Head Revolt Pro 4.0 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.7

Head has balanced stability and speed in the Revolt Pro 4.0 without sacrificing the shoe's comfort. Tiffani began, "In previous versions of the Revolt Pro, cushioning and stability features made the shoes feel on the heavy side. As the model got refined, the cushioning has been reduced, which for me has helped the shoes fit better and feel more streamlined. When I first tried on these Revolt Pro 4.0s, I thought I would want just a little more cushioning in the forefoot, but I didn't have any soreness throughout the playtest. Ventilation was also good, even though I forgot to remove the sticker that covers the venting through the midsole of the shoe. Playtester tip: Remove the sticker before you play or else it gets too stuck. It's still stuck on mine, but it isn't bothering me. As a side note, because my true size wasn't available to test, I wore a half size larger than usual. It wasn't an issue, and I often used to wear a half size larger in all my tennis shoes because I sought more width to accommodate my feet."

Michelle was also able to draw on past experiences with the Revolt Pro line to put this update into perspective. She said, "Having worn several versions of these shoes, the first thing I noticed was that the midsole cushioning felt a bit firmer compared to older models, but also more responsive. That was an OK trade-off in the underfoot comfort category for me. These shoes were a comfortable option with plush padding noticeable around the heel collars. The uppers also offered step-in comfort, and I didn't really need any break-in with these shoes. My higher arches and medium-width feet fit just right, which was great because the sizing was a bit off in the previous version. If I were to note a spot where I experienced some discomfort, there was some toe-jamming that was most noticeable when running down a ball or sprinting forward."

The first thing Brittany noticed in the Revolt Pro 4.0s was the fit. She said, "The length seems to have been corrected from previous versions, which tended to run a little small, and my true size 8 was the perfect length. The shoes did run a little wide for my narrow feet, especially in the toe box. I found plush cushioning in the heels that absorbed vibrations nicely when moving around. However, the cushioning under the forefoot was minimal, and I would have liked a little more. The arch support was perfect for my medium arches, and testing these shoes in winter, I did not have any ventilation issues."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.8

The Revolt Pros of the past have proven to be very stable and supportive options, and our team was hoping those elements remained in the updated Revolt Pro 4.0s. Michelle enjoyed the new upper and felt the shoes held her feet in place well. She said, "The stability was solid. I never had to second guess these shoes. I would say this is the strength of these Revolt Pro 4.0s, and I was very satisfied. I did utilize that last eyelet to lock in my heels, and once that was dialed in, I was good to go."

Brittany found the fit a bit too wide for her narrow feet, so she struggled to get a locked-in feel. She explained, "During the first couple of hits, I noticed my feet were moving forward and backward within the shoes, and I got a couple of jammed toes. Nonetheless, I ended up making some adjustments, including using the last eyelet along with a runner's knot to really cinch my laces around my ankles. This helped a bunch, and I eliminated a lot of the sliding within the shoes when moving aggressively. I would say the stability was average. On the left ankle, it was enough. On my right ankle, which has sustained some major ankle injuries, there were times when I was sore after playing."

Tiffani thought these updated shoes provided the top-notch stability she's come to expect from the Revolt Pro line, but with a better fit. She said, "I had some issues getting a tight fit around my ankle when wearing previous versions, but that wasn't a problem with the Revolt Pro 4.0. I did need a couple of hours to break in the shoes, however. The first couple of hours on court, the shoes weren’t flexing enough, and I was moving around inside them, experiencing some toe jamming. After that quick break-in, I didn't have any issues with the support. I did use the extra eyelet for the laces, but I do that with all my tennis shoes."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.1

Complete with a six-month outsole durability guarantee, the Revolt Pro 4.0s promise to stand the test of time. For Brittany, durability was the highlight of the playtest. She noted, "I playtested these shoes on a gritty indoor court for a minimum of 10 to 12 hours, and I am seeing little to no wear on the outsole. The toe bumpers are plenty thick, and even with my light toe dragging, I don’t see any wear and tear. I have plenty of life left in these shoes."

"The tread on these shoes is pretty deep, so I don't anticipate these wearing out prematurely," added Tiffani. "I've got about 10 hours on the shoes and am just seeing the start of some wear beneath the toes. I also drag my toes, and I have no worries in that area. Durability is a strong point for the Revolt Pro 4.0s."

Michelle wore these shoes for a solid month, and she found a good amount of durability. She said, "I did see some smoothing under both big toes at the end of the test, but I expect them to hold up for several more months. These are probably some of the more durable shoes I've worn in the past year, with the adidas Barricade topping that list."

Traction - Score: 3.8

Aside from just a hair too much give underfoot at times, the Revolt Pro 4.0 gave our team traction they could rely on. Tiffani couldn't recall having any issues with the traction of these shoes. She said, "I'm not much of a hard-court slider, so I can't comment there, but I always felt sure of foot and never questioned whether I should go for a shot or not. I do appreciated the outsoles not being too squeaky."

"The traction on these shoes sometimes felt a little slick, and I slid into some shots without intending to," added Michelle. "It was almost as if I didn't connect to the court correctly when experiencing a slip. I liked that they weren't too sticky and felt more modern, making them easy for a player of any age and playing style to appreciate. There was a nice blend of tack and give, with consistent wear through the month of testing."

The Revolt Pro 4.0's balanced traction effortlessly aided Brittany's on-court movement. She described, “It’s a good thing when I don’t think about traction, and that is exactly what happened with the Revolt Pro 4.0s. The traction was a perfect blend of give and grip. I felt very comfortable moving around, and the traction did what I expected it to do. With the minimal cushioning in the forefoot that I mentioned earlier, I felt very connected to the court."

Weight - Score: 3.8

While the Revolt Pro 4.0 still isn't a lightweight shoe, our testers all noted improvement in this category over past models. Without looking at the scale, Michelle assumed this updated Revolt Pro 4.0 weighed less than previous ones. She explained, "I was happy with the weight of these updated shoes because they were still stable and had enough comfort without feeling as clunky as the previous models. These are not meant to be light shoes, but this time around, I wouldn't classify them as heavy either. They felt fairly middle of the road when it came to weight. I never felt weighed down or slow due to the weight of these shoes."

Brittany found that the reduction in weight was one of the biggest changes made to these shoes. She echoed, "In the past, the Revolt Pro felt a little bulkier and more substantial. With this update, they feel more streamlined and modern. I would now say they are around average weight, not too heavy, but definitely not lightweight either."

"These shoes felt middle of the road in terms of weight," said Tiffani. "They bridge the gap between heavy, stable, durable shoes and their fast, lightweight counterparts. The Revolt Pro 4.0s have a foot in both worlds (please pardon the wordplay). I was pleased with how these shoes felt on foot considering the performance features they offer."

Overall - Score: 3.9