When I think of Adidas Tennis, I think of the Barricade. The Barricade line is synonymous with high performance and Adidas looks to take it to new heights with the new Barricade Boost 2018. Adidas is continuing to use Boost in their shoes to give a little more comfort and feedback to the player. This edition adds a seamless forged mesh upper and ghillie giving you a more locked-down fit. Having been a previous Barricade user, I was eager to see how the 2018 version measured up.

Cushioning & Stability
Stability is a continued trend with the 2018 Barricades. Like many of the previous versions, stability is the highlighted feature in this shoe. As I moved around the court the Boost and Barricade Chassis in the midsole provided me with excellent balance allowing me to be ready for every shot. Even when I was on the run my feet felt steady as I planted or slide into my shot. Cushioning is still a very high priority in this shoe, but it will take some time to get the cushioning at a comfortable level. Due to the more narrow fit, it gave the arches way more cushioning than before. At first this was a negative feeling because it would cause my arches to be in pain after an hour or two of play. After about 12 hours of play these shoes started to feel more comfortable since the arch was no longer affecting me. Cushioning in other areas of shoe stayed around the same even after time passed.

Movement
Since this is a durability shoe I knew that cushioning was going to make these a little bit heavy. However, these shoes feel lighter than before and let you move more naturally around the court. The Boost technology provides great support so your feet won’t feel pain whenever you plant on the ground. Additionally, the adiPRENE+ tech gives you needed support in the forefoot so you can explode off the ground.

Breathability & Fit
Like the previous models of the Barricade, the 2018 version is narrow through the midfoot but offers a fairly roomy toe box. This narrow fit made it easy to keep the shoes tighter around the low ankle. The bootee tongue construction and cushioning around the sockline allowed me to keep the shoe tight around the bridge of my foot. The Ghillie at the top of laces worked in my favor to keep the tongue and my feet from moving. One area that still seems to be troublesome is the heel tab cushioning. At first I could get a comfortable fit and my achillis did not seem to move. After the cushioning wore down though I could feel my achillis start to come out of the shoe and I needed to re-tie my shoes after a short time of play. The updated Barricade chassis and Geofit design made a noticeable difference in the comfortable fit around the midsole. The overall comfort of the shoe was excellent as the Boost provided impact absorption and allowed me to spring into my next step.

In terms of breathability, the 2018 version did not feel as breathable as the 2017 version. The seamless forged mesh upper ventilates pretty well and gives your foot a comfortable fit. In warm or hot weather though the cushioning on the inside tends to trap heat in the shoe and make your feet sweat.

Durability
As a classic durability tennis shoe, the 2018 Barricade did not disappoint. The adiWear 6 in the outsole makes these shoes seem tougher than any others on the market. Even after a few weeks of heavy play, there were no bald spots or minimal signs of wear. What was very shocking is the ability of this shoe to slide on hard courts and not show any signs of wear. After playing for about 4 times a week for a month straight these shoes showed no sign of breaking. Traction is similar to previous versions as you can stop or start with ease. I found enough give to execute a lot of quick lateral and vertical movements without fear of turning over an ankle. What really sets this version apart is the seamless forged mesh upper construction and adiTuff wrap around the forefoot. These worked great together to protect my toes against dragging and suffered only small wear marks after constant beatings.

Overall
Adidas has continued to make another great Barricade that players know and love. The new upper and narrow fit will give you great stability, responsiveness and protection. The usage of Boost and adiPRENE+ in the midsole gives you better shock absorption and comfort. The Adidas Barricade Boost 2018 would be best for any players looking to have support, stability and durability in their tennis shoes.

About the Reviewer: Chris Virk-Brown currently works at Tennis Express on the Content Marketing team. He previously played at Neumann University and coached at the collegiate level for 3 years. He is an active USTA League and Tournament player.