Adidas Stycon Laceless Tennis Shoe

S

SlvrDragon50

Semi-Pro
Sardines said:
Oh ok that's looks thick! I know a few guys who wear braces like that. I can't tell you how stable the Stycon will be if you're wearing that, because you may lift your foot a little higher in the EVA rim cradle. It's really lowdown, and the cradle gives it that extra stability. You may also want to get 0.5 and 1 size up as well and return the ones that don't fit. It's a snug fit.
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Yea, definitely on the thicker end, but I like it way more than the stirrup style. Way more stable, and this is a lot faster to put on. I might just grab a pair of the Babolat SFX3 since I know those fit pretty well, and they're only $55 right now. Pretty insane deal. If Adidas is having as much trouble selling the Stycon as it seems then the price should drop further. I'm honestly pretty disappointed with how fast the sole is wearing out on my SCB.
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
SlvrDragon50 said:
Yea, definitely on the thicker end, but I like it way more than the stirrup style. Way more stable, and this is a lot faster to put on. I might just grab a pair of the Babolat SFX3 since I know those fit pretty well, and they're only $55 right now. Pretty insane deal. If Adidas is having as much trouble selling the Stycon as it seems then the price should drop further. I'm honestly pretty disappointed with how fast the sole is wearing out on my SCB.
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The Stycon wears about the same as the SCB, same noisy rubber! I personally have slightly better footwork because it feels less bulky than the SCB, and I notice the wear pattern is slightly different, where I wear the forefoot more evenly. With the SCB, I was hitting the outside of the shoe more. I doubt any other shoe rubber will be significantly better.
I think it came as COVID came. The buzz wasn't the greatest, and more unfortunately, it seems the pros wearing something matters to most. If you read the most of the reviews here, it's a lot of 2nd hand info relayed and much of that is 'feeling' of dislike or negativity, vs actual flaws of the shoe. I suppose mentally it matters, just as it does for the pros, who can have shoes pretty much custom made for them to a point. But the negativity around this shoe by people who haven't tried it on a court extensively, is frankly astounding. I'm rotating 2 pairs of Stycon right now and stocked up on another 3, the original one is near worn out. 2.5 mths is pretty good.
 
Subway Tennis

Subway Tennis

Legend
Sardines said:
The Stycon wears about the same as the SCB, same noisy rubber! I personally have slightly better footwork because it feels less bulky than the SCB, and I notice the wear pattern is slightly different, where I wear the forefoot more evenly. With the SCB, I was hitting the outside of the shoe more. I doubt any other shoe rubber will be significantly better.
I think it came as COVID came. The buzz wasn't the greatest, and more unfortunately, it seems the pros wearing something matters to most. If you read the most of the reviews here, it's a lot of 2nd hand info relayed and much of that is 'feeling' of dislike or negativity, vs actual flaws of the shoe. I suppose mentally it matters, just as it does for the pros, who can have shoes pretty much custom made for them to a point. But the negativity around this shoe by people who haven't tried it on a court extensively, is frankly astounding. I'm rotating 2 pairs of Stycon right now and stocked up on another 3, the original one is near worn out. 2.5 mths is pretty good.
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It could end up being the ideal situation for you, where you get the chance to really stock up on 10-15 pairs if the shoes go on further markdown.

Have you tried the BOA version?
 
haqq777

haqq777

Legend
SlvrDragon50 said:
Yea, definitely on the thicker end, but I like it way more than the stirrup style. Way more stable, and this is a lot faster to put on. I might just grab a pair of the Babolat SFX3 since I know those fit pretty well, and they're only $55 right now. Pretty insane deal. If Adidas is having as much trouble selling the Stycon as it seems then the price should drop further. I'm honestly pretty disappointed with how fast the sole is wearing out on my SCB.
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Hi Slvr, I would recommend the SFX3 over the Stycon as far as fit with braces is concerned so you made the right move pulling trigger on SFX3. I am not a fan of the Stycon anyway and I have a pair of the regular original colorway, and the BOA version that came recently as well. You will have issue with the fit with braces with either version. And if you have feet on wider side, I wouldn't recommend Stycon in the first place.

