and I've already worn through the outsole. At least I can get the 6-month guarantee on them but I'm definitely going to go and try a different shoe. If you play at the level I play at, you should try and find a more durable shoe. From: Taylor, Ca, USA. 4/08 Comments: I am fan of the Barricade shoe line; I've tried them all. I wore the Barricade V for about 2 hours of an intense tennis session and my feet burned. The good thing is that they are a little bit lighter than the Barricade IVs, but my foot still slides, and I jam my toes on abrupt stops. Is there a way I can order some Barricade 3s? I think that's the best tennis shoe ever made by Adidas. From: Brian, Lincoln, NE, USA. 3/08 Comments: These are fantastic! Great traction on court, surprising propulsion for droppers, and incredibly comforta

- Where to go from here