I played in both these shoes. Adidas is the clear winner for me. Been playing 10 months now in the same pair of these Barricades but getting close to the end. super durable, good cushioning and very comfortable once broken in (more comfortable than the asics) Asics were not giving me the support I needed and I developed ankle and foot issues. No ankle or foot issues in these barricades, solid and better court performance. Ordered up 2 more pair. Only issue I have with these barricades is the lacing system is weak if you synch too tight you can rip out the eyelets they are rather weak but snugged up these shoes conform to your foot no slippage or movement. only change I would like to see in these barricades is stronger eyelets. My favorite Barricade so far. Never had any issues with Achilles tendon area either comfortable out of the box but uppers require a little break in to soften them up and conform to your foot.
I switched to the barricade after Nike discontinued the air zoom gp turbo (pretty insane switch I know) because I've been looking to switch most of my shoes to minimal cushioning so that I can develop my feet to do more of the shock absorption for me. Been super happy with the barricade's stability, haven't experienced this kind of security in any tennis shoes I've worn my entire life. I finally was able to start sliding on hard courts after attempting to slide for several years and it was simply because I was willing to commit to the slide and push harder thanks to the stability these shoes offer.
I have send back two pairs of barricades now. The second version of the barricades. After a couple of weeks of playing in them the plastic stuff on the toe crease came apart on both shoes on both sides of the shoe. I am going to give the court ff2 a go try.
Hi @Zach, I own every high end tennis shoe (Nike, Asics, Wilson, Yonex...) including the the exact model in this vid. I play 2 times a week and weekends competitively. For me, the Addidas is more comfortable, secure and just as nimble. I prefer them over Nike Zoom, that make the court feel harsh. Asics are great but I have to go 1/2 over because they are narrow. Thank you,
I hope you could do a breakdown and review of all the barricades and how they have changed throughout the generations in one video. Curious to see which barricade gets the highest rating from you. Mine goes to the barricade 7.
The last Barricade (2018/2019) was my first Barricade and was a disaster one. I was not realized it was so arched that my feet were in pain most of the time. I switched to the court FF and it solved almost all my problems. Maybe I’m Asian but ASICS shoe molds (running and tennis) seem to fit my foot shape well.
I've gone through all the barricades then to the 2017 Barricade boost my favorite (due to fit, stability and cushioning) so bought up every pair I could find when they stopped making them. When I got down to my last pair I bought court FF2 based on the reviews. it felt little flimsy compared to barricades , but liked them at first until I started to develop foot & ankle issues. still have some life in the barricade boost so went back to them for now and after playing side by side adidas are much better for my feet and better performance for me. Just purchased a pair of 2021 Barricades today feel pretty good on my feet (narrow foot fairly high arch) but haven't play tested yet. Like all barricades I've owned know they will need a break in period. FF2 lack the support and stability I need. Adidas feel more solid. outsole on FF2 wearing much quicker than my barricade boosts and new barricades have basically same outsole. Adidas lost me after the 2017 barricade boost with all the crazy laceless sock shoe , wide soulcourt junk none of it looked like you could play tennis in it. hopefully the new barricades work out.(i've tried yonex, head, and other brands nothing compares to adidas barricades)
I used to use ff2s currently use the barricades. Just because the ff2s are expensive. This review is spot on. I prefer the ff2s by a long shot. The only thing though. The ankle collar deforms really easily on the barricade which leads to achilles pain. So if anyone does have the barricades make sure you put them on untying the shoes loosening pulling the back etc. It plays really really well. Might take playability of barricades over the ff2s. But the ff2s are the gold standard
The comfort ratings were interesting to me because I've been wearing the new barricade for the last 2 weeks and all of the comfort issues you mentioned resolved for me after around 2 hours of break in. However when I tried the ff2 last year I had pain in my big toe from the upper for months until I finally decided to just switch shoes because the pain never resolved even after playing for about 40 hours. It makes me wonder if I just got bad quality control from asics before, and really good quality control from the barricade now; or perhaps they just fit my feet differently than yours.