As for the SFX3, I playtested those for TW and have also ended up buying a couple more pairs over the years. The price is great right now and while they aren't going to be more durable, they will have a better fit with your brace than Stycon. My feet like the fit too. Very comfortable shoe, no issues in any particular department except for maybe durability on outdoor courts.

For the sole durability on SCB, it is going to wear the same for Stycon. If you aren't satisfied with SCB sole durability, the Stycon isn't going to last any longer, honestly. I would be far more concerned with the fit and feel of Stycon if you are comfortable with SCB. Opposite end of spectrum, really.

Sardines said:
I think it came as COVID came. The buzz wasn't the greatest, and more unfortunately, it seems the pros wearing something matters to most. If you read the most of the reviews here, it's a lot of 2nd hand info relayed and much of that is 'feeling' of dislike or negativity, vs actual flaws of the shoe. I suppose mentally it matters, just as it does for the pros, who can have shoes pretty much custom made for them to a point. But the negativity around this shoe by people who haven't tried it on a court extensively, is frankly astounding. I'm rotating 2 pairs of Stycon right now and stocked up on another 3, the original one is near worn out. 2.5 mths is pretty good.
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Mostly agree about sole wearing out versus the SCB, but I am not sure about rest of the reasoning you gave for dislike around the Stycon.

Most of the Stycon criticism is fairly warranted and you will find the majority of reviews in this thread come from posters who have first hand experience with the shoe, including myself. It isn't second hand relayed info if posters tell you they have the shoe and they didn't like it, for whatever xyz reason. Before the lockdown I played pretty regularly with college players and have Stycon a good run as best as I could. Then you have the TW review as well which wasn't exactly spectacular where I think 3 of them gave a thumbs down.

Fact is the shoe comes with issues, specifically the touted stability giving way to bulkiness and lack of maneuverability and lack of comfort etc due to the fit. How does one expect someone to wear the shoe extensively if it is a bad fit to begin with? That is a design flaw and needs a tweak. If one out of 10 people aren't liking the constricting fit and feel, the shoe will obviously end up on sale, fast which happened in this case here. And also, small note: Stycon was released well before the Covid-19 situation. It was launched in early Jan and went on sale shortly after whereas atleast in the US, we didn't start worrying about lockdowns till mid March. Same time ATP Tour suspended. Stycon was on sale in Feb.

Now the BOA version is a recent release, sure. But given how unpopular regular Stycon was, I don't foresee BOA selling too well either regardless.
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
Subway Tennis said:
Have you tried the BOA version?
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Yes, I bought a pair. It does what it's been advertised to do. The removal of the bands and replaced with the BOA system, which makes it able to fit more people I suppose. For me personally, it's paying $30 for more work wearing the shoe, when the v1.0 is wear and forget. The colorway is nice but not $30 nice where I'd buy another one. haha
 
Faris

Faris

Professional
haqq777 said:
Hi Slvr, I would recommend the SFX3 over the Stycon as far as fit with braces is concerned so you made the right move pulling trigger on SFX3. I am not a fan of the Stycon anyway and I have a pair of the regular original colorway, and the BOA version that came recently as well. You will have issue with the fit with braces with either version. And if you have feet on wider side, I wouldn't recommend Stycon in the first place.

As for the SFX3, I playtested those for TW and have also ended up buying a couple more pairs over the years. The price is great right now and while they aren't going to be more durable, they will have a better fit with your brace than Stycon. My feet like the fit too. Very comfortable shoe, no issues in any particular department except for maybe durability on outdoor courts.

For the sole durability on SCB, it is going to wear the same for Stycon. If you aren't satisfied with SCB sole durability, the Stycon isn't going to last any longer, honestly. I would be far more concerned with the fit and feel of Stycon if you are comfortable with SCB. Opposite end of spectrum, really.


