adidas Barricade Team 4 Men's Shoe Review

By Troy Lara

The Barricade Team 4 maintains the impressive out-of-the-box comfort and lightweight feel of its predecessor, the Barricade Team 3. The durability has been improved with the addition of the adiWEAR 6 outsole, and the adiPRENE+ in the midsole provides a plush feel on harsh landings. The addition of the 3D Torsion System helps to stabilize the foot during quick changes in direction.

I found the new cosmetic more appealing than previous versions. The addition of the breathable mesh creates a more modern looking upper and reminds me of the adidas CC Feather III that was released back in 2007. The fit of these shoes contoured to my feet well. They have a medium width toebox and a more snug fit within the midfoot region. Comfort was one of the Barricade Team 4's best attributes, especially compared to the Barricades 7 and 8. If I could ask for one thing to help maximize the comfort it would be a thicker, more padded tongue, because when I cinched the laces tightly the tongue didn't provide much of a barrier between the laces and the top of my feet.

Ventilation was average for a lightweight shoe. I found the small circles in the pattern of the uppers helped the underlying mesh to breathe on court. However, my feet would get hot when I wore them casually. The breathability of the Barricade Team 4s wasn't quite on the level of the New Balance MC 996s and KSwiss Ultra Expresses, both of which had exceptional ventilation.

The one area where these shoes didn't meet my strict standards for performance was in the support and stability department. I have been dealing with some slight arch pain as of late, so I opted to replace the stock insoles with Superfeet insoles. This was a difficult task for me to accomplish because the stock insoles were glued to the shoes. The lateral stability was decent, and I felt low to the ground in the forefoot. However, the support of the upper, specifically around the ankle, never seemed to lock my feet in place.

The outsoles provided good traction when I was moving around the court and allowed me to change direction with ease. The adiWEAR 6 outsole held up well, especial for such a light shoe. Although these aren't what I would consider high durability shoes, the adiWEAR 6 outsoles proved to be pretty tough throughout this playtest. The same outsole compound is featured on the bigger and tougher Barricade 7 and 8, which are the benchmarks for durability here at TW.

I enjoyed the comfortable, lightweight feel these shoes provided. The downside for me was that I didn't quite feel locked in, and that translated to less ankle support. I have worn the Barricade 6 and 7 in the past, and although this fourth generation of the Barricade Team isn't as stable and durable as those, I can definitely see how this shoe fits well in the adidas line of Barricade footwear.

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