You just have a foot the gels with the barricade shape vs the FF2 - it’s hard to capture everyone’s foot type in terms of comfort- usually I got with what the majority of foot types mesh with
Had Court FF recommended about 3 years ago you just made me more convinced it's the sneak to beat. Was using Asics runners on court. Comfortable like magic but lateral stability and quality of entire shoe FOR TENNIS, has some cons primarily wearability, and stability while sliding. Really worsened after throwing them in hot wash, washing machine. Glue might have weakened. I want Court FF but very snazzy white model tricky to get. Best tennis* shoe ever? For me at least and get this part, I've never worn one! YET! 🙂
Doc, I have a flat foot with inward pronation and my ankles hurt after an intense game. I have custom insoles which helped a little. I was looking at the barricade coz I heard they are good for flat foot. For my case what do you recommend. I play mostly on indoor courts. I’ve been struggling a lot to find the right shoe, your feedback is very much appreciated.
@@FootDoctorZach thanks for replying back 😊, how can we do that. Just fyi, when I saw the foot doctor, he told me that I have a flat foot with over pronation. He said I should wear shoe size 12.5 narrow or 12 wide. Hope this helps. I have custom made insoles done almost a year ago, i also bought the orthotics guide checklist from your site and I am planning to get it done
Still love my Court FF2's! Love 'em so much have 3 pairs in different colors to match different outfits :D New Barricade's do look pretty cool though too, nice vid Zach
Appreciate your reviews. Was planning to buy a pair of the new barricades but now glad that I didn't. Some constructive criticism on your review - I think you can do without the suicide test. The time is so dependent on your running. By the test's logic, you will run the exact same time every time with the same pair of shoes. While not ideal, comparing the weight of the shoe is probably the best you can do to infer a speed comparison.
If you watch the individual reviews I talk about this a lot- I use it more to get a feel for the side to side vs straight line speed - the number is just a fun way to quantify it
Why don't the shoe companies reffer to sizes in actual measurements, as in cm/inches? I wear 32 cm insoles. My two Nikes are size 14 (32 cm). I am looking to buy either an Asics FF2 Clay or a GR8 Clay. Both Asics boxes say size 15 (32 cm). Should I just go for the measures in cm?
Could you please suggest the size comparison between these two as well? I’m currently wearing adidas barricade and considering switching to court ff, but I’m not sure which size should I go for. What size are you wearing for both of them? Thank you!
Very good video doc! I just think that you need to add one more thing and it’s the price point, let me know what you think about it . Love to see this kind of content thank you!
I literally have a pair of both of these that just shipped to me! Tried on the adidas and it was just not a match for my thin/normal sized back half of my foot but very flat front half. I hear they can get more comfortable as time goes on but I don’t like a long break in. I’m a normal Solecourt boost guy and they aren’t going to continue them I think, so I’ve been searching for something new. Those shoes should never be stopped! I slipped on the FF2 in this same color you have and they feel nice but I can tell I’m going to have to break them in a little bit because of that rubber material. Getting that weird click and folding on the inside of my foot next to the knuckle of my big toe. But I’ll probably stick with the FF2 even though they’re VERY hard to come by. I don’t mind paying for a top of the line shoe. Feet are too important to cheap out on haha Great video per usual!
I use Solecourts too and was disappointed when I heard they were being discontinued. However recently found out Adidas will be making them again though not sure for how long. Lo and behold Tennis warehouse will have a new colorway available around October 15
Tried the new ASICS Court FF3. I don’t see a big difference between the FF2 and FF3. Not a “plush” shoe. Despite it’s stability and quickness, they are quite firm underfoot - after my first hour in them my flat feet are sore and I feel it in my knees. I am a big guy and Zach recommends them for flat feet, larger players, doubles players, and all-court players - and I am all of those - but these shoes seem to lack cushioning and support IMO. I will stick to my Diadora for now.
Hi Zach! Thank you for this comparison! A question: Will you review in the future Head shoes? I think they make great shoes and are worth to be compared with the best. When it comes to pick up a shoe the fit to your shoe shape is key and I think Head makes a shoe shape that could be interesting for a lot of viewers.
I love the Court FF2 and have been wearing the clay version since April. The last week or so I've noticed that my plantar fasciitis (old injury) was starting to act up again on my right foot, and the last month my right knee has also been sore. Switched to the Barricade 2021-been wearing them casually for about a month and last night I played a doubles match with no pain on my foot or knee. I enjoyed both shoes and glad to have the best of both worlds these past months.
IMO barricade is very similar to ASICS gel res and they both feel like you’re standing on bricks that being super stable bricks. You add an insole to them it’s stability + comfort
I’ve been playing with the new Barricades for 2 months now and I can say they are the most uncomfortable pair of tennis shoes I’ve ever worn. The uppers are just too tight. My feet are always in pain after wearing them.