Mostly agree about sole wearing out versus the SCB, but I am not sure about rest of the reasoning you gave for dislike around the Stycon.

Most of the Stycon criticism is fairly warranted and you will find the majority of reviews in this thread come from posters who have first hand experience with the shoe, including myself. It isn't second hand relayed info if posters tell you they have the shoe and they didn't like it, for whatever xyz reason. Before the lockdown I played pretty regularly with college players and have Stycon a good run as best as I could. Then you have the TW review as well which wasn't exactly spectacular where I think 3 of them gave a thumbs down.

Fact is the shoe comes with issues, specifically the touted stability giving way to bulkiness and lack of maneuverability and lack of comfort etc due to the fit. How does one expect someone to wear the shoe extensively if it is a bad fit to begin with? That is a design flaw and needs a tweak. If one out of 10 people aren't liking the constricting fit and feel, the shoe will obviously end up on sale, fast which happened in this case here. And also, small note: Stycon was released well before the Covid-19 situation. It was launched in early Jan and went on sale shortly after whereas atleast in the US, we didn't start worrying about lockdowns till mid March. Same time ATP Tour suspended. Stycon was on sale in Feb.

Now the BOA version is a recent release, sure. But given how unpopular regular Stycon was, I don't foresee BOA selling too well either regardless.
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Good post. I know you bougt the BOA version as well. How do you like those?
 
haqq777

haqq777

Legend
Faris said:
Good post. I know you bougt the BOA version as well. How do you like those?
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Like the colorway. Fit is better for me, but not by much. Holds the foot in place like it is supposed to. One of the drawbacks of taking the collar elastic off for the BOA version Stycon is that you can feel that collar area flap a bit once you tighten up leaving a gap. Something one needs to get used to. Overall, depends on whether you are willing to shell out a bit more coin for a fit that isn't too different than non BOA version.

I feel plenty of shoes around that are better suited for me. I'm keeping both of mine, BOA and original version, just because I think it is a novel idea by Adidas (in tennis realm anyway). And honestly, I think it could be something good, once they listen to comsumer feedback and tweak it a bit.
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
haqq777 said:
Most of the Stycon criticism is fairly warranted and you will find the majority of reviews in this thread come from posters who have first hand experience with the shoe, including myself. It isn't second hand relayed info if posters tell you they have the shoe and they didn't like it, for whatever xyz reason. Before the lockdown I played pretty regularly with college players and have Stycon a good run as best as I could. Then you have the TW review as well which wasn't exactly spectacular where I think 3 of them gave a thumbs down.

Fact is the shoe comes with issues, specifically the touted stability giving way to bulkiness and lack of maneuverability and lack of comfort etc due to the fit. How does one expect someone to wear the shoe extensively if it is a bad fit to begin with? That is a design flaw and needs a tweak. If one out of 10 people aren't liking the constricting fit and feel, the shoe will obviously end up on sale, fast which happened in this case here. And also, small note: Stycon was released well before the Covid-19 situation. It was launched in early Jan and went on sale shortly after whereas atleast in the US, we didn't start worrying about lockdowns till mid March. Same time ATP Tour suspended. Stycon was on sale in Feb.
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My post wasn't directed at your post in particular, or anyone else's. I'm sorry you feel it was. I wasn't going to engage in opinion discussion because it never goes anywhere. Still, just because a shoe doesn't fit a certain foot type/types doesn't mean it has a 'design flaw.' Perhaps it's semantics and I'm being a pedant about such language on a product like a shoe. Perhaps I don't see my opinion should be a world view standard, but while I don't like quite a few shoes in the market, I wouldn't call those shoes 'design flaws,' but that the design didn't fit my foot type or needs. It can be considered a 'design limitation.' It's not even flawed if it only fits 25% of the tennis population, because it is designed that way. 'Design flaws,' to me, are if they claim the Stycon is a very well ventilated shoe that'll keep you super cool (when it's a warm shoe), or that it fits 4E size when it's obviously D/MR and maybe slim 2E if your foot shape fits. You can say the Adidas product research team research was heavily flawed for assuming their dimensions fit a large majority of the tennis population, or the marketing people for not making sure their stars were comfortable with the shoes before rolling them out.
That leads to your point about popularity. I'd accidentally clicked the customer reviews of the Stycon while checking out the BOA. The majority were positive. If you read all the customer reviews on TW, over 60% are positive reviews. It is quite different from this thread which I understand is typical of forums, where opinions are meant to be given. I remember at least 2 posters writing for 3rd person experiences about the feel of the shoe and how the wearer didn't like the feel. Again, feelings about the shoe are opinions. Just like my opinion that pro endorsements shouldn't matter in choosing any equipment. The physics of the design are that the high cradle that gives the outstanding stability also adds bulk. My opinion is that it feels less bulky than the SCB because the weight is mostly around the soles, and my footwork is forefoot oriented so I find it more responsive and maneuverable. That design, along with the lockdown bands, create a fit that is limited to certain preferences/needs, and obviously foot types, and also a newish sensation in tennis footwear, which needs adjusting to.
 
