adidas adizero Ubersonic 3 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.3

The ladies of Tennis Warehouse have been longtime fans of adidas' quick and lightweight shoes, not only because they're stylish, but also because they perform well in match situations. Comfort has always been a strength of the line, and the Ubersonic 3s proved to be no different. Tiffani had high expectations for this update, and she knew that adidas had fixed her main issue with the previous version as soon as she tried them on. She explained, "I struggled to get the Ubersonic 2s on my feet because of the asymmetrical tongue design. The bootee of the Ubersonic 3s is easy to get on and hugs my feet well. These shoes do fit long, but I stayed in my size and wouldn't consider going down because I like how these shoes fit my wide feet. Most of the time my feet are spilling over the sides of shoes, but my feet sat comfortably inside these Ubersonic 3s. The cushioning felt minimal, rather than plush, but it's what I prefer because I like feeling connected to the court. Ventilation was good, and the arch support was pretty low, which felt OK for my flat feet. Usually I would feel some sort of arch strain with such low arch support, but I didn't have that issue with these shoes."

The first thing Brittany noticed when she slipped these shoes on her feet was the fit. She elaborated, "The length is on the longer side, but I stayed in my true size and wore two pairs of socks because I was worried that the mesh upper might stretch out. After the playtest I decided that I would go down the half-size if I were to use these shoes for match play, which I will explain in the support/stability section. I liked how the toe box was just slightly narrower and was a better fit for my narrow feet. There wasn't a ton of extra room, so my feet were held securely in place. The cushioning underfoot was supportive and plush, and I found just the right amount of padding around my ankles. I would have liked just a little bit more padding on the tongue; it was pretty thin, and I couldn't cinch my laces as tightly as I wanted because it was uncomfortable. Additionally, the new mesh uppers made the shoes extremely breathable, and I had no issues with ventilation. Lastly, the arch support didn't quite hit my arches in the correct spot so I experienced a little bit of soreness. However, this wasn't much of an issue for me."

"First things first, I love the updated look of these shoes," began Michelle. "adidas continues to create awesome, speedy, high performing shoes for women. With that being said, I normally gravitate toward shoes with a little more cushioning underfoot. These shoes felt very flat, while I have high arches. I'm also starting to be more sensitive to my footwear. After one wear I realized that I needed to use aftermarket insoles to provide the arch support my feet crave. I struggled with a bit of arch pain and pain on the top of my feet with these minimal shoes. The Ubersonic 3s had a decent underfoot feel, but they were definitely more minimal in cushioning compared to my favorite adidas shoes (the Stella Barricade BOOSTs). The breathability was spot on, especially since we were playtesting these shoes in the summer. Breathability was put to the test and proved to be solid — I never felt like my feet were overheating on the court. In terms of overall fit, I was hoping for a snugger fit around my heels and could have used an extra eyelet to feel completely locked in. All things considered, I think these shoes are a great option for players who prefer light, quick, minimal shoes. My knocks on comfort come mainly because I prefer more stable and cushioned shoes."

This playtest proved to be the epitome of comfort for Hannah, who had been anticipating this update for a while. She said, "The underfoot cushioning was minimal, but it was some of the most responsive cushioning I've ever felt. It was so plush, yet firm and extremely low to the ground — each step felt luxurious. I am already a fan of the bootee design, and these shoes took it to the next level with the memory foam collar. One thing that really impressed me about these shoes that I haven't found in recent playtests is how easy it is to fit a performance insole into the shoes without the heel cup becoming too shallow and my feet slipping out. The heel cup and ankle collar provided full coverage and worked well with my Cadence insoles. The arch support in these shoes was low and flat, which I prefer for my foot shape. The lightweight uppers were a treat and really contributed to the on-court performance and breathability of the shoes. The shoes checked all of the performance necessities for me while going above and beyond with added comfort. The one complaint I had was that these shoes fit long. For players with narrow feet like me, I recommend going down a half-size. The bootee was forgiving and allowed the rest of my foot to fit well, but going down a half-size would have helped with the discomfort caused by the extra length."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.8

The true test of quick, high-performance tennis shoes is how stable and supportive they can be without adding extra weight. Our playtesters were mostly satisfied with the support and stability of the Ubersonic 3s. After dealing with an ankle injury earlier in the year, Brittany was a little nervous looking at the uppers, and she was worried that they would stretch out after a couple weeks. She commented, "I was pleasantly surprised that the uppers held up and kept my feet snug inside the shoes. The added length caused a little bit of movement forward and backward, but I think sizing down would solve that. The ankle collars came up high enough around my ankles and the shoes felt secure. The low to the ground ride kept me confident that I wasn't going to roll an ankle."

"Maybe the older I get the more high maintenance my feet are becoming," began Michelle. "These shoes just didn't have enough of what I need in terms of support and stability (and cushioning). With my height and build I just feel more comfortable in shoes with more support and stability. I felt like my heel wasn't locked in, and I wasn't always confident when I was pulled wide. Again, I wouldn't have minded an extra eyelet for added confidence. I liked the sock-like construction but needed just a tad more support, either from the uppers or from the lacing system and exterior overlay. However, this is a common critique I have for many of the lighter, quicker shoes I've tested, and I am being extra picky."

