Let’s face it: these days we want it all. A phone that’s also a camera. A hybrid car that runs on gas or electricity. A laptop that doubles as a top-of-the-line DVD player. It’s no different when it comes to shopping for a new pair of tennis shoes. We expect stability, durability, breathability, wickability, playability, etc., all the abilities, all in one.
“People want everything,” says Jerome Jackson, the Global Product Director for Footwear at Prince. “Some of it’s an oxymoron. We want the shoe to be durable, but we also want it to be lightweight. Those don’t always go hand in hand. For durability, you’re used to having something beefy, something heavy. It’s like making a Hummer a racecar, throwing a Hummer on a drag-racing strip. You just don’t see that everyday. One’s meant for one thing, one’s meant for another. So you try to take those elements and work with different compounds that can compensate for that.”
Among those different compounds are a variety of thermoplastics and synthetic leathers, man-made materials that help manufacturers keep shoes lightweight and breathable without sacrificing support and stability. You’ll see it in Prince’s 4Foot Wrap on the T22, in New Balance’s Stability Web on the 900, in the four-point support provided by Babolat’s Foot Belt on the Propulse 2 Titanium, in the Torsion System midsole on the adidas Barricade 6.0, to name a few. So worry not, savvy consumers — now you can have it all.
ADIDAS
Barricade 6.0 M/$125
adidas’ think-outside-the-box black-and-blue Barricade 6.0 packages all the durability, cushioning and support hardcore hard-court players demand. The latest update in a long line of successful Barricade offerings, the 6.0 boasts TPU 3-Stripes in the forefoot for stability, a molded EVA insole for anatomical comfort, an adiPrene heel insert for comfort and shock absorption, and full-length forefoot cushioning.
Barricade adilibria W/$125
It’s the not-so-little details that set the adilibria apart — the ultra-durable TPU toe guard, the hard-court-proven adiTuff outsole, the Torsion System midsole, the adiPrene inserts (for forefoot cushioning and shock absorption), the stylin’ hard chrome detailing. All of which ensure quick cuts and fast footwork during extreme lateral movements and changes in direction. A sleek performance shoe designed especially for women.
BABOLAT
Propulse Lady 2 Parma W/$105
The no-break-in-period-required/out-of-the-box-and-on-the-court Propulse Lady 2 Parma is a multi-surface game-day shoe designed especially for the female foot. The official on-court wheels of Russian Nadia Petrova, the Lady 2 Parma features a bundle of Babolat technologies, including a four-point support system and a battle-tested Michelin outsole. A versatile shoe that’s as comfortable in USTA League play as it is on the WTA Tour.
Propulse 2 Titanium M/$110
When Andy Roddick unveiled the black-and-gold Propulse 2 Titanium earlier this year at the Australian Open, we knew we were seeing something different. Designed for aggressive all-courters in need of cutting-edge lateral stability, the Propulse 2 Titanium boasts the same technological features as its predecessor — the Propulse 2 — including Babolat’s Foot Belt fit (for tailor-made support), plus a Michelin OCS sole for traction on a variety of surfaces.
FILA
Novaro M/W $70
With a lightweight EVA midsole, an antibacterial sockliner and an ultra-stable midfoot support shank, the classy Novaro harkens the tennis-boom days of the ’70s and ’80s, when a headband-donning Bjorn Borg graced the courts in the iconic Fila red, white and blue. Built on Fila’s accommodating comfort last, the Novaro offers lightweight breathability and a snug fit. A retro wonder with modern, power-tennis technology.
K-SWISS
Defier DS M/W $100
Talk about durability. The Defier DS defies the often punishing wear and tear that comes with the demands of hard-court tennis thanks to K-Swiss’ Aösta II/Aösta 7.0 rubber outsole, Durawrap toe guard, abrasion-resistant DragGuard in the heel and toe, Ortholite liners and Superfoam energy-return foam. Backed by a six-month outsole wear guarantee. The Defier DS is built to last.
NEW BALANCE
900 M/W $95
The 900 is an elite-level shoe that packs a blend of lightweight performance, responsive cushioning and maximum control. Among the New Balance technologies are the N-ergy cushioning system (for shock absorption), Abzorb cushioning (for comfort), Stability Web (for support) a Lightning Dry Phantom Liner (for blister-free comfort) and an Ndurance outsole (for durability). Sleek looking, form-fitting footwear.
PRINCE
T22 M/W $100
The T22 is part of Prince’s Grinder Series of performance footwear. Designed for all-out aggressors looking for tough, durable shoe that can hold up to the rigors of extreme lateral stops and starts, the T22 features 4Foot Wrap, Shock Eraser, wYshbone shank, Duraskin II and PRC1000 technology, and is a good match for toe-dragging servers and tireless baseliners who grind it our from corner to corner.
Rebel LS M/$110
Spaniard Albert Montanes (who scalpled 16-time Slam champ Roger Federer earlier this year at Estoril) is one of several ATP/WTA pros touting the benefits of Prince’s new Lightspeed Series, which counts the Rebel LS among its arsenal. A key feature of the Rebel LS is its Propulsion Plate — a lightweight chassis built to transfer energy from heel to forefoot, resulting in quicker reaction time and better acceleration.
WILSON
Tour Vision M/W $110
“Lightweight,” “breathable,” “a glove-like fit.” These are just a few of the superlatives that follow the Tour Vision shoe — a multi-surface performer that features Wilson’s scuplted TPU Arch Bridge, DST Foam insole, Ortholite sockliner, nanoWik liner and a six-month outsole guarantee. Stable Wrap helps keep your feet cool without sacrificing medial and lateral support no matter the surface – hard court, grass or clay.
YONEX
SHT-307 M/$130
Available in cool silver/navy and silver/red combos, the SHT-307 is an all-court shoe that sets itself apart with a unique three-layer Power Cushion system. Bounce an egg into the shoe and it will bounce back unharmed. The idea is to absorb shock before it’s transferred to your leg muscles, cutting down on fatigue and allowing you to more smoothly transfer forward-back and side-to-side energy into your next step.
