adidas adizero Ubersonic 2 Men's Shoe Review

Overall Comfort - Score: 4.4

All of our TW testers found the Ubersonic 2s more comfortable than the original version, attributing the added comfort mostly to the new Primeknit uppers. "These shoes were really comfortable, and the new Primeknit uppers were amazing," Andy raved. "The material felt super soft and wrapped around my feet like a sock. The result was a snug (but not too snug), glove-like fit. I wore these shoes all day and never wanted to take them off. Underfoot, the Ubersonic 2s felt pretty much the same as the original Ubersonics. They didn't offer the most cushioning, but they never felt harsh or uncomfortable. In fact, that low-to-the-ground design kept me feeling totally connected to my movement on court. The worst part about this playtest was at the end of the day when I had to take the shoes off to go to bed. They were exceptionally comfortable!"

While these shoes weren't a perfect fit for his narrow feet, Chris ultimately found them to be very comfortable. He said, "It took me several wears to find the groove with these second generation Ubersonics. However, once the shoes broke in and molded to the shape of my feet all was right with my tennis world. After testing them for a month I came to the opinion that these are the most comfortable adidas shoes for me to play in. I loved how they flexed and moved with my feet. I found a little bit of forward slipping inside the 2s on quick stops, but laterally they supported me very comfortably. My feet ran a tad hot in these shoes, but I was willing to forgive them that because I liked everything else about the fit and feel of the booty construction. The stock arch support was a tad low, and I find a better fit in the Barricades. However, that problem was fixed when I put in some Cadence insoles."

Although Troy appreciated the updated uppers, he felt there was still room for improvement. He explained, "Much like the first generation, the Ubersonic 2s had a nice contoured fit that worked well for my medium/narrow feet. The Primeknit booty provided a comfortable glove-like feel, which was a nice improvement over the first generation Ubersonic. The upper materials were plenty breathable, too. Compared to shoes I typically play in, the Ubersonic 2s were lacking in cushioning in the midsoles. They have average cushioning, which isn't quite up to par with the Asics Gel Solution Speed 3s. The arch support was fairly average, so I ended up using aftermarket insoles. The biggest knock I had, though, was the same issue I had with the first generation; the tongue was too thin, and the skinny laces would dig into the top of my feet, causing some discomfort."

Jason thought the updated uppers made a good thing even better. He praised, "The Ubersonic 2s aren't an update, they're an upgrade! At one point I wore the original Ubersonic on one foot and the Ubersonic 2 on the other just to give them a true side by side test. The difference in comfort was noticeable. The arch support was more on the medium side in the update, which was a better fit for my flat feet than the higher support in the original. Lastly, the addition of Primeknit really helped with not just the overall comfort, but also with the issue of the thin laces cutting into the top of my feet that I had in the previous shoes. The Ubersonic 2s may have been a tad warmer and less ventilated than the original Ubersonics, but there were still no issues with overheating during the playtest."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.1

One of the strengths of the Ubersonic 2s proved to be the support and stability they provided for our playtesters on court. Jason's initial concerns were quickly laid to rest after just a few minutes of hitting. He raved, "I loved the support and stability of these Ubersonic 2s, which was a lot like the original Ubersonics. I felt locked in and was able to make all the usual cuts and movements without worry. I had some initial concerns about the stability with the Primeknit uppers, but after the initial hit I knew stability hadn't been compromised for comfort."

"The support that these shoes provide is in large part due to their low-to-the-ground feel," Troy explained. "When I was on the balls of my feet, ready to run down the next shot, I felt connected to the court surface and could be explosive with my movements. The fit was perfect at first, but after I broke them in the uppers started to stretch out a bit, which is the case with most shoes over time. A couple weeks into the playtest I began to wear two pairs of socks to help provide a very snug and locked-in feel. Toward the end of this playtest the Ubersonic 2s felt pretty flexible in the midfoot region, but I never felt like I was going to roll an ankle because of the low-to-the-court feel."

Chris was able to move around with full confidence, saying, "These shoes supported my feet very well on lateral moves even though they fit a tad wide on my skinny feet. I had some forward sliding inside the shoes on quick stops. Fortunately, toe jam was a non-issue since the toes of the shoes were soft and didn't bother the tips of my toes. I felt well locked in around my heels and pretty stable in these shoes in general."

