Breakdown

Comfort: 8.4

Our playtesters found the Axilus 3s comfortable and easy to wear, with very little to get in the way of an enjoyable on-court experience. For Michelle, these shoes worked right out of the gate. She said, "Previously, the Axilus was a very wide, comfortable pair of court shoes. I was told that a the fit of this third iteration was fixed, but I was a bit hesitant to believe that until I tried them on. Fortunately, the Axilus 3s fit my medium-width feet perfectly in width and length, and I could instantly wear them on the court. I did utilize the last eyelet after a couple of wears to add more heel lockage and ensure a bit more support. The cushioning felt firm rather than plush, but it was still very comfortable. The uppers were OK in terms of breathability, but I did feel like they ran a little hot because of the TPU (as the playtest wore on, my white shoes ended up getting a bit discolored due to sweat)."

Despite the sizing being changed slightly from versions past, the Axilus 3s worked well for Tiffani after a brief adjustment period. She explained, "Over the years, Fila gained a reputation for making wide-fitting shoes. With the latest couple of models, the Mondo Forzas and these Axilus 3s, the fit has been more true to medium. For me and my wider feet, this meant I had some break-in time with the Axilus 3s. I had some pressure points right at the base of the forefoot on the lateral side. It took about three hours for the uppers to relax enough for me to not feel too squeezed in that area. The shoes had a pretty snug fit for me overall in the forefoot and midfoot, but after the break-in, I found them to be comfortable. There was nice cushioning underfoot, and I didn't experience any rubbing. The shoes were a bit warm, but the ventilation was middle-of-the-road for me."

Similar to Michelle, Brittany was impressed by the updated fit. She noted, “When I slipped the third generation of the Axilus shoes on I was delighted to find that they fit my feet better than they did in the two previous versions. The prior models were extremely wide for my narrow feet. This Axilus 3 fits more like a medium-width with a generous toe box. I didn't need any sort of adjustment or break-in period, but I did find that the longer I wore them, the better they felt. The cushioning and uppers really started to mold around my feet about four to five hours into the playtest. These shoes are very comfortable, and the cushioning is the right thickness for me — not too much, not too little. I didn't have to think about my arches, which was a great improvement from the Mondo Forza. The ventilation was about average."

For Ana, this update proved to be a major success story. She detailed, "I can honestly say these Axilus 3s exceeded my expectations in every way, and they checked all the boxes for the top things I look for in shoes, which are comfort, support and lightness. In terms of cushioning, I thought Fila did a pretty good job of giving the Axilus 3s that perfect amount of padding while still keeping them supportive enough. I do gravitate toward shoes that offer more support than softness. Even though the materials make these shoes look heavy and hard, they feel surprisingly breathable and light, and I didn’t struggle to move in them. I felt like the fit was true to size. They did require a little more break-in time compared to other shoes I have tried lately, but it was nothing out of the ordinary for solid all-around tennis shoes."

Foot Support / Stability: 8.5

In terms of the support and stability offered by the Axilus 3s, our team was delighted to report very high levels of performance across the board. The shoes were responsive and stable, which is a welcome combination to be sure. Brittany was thoroughly impressed by the support on court. She said, "In terms of stability, the Fila Axilus 3s knocked it out of the park (or should I say court). The ankle height was perfect for supporting my ankles, and I felt very confident moving around. Despite a prior ankle injury, I never had any issues with potential ankle rolls, even when playing points. The little bit of extra room in the toe box did cause some slight support issues. When I was moving around my feet were also moving around inside the shoes, both side to side and forward and backward. I did utilize the last eyelet to get slightly more support, but I never could get fully locked in." 

Ana had a good experience with the support of the Axilus 3s. She said, "The support and stability were impressive. The glove-like fit offered a perfect amount of support, and I didn’t experience any issues when moving quickly and aggressively. My feet were secured enough for me to move confidently, and the uppers kept my feet from moving or slipping around in the Axilus 3s. Even though Fila tends to gravitate toward a wider fit for shoes, I do have to say that these new Axilus 3s have a narrower fit compared to previous versions. The only thing that stood out in terms of the fit and support was that the shoes ran a little too low on my ankles. I felt like it was slipping a little on the back of my heel, but once I used the last eyelet I was able to get that locked-in feeling I was missing."

Elsewhere, Michelle and Tiffani both found adequate levels of support for their movement on court. Michelle noted, "After having tested a pair of shoes with little support and stability, the Axilus 3s were a welcome change. They felt very supportive and stable. The TPU on the uppers held my feet in, and once I used that last eyelet, I felt like my heels were locked in really well too. These shoes had nice stability, and they allowed me to move confidently and change directions or land hard without worrying about any twisting or tipping over."