Low-to-the-ground and sleek, these Ubersonic 3s were plenty stable for Hannah. However, she added, "I would say these are extremely minimal in the support category. They just lack some of the support features most tennis shoes offer. The super lightweight and soft uppers contributed to this, and it was most notable when I changed directions. I never felt like I was unsupported in my ankles, though. I experienced some soreness in my calf and Achilles after I finished playing a competitive match. I think if I exclusively wore these shoes I would acclimate to this and the problem would take care of itself. Players who prefer less supportive and lightweight shoes shouldn't let this acclimation period deter them from trying these shoes because I think the comfort and speed benefits are totally worth the effort."

These Ubersonic 3s had a barely there feel on the court for Tiffani. "I felt so low to the ground, and I felt fully supported and confident in my lateral movements," she said. "I especially liked how the uppers contoured to my feet and didn't have any seams to create uncomfortable pressure on my feet when I was stretched out wide. The chassis were wide enough for my feet to sit down in the shoes rather than on top of them, which is a problem I often have because of my wide feet."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.8

Durability can often be a weakness when it comes to speedy shoes, but the Ubersonic 3s kept our team satisfied. As the playtest wrapped up they realized they still had ample hours of wear left on these shoes. Michelle found the Ubersonic 3s wore as she expected. She explained, "There was some smoothing under my big toes, but I totally expected to have more wear there considering how light these shoes are. The rest of the shoe looks great and has minimal wear. Unlike the rest of the playtesters, I didn't see much wear on the toe guards, but I don't drag my toes and don't usually damage that part of my shoes. I'm pretty impressed with the overall durability."

After about a month of testing these shoes Hannah noticed slight smoothing under the toes, but nothing too dramatic. She said, "The toe durability was a little bit disappointing because there was noticeable wear and I don't drag my toes, but it seems to be primarily cosmetic."

One of our resident toe draggers, Tiffani, quickly realized that these Ubersonic 3s were built for speed and not for durability. She explained, "I am a toe dragger, and the shoes fit slightly long, which may have exacerbated the issue, but within a couple of hours I had scraped up the toes. The paint on the tips peeled right off where I was dragging. I admittedly wore these shoes sparingly because I do like them quite a bit and didn't want the hard courts to ravage them too quickly. After a solid 10 hours of wear the outsoles showed some smoothing. I would reserve these shoes for match days because I like the performance but fear I would tear up the toes with daily wear."

"The outsole durability was up to the standards I expect from lightweight shoes," added Brittany. "They held up decently well during the course of the playtest, with only some minor wear under the high wear areas. However, the toe durability has room for improvement. I'm not a major toe dragger, but I can do some damage. After a couple hours I was already working my way through the area above the toe bumper on the upper. If I wore these shoes every day I would definitely cause some major damage."

Traction - Score: 4.5

Quick shoes need to be more than just light, and traction plays an important role in keeping players moving quickly and confidently. The traction levels of the Ubersonic 3s were top notch for our playtest team and left everyone satisfied when changing directions and moving aggressively on the court. Hannah really liked the way the flat arch and fit worked with the traction level. She said, "There was never too much grip, yet I always felt stable. My movements were completely fluid, and I could take off from the balls of my feet with enough give to feel my fastest."

"I can't recall once thinking that I was stuck to the court or remember any slips," said Tiffani. "I moved well in these shoes and felt fast. The traction let me transition to my next shot quickly, and I could stop quickly without any issues."

The Ubersonic 3s offered the perfect blend of give and grip for Brittany, and with the low to the ground feel, she felt very connected to the court. She noted, "I felt very comfortable making quick changes of direction even on my right ankle, which sustained an injury last year. The grip was just slightly more sticky than slippery, which I was able to use to my advantage on a slicker court."

Michelle was also happy with the updated outsole pattern. It offered the right amount of grip and give for her game. She said, "The true traction test for me was when my opponent went behind me in a point. I had no issues planting and going back in that direction. I never had to think twice about slipping or sliding on the court. I've always been partial to the traction on the Ubersonics, and the Tempaias before that, and these were no different. The traction worked well for me!"

Weight - Score: 4.9

Our team agreed that the Ubersonic 3s shone in the weight category. Brittany, who prefers lighter shoes, said, "These shoes were light and speedy on the court, which was a big plus. I didn't even realize I was wearing shoes at times (even with the longer length). As a player who leans toward lighter weight shoes, I couldn't ask for anything better. I also thought adidas did a great job of making a light shoe that still has substance."

"These are the quintessential lightweight tennis shoes," Michelle exclaimed. "They are speedy and quick and never feel heavy or bulky. If I were to recommend great match-day shoes, it would be these Ubersonic 3s! They definitely have a race-car feel the second you lace them up."

Weighing less than 11 oz., these shoes were perfect for Hannah. "I loved how fast I could sprint forward and transition in these shoes," she said. "My feet felt unstoppable, and the low-to-the-ground design helped the shoes remain stable without adding weight or bulk. These are definitely among my favorite lightweight shoes now, and they're even lighter than the Stella Barricade BOOST 2017s."

For Tiffani, these shoes felt ultra light. She noted, "I didn't need to think about my shoes when I was playing. I recently reviewed the Babolat Jet shoes, which are also super light, but I felt more confident in how quickly I could move to the next shot in the Ubersonic 3s. These adidas shoes moved with my feet better, and I never had to think about my shoes when I was playing."

Overall - Score: 4.5