Andy thought there was more than enough support and stability for his liking. He said, "The TPU wrap around the Primeknit upper provided all the support and stability I would ever need. I felt totally protected when moving around at top speeds, going for aggressive slides on the hard court or making quick changes of direction. In addition, the low-to-the-ground platform enhanced the stable feel even more, keeping me connected to the court with each step. Lastly, my heel felt locked in and secure with the built up area in the back of the shoes."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.7

Durability proved to be fairly average in the Ubersonic 2s, but they compared favorably to similar offerings. "I got about the same level of durability in these shoes as I did in the original Ubersonics," Chris shared. "They lasted longer for me than other speed shoes, like the Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tours and New Balance MC 996v2s. I first started to see some wear under the big toe of my right foot. I can also see some minimal wear in the forefoot, but the shoes have held up well."

Sharing a similar opinion, Andy said, "These shoes had average durability, but they compare well with other shoes in their weight class. They're speed-oriented shoes without a durability guarantee, so I wasn't expecting them to blow me away with durability. However, they've held up pretty well and still have some life in them after a lot of play. I'd say they're as durable as the Asics Gel Solution Speed 3 and more durable than the Vapor 9.5 Tour."

Troy's pair of Ubersonic 2s was starting to show signs of notable wear toward the end of the playtest. He offered, "The durability was on par with other shoes in their weight class, including the original Ubersonics, but they're not quite as good as shoes that offer six-month durability guarantees. After a couple of weeks I noticed the outsoles starting to bald underneath the balls of my feet. I don't drag my toes like I used to when serving, but I did notice the tips of my toes were wearing out faster than I would have preferred. For being lightweight shoes, though, the durability was as I expected."

"For lightweight shoes, the durability was above average for me," Jason noted. "There is additional rubber used in all the high wear areas, and the outsoles really held up well. I still have plenty of tread left after 15 hours of play."

Traction - Score: 4.5

The Ubersonic 2s managed to find the right balance of traction for our team. "I really enjoyed the level of grip I found in these shoes," Chris praised. "I had to push them pretty aggressively to get them to break traction. Once I reached the limit of traction I found the shoes offered a controlled slide out of a lateral plant. When I was starting and stopping the shoes hooked up well and gave me the grip I needed to get the job done. The ratio of grip-to-give was slightly weighted toward the grip side of the spectrum, which was perfect for me."

Troy was also pleased, adding, "These shoes provided plenty of traction for aggressive starts and stops out on the court. Compared to some older Barricades that I felt were too sticky, the Ubersonic 2s provided the right amount of traction right out of the box. I never found my feet slipping out on the court, and when I went into a harsh stop the outsole provided a little give, which prevented me from rolling an ankle."

"Fantastic traction from the first wear 'til the last!" Jason exclaimed. "I experienced no slippage issues when I was making that first step toward the ball. There was a little bit of sliding when I was trying to stop and change directions, but that's to be expected. I'd rather have that than outsoles that are too sticky and don't give at all."

Andy was also happy with the traction, saying, "I had no issues with the traction during the test and felt very confident in the shoe grabbing the court when I needed it to. Like other adidas shoes I've tried, I found the rubber compound to be on the slightly stickier side (compared to slicker Asics shoes, for example). However, once I adjusted to how the shoes were gripping the court I was able to execute my hard court slides just fine, and I knew that the shoes would lock up with the court when I needed to head back in the opposite direction."

Weight - Score: 4.8

The lightweight, fast feel of the Ubersonic 2s proved to be a strength, just like it was in the original. "Coming in even lighter than the first generation, these shoes felt very light," Troy explained. "I typically play in heavier shoes, so the Ubersonic 2s felt as light as slippers out there on the court! Whenever I was making a quick and explosive movement, like a split-step on a return of serve, I was able to transition my feet with ease and get to the ball quickly. The only shoes that I felt performed faster on my feet were the Asics Gel Solution Speed 3s. I found the Ubersonic 2s to feel lighter overall, but I felt that I was getting smoother heel-to-toe transitioning in the Asics."

Chris was flying around the court throughout the playtest. He praised, "I never thought about the weight of these shoes while playing. Even when I slipped heavier insoles into them they still felt light and fast. I liked how the Ubersonic 2s transitioned from heel to toe, and they felt very natural to move in. I also could feel the court just enough to feel connected to my movement and confident in my footing."

Andy had no complaints about the weight of the Ubersonic 2s, and he raved, "The lightweight feel continues to be one of the strengths of the Ubersonic shoes. The design made me feel extremely fast on court and totally connected to my movement. I felt like I could move at my quickest, and the shoes never inhibited my movement at all. Playing in these shoes was like cruising the streets in a lightning quick sports car!"

"Fast shoes just got faster," Jason added. "Compared to other shoes, I felt speedier in the Ubersonic 2s than I can remember feeling in any other shoe. They were not cumbersome at all."

Overall - Score: 4.5