adidas Barricade 2018 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.9

After dropping down a half size, our playtesters found that the Barricade 2018s offered a pleasing fit for their various foot types. The team described a break-in period of about five hours before the shoes softened up and started molding to their feet. The heel cups and the memory foam ankle collars cradled their feet, while the uppers sealed in the comfortable fit. With plenty of experience playing in Barricades, Michelle felt right at home with the 2018 update. She said, "As someone who grew up playing junior and college tennis in Barricades, I can definitely appreciate these shoes. They are everything a serious player should be looking for; they're comfortable and supportive, and they felt very stable when I was moving in them. First things first, they run long. I sized down a half size, and that seemed to be adequate for my feet. Once I adjusted the size, they fit my feet well. The Barricade 2018s hugged my feet in all the right places and offered a solid amount of cushioning underfoot and around my ankle. These shoes did require a break-in, but in all honesty, they were pretty comfortable from the first wear. As I broke them in they molded to my feet better and became more comfortable, but I had no major comfort issues during the break-in period. I never had any rubbing or blisters; the only thing worth noting was a bit of toe jamming from time to time when I was aggressively sprinting to balls."

Kristen stressed the importance of the break-in period, saying, "These shoes run a tad long, so I went down a half size from a 7 to 6.5. In terms of overall comfort, there was a pretty long break-in period with these shoes. The first few hours were quite painful, as the arches really dug into my feet. I noticed the shoes starting to wear in after a couple hours of play, but it took a good five or six hours before these shoes actually felt comfortable on the court and I could start to appreciate their positive attributes."

Like Michelle, Hannah is familiar with the previous generations of Barricades, and her expectations were exceeded with the 2018's luxurious comfort and locked-in fit. She said, "I started off by going down a half size in these shoes. They run long, and there was no chance I would be able to wear a 7. Even after sizing down, my Cadence insoles fit in nicely. It gave the shoes a more shallow feel, but the insoles still fit. True to the Barricade legacy, these shoes come out of the box extremely stiff. After five to seven hours these shoes finally started to open up and allow for aggressive movements. If you try to wear these for points or hard practices before that break-in period they will not be comfortable and toe jam is inevitable. After that lengthy break-in period, though, these Barricades offer comfortable cushioning, completely lock-in your feet and are essentially bulletproof. Although the upper material wasn't the most breathable and my feet would get pretty hot on court, I liked the fit and feel of the uppers, and the shape of the shoes through the midfoot was customizable without placing pressure on the top of my feet. The toe box is nice and wide, so I think it will accommodate a variety of foot shapes. Even though my feet are narrow, the fit through the toe box worked well for me. I had no comfort issues after the break-in period and I found the memory foam ankle collar to be soft and cushioned."

Confirming her fellow playtesters' comments regarding break-in and sizing, Tiffani also touched on the abundance of arch support. To her surprise, the uppers became extremely soft and felt tailored to her wide feet. "The first thing I needed to do was adjust my sizing," she began. "My true size was way too long, so I went down a half size and found a much better fit. I also noticed that these Barricade 2018s felt very stiff out of the box, which wasn't surprising since every Barricade I've worn, except the Stella Barricade Boosts, have needed time to break in. It took me about five hours of on-court time before these shoes started to soften up and mold to my feet. During that time I did struggle some with toe jamming, and the ends of these shoes felt pretty hard. After the break-in, though, the toe jamming subsided, thankfully. These shoes just felt comfortable in a supportive way. The arch support is quite healthy, and although I have flat feet, I liked how well these shoes cradled my soles. Considering that Barricades are mostly known for their bulletproof durability and stability, I was thrilled with the softness of the uppers. They're just as comfortable and nearly as nimble as some of my lighter, speedier shoes."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.6

Thoroughly satisfied with the support and stability of the Barricade 2018s, our team reported that this new version of the Barricade lived up to the line's outstanding legacy. The playtesters were equally impressed with the blend of modern features that made these supportive shoes feel quick and streamlined. "The Barricades are pretty much unrivaled in this category," Tiffani praised. "The support and stability of these shoes never came into question. The toe jamming I experienced was due to these shoes not flexing with my feet until they broke in. After they were broken in I felt completely confident that the Barricade 2018s were going to hold my feet during any movement."

The technology features first piqued Hannah's interest, but it was the other details, like the uni-tongue, the secure fit and the lacing system, that really impressed her. She said, "Unsurprisingly, the Barricade 2018s preformed extremely well in this category. I've worn Barricades before, so I knew to expect great support and stability, but I was happy to find that this 2018 update locked in my midfoot better than any other version has in the past. The lacing system really complemented my narrow feet, and even with the wider toe box my feet felt super secure and stable. These shoes don't have a bootie design like the Ubersonic 3s, but they do have a soft uni-tongue, which really added to the fit for me. As far as stability is concerned, the midfoot chassis, the EVA midsole and the new technology integrated into the familiar Barricade design created extremely supportive shoes for sharp cuts and quick movements. After I broke these shoes in they performed with an impressive balance of high support and stability. Compared to other support-oriented shoes, the support and stability in these Barricade 2018s almost felt effortless."

Michelle compared the Barricade 2018s to her beloved Stella Barricades and found more supportive features for aggressive, confident movements. She explained, "I have a higher arch and I really appreciate the support these shoes offered me as soon as I stepped into them. My feet were securely locked into the shoes, and I immediately knew this would be a strength of this playtest. As a longtime Barricade wearer, it was nice to see adidas offer this version for women, as the Stella Barricades have become a bit quicker, lighter, more cushioned and stylish. With those changes, the Stellas have sacrificed some of the classic signature support and stability that makes the Barricade line stand out. I was 100 percent confident when moving in these shoes. I could move aggressively without worrying about rolling my ankle or slipping. Also, I like shoes that let me plant my feet and then recover quickly without having to worry about sliding after the shot. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that these Barricades are the most stable shoes on the women's market today. That reliable stability is one of the most important aspects of a tennis shoe for me, and it's something I've always loved about the Barricade line. While the game has gotten faster and more explosive, I feel like adidas has done a great job updating these shoes to keep them relevant for aggressive movers and serious players."