S

SlvrDragon50

Semi-Pro
haqq777 said:
Hi Slvr, I would recommend the SFX3 over the Stycon as far as fit with braces is concerned so you made the right move pulling trigger on SFX3. I am not a fan of the Stycon anyway and I have a pair of the regular original colorway, and the BOA version that came recently as well. You will have issue with the fit with braces with either version. And if you have feet on wider side, I wouldn't recommend Stycon in the first place.

As for the SFX3, I playtested those for TW and have also ended up buying a couple more pairs over the years. The price is great right now and while they aren't going to be more durable, they will have a better fit with your brace than Stycon. My feet like the fit too. Very comfortable shoe, no issues in any particular department except for maybe durability on outdoor courts.

For the sole durability on SCB, it is going to wear the same for Stycon. If you aren't satisfied with SCB sole durability, the Stycon isn't going to last any longer, honestly. I would be far more concerned with the fit and feel of Stycon if you are comfortable with SCB. Opposite end of spectrum, really.


Mostly agree about sole wearing out versus the SCB, but I am not sure about rest of the reasoning you gave for dislike around the Stycon.

Most of the Stycon criticism is fairly warranted and you will find the majority of reviews in this thread come from posters who have first hand experience with the shoe, including myself. It isn't second hand relayed info if posters tell you they have the shoe and they didn't like it, for whatever xyz reason. Before the lockdown I played pretty regularly with college players and have Stycon a good run as best as I could. Then you have the TW review as well which wasn't exactly spectacular where I think 3 of them gave a thumbs down.

Fact is the shoe comes with issues, specifically the touted stability giving way to bulkiness and lack of maneuverability and lack of comfort etc due to the fit. How does one expect someone to wear the shoe extensively if it is a bad fit to begin with? That is a design flaw and needs a tweak. If one out of 10 people aren't liking the constricting fit and feel, the shoe will obviously end up on sale, fast which happened in this case here. And also, small note: Stycon was released well before the Covid-19 situation. It was launched in early Jan and went on sale shortly after whereas atleast in the US, we didn't start worrying about lockdowns till mid March. Same time ATP Tour suspended. Stycon was on sale in Feb.

Now the BOA version is a recent release, sure. But given how unpopular regular Stycon was, I don't foresee BOA selling too well either regardless.
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Yea I had actually bought an SFX3 the same time as the SCB and went with the SCB because it felt more stable. Little did I know that I would need an ankle brace to play tennis no matter what [emoji23] the drop in durability is okay with me since it's soooo much cheaper.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
 