“The support and stability of the Axilus 3s were better than in the previous versions of the Axilus,” Tiffani added. "Although the older models fit my feet better, I found over time that the support got a bit on the sloppy side as the uppers loosened up. With the Axilus 3s, the snugger fit meant I felt supported for a longer period of time. I did initially struggle to keep my heel down inside the shoes, but after a couple of hours of wearing them on court and opting to use the last eyelet, I felt more secure."

Overall Sole Durability: 7.9

All of the playtesters saw some wear on their Axilus 3s by the end of the playtest. However, that is partially due to the high amounts of use these shoes were getting from all of our testers. Brittany found adequate levels of durability but wanted a little more overall. She said, "I expected these shoes to offer excellent durability based on how they feel and perform. However, as the playtest wrapped up, I looked at my outsoles and saw some smoothing under my big toe that wrapped up the toe bumper on both my right and left shoes. I put easily 10-plus hours on my pair on an indoor hard court, playing both singles and doubles. I still think they have plenty of life left, but I was surprised to see some wear. I would say they fall slightly above average in this category. The uppers seem to be holding up well, and I have no issues with the durability there."

"I expected these shoes to be a bit more durable than they proved to be," Michelle added. "I thought the outsoles would show little wear after this test because these shoes really look stable and durable, but I saw some decent smoothing under my big toes on both feet. They should hold up for a few months, but I was expecting a really strong rubber compound."

For Tiffani, the resilience of the Axilus 3s left a little to be desired. She said, "These shoes feel and look rather substantial, so I was expecting some really good durability. The toes are looking pretty fresh, but I was surprised to see some smoothing under my big toes. I have about 15 hours on them, and I think the durability is OK, even though I expected it to be better." 

Ana also found slightly less durability than she would've liked. She explained, "The durability of the Axilus 3 seems average. I would not say these are the most durable shoes, and after playing in them, I did see more wear on the outsole than I’ve seen on other shoes I’ve been playing in. However, I felt like the grip was still there, and I wasn’t slipping around the court too much."

Traction: 8.2

The traction of the Axilus 3s was superb, and our team felt secure and confident moving on court throughout the playtest. Michelle particularly enjoyed the traction. She said, "I never had to worry about the traction from the Axilus 3s, which means it worked well for me! The outsoles didn't feel too sticky, and they definitely weren’t too slick either. These shoes worked perfectly for my tastes, and it’s a good sign whenever I don't have to think about how tacky or slippery an outsole is." 

Tiffani noticed some slight sticking at times, but she still found success with the majority of her movements on court. She said, "I thought the Axilus 3s were a bit on the stickier side of the traction spectrum, but it was not so much so that I felt stuck to the court. I could still transition smoothly, and I only noticed some squeaking on my short adjustment steps."

The traction on display here was exactly what Brittany needed. She described, "The multi-directional tread pattern of the Axilus 3s provided the perfect amount of traction for me. There was a little bit of give when I needed it, but I was still able to grip the court and push off without slipping."

While Ana liked the Axilus 3s’ traction, she had some concerns about the tread's longevity. She said, "The traction was more than OK. I believe the Axilus 3s did a pretty good job of not sliding around the court, although the pattern of the sole did not last very long. Playing in these shoes for over 10 hours left the bottom of my shoes smoother, but they are still providing grip."

Weight: 8.1

Our team found no glaring issues with the weight of the Axilus 3s, and they enjoyed how the shoes performed over the course of the playtest. For Ana, these shoes felt surprisingly light. She said, "I was quite impressed by how light these shoes were. I would not have described these Axilus 3s as light shoes based on their material and looks, but they were lighter than I expected when I tried them on. I didn’t feel dragged down by them, and I was able to move quickly and confidently." 

Tiffani also found success in the Axilus 3s when scrambling around the court. She explained, "These shoes look pretty built up to me, so I was surprised that they felt fairly nimble around the court. The Axilus 3s did feel a bit clunky for the first couple of hours because they weren't flexing well for me, but it was smooth sailing all around the court after the break-in period.”

Michelle was satisfied with the weight of the Axilus 3s. She noted, "I wasn't expecting these Axilus 3s to be the lightest, but I wouldn't say they felt bulky or heavy either. They are pretty middle-of-the-road in terms of weight. For being so stable and well cushioned, I wasn't thinking they would be light."

The Axilus 3s felt lighter to Brittany than they actually were. She described, "I wore these shoes a couple of times before I checked the weight. I was surprised to find there was a weight increase from the previous model because they didn't feel heavier. I think Fila did a good job adding the extra weight but still offering a smooth heel-to-toe transition, which allowed for quicker movements. However, compared to all other tennis shoes on the market, they landed right in the middle (maybe leaning slightly toward the heavier side)."

Breakdown Summary