Adidas Adizero Cybersonic 2 review

Don't sleep on the Adizero Cybersonic 2 if you are a player who:

• prefers a firm and responsive base to abundant cushioning
• needs a fast and snappy shoe with great energy transfer
• is willing to pay more for high durability and premium materials

Athletes with sensitive feet and joints, or those with past injuries, may find the Cybersonic 2 too jarring. They might be better off with the Adidas Barricade 13 or the ASICS Court FF 3.

And if it's the shoe's price point that's holding you back, there are many excellent speed-oriented alternatives at a more affordable price, including the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 and the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6.

The Cybersonic 2 is all about court feel and a close connection to the ground, so shock absorption is not something to expect here.

With very low readings of 85 SA in the heel and 68 SA in the forefoot, this Adidas shoe promotes agility and speed, but it can feel hard on the feet and joints of players more accustomed to cushioning.

Unfortunately, the shoe's low energy return results don't do justice to the Adidas Cybersonic 2, as they don't show the full picture.

Our current test measures the rebound provided by the shoe's Lightstrike foam, which is not a very responsive material, with below-average readings of 39.8% in the heel and 42.4% in the forefoot.

All the magic is done by the ENERGYRODS, which wrap around the shoe's heel on the outside and dive into its midsole to create a stabilising shank in the midfoot. Hollow inside, these rods compress under pressure and instantly restore their shape, resulting in a pleasantly propulsive experience.

The dense, low-cushion nature of the shoe's Lightsrike midsole makes it feel much closer to the court than our stack height measurements suggest.

Convinced that the Cybersonic 2 is lower than average, we were surprised to see a standard platform height of 30.0 mm in its heel.

The same applies to the shoe's forefoot stack, which proved to be within the medium range at 18.6 mm.

The heel-to-toe drop is therefore within the normal range as well at 11.4 mm. It felt high enough to protect our heels without being so high that it caused toe jamming.

The Adidas Adizero Cybersonic 2 features two layers of Lightstrike foam: one full-length layer and an additional layer in the heel.

The primary, full-length foam showed a rather high durometer reading of 31.5 HA, which is equally firm as the ASICS Court FF 3.

Although the shoe's midsole is described as dual-density, our durometer showed no tangible difference between the full-length foam and the secondary piece in the heel.

The latter showed 31.7 HA, making both Lightsrtkiie components firmer than average.

The Cybersonic 2 brings no surprises, fitting our medium-width feet to a tee, and our digital calliper confirms it.

Measuring the widest area of the mould, we got a standard width of 92.3 mm, consistent with most other Adidas tennis shoes we've tested.

We experience zero toe cramping, as the Cybersonic 2's toebox proved to be sufficiently roomy. Measuring its width in the big toe area showed 71.3 mm.

The shoe's toebox height was unaffected by the protective Adituff overlay, measuring a regular 24.2 mm.

We found it's low enough to provide a one-to-one fit with the foot but not so low as to cause pressure points.

Sliding the Cybersonic 2's Adiwear outsole against a slab of concrete, we recorded a lower friction coefficient of 0.50.

Although it's not very sticky straight from the box, we found that this Adidas shoe has enough grip to feel in control without sacrificing smooth pivots and fluid movement.

Looks like Adidas Frankensteined the Cybersonic 2's outsole design, mixing various patches of herringbone patterns. Some wider and shallower, some deeper and sharper, these tread lines go in every possible direction, keeping us confident in all kinds of footwork.

The Cybersonic 2 caters to quick, attacking players who prefer a stiffer and snappier underfoot experience.

Our stiffness test showed that it takes more force (19.2N) to bend this Adidas shoe by 30 degrees compared to the average. It is even 15% stiffer than the Barricade 13.

The shoe's streamlined design definitely makes it feel lighter on foot than on paper. Our scale showed that it's no lighter than the category average at 12.6 oz (357g).

As thin and transparent as the shoe's lightweight mesh appears, the thick padding beneath it blocks most of the potential airflow.

You can see just how little smoke is passing through the Cybersonic 2's toebox in our breathability test above.

Examining the shoe's mesh up close under our microscope revealed its intricate design, which is not as porous as it may seem at first glance.

But as far as ventilation is concerned, we couldn't rate this Adidas shoe any higher than 2 out of 5.

Although it's fine-tuned for speed, the Adidas Adizero Cybersonic 2 made us feel exceptionally planted and secure on aggressive cuts and full-force split steps.

The shoe's stable base is enhanced by a reliable upper containment system, courtesy of a supportive heel counter and several pairs of webbed midfoot strings that connect the laces to the base of the shoe.

In addition to being responsible for the shoe's energy return, the ENERGYRODS also play an essential role in stabilising the ride.

Serving as external heel counters, these rods also extend to the shoe's midfoot, creating a stabilising shank within the midsole. This, in turn, enhances the Cybersonic 2's torsional rigidity and earns the shoe a maximum 5/5 stiffness score in our manual twisting test.

With both external ENERGYROD and internal heel counter, the shoe's rearfoot portion offers unbeatable support for the heel and ankle.

Not being able to fold or bend this part at all, we assessed the shoe's heel counter stiffness with the highest score of 5/5.

There is simply no wiggle room for heel shifting or slipping inside this structure. And if you need extra reassurance, you can use the additional eyelets to make a runner's knot.

The Cybersonic 2's base may not be the broadest, but we found its dimensions to be on par with the average.

The widest area of its forefoot, for example, showed a standard width of 111.1 mm, but we never felt like we were lacking an outrigger for aggressive lateral cuts.

The same is true for the shoe's heel width. At 89.9 mm at its widest, it has a regular landing area for a tennis shoe and doesn't feel clunky or bottom-heavy at all.

Testing the limits of the Cybersonic 2's Adituff toe drag guard, we were pleased with the results.

Showing rather moderate wear and tear after 18 seconds of Dremel drilling, we gave this part of the shoe a high durability score of 4/5.

However, it was the shoe's exposed mesh that surprised us even more with its spectacular abrasion resistance! With very minor scuffing, it earned the shoe another high durability score of 4/5!

Unfortunately, the textile lining inside the shoe's collar wasn't as impressive and tore up almost instantly. This lowered our heel padding durability score to the minimum 1/5.

But on the bright side, we don't have a single knock against the Cybersonic 2's outsole durability, as it's built to endure serious abrasion.

Sustaining 18 seconds against sandpaper, the rubber showed a dent depth of only 0.6 mm.

The shoe's promising outsole durability is further supported by a solid rubber thickness of 4.2 mm.

Considering the firmness of the shoe's Lightstrike midsole, a well-padded insole doesn't seem like a bad idea! In fact, our calliper showed that it's one of the thickest tennis shoe insoles, measuring 6.9 mm at the heel!

And if you need more arch support or customised padding, the shoe's stock insole can also be replaced with a custom insert.

The tongue of this Adidas shoe is adequately padded, measuring 7.2 mm at its thickest point.

Partially attached on the sides, the shoe's semi-gusseted tongue contributes to secure containment.

The Adidas Adizero Cybersonic 2 is priced on par with the most elite tennis shoes, but it also delivers like one. The quality of its materials and the shoe's overall on-court performance are truly impressive.

While there is no pull tab at the back of the shoe, its extended heel collar and a finger loop on the tongue make it easier to put on.