Hey Zach, my current ff's outsoles are coming to the end of their life (particularly towards the toe). I liked the shoe alot but id prefer more durable outsoles if they're possible as I play alot on acrylic hard court. How do these compare durability-wise to the gel res 8 or any other shoe you've tried?
Hi Zach! Thank you for the videos. Only have to ask something. 3:57 did you say it or did you write it on the contrary?🤭 Guess the Asics got the best durability Score but have to confirm.
I bought 2 pairs of FF2 and really really like the comfort almost in all aspects, but the arch / middle part of my feet gets some mild aches mid game. I have normal width and arch (I believe) so I’m not sure why this happens. Does anyone know why?
These don’t do so well against torsion so if you have any of that going on you probably rotate through that thin ankle collar and causes strain on the foot
Any chance you'll consider reviewing the Diadora Star Speed shoes? 🥺 Also other people might have asked about Head shoes. They're underrated even though they have a weird narrow last.
@@FootDoctorZach Great! Looking forward to the Head shoes review. Shoebacca has Diadora S.Star in stock in size 11.5 if that helps. "S.Star K Ace AG Tennis Shoes" (SKU 174446-C2433) 😀
I have played in both these shoes. I agree with everything Zach says here. For my money, the Asics FF2 is a MUCH better shoe than the new Barricade - and it's not close! That said, I prefer the Diadora Blushield 5 and the Lotto Raptor Hypercourt 100 to BOTH of them. Let's see a comparison between this two shoes. They are best Best of 2021 IMO.
Hi Doc, since the new barricade are not comparable with the ''no more - solecourt'' , wich shoes could worthily replace them in terms of heel and fascitis support ? Should I try the SoleMatch or go to another brand ? The SoleCourt work great on me, no more achilles and heel spur issue .
Of these or just in general? In general that’s a tough question because the cheaper shoes often don’t last as long and you can often get old colorways of more expensive shoes on sale of these if rather spend more and get the ff2
Re releasing the solecourt boost?? That’s awesome. I tried on some barricades and they felt pretty good but the all court soles are no good for Padel ☹️ and I have heard release dates varying for the clay sole for January 2022 and just before the clay season starts 2022.
No wonder adidas is putting heavy discount on the barricades I just got one for 40% off on MRP , I've been looking at ascis court ffs for a long time and the best u got was 15% disc..... the barricades match the ffs with the discount at full price its a nono.
The ASICS rubber is a deal breaker, I can slide easier in it, but I think the Dremel test is providing false data, because in three weeks I wore a hole in the midsole, and I have been going strong for a month and a half in the barricades and I just now wore a flat spot in the tread
Hi, good night, this is Juanjo Martínez from Spain. I follow you on RU-vid and I have a question. I am a basketball player, I am 2 meters tall and I have had ankle problems. It's not easy for me to find good shoes. Could you please tell me which ones could be good for me? I had thought about the Freak 3, but watching the video it has already become clear to me that it is not. For example, could they be the Kyrie 7, for example? Thanks for your attention
I couldn’t say for sure as I’d have to examine your ankle to determine what’s causing the pain - in general I like the harden , lebron 18 and next levels for my ankles but I couldn’t say specifically for you
Of course this video comes out the day after I finally decided on buying barricades instead of the court ff2 haha. Rethinking that decision as I also have a high arch and have run into the ankle tilt issue with other adidas in the past.
Court FF2 are on the radar once I'm done with my Gel Res 8 (which I love). Would that be comparable or is there something we should know before making the switch?
@@renanmoraes2485 if you have a wider foot GR8. I feel the FF2 has a little more padding underfoot, but more suited for a narrower foot. GR8 rides a little lower to the ground too.
Hey Zach, I just started playing tennis in May. I go play regularly (2-4 times/week) and have noticed that I get what I think is called lateral foot pain but could also be plantar fasciitis? It is pain in the middle/back-middle of my feet, but more on the outside of the feet on the big toe side. It takes my feet quite a while to warm up on the court. They always slightly burn for about 15-20 minutes until I warmed up enough and the pain/burn goes away. After the session and the day after though I get the pain while walking around the house, it's about 4/10 on the pain scale. If I roll my feet on a tennis ball for a while before playing, the pain is drastically reduced on the court. Any recommendations of what shoes to buy to relieve some of this pain? I have never been a fan of shoes of which you can feel the arch bump (which I think would be arch support?) due to them just not feeling comfy but if that is necessary then I will buy a shoe with it.
