As with many seasoned tennis players, our playtesters have worn their fair share of Barricades over the years, from junior tennis to college tennis to team tennis and beyond, making them the perfect foursome to put the 2024 Barricade 13 to the test. Our team was split down the middle when it came to the shoe's break-in period. Tiffani began, "In the past, the Barricades had a reputation for being stable and durable, but they also needed a lot of break-in time. That went away for me with the previous model, for the most part, and I'm happy to say the Barricade 13 also felt good out of the box. The shoes flexed well, and I could play in them without needing to wear them around casually before hitting the court. I enjoyed the cushioning in the heel and liked the built-up heel collar as well. The pods did pull at my socks if I was wearing no-shows without a heel tab, but that was an easy fix. The uppers also breathed better than the previous model. The one issue I had in the comfort department was some toe jamming, which went on for about six hours before it began to wane."

Having worn the 2021 Barricades, Zsofi didn't notice many cosmetic differences, but she was impressed with this update once she laced them up. She said, "It felt like adidas made some great improvements to the new version. First, there was absolutely no break-in time needed for me. I put them on and played a full match right away without any issues. With the last version, I did struggle for a good amount of time trying to break the shoes in. I also remember some blisters. Luckily, all that went away with the Barricade 13s. I also thought this update had much better comfort levels overall. The heel area is much more padded, which is a huge plus, and the tongue area is as well."

However, two of our testers did battle the break-in period. As with some past generations of the Barricades, Brittany experienced a pretty significant break-in period. She said, "We playtested these Barricade 13s for four weeks or so, and I found the longer the playtest wore on, the better they felt. By week four, they were the most comfortable, both underfoot and in the uppers. One thing I noticed from the very start was that I needed to wear higher socks, because I experienced some intense rubbing on my ankles. This lasted through the entire playtest. On the cushioning side, I felt there was good, responsive cushioning underfoot, as well as some cushioned gel pods around the heel (I will expand on that more in the next section). As far as fit, the Barricade 13s were pretty standard for me. I stayed in my true size 8 and had no issues with length, width or arch support."

Michelle also endured a lengthy break-in period. She said, "When I put these shoes on for the first time, I found them much more comfortable underfoot than previous versions, and I was stoked to get them on the court. However, that’s when some of my comfort issues began. After 30 minutes, the inside of my ankle rubbed raw and started blistering. That itself is not a huge deal since this happens once a quarter for me with new shoes. The socks I was wearing seemed to be slipping down into the shoes. I buckled up for the break-in and spent the week trying different sock options. Once week two rolled around, I began only wearing crew socks and was in the clear after about 10 hours of wear. Aside from that, the shoes fit my feet well. A tiny bit of toe jamming did manifest, but once I got my thicker crew socks on, we were all good. The underfoot cushioning was impressive, aside from the break-in woes, and the breathability was great."

Although our team was split when it came to the break-in, our four testers were all thrilled with the support and stability they found in the Barricade 13s. Zsofi immediately found a snug fit in these shoes. She said, "I felt super locked in on all my moves, no matter how aggressive. I really enjoyed how connected to the ground I felt, and the design of the shoes helped propel me forward."

Tiffani felt confident moving laterally in the Barricade 13s and didn't have any trouble with ankle stability. She said, "As I mentioned in the comfort section, there were some instances of toe jamming, but I still think the shoes were supportive. I didn't feel like my feet were sliding off the sides of the shoes, which is when I would consider support to be lacking."

"I expect stability and support from Barricade shoes, and that is what I found in the Barricade 13s,” added Michelle. "I would say the stability was a definite strength. The new upper seems light and comfortable, but still supportive. I didn't have any problems or concerns here, which was great. I did have a bit of toe jamming, but that seemed to subside once I started wearing thicker socks and really broke the shoes in."

As a player who needs extra stability, Brittany found the stability to be a highlight of the Barricade 13 shoes. She explained, "I found plenty of stability for my ankles and felt confident with my movements. The shoes kept my feet from feeling like they were tipping over or not secure. I do have mixed feelings on the gel pods in the heel, though. While I enjoyed their comfort, they pushed my feet forward in the shoes, and I wasn't able to get a nice locked-in feel. Throughout the playtest, I experienced some toe jamming when I made any abrupt stops because my feet were sliding forward in the shoes. This happened a few times during the playtest."

Another feature our entire team agreed on was the amazing durability the Barricade 13s offered. Michelle described, "Similar to support and stability, I think durability goes hand in hand with the Barricade. I wore these shoes several times a week for a couple hours each session over a solid four weeks, and I'm not seeing much wear at all on them."

The durability was a highlight of the playtest for Brittany. She said, "Not only are the soles durable, but also the toes and uppers. After 20 hours of wear, I can confidently say I see virtually no wear on the outsoles and have plenty of hours left. The toe bumpers are the same; I have no wear on either shoe."

Zsofi also barely saw any wear on her Barricade 13s. She said, "As someone who can be hard on shoes, I was very impressed. I have put many hours on these shoes, and I couldn’t really find any wear at all."

"True to reputation, this iteration of the Barricade was durable for me," added Tiffani. "I'm seeing very little wear on my shoes, and I've worn them for more than 20 hours on the court. I have the slightest bit of smoothing at the tips of my toes, but you have to look pretty hard."

Our team may spend too much time together; they almost repeated each other verbatim when discussing the traction of the Barricade 13, which suggests that the traction should work flawlessly for a wide range of players. Zsofi explained, "Traction was another area that I never really had to think too much about. For me, that means I had the perfect amount of grip and give when moving into and out of my shots."

"The Barricades do a good job of creating a balance of give and grip," added Brittany. "I didn't have to think too much about the traction, and the shoes reacted how I expected. I liked having the ability to push off with the perfect amount of grip, but without feeling stuck. There was just the right amount of give without feeling too slippery."

Tiffani echoed, "I didn't think too much about my footwork with the Barricade 13s on my feet, which is a good sign. I noticed a little bit of squeaking during my small adjustment steps on the hard court, but it wasn't a major distraction. My movements felt smooth and natural in these shoes."

Michelle rounded out the feedback, adding, "The traction of these shoes was something I never thought or worried about, which is always a positive! The grip was just right for me, and because they are so durable, the outsole never wore down enough to feel slippery. I didn't think they felt too tacky either. It was the right amount of traction for someone like me who doesn’t like to slide into shots on any court."

Having played in previous versions of the Barricade, our team was happy to find that the Barricade 13s felt a bit quicker and less bulky than previous models. Tiffani said, "The Barricade 13s feel light in comparison to the Barricade IV and V models that I remember. They feel much closer to the previous model. They're still not lightweight, but they do feel much quicker. Their weight feels appropriate for their stability and durability. Zero complaints from me when it comes to weight."

For Michelle, this update felt like a step in the right direction as far as weight is concerned. She explained, "The Barricades have never been known for being light. In fact, I would say they have been some of the bulkier tennis shoes on the market because they are so stable and durable. Luckily, I found the Barricade 13s to be the most modern, streamlined Barricades I have worn. They didn't feel clunky or bulky, and I never felt like they slowed me down at all. This is an improvement in the weight category for sure, without sacrificing any of the positives from previous Barricades.”

Brittany added, "I thought the Barricade 13s transitioned well from heel to toe, allowing me to feel light and quick when moving around."

According to Zsofi, you can't always judge a book by its cover. She said, "I know that the Barricade 13s might look bulky and heavy, and traditionally Barricades have been on the heavier side. However, I didn’t really notice them on my feet when I was playing. I would say the weight is totally optimal, even for long hours of play!"