haqq777

haqq777

Legend
Sardines said:
My post wasn't directed at your post in particular, or anyone else's. I'm sorry you feel it was. I wasn't going to engage in opinion discussion because it never goes anywhere. Still, just because a shoe doesn't fit a certain foot type/types doesn't mean it has a 'design flaw.' Perhaps it's semantics and I'm being a pedant about such language on a product like a shoe. Perhaps I don't see my opinion should be a world view standard, but while I don't like quite a few shoes in the market, I wouldn't call those shoes 'design flaws,' but that the design didn't fit my foot type or needs. It can be considered a 'design limitation.' It's not even flawed if it only fits 25% of the tennis population, because it is designed that way. 'Design flaws,' to me, are if they claim the Stycon is a very well ventilated shoe that'll keep you super cool (when it's a warm shoe), or that it fits 4E size when it's obviously D/MR and maybe slim 2E if your foot shape fits. You can say the Adidas product research team research was heavily flawed for assuming their dimensions fit a large majority of the tennis population, or the marketing people for not making sure their stars were comfortable with the shoes before rolling them out.
That leads to your point about popularity. I'd accidentally clicked the customer reviews of the Stycon while checking out the BOA. The majority were positive. If you read all the customer reviews on TW, over 60% are positive reviews. It is quite different from this thread which I understand is typical of forums, where opinions are meant to be given. I remember at least 2 posters writing for 3rd person experiences about the feel of the shoe and how the wearer didn't like the feel. Again, feelings about the shoe are opinions. Just like my opinion that pro endorsements shouldn't matter in choosing any equipment. The physics of the design are that the high cradle that gives the outstanding stability also adds bulk. My opinion is that it feels less bulky than the SCB because the weight is mostly around the soles, and my footwork is forefoot oriented so I find it more responsive and maneuverable. That design, along with the lockdown bands, create a fit that is limited to certain preferences/needs, and obviously foot types, and also a newish sensation in tennis footwear, which needs adjusting to.
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I wasn't implying your post was aimed at me at all. In fact, I appreciate your dissenting take on the matter. Gives a better overview, in all honesty. What I was simply saying is that most people with negative feedback in this thread have owned the Stycon so it is rather disingenuous to discredit their opinion in a manner that you did. I just went back and double checked too. Not only that, I have also discussed and exchanged thoughts with them via PM in the past so as to not bombard this thread, hence my post.

And sure, I see your point and we can be pedantic and call it a design limitation instead. But from a sales and marketing perspective, limitation and flaw are usually analogous terms. What would you call a shoe that doesn't sell well? Whether aesthetics or actual fit, if the shoe isn't selling well it isn't successful, period. End goal of companies is always being profitable and selling a lot of the product. A limitation isn't any better, in that regard.

Like you, I also believe what pros wear and use shouldn't matter and consumers should choose what works for them. But regardless, fact is pros endorsements goes a long way for the product's image. And with Tsitsipas ditching this even before it was officially released, image definitely took a hit. The shoe was on sale a month after it was introduced. I have talked with several outlet owners and people in the business who also verified that it was a dud in sales. So now, coming back, if the shoe isn't catering to a majority of consumers fit wise, and/or doesn't appeal aesthetically, no pros are endorsing it (leading people to speculate about design issues), and sales are in a downward spiral, you can't exactly call that shoe a design success either.

But hey, I understand that you are a fan. And if they fit you well, and you like them, I say go for it and stock up since they are on such great prices. Again, my post wasn't meant to take anything away from your feedback but just an exchange of thought on the product.
 
haqq777

haqq777

Legend
SlvrDragon50 said:
Yea I had actually bought an SFX3 the same time as the SCB and went with the SCB because it felt more stable. Little did I know that I would need an ankle brace to play tennis no matter what [emoji23] the drop in durability is okay with me since it's soooo much cheaper.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
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If I remember correctly, we did talk about SCB and lateral stability a few months back, if I'm not mistaken back when I twisted my ankle :) - yes, definitely makes sense to grab a few pairs then of the SFX3 since they fit you well. I'm guessing you like wider fit. I have a pair of SCB and SFX3 in white currently too I'm rotating. Well, was rotating anyway till we went in lockdown. Good luck!
 