That really needs examined to make any recommendations so I’d for sure make an appt with a local doc- there’s a few things it could be , all with different treatments and recommendations
@@FootDoctorZach So just want to update for anyone with a similar issue. Just went to a foot/ankle doctor and they said I had flat feet and likely that is the reason I have pain. X-rays looked fine. I've also gone and play tested various Nike and Adidas shoes. GP Turbos, solematch bounce, ubersonic 4, nikecourt air zoom vapor pro's. All gave me bad pain and were just not playable for me. I tried the Asics solution speed ff2 and NO PAIN. They feel amazing on my feet. The second best were the GP turbos but ultimately I ended up getting pain on the side of my feet with them.
Doc zak, why when i put ASIC ff2 when walk or run i hear and bend the shoess i hear a annoying sound that drives me crazy? Do you have any solution not hearing that sound? Thanks and Keep going on with your Job!
Anyone see Dan Evans tear the uppers of his Barricades in his (I think) US Open Round 2 match? That's a fail in my book. Had the FF2.... very long, too narrow, sole edge started balding in hours, before broken in. Not for me, sadly. ymmv.
Do you have a recommendation for best shoes to wear with an Aso ankle brace? My orthopedist says he'd rather hold off on surgery for my ankle but recommended playing with ankle braces. These braces definitely don't fit in my stycons though!
I have an aso ankle brace, it may be a bit harder to get into the court for 2 because of the mono tongue design but other than that either of them were okay for me. I did also find the ankle pads on the barricade uncomfortable so I eventually settled for the Court FF Novak(Court FF 2)
@@davelee6002 the one in the size I usually wear was out of stock (9 1/2) so I went half a size up to 10 but I didn’t do it specifically because of the ankle brace. So I didn’t get to try out my regular size
I'm wondering if ASICS are behind on production due to Covid, they revamping color ways, or what?? I have 2 pairs of Court FF 2's that i'll probably have to replace next year and this has not been an easy shoe to find lately. What gives?
@@FootDoctorZach Haha I was starting to worry that they are getting rid of em for an update... But the random new color ways showing up made me think they are just falling behind due to Covid... They are tanks and I have a pair of Cage 4's in rotation as well, so I should be able to get through the summer and hope for some dope color ways next year!!!!!!
@@FootDoctorZach Yes!!!! Imma need them to mass produce the blue ones w/ the blue camo soles by time the Aussie open rolls around so I can buy 5 pairs!!! Lol
@@FootDoctorZach thanks, trying to figure out my next good pair. Ran through my ubersonic 4s pretty fast, the fabric is tearing due to my wide feet, even when I went up half a size from uk 11.5 to uk 12.
@@FootDoctorZach Really appreciate the channel though! Just discovered it and subscribed. Great video production quality and extremely helpful and informative!
@@FootDoctorZach also doc, I love my new balance 996 v4's, but always willing to try something new, my foot is on the flatter and wider side, any suggestions? ( already tried adidas solematch bounce, not durable enough but love everything else)
Not IMO- if they were both equal quality or similar then sure but, especially with durability, I’d be replacing the barricades much sooner than the courts so it’s a wash there and with comfort a lot of people would have to rerun them- so I’d say in terms of value I’d still just spend the extra $20
@@FootDoctorZach Do Barricades still come with that free replacement benefit? I pointed out the cost element because you evaluated all the other factors independent of each other, and evals usually include the cost comparison, just to be comprehensive. What you wrote in your reply to me would have even been valuable to mention.
Barricade = clunky, pinkie toe pain tho plenty of room, slow. Ff2 = dunno Vapor x = lighter, lower, airier, faster. Better. Vapor pro = lets see hope for the best.
Okay you rate them Adidas: 4/5,1/5,5/5,5/5 thats 15/20, Asics 4/5, 4/5, 2/5, 5/5 Thats also 15/20. So how did you get 12/20 and 18/20 in the video? Just me or is that a bit misleading?
HOLD THE PHONE! Did Zach just give the Barricade a 5/5 for durability on his graphic when we just panned it for 30 seconds and said in the audio 2/5? I think he mixed those scores up.
Yep no shoe is going to be 100% for every foot type- i look at the gambit of all foot types and how it will react to the majority of feet- otherwise id just be liking shoes that fit me personally and not the general public
@@sujitraoumklad1094 I have flat feet and have had success with: Nike Air Zoom GP Turbo Asics Court Speed FF (not to be confused with the Court FF2 - very different) Adidas Solematch Bounce (although the above two are a little better for my flat feet) Worth a try? Good luck!