Head Revolt Pro 3.5 Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.2

Although several of the testers had to change sizes in these Revolt Pro 3.5s, the overall comfort didn't suffer. Kristen knows this shoe line well and commented on its evolution, saying, "This is the fourth iteration of the Revolt Pro that I've worn, and I feel like Head has dialed in the fit nicely. I know everyone opted to size up a half size, but I stayed in my true size. Comparing the fit to other shoes, these 3.5s did run a touch shorter, but I found that beneficial. They provided a more secure fit throughout the forefoot on my narrow feet. I had no issues with arch support; I found there to be decent cushioning there and under my heels. I did, however, find the cushioning in the forefoot to be a bit firmer. That said, Head eliminated the sloping of the cushioning at the toes that I disliked in the last version, so I never experienced any toe jamming with these 3.5s. Even though I didn't have any comfort issues, I didn't find the underfoot cushioning very responsive. The shoes seemed a bit flat in nature, and I could have used a bit more rebound underfoot."

Erik needed time to settle in with his pair. He said, "These shoes were quite comfortable overall. I did have a little bit of toe jamming at the beginning of the playtest, but I broke the shoes in soon enough, and the toe jamming stopped. I really enjoyed the comfort these shoes provided, but I will say that they are slightly boardy underfoot. I wanted a little more responsiveness out of the shoes."

Like Erik, Chris found he needed just a short break-in to unlock the comfort. He explained, "As recommended by Head, I went up a half size in the Revolt Pro 3.5s and found them to fit great. The shoes took a little bit of a break-in to start flexing and moving with my feet. After a couple of hour-long hitting sessions, I enjoyed a comfortable ride that lasted for the rest of the test. The uppers offered ample flex at toe-off, and I didn't experience any rubbing or pinching. I liked the level of cushioning, and my feet felt very well protected when sprinting around the court. I also liked the stability through the arch area, and I never had any aches or pains in my arches. For stable and durable shoes, the Revolt Pro 3.5s were impressively comfortable."

Jason found the Revolt Pro 3.5s more flexible than the last version. He said, "I did have to go up a half size, but once I did that, I felt like these were quite comfortable shoes. The fit was roomy enough for my feet, and the arch broke in nicely. The uppers of these shoes did seem to flex a little bit easier than the previous version, making them slightly more comfortable and easier to break in."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.5

Built for stability, the Revolt Pro 3.5s had no trouble protecting our playtesters' feet and ankles. Chris thought these shoes performed extremely well in this category. He said, "I was impressed by the level of support and stability I found in the Revolt Pro 3.5s. I loved that I could slip these shoes on and just focus on my tennis. I never had to worry about rolling an ankle or sliding around too much inside the shoes. I was able to get a nice snug and secure fit from the lace system and never had my toes jam into the ends of the shoes on quick stops. My heels felt locked in, so I could push off aggressively without any issues."

It was a similar story for Jason, who added, "I definitely felt comfortable moving aggressively in these shoes. I was able to get a nice, locked-in fit when I cinched up my laces, and there was enough rigidity in the midfoot that the shoes just felt solid on changes of direction."

With her narrow feet, Kristen appreciated how the fit translated into improved performance. She explained, "Head has done a good job balancing a nicely cushioned upper with solid support and stability, and it seems they improve on this area with each iteration. While these shoes were pretty comparable to the last version overall, I found a subtle uptick in support because the 3.5s offered a more secure, less roomy fit. I did, however, opt to wear thicker socks, which helped to keep a more supportive feel throughout the shoes, especially at the ankles where the cushioning is a bit plusher and can get a little gappy with thinner socks."

These shoes held up to whatever Erik could throw at them. He said, "The support was very, very solid with these Revolt Pro 3.5s. I played three tight 2.5-hour matches with these shoes and felt like they supported my feet well. The stability was extremely solid as well; I found that these shoes locked me in, and I could run and sprint at full speed."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.5

The Hybrasion+ rubber on the Revolt Pro 3.5s held up to the wear and tear of hard court play for our team. Jason described, "I found them plenty durable for my playing style. I'd rate them above average among the shoes I've tested, and even if you are much harsher on your shoes than I am, they have the six-month durability guarantee included."

"The Revolt Pro 3.5s have very solid durability so far," added Erik. "I was impressed by the durability I got out of these shoes; they're really reliable all around."

Kristen also had nothing but praise for this shoe's durability. She said, "Like iterations past, the durability was solid in both the upper and outsole. I was playing both tennis and pickleball in these shoes; I put a lot of hours on them over the course of a few weeks and only have slight signs of wear. As with previous iterations, the first signs of wear I saw were at the heels of my shoes and then some slight smoothing at my toes, where I typically wear down my shoes the quickest."

Even toe dragger Chris didn't do much damage to these shoes. He said, "The Revolt Pro 3.5s held up very well both on the outsoles and uppers. My high-wear areas of the outsoles still looked good, with plenty of tread left at the end of the test. Likewise, the tips of the toes took all the abuse I threw at them and still had plenty of material left."

Traction - Score: 4.6

Testing these Revolt Pro 3.5s on hard courts, our team found the traction well balanced. Our resident hard court slider, Erik, was moving as aggressively as ever. He said, "The traction of these shoes was perfect. I could slide into and out of shots with no problem at all. On changes of direction, I felt like I was in control and could pivot smoothly even on the toughest of shots."

Chris, too, felt in charge of his footwork. He said, "There was enough give in the Revolt Pro 3.5s to slide out of aggressive lateral stops. I'm not a huge hard court slider, but I do like to add a little slide here and there to ease out of a quick stop rather than pressure my knees and ankles with a jarring halt. When it came to pushing off for a quick start, the outsoles grabbed the court well, so I had all the grip needed."

Like the rest of the playtest team, Jason had no complaints about the Revolt Pro 3.5's traction. He said, "I found the outsole to be very similar to the Revolt Pro 3.0. It had a nice blend of grip and give. I felt confident in my movement while going after a ball, and there's just a bit of give there, so pivoting and changing directions was no problem."

"I liked the traction on these shoes," Kristen added. "I could always feel them on the court, but not in an overly sticky manner. I had a sense of the shoe underfoot, so my footing was secure, but I also had enough give to make cuts and sprint to shots without any resistance."

Weight - Score: 4.4

When shoes are built to be stable and durable, they typically aren't the lightest shoes on the market. Although that is the case with the Revolt Pro 3.5s, our team didn't feel too weighed down. Kristen said, "I would put these shoes in the middle-weight category. I never felt weighed down on the court, but they also weren't the lightest due to their overall design and construction."

The Revolt Pro 3.5s faded into the background while Jason was on the court, which is a plus in his book. He described, "The weight was good, not great. It was not the most lightweight ride but they also didn't feel too bulky. When I put these shoes on and play in them, I don't give the weight another thought, so that's a good sign."

Considering all the benefits of these shoes, Chris was pleased with their weight. He explained, "While the Revolt Pro 3.5s are built for stability and durability, which often brings added weight, they didn't feel heavy or clunky on court. I felt like I moved very well in these shoes. I was also impressed with how stable and durable they were, so whatever weight was added to achieve those traits was put to good use."

Erik agreed with his fellow playtesters. He wrapped it up, saying, "I liked the weight of these shoes. They are a little on the heavy side of the spectrum, but the weight makes them feel solid and stable."

Overall - Score: 4.3