S

SlvrDragon50

Semi-Pro
haqq777 said:
If I remember correctly, we did talk about SCB and lateral stability a few months back, if I'm not mistaken back when I twisted my ankle :) - yes, definitely makes sense to grab a few pairs then of the SFX3 since they fit you well. I'm guessing you like wider fit. I have a pair of SCB and SFX3 in white currently too I'm rotating. Well, was rotating anyway till we went in lockdown. Good luck!
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Yes, I unfortunately am cursed with EE/EEE width feel :( Buying snowboarding boots is an absolute pain as well since there's so few options available for wide feet. But snowboarding is what got me to really like BOA, and I would loveeeee to see Adidas put BOA on their other shoes (or other manufacturers too!). I am starting to see BOA pop up on all different shoes as well. Merrell has some on their trail running shoes, Adidas put BOA on their golf shoes (why? I have no idea.).
 
haqq777

haqq777

Legend
SlvrDragon50 said:
Yes, I unfortunately am cursed with EE/EEE width feel :( Buying snowboarding boots is an absolute pain as well since there's so few options available for wide feet. But snowboarding is what got me to really like BOA, and I would loveeeee to see Adidas put BOA on their other shoes (or other manufacturers too!). I am starting to see BOA pop up on all different shoes as well. Merrell has some on their trail running shoes, Adidas put BOA on their golf shoes (why? I have no idea.).
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Sidenote: I'm an avid snowboarder. Highly recommend the DC Judge BOA 2019. I got them as soon as they came out so rather expensive, but they are much cheaper now. Great fit for wider feet. They are on the stiff side so excellent heel hold so you can rip hard and fast, and for little bit of boosting and bonking here and there. No issues in grabs, and carving is a dream. Overall an excellent snowboarding shoe. Oh and best of all, since I spend hours at a time boarding, the ventilation system is awesome keeping things flowing.
 
S

SlvrDragon50

Semi-Pro
haqq777 said:
Sidenote: I'm an avid snowboarder. Highly recommend the DC Judge BOA 2019. I got them as soon as they came out so rather expensive, but they are much cheaper now. Great fit for wider feet. They are on the stiff side so excellent heel hold so you can rip hard and fast, and for little bit of boosting and bonking here and there. No issues in grabs, and carving is a dream. Overall an excellent snowboarding shoe. Oh and best of all, since I spend hours at a time boarding, the ventilation system is awesome keeping things flowing.
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Oooh that's awesome. Just to kinda exemplify how weak my ankle is... I have managed to sprain my ankle multiple times while wearing my snowboard boots. Granted they were on the softer end but still. I've finally found my boot, the Burton Photon Wide. Super comfy from day 1!

Okay back to tennis :p
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
A friend just got on the Stycon bandwagon and used a 4 way shoe stretch to break in the shoe. Left it in for 20hrs and now his Stycon (non BOA) is comfortable and stable. What a great idea!
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
Haha white shoes on classic clay? Not for me! But on grass or a plexicushion blue cour, I like it! I do like it and will get it once I get through my stash of shoes!

AM75 said:
Would look amazing on clay!
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I like my toe nails to be natural colored! The worst part is the majority people I talk to who have used a barricade, there is toe jamming. I can't imagine why anyone would pay good money for that! LOL

