Adidas Barricade 2021

Znak

Hall of Fame
2023-united-cup-perth-day-7.jpg

Same vibes:
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Anni.Angel

Semi-Pro
This shoe should be called BloodBath, not Barricade.

When I bought mines, I checked the TennisWarehouse review and ignored a very important line from Brittany: "The break-in period caused blisters. I can't fully get my ankles locked in."
Big mistake.
 

Fairhit

Hall of Fame
Today was the day, I managed to get 1 year of use from my Barricades, they seem OK on the outside, the outsoles are as good as new but my started to bother me yesterday and today in practice, full fledged pain.

I think I got a good run.
 

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
Omg mine have been sitting unused since they tore the skin off the top of my foot. Should I just herden up or go through this self flagellation?

Sounds about right for the Barricade. Every version seems to destroy the foot in some new way.

Mine never got the chance. Heel slippage was so bad I never even wore them to play in. Prob a good thing.
 

Mischko

Professional
On my fourth pair, 3x AC and one clay court version, the best shoe for clay I ever had. AC version is near or at the top as well. Adidas shoes of all kinds just fit my foot shape, I've tried other brands and I always come back to adidas. Not a fanboy or anything, I'm planning to get Asics Court FF3 AC to try them as well, although I'm a bit worried because they're heavy

These Barricades are just right in so many ways, not heavy but stable, and agile. I wasn't a big fan of some of the older heavy and high Barricades, I even had a ankle sprain in one - my only one, and decided then that I really need a lighter and lower to the ground shoe.

These are low but not too low to the ground, have enough cushioning, but still quick and direct. Not too much heel, but just right. I play on the toes anytway. But the main thing is the solid large shank, makes them so stable in all kinds of movements. In these 2 years I've had zero soreness in my legs, zero issues with feet or knees, or back, a huge deal for me, in my 40s. I'm a thinner, taller, more explosive in movement kind of player.

Narrow enough (medially) in the midfoot and around the heel area, I really like the padding around the Achilles' too, as if the shoe was formed on my foot mould.

The oblique lacing is perfect too, I liked it in the Vapor Pros as well, just hugs my foot prefectly. My orthotic fits just right, and there's very good medial support for it, as it typical for adidas. My only slight dislike is the somewhat pointier forefoot, I'd like it to be rounder, like older Barricades, and the first Ubersonics. They probably make it so to help with sliding on hard courts though.

I plan on buying this model for as long as adidas will keep making them, already eyeing the black/white clay version that's about to arrive, although I'm curious about the Cybersonics too
 

marslondon

New User
I noticed that too. I guess that was coming, pity, I’m an Ubersonic fan and hoped he’d stick with those, I just can’t justify how expensive the Cybersonics are.
 

mpournaras

Hall of Fame
I noticed that too. I guess that was coming, pity, I’m an Ubersonic fan and hoped he’d stick with those, I just can’t justify how expensive the Cybersonics are.
Then stick with the Ubers lol. They'll hang around for a bit longer. Stock up on a few pairs. They are always on sale
 

marslondon

New User
Appreciating this is a Barricade thread, I noticed Zverev was back in his trusty Ubersonic’s yesterday… and very nearly won. I have to say I played in my clay Barricade’s yesterday and they still hurt, I want to love them but the pain on the medial side under my ankle bone just won’t go, and they’re well broken in. It’s a pity.
 

PaddyDutch

Semi-Pro
Playing the barricades for several editions.

The current version works for me in every area, except for 1 thing that I notice more and more.