Despite her narrow feet, Kristen still found that the Barricade 2018s protected her every movement. She said, "The Barricade 2018s started to feel much more supportive once they broke in, and I really came to appreciate their stability. Although they were a bit wide in the forefoot and toe box, I never felt like I was sliding around in the shoes thanks to the midfoot support and heel cushioning that kept my feet locked in place."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.7

The durability of these Barricade 2018s was another highlight for our playtesters. Kristen explained, "The Barricade 2018s are definitely durable shoes. After playing in them for a month they still look more or less brand new; there's hardly any wear and tear on the outsole or toe area."

Tiffani has no doubt that her Barricade 2018s will hold up well past the six-month mark. She said, "I am not the mover I once was on the tennis court, and perhaps in my youth I would have been able to wear through these outsoles in six months, but right now I don't see a dent in these shoes. The toes and the outsoles are virtually new after 15 hours of court time. These shoes will last me a long time."

After noticing some marking on the rubber, Michelle kept a close watch on the durability throughout the playtest, but she confirmed that there was no significant wear to report. She said, "I expect durability from any Barricade, so going into this playtest my expectations were relatively high. After the first wear I saw some markings and scratches on the rubber on the outsole, which was a bit of a red flag. Now that the playtest is over I can happily report that the durability was impressive. There's some marking on the rubber, but no damaging wear. These are tough shoes, no doubt about it. The uppers are also holding up really well."

"For the player who spends hours on the court, day in and day out, and wants her shoes to hold up through it all, there are few options that will last as long as these Barricades," Hannah said. "Their stiffness out of the box and the required break-in period are testaments to just how long these shoes are meant to last. I've been wearing these shoes for plenty of intense practices and matches, and the tread didn't even start to smooth down until the end of the test period. For an ex-college player like myself, who's only playing three or four times a week right now, these will take me months to wear out."

Traction - Score: 4.1

Our playtesters found that the traction of the Barricade 2018s ensured foot placement without hindering movements. Despite Hannah's preferences for slicker outsoles, she felt the predictable traction level complemented the shoes. "With such durable outsoles, it's no surprise that the traction is grippy and consistent," she said. "I generally tend to prefer a slicker outsole, but I can say that the Barricade 2018's traction levels never wavered — I always knew what to expect. Part of the appeal of Barricades is that they serve as little tanks for your feet; they're protective and nearly indestructible. The way they grip the court only adds to that tank-like feel. The tread pattern even comes up onto the sides of the shoes to ensure that no matter where you're placing your foot on the court there is no way you'll be sliding around."

"As a fan of stickier outsoles, I was completely satisfied with the Barricade 2018's traction level," Michelle said. "Also, the traction remained consistent throughout the playtest, which was important in my eyes. They definitely stuck to the court well, and I was never worried about slipping or losing my footing. I think aggressive players who like to slide into shots may be able to do so here, but probably not as efficiently as with lighter, quicker outsoles."

Kristen found that the tread offered a pleasant balance when it came to her footing. She said, "I thought these shoes had great traction. The outsoles grabbed the court well without being overly sticky, giving me good footing on both indoor and outdoor courts."

Tiffani was hooked on the confidence that the Barricade 2018s added to her game. "I really liked how I was moving in these shoes," she said. "The outsoles offered slightly more grip than give, but I still felt that my transitions were smooth. I never once questioned a slip or felt stuck to the court."

Weight - Score: 3.5

Our team definitely noticed the extra bit of weight that the Barricade 2018s carried compared to some of the lightweight shoes they've tested recently. They did add, however, that for being in a heavier weight class, these Barricade 2018s played fast and felt relatively light on the court. "It's no secret, these are not light tennis shoes," Michelle admitted. "However, they don't feel as heavy as their weight shows on the scale. I never felt weighed down by these shoes. When I was walking around Tennis Warehouse with them on, before or after playing, they felt a bit bulky and heavy, but when I transitioned onto the court the weight wasn't even an issue. As the playtest went on they molded to my feet better, which made them feel less weighty, even off the court."

Kristen continued the conversation with her own caveat. She said, "Being more stable shoes, these are definitely heavier than the speedier lightweight shoes I've been testing lately. Although there is a bit more weight to these, I never felt weighed down."

"Weighing about the same as the Asics Gel Resolution 7s, these shoes started to mold to my feet and played lighter and lighter the more hours I put on them," Hannah described. "I never experienced that feeling with the Gel Resolutions. With similar shoes the bulk and weight always stayed in the back of my mind, and I could never imagine myself playing a match in them. When I say the Barricade 2018s were playing lighter, it's relative, because these are not lightweight shoes. However, for a classic supportive shoe design, they do feel light. About two weeks into playing with the Barricade 2018s I could step onto the court and start competing, and I never caught myself thinking about them on my feet. My movements were fluid and I trusted the shoes to move with me directionally, and I felt quick with every step and cut."

Following the break-in period, Tiffani found that the 2018s were surprisingly fast for a Barricade. She recalled, "Initially these shoes felt a bit cumbersome on the court because they weren't moving with my feet, but once they broke in they never felt overly heavy. I was shocked by how well these shoes were flexing and moving with my feet, since I thought they would be overbuilt for me. That's not to say they felt as light as adidas' speedy Ubersonic 3s, but the Barricade 2018s felt lighter than their stability and durability would suggest."

Overall - Score: 4.3