Tennis sprew said:
Sad to see. Just bring back the barricade and adidas will be great again. Make Adidas Great Again!
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Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
A few people have PMed me regarding the Stycon vs Stycon Boa fit. Thought I'd reply here. As mentioned before, the Stycon and Stycon Boa are the same shoe, but the Boa system replaces the band system in the Stycon. The fit of the Stycon is D medium and lengthwise it's the same as a SoleCourt Boost internally.
For me, the most important fit issue of both Stycons is how the shape of your toes fit the forefoot of toebox of the shoe. For the Stycon (non-boa), there is also how much the arches and midfoot fit under the band, because that is what keeps your foot in place. Personally I think if you have normal to high arches, it does a better job of keeping your foot in place. I can imagine someone with a narrow foot with low arches, the bands won't be as secure, and it would almost slide under the bands. Obviously the Boa doesn't have that issue, but the BOA bands still clamp down almost uniformly. I would've preferred the front band bind a little lower myself, but as long as the foot doesn't move too much, it's fine.
Sizing comes down to how the shape of your toes fit the toebox shape, which tapers a bit. In comparison to other Adidas shoes, it's the most tapered and least voluminous in the toebox, compared to the SoleCourt Boost and Adidas Ubersonic 3, The toe box is also a few mm shallower/shorter in height too. Compared to Nike, the toe box is as tapered as the Zoom Zero, and not the VaporX or Cage 4. The toebox area is also higher in height in the Nikes. The Stycon is slightly wider widthwise to the Zoom Zero and Cage 4, and about the same as the Vapor X.
As for length I've tried both my normal and ½ size up. Going ½ up means the shoe is also a bit wider and more voluminous, so it may work with other foot types that need more volume. Personally I like my normal size as the bands hold my feet down better. My pedorthist says my D width feet are lean, considering my 9% body fat. So the Stycon just fits my foot right and secure. There will be some loosening as you use the shoe so I progressed to a thicker sock as there was more give in the elastics. The Boa is probably the better choice for ½ up who need for volume for their feet. I prefer the give of the elastic band than the restraint of the thin Boa, but I did not feel the Boa laces cutting into my feer. Hope this helps.
 
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Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
Oh hello!
rs.php

adidas Stycon Pink/Black Men's Shoe - Tennis Warehouse Europe

www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com
 
Return_Ace

Return_Ace

Hall of Fame
Sardines said:
Oh hello!
rs.php

adidas Stycon Pink/Black Men's Shoe - Tennis Warehouse Europe

www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com www.tenniswarehouse-europe.com
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I bought a pair in the Black Friday sale, more with the intention of using them as a daily shoe, as opposed to for Tennis.

However I do think that they're actually pretty comfortable although very hugging, and I'm considering picking up another pair or two to use as my training shoe.

Definitely a better fit for me than the Vapor Cage 4 which I was hoping to move to (too narrow in the fore foot and didn't like the curve at the back of the shoe).

This feels similar to my 2018 Barricade Boost with a more "hug" and without the stupid piece of plastic on the side of my foot, also doesn't have the toe jam issue i was getting with the Boost, so it's currently kind of win-win.
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
Return_Ace said:
I bought a pair in the Black Friday sale, more with the intention of using them as a daily shoe, as opposed to for Tennis.

However I do think that they're actually pretty comfortable although very hugging, and I'm considering picking up another pair or two to use as my training shoe.

Definitely a better fit for me than the Vapor Cage 4 which I was hoping to move to (too narrow in the fore foot and didn't like the curve at the back of the shoe).

This feels similar to my 2018 Barricade Boost with a more "hug" and without the stupid piece of plastic on the side of my foot, also doesn't have the toe jam issue i was getting with the Boost, so it's currently kind of win-win.
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Haha well hate to be the one to tell you all that plastic piece on the side is now TPU cradle on the inside. I also have just bought the Tokyo Pink version but haven't had a chance to try it. It doesn't seem to be wider than the normal Stycon, so the website could be wrong about the Tokyo version being wide fit. If it does fit as per normal Stycon, I'll stock up too. I suspect the Stycon will disappear soon.
 
dje31

dje31

Professional
Merry Christmas Eve Eve, all. I finally pulled the trigger with holiday closeout pricing in effect. Just received my Stycons (non-Boa) this afternoon. No court time, just try-on and walk around the house a bit.

First impression: first attempt to put on reminded me of putting on my old ski boots. Even with the pictorial how-to and the provided shoe horn, was a bit of a wrestling match.

Once on, they feel pretty snug and secure. Again, nothing beyond a stroll in the house at leisurely walking pace. But feel like they could be pretty stable, even without laces.

No issues removing. Will follow-up. This concept has worked well and been adopted by NBA pros. Seems like they're abandoning ship. Less $ to be made in tennis than in round-ball.
 
