Wilson tennis shoes have substantially improved over the years and continue to get better and better. Though they don’t have the market share of more mainstream athletic shoe brands, Wilson doesn’t cut corners on innovation and technology. The Rush Pro 2.5 is full of subtle tweaks that give dynamic movers every advantage. Wilson footwear is designed in France along with other Amer Sports brands: Salomon (skiing), Mavic (cycling), and Arc’teryx (outerwear and equipment). Being a previous Wilson shoe player in the 90’s, I was eager to check these bad boys out.

Cushioning & Stability
My first impression when looking at the Rush Pro 2.5 was how the aggressive cosmetic reminded me of performance tennis shoes from industry mainstays. The iconic “W” logo on the side of the shoe blends into the color finish, while the bright accents appear along the outsole and tongue for a splash of style. Several brands offer tennis shoes with a bootie or inner-sock construction. My experience is that they are great on support, but difficult to get on and off at times. They can also be rather stifling when temperatures hit triple digits. I didn’t break the shoes in at all before I stepped on the court because I wanted to test how they felt straight out of the box. I was impressed by how soft the upper felt when slipping the shoes on, and how the sock liner guided my foot, but didn’t constrict it. Throughout the match, I didn’t feel any hotspots or have any blister issues. The foot bed offered strong support and cushioning, but I still felt connected to the court with a low-to-the-ground feel thanks to the Dynamic Fit.

Breathability & Fit
For summertime hard court tennis, ventilation and cooling are paramount. Even with court temperatures approaching 115+ degrees, the Rush Pro 2.5 didn’t absorb a lot of heat. The mesh construction did an excellent job of allowing sweat to wick away from my foot and regulate a comfortable temperature inside the shoe. The EndoFit is Wilson’s sock liner, and it offers solid stability and breathability. It focuses on the midfoot, and leaves the ankle and heel free to breathe while keeping your foot aligned in the correct position. The Rush Pro 2.5 fits true to size so it may feel big to some and small to others. My foot didn’t slide at all inside the shoe, which inspired confidence in my movements.

Durability
Players will get plenty of support and traction as they move around the court. Even after a month or so of playing on the hot hard courts, the Duralast outsole still felt like new and allowed me to easily track down numerous balls when I played.

Overall
 All in all the Rush Pro 2.5 has good ventilation and a supportive fit for tennis players who are hard on their shoes.

About the Reviewer: Sam Jones currently works at Tennis Express on the Content Marketing team. He previously played at Southwestern University, taught tennis for 10+ years and earned his Master Racquet Technician Certification in 2011. He is an active USTA League and Tournament player.