adidas Stella Barricade BOOST 2018 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.7

With their BOOST cushioning and Primeknit uppers, the comfort of the adidas Stella Barricade BOOST 2017 shoes impressed the TW playtesters. Judging by Michelle's comments, this review started off on a high note. "I think birds began chirping, the colors got brighter and music began playing when I put these shoes on my feet!" she exclaimed. "I really love the adidas Stella Barricade BOOST 2017 shoes because they are fashion forward and comfortable, and even the most aggressive movers will appreciate their support and stability. In terms of comfort, these shoes scored highly for me. I am a believer in BOOST technology and loved the cushioning and rebound it offers. The uppers were so soft yet they still held my feet. I think this would be my No. 1 pick in terms of comfortable shoes right now (with the Diadora Speed Star K coming in a close second). I did end up sizing down a half-size in these shoes after going down a full size in the previous version. However, after wearing them a few times I think I would have been OK in my normal size."

"This was my first experience with BOOST cushioning technology, and I was not disappointed one bit!" Hannah said. "The comfort levels of these shoes were off the charts. I felt like I was getting the cushioning of a running shoe with the performance and speed I needed to move aggressively on the court. The heel to toe drop also helped my speed with a low-to-the-ground profile that complemented explosive movements. The minimal cushioning in the forefoot made these shoes perfect for players like me who prefer extra court feel. The BOOST insert under the heel is soft and responsive, yet it hugged the back of my heel for good stability and the added cushioning didn't interfere with my speed. The Primeknit uppers offered great ventilation, keeping my feet fresh and cool. All of these elements come together to allow for the same overall comfort that I get from my favorite off-court shoes, while allowing me to move freely and confidently on court."

As a fan of past versions of these shoes, Brittany was excited to playtest the 2017 iteration. She explained, "The BOOST cushioning felt so plush underfoot, and I appreciated the extra padding around the ankle collar. The uppers felt comfortable and molded around my feet. However, it did take a while for the arch supports to break in and mold to my arches. Throughout the playtest I could feel the arch supports on the outside of my feet , but this was really my only complaint with the shoes. However, I think replacing the insoles with some custom insoles would solve the problem for the most part. I did go down a half-size in this update because I found the length to be a bit long in my true size. This also gave me a snugger fit in the toe box, which I enjoyed. The mesh on the uppers offered an average amount of ventilation."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.1

The TW playtesters found more support and stability in the Stella Barricade BOOST 2017s than they did in the previous version. Brittany would give this area of the shoes the "most improved" award. She offered, "In the previous version the uppers loosened up and compromised the support and stability. The support and stability of the Stella Barricade BOOST 2017 shoes remained high throughout the playtest. I was never worried about rolling an ankle, which is extremely important to me since I am in the final stages of recovering from an ankle injury. I was so confident when I played in these shoes that I didn't even wear a brace."

"These shoes had high levels of support and stability," Michelle agreed. "Usually softer uppers aren't as supportive as stiffer uppers, but the Primeknit uppers held my feet well, and the shoes were stable. I need that extra sense of security when moving on the court so I prefer super stable shoes. My feet always felt secure and locked in when I was playing in the Stella Barricade BOOST 2017 shoes. It's definitely a good playtest for me when I don't have to worry about the stability of the shoes I'm wearing!"

Hannah had some mixed feedback when it came to support and stability. She said, "The Stella Barricade BOOST 2017 shoes are a great option for a player who likes a minimalist shoe that doesn't have added bulk but still provides more than enough support and stability for an aggressive mover. However, with that being said, compromise is sometimes necessary when you have certain footwear priorities. If support and stability are your first priority, there are other shoes that would fill that need much better. However, if speed is most important to you and you are willing to give up small amounts of support to gain more court feel, these shoes provide the right balance of stability and support to keep you feeling confident on cuts or changes of direction. Specific to my narrow and flat feet, I did end up supplementing the arch support in these shoes with my insoles, which is normal for me. I also knocked this category slightly because for some reason adidas shoes fit me wider around the ankle area and don't form to my feet as well as I would like, but the impact on performance and comfort was minimal. Other than that, I think this design can accommodate narrow and wide feet due to the Primeknit uppers."

Overall Durability - Score: 4.1

Barricade shoes have always had a reputation for durability, and the adidas Stella Barricade BOOST 2017 shoes were no exception. These shoes held up for Michelle. She said, "I was more excited to put these shoes on than other shoes I've been playtesting, so I did put them to the test. The outsoles held up well. If I were to continue to wear only these shoes I think I would definitely take advantage of the outsole warranty. I do see some smoothing under my big toe, which is where I normally wear out my shoes. "

"I would compare the durability of this 2017 model to that of the last couple iterations," continued Brittany. "The outsole durability was average, and not as durable as the Barricades IIs or Vs. I was just starting to see some smoothing around 15 hours, and the toe durability is right around the same. I was seeing some scuffing at the top of the bumper, but not enough to cause any real damage."

Hannah's shoes held up for the whole playtest. She explained, "The Primeknit held it shape fairly well after a full playtest, and there's nothing significant to report on the toe or tread. The six-month guarantee is an awesome added bonus to these shoes!"

Traction - Score: 4.5

Offering the perfect combination of grip and give, the traction of the Stella Barricade BOOST 2017s was a hit among the TW playtesters. Hannah found a good balance of stick and slick. She said, "The forefoot felt slightly slicker, and I liked the give I was getting on the run. My preference is for slicker soles, and I would have liked these shoes to be even slicker. For most players I think the shoes offer a good balance for traction, landing somewhere in the middle of the scale."

Brittany was extremely impressed with the traction the Stella Barricades offered. She detailed, "The Stella Barricade BOOST 2017 shoes have the right amount of give and grip for me. I never felt like I was stuck on the court when changing directions aggressively, and I also enjoyed the fact that I had a little give. I didn't feel like my feet were abruptly stopping in my shoes. Even though there is plush cushioning underfoot, I didn't feel like I was sitting too high up in the shoes, and I felt connected to the court."

"The herringbone outsole provided great traction," noted Michelle. "I prefer a tackier feel underfoot, and I don't like shoes that are slippery. These shoes kept me confident. I never felt like I would slip or lose my footing, but they also weren't so tacky that I couldn't accelerate when I needed to. It was just the right blend of give and grip for me."

Weight - Score: 4.4

All of our playtesters agreed that the weight of the adidas Stella Barricade BOOST 2017s was a positive feature. Impressed with the weight, Michelle commented, "One of my favorite aspects of these shoes was that they checked all the right boxes. They were comfortable and cushioned without being heavy. Although they aren't ultra-light on the scale, they never felt bulky or weighed me down. These shoes were substantial enough to be stable and supportive but also light and responsive enough to allow me to pick up the speed."

"These are definitely lighter weight shoes," praised Hannah. "The weight was at a good level for me and contributed to the speed qualities I discussed in the comfort section. I wouldn't say the light weight defined these shoes because the other comfort aspects were so strong, but I was, without a doubt, light on my feet and feeling agile."

Brittany compared this iteration to the previous version by saying, "The weight of these shoes on the scale was a little bit heavier than the previous version. However, I thought adidas did a good job of distributing the extra weight so it wasn't very noticeable on the court. I felt quick on my feet and was moving around without any issues."

Overall - Score: 4.5