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socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
The Stycon is like a convertible car - people buy a laceless shoe or convertible only once because it sounds cool in theory, but is not very practical. A laceless shoe that is too stiff and has a long break-in period with little comfort is not going to be liked by too many players.
 
Sardines

Sardines

Hall of Fame
I'll always have a convertible in my garage! haha. Well the Stycon was always going to fade away because the commitment to laceless means having 2-3 shoes for the range of feet shapes. A 1 size fits all laceless is just impossible. Too voluminous a foot and the shoe will feel too tight! Too wide, and the toe shape will scrunch the toes. Too narrow and the bands don't help as well. It's not a perfect shoe but it is still the top 3 stable shoes I've worn, and the rubber is very tough, so it's a great "everything except match" day shoes. The clay version keeps dirt out too. I stocked up for the next 2 years, thanks to the drop in prices last year and this year. The Stycon will forever be the shoe that came during the COV19 pandemic.
socallefty said:
The Stycon is like a convertible car - people buy a laceless shoe or convertible only once because it sounds cool in theory, but is not very practical. A laceless shoe that is too stiff and has a long break-in period with little comfort is not going to be liked by too many players.
Click to expand...
 
I

Idrayer

New User
Just picked up 8 pairs from Shoebacca of all places after a Houston based tennis specialty shop neglected to tell me my preordered pairs would not be delivered until I called them a month after the expected delivery (4 months after I put in my order). Hopefully that'll keep me for about 2 years until I can find something else that gives me anywhere near as much ankle support.
 
N

nyta2

Hall of Fame
was looking for clay court kicks (baricade uppers were getting holes).... usually get asics or barricades (or successor), but seemed to be sold out everywhere...
ended up buying 2 pairs of these on the bay, at a discount... guess i'll see if they are any good.

[edit]
i can see why these sneakers got mixed reviews...
personally i love them, but i needed to break them in with a shoe expander overnight (my right foot is historically slightly wider than my left)
they are very snug, like i laced my normal sneaks very tight, and they are a pain to get in (i have a long "old man" shoehorn), but once they are on, they feel very sure footed. i love that they are "hi tops", since i play on clay which tends to get inside my normal low tops. i'm tempted to pick up a hc version (but initial reviews say the sole wears out quickly)...

at a discount i love them, but if i had to choose between laced and laceless, at full price... i'll go laced for the adjustability and ease of putting on.
 
Last edited:
dje31

dje31

Professional
Thread update, only 10 months later.

Have ~10 hours of hitting sessions using the clay version of the Stycon, on public hard courts. Durability seems pretty good, considering the "wrong" sole / surface.

I've gotten past the foot claustrophobic feeling, like ski boots that don't fit right.

If your house is on fire, these aren't the shoes to try to slip on in a flash.

Getting the fit right--ensuring that straps that hold the foot in place are seated properly--on the first try isn't consistent, even broken in...which is probably a major issue with sales and adoption, hence them now out of production. I often pull them off or partially off to get them fitting how they're supposed to.

I have a C width, fairly high arch and instep. The straps that go over the instep can be painful if not pulled taut. While hitting, I'll sometimes pull up the the tongue part of the inner boot, which typically fixes it. Considering very little arch support, that hasn't been an issue. Don't use orthotics, personally.

Anyway, once everything's in place and feeling right, they're quite nice on court. Fairly low riding feel...never notice or suspect that they're laceless.

No flopping around inside. Thought it would be disconcerting, confusing, as it doesn't seem like it should work, but does. No worries about stability.

Don't feel overly heavy as some have mentioned, and the scales indicate, but certainly not flyweights.

Perhaps an unintended alternative application that I discovered: with a fairly wide sole for that stability, they're actually quite good for walking in the woods with my dogs. Surprisingly good traction, even in snow on uneven, primitive trails. Maybe adidas needs to prototype a trail version? Size 11.5 men's, please.
 
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