The toe box is good, shape and width are fine. What is bothering me is that the toe box is quite shallow. The upper is pushing down on my big toe. Im probably going to make the insole a bit thinner below my big toe to create some room, but it is annoying in an otherwise great shoe.
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
Does anyone have experience of the older barricade (novak pro 2015) in comparison to this newer range for sizing. I have always enjoyed the older version barricade but the pairs I had have finally worn out. The 2017 version I had ready to use are in a UK11.5 were too tight in the mid sold and my toe was at the end of the trainer. Do the 2021 version have any different fit in the toe box and size wise as I am trying to avoid buying more trainers that don't fit. I have a pair of solematch court and the are just a bit tight in the toe box length wise, it seems they are a touch shorter than the older Adidas from about 4-5years ago. Does anyone have any thoughts / advice please?
 

mtommer

Hall of Fame
Do the 2021 version have any different fit in the toe box and size wise as I am trying to avoid buying more trainers that don't fit.
My Barricade 7's (Novaks) are tighter in the toe box. Both length and width. Having worn the newer Barricades, I would size up from 10.5 to 11 on the 7's, if I were to run into a new old stock type scenario. I found the same issue with the Solematch Courts, and I even went to an 11 on those and they were still too tight.
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
My Barricade 7's (Novaks) are tighter in the toe box. Both length and width. Having worn the newer Barricades, I would size up from 10.5 to 11 on the 7's, if I were to run into a new old stock type scenario. I found the same issue with the Solematch Courts, and I even went to an 11 on those and they were still too tight.
Interesting, so you are saying the barricade 7 were tighter? I have tried a pair of UK11.5 solematch control on this afternoon that I ordered and they are about 0.5cm shorter than the UK 11.5 barricade 7 I have. I have a black and yellow pair of adidas barricade 7, would love more of this series but am now gonna take a chance on some barricade in the meantime. The solematch is very tight for me in the toe box so I am thinking of trying a UK12 in the barricade 2021?
 

mtommer

Hall of Fame
Interesting, so you are saying the barricade 7 were tighter? I have tried a pair of UK11.5 solematch control on this afternoon that I ordered and they are about 0.5cm shorter than the UK 11.5 barricade 7 I have. I have a black and yellow pair of adidas barricade 7, would love more of this series but am now gonna take a chance on some barricade in the meantime. The solematch is very tight for me in the toe box so I am thinking of trying a UK12 in the barricade 2021?
The 7's are definitely tighter. Once the 7s broke in for me they felt like a glove. The newer Barricades (not the 2023 changes) don't have a ton more room by any means, just less of that glove like fit.
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
Can anyone compare this 2021 version to the 2017 version? I found the 2017 were very tight fitting in the mid and in the toe box lower in the upper covering which caused my foot to feel too right. I did try them a few times but my foot felt cramped. This was in a UK 11.5, I am thinking of going up to a UK12 now that I have tried solematch control and gamecourt 2.0 versions in a UK11.5 and both have been tight in the toe box, length was almost workable but th upper on both seems tighter and closer fitting. The concern with going another half size up is the length goes but will the upper have more room above the foot? It's so hard to predict?
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
My barricades have finally arrived. They are the 2022 version in ecru/yellow in a UK 11.5. They look good but I have tried them on at home and they feel like they are made of cardboard, very stiff in the upper above near the big toe and tight around the right of the ankle and rear achilles.
I like the low to the floor feel and balance of them but the question is how much do they give and break in by. I have already wore them for around 20mins and can feel they have given a but, but longer term how much would you say they settle in more by and loosen up over longer term usage like say 8-10hrs +
 

J-Wildcard

Semi-Pro
The 7's are definitely tighter. Once the 7s broke in for me they felt like a glove. The newer Barricades (not the 2023 changes) don't have a ton more room by any means, just less of that glove like fit.
Yes, the 2021 barricades are fine sizing wise but wow do they feel like cardboard when walking in them. It's a strange feeling upper, how long do they take to break in as I don't think I could last more than a couple of minutes in the currently.
 

bertrevert

Legend
Yes, the 2021 barricades are fine sizing wise but wow do they feel like cardboard when walking in them. It's a strange feeling upper, how long do they take to break in as I don't think I could last more than a couple of minutes in the currently.
Upper takes forever afaik, mine are still not worn-in basically becasuse they tear the skin so much so I had put them aside for months while I wore out other shoes... will eventually get there but it takes time!
 
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