Head Revolt Pro Women's Shoe Review

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Head Revolt Pro Women's Shoe Scores
Comfort	2.6
Ventilation	3.7
Arch Support	2.5
Foot Support/Stability	3.5
Overall Sole Durability	3.8
Toe Durability	3.9
Traction	3.6
Weight	3.6
Overall	3.0

Upsides

• Traction
• Feel lighter than actual weight

Downsides

• Too narrow through the midfoot
• Long break-in

Summary

Head has loaded the Revolt Pros with technologies designed to help players revolutionize their games with their footwork. These shoes feature Energy Fit technology on the uppers and a Stable-Fit last for high levels of support and stability. Head's TRi N-R-G technology, EVA midsole and mesh sock-construction provide a comfortable ride with each step. Hyperbrasion+ outsoles in a modified herringbone tread pattern provide exceptional durability and traction on the court. As a bonus, these shoes offer a six-month durability guarantee for those who are especially hard on their outsoles. Even with this bevy of technologies, our TW playtesters struggled to find their rhythm during this playtest. Although they were surprised by the lighter feel and impressed by the durability of these shoes, both playtesters struggled with fit issues, which affected the Revolt Pros' overall comfort and performance. Players who are looking for durable, stable shoes that can take a beating will want to take a look at the Revolt Pros, but they should also take note that these shoes need to be broken in.

Comfort - Score: 2.6

Although the EVA cushioning in the midsole of the Head Revolt Pros provides some comfort, our playtesters were left wanting more. Brittany never felt comfortable in these shoes. She said, "There was quite a break-in with these shoes, and I found after about 10 hours that they still hadn't quite broken in completely. The uppers felt stiff when I first put these shoes on, and while they did loosen up slightly during the playtest, I would have liked them to loosen up a little more so they could mold to my feet. The cushioning was firm and supportive. There was some good cushioning in the tongue, but I felt it was lacking around the ankle collar."

Karly's feet were, unfortunately, just too wide for these shoes. She explained, "The Head Revolt Pros had such a narrow fit that no matter how loosely I tied them they still felt extremely tight around my feet. I was constantly distracted by all the pressure, especially at the midfoot. The cushioning and padding were pretty minimalistic in these shoes. The soles felt extremely firm and didn't absorb much shock, and these shoes needed plusher padding to help soften the tight fit."

Ventilation - Score: 3.7

Breathability was never an issue for our playtesters when they were wearing the Revolt Pro. Karly offered, "I wasn't bothered at all by the temperature of these shoes. The large mesh windows on the sides kept my feet cool during a hit, and my socks were dry after I was done. There were no issues for me with the ventilation of these shoes."

Brittany agreed, saying, "There was plenty of ventilation. The uppers had plenty of mesh that allowed air to circulate in and out of the shoes, and my feet never overheated during or after hitting. I had no complaints."

Arch Support - Score: 2.5

Our playtesters struggled with the arch support in the Head Revolt Pros. Brittany explained, "The supports didn't quite hit my arches in the right spot. They was a little too far forward and I could feel them on the outside of my arches. It bothered me the first couple of times I played in them, and it took me a little time to get used to the feel. During the course of the playtest the arch supports did start to compress and mold around my arches better, but I could still feel them at the end of the playtest."

Aftermarket insoles were necessary for Karly. She shared, "Thankfully, insoles can be easily replaced, because this is where I encountered the biggest problem with the Head Revolt Pros. The arch support came up too high for my flat feet, and when combined with the firm feel and narrow fit, my feet were aching within the first 10 minutes of play. After the third time hitting in them I had to switch out the stock insoles for insoles that were softer and had lower arches. I just wish I had done that after the first hit because the aftermarket insoles helped tremendously with comfort. I didn't experience any more arch pain once I made that switch."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.5

The TW playtesters had mixed feelings about the support and stability of the Revolt Pro. Karly offered, "I was really happy with all the support the Head Revolt Pros offered. With their tight fit, they wrapped around my feet for a locked-in, secure feel. I felt confident moving in all directions or making quick stops and pivots. Rolling an ankle never crossed my mind in these shoes."

Brittany continued to have issues with the fit, explaining, "The sock liners helped keep my feet firmly in place. As I mentioned earlier, the uppers are stiff and were tight around my mid and forefoot, which limited movement inside my shoes. The ankle collars came up high enough on my ankles to keep me from worrying about rolling an ankle, but I didn't feel like the shoes wrapped around my heels well enough, and my heels were constantly slipping out of my shoes. I used the upper eyelet, which helped, but I also had to constantly retie my shoes to keep them securely in place."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.8

The Hyperbrasion+ outsole of the Head Revolt Pro seemed to hold up for our playtesters, but they weren't able to fully test the durability. "I didn't put the outsole durability to the full test due to issues with the fit," said Brittany. "I used them for less than 10 hours on the court, but the outsoles seem to be holding up just fine. There is no smoothing, balding or any form of wear, and I believe there is plenty of life left in these shoes."

Karly added, "The outsoles are still in great condition and have no damage, but that should be taken with a grain of salt because I could only wear them for about seven hours due to the uncomfortable fit. I wasn't able wear the Revolt Pros longer because of all the aching they caused."

Toe Durability - Score: 3.9

Brittany was the lone toe-dragging player on this playtest, and she offered, "The toe bumpers and Drift Defense upper material provided full coverage from toe dragging. However, I can see significant smoothing on the upper material on both shoes. Luckily, the material is thick so I have several hours left before I go completely through."

Traction - Score: 3.6

One of the highlights of the Head Revolt Pro was the traction. Karly endorsed the traction level by saying, "I noticed a slight decline within the first couple of hours, but they provided a good amount of grip and give. I never felt stuck to the court, nor did I feel like I was going to slip. I wasn't afraid to move aggressively in these shoes."

"Traction was a highlight of these shoes for me," said Brittany. "I was moving on the court well and received the perfect amount of grip. These shoes had just enough give that I didn't feel stuck at any time. Changing directions was easy, and I felt confident when I had to stop and start suddenly. They don't necessarily have the low-to-the-ground feel that I love, but I didn't feel like I was too high off the ground either."

Weight - Score: 3.6

It is no secret that stable/durable shoes like the Head Revolt Pros are typically on the heavier side. However, these shoes surprised Brittany. She said, "When I first saw the weight of these shoes I was worried that they might be too heavy for me. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that these shoes did not feel heavy or clunky, and they played lighter than their weight. I thought Head did a good job distributing the weight throughout the shoes. However, I will note that the Revolt Pros still have some good substance to them."

Karly agreed, adding, "The weight came as a huge surprise to me because I wasn't expecting them to play as fast as they did. I thought they felt much lighter than a mid-14 ounce shoe, which is on the heavy side for most shoes today. I never felt weighed down or sluggish when I was moving. Their weight didn't affect whether or not I got to a ball in time."

Overall - Score: 3.0

Playtester Foot Types:
Brittany - Narrow width / Medium arch
Karly - Medium width / Medium-low arch

Review date: July 2015. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.

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