Adidas Barricade 13 review

We think that the Adidas Barricade 13 is a must to consider if:

• you are a seasoned tennis player looking for a highly stable shoe
• you expect a hard-wearing shoe with an outsole durability guarantee (6 months)
• you want premium comfort and quality

We found that the Repetitor+ foam in the Barricade 13 lacks a bit of bounce. If you prefer a more responsive type of cushioning, we can recommend the Nike Zoom GP Challenge 1.

And if you burn through a pair of tennis shoes within a couple of weeks, the more reinforced ASICS Gel Resolution 9 might be a better option. 

We found the Barricade 13 to be sufficiently cushioned with a heel stack of 28.4 mm. This is an average stack of tennis shoes.

Sure, it's not the most abundant cushioning, especially if you're coming from the ASICS Resolutions of the ASICS Court FFs. But it offered a good amount of impact protection for hard landings.

The toebox, on the other hand, tapers slightly just like most tennis shoes.

Measuring its width at the big toe, we got 76.2 mm which is an average measurement among tennis shoes.

The heel-to-toe difference in this Adidas tennis shoe is slightly taller than average at 11.3 mm.

Even though the drop is not that dramatic, it could be the reason why we feel a bit of toe jamming in the first hours of playtesting the Barricade 13.

Adidas chose its newer Repetitor+ foam instead of the tried-and-true Bounce for the Barricade 13.

On its own, the Repetitor+ is slightly softer than average. Our durometer shows a reading of 26.1 HA which is 12% softer than average.

But keep in mind that this foam is incorporated into the sturdy carcass of the Torsion System which makes the overall experience firmer.

We should also mention that the Repetitor+ foam felt underwhelming in terms of responsiveness. It did make us feel more grounded but there was no joyful pop in it to keep us jumpy on the toes.

A well-padded insole turned out to be a cherry on top of the shoe's cushioning. With a calliper measurement of 7.5 mm, it happens to be thicker than the average tennis shoe insole.

We could feel the difference it makes for the in-shoe comfort.

The Adidas Barricade 13 treated our medium-sized feet to a very accommodating fit.

We wouldn't call it loose by any means but players with narrow feet might feel more at home in a more close-fitting profile.

Measuring the shoe's toebox in the widest part, our calliper returned 104.0 mm. This is indeed a couple of millimetres wider than average.

The toebox, on the other hand, tapers slightly just like most tennis shoes.

Measuring its width at the big toe, we got 76.2 mm which is an average measurement among tennis shoes.

If you've never tried a shoe with asymmetrical lacing before, give it a chance in the Barricade 13.

We weren't sure about it ourselves too but during the playtest, we actually felt the benefits it offers for sliding and performing quick cuts.

Plus, we never had to deal with tongue sliding!

Stability is where the Barricade 13 undercuts many other tennis shoes. It is THE reason to get this model actually!

As the name "Barricade" implies, the shoe made it feel as though there was an actual barrier on both sides of the foot. These barriers never allowed our feet or ankles to move uncontrollably or roll over the edge.

The primary component that makes the Barricade 13 so stable is of course the Torsion System.

This stiff TPU element wraps around the shoe's midfoot area. It also extends upwards on the sides to create a cradle for the arch.

It was nearly impossible to twist this Adidas shoe in our manual test. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the absolute stiffest, we rated its torsional rigidity as 4.

We felt very well supported doing split steps, hard lateral stops, and quick changes of direction.

The Barricade's very stiff and structured heel counter made us feel even more stable on the court.

Giving it a squeeze and push, we immediately felt the rigidness in this area. In addition to the Torsion System, it never let our rearfoot shift side-to-side. On a 1-5 stiffness scale, we gave it a maximum score!

Not to mention the Geofit Sensepods inside the heel counter! These small pillows are designed to meet the "dimples" of your ankles to lock them down and prevent heel slippage.

Its platform width makes the Barricade 13 some of the widest tennis shoes on the market.

In the widest part of the forefoot, our calliper measured 115.4 mm which is a few millimetres wider than average.

Such a wide base certainly contributed to our surefootedness and stability, especially during side-to-side movements.

The shoe also boasts a notably wider-than-average midsole in the heel. With 95.3 mm in the widest part, we found that it is wider than all the other stability-oriented tennis shoes.

A vast majority of tennis shoes have a stiffer construction due to all sorts of shanks embedded into them.

However, there Adidas Barricade 13 turns that stereotype around by finding a way to be both stable and flexible.

Using a force gauge, we found that it takes only 23.8N to bend this shoe to a 90-degree angle. It is 28% less than it takes an average tennis shoe!

If having a more flexible shoe makes you feel more in control of the movement, you're going to love the Barricade 13!

Like most stability-oriented tennis shoes, the Adidas Barricade 13 sacrifices some lightness in exchange for better support.

Weighing the shoe in a men's US size 9, our scale showed 13.9 oz (394g) which is an ounce heavier than the average tennis shoe.

However, we never felt like the shoe was holding us back on the court. Its weight is on par with other stability shoes like the Resolution 9 (13.8 oz/392g) and is even lighter than the Nike GP Challenge 1.

Of course, the Barricade 13 had to use Adidas' most reputable rubber for the outsole - it's the Adiwear!

First of all, it is an exceptionally firm compound that showed 87.5 HC on our durometer measurement. And in most case, firmness is an indication of durability.

Even though the Barricade 13 is claimed to be a more breathable iteration, we observed quite the opposite. This Adidas shoe got noticeably toasty halfway through our playtest.

The puzzles clicked when we tested the shoe back in the lab. Seeing how reluctantly the smoke passed through the upper, we had no choice but to rate the Barricade's breathability with a low score of 2 out of 5.

Hovering the half-cut upper over the light, we did see rather large ventilation pores on the tongue and the toebox. However, they failed to work full force underneath a thicker layer of fabric.

A closer look through our microscope revealed that the large pores hide very densely woven threads underneath. Even though this setup makes the toeboxes slightly more durable, it detracts a lot from ventilation.

The Adidas Barricade 13 features a thick and aggressively treaded toe guard on the medial side. No matter how intensely we slashed it against the court, this rubber piece remained unscathed.

It seemed as though the Adituff Recycled rubber in this area was just as sturdy as the Adiwear on the outsole!

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the non-protected mesh parts of the upper.

Equipped with a Dremel with a sandpaper tip, we went full force on the fabric, mimicking the abrasion caused by a foot drag. We held the tool against the mesh for 12 seconds at a 5K RPM speed and 3.2N pressure.

As you can see, the Adidas Barricade 13 (on the left) didn't get as shredded as some other tennis shoes (on the right). However, it was still far from the wear resistance of its close competitor, the ASICS Gel Resolution 9.

We rated the Adidas shoe's toebox durability with a moderate 3 out of 5, whereas the Resolution got a solid 5.

Another sensitive area that often fails first in tennis shoes is the inner side of the heel counter. The Dremel test allows us to check how well the heel lining and padding hold up to friction.

After 4 seconds of drilling at 5K RPM speed and 3.2N pressure, we are happy to report that the Barricade 13 has very promising heel padding durability! Especially compared to cheaper models.

It is a solid 4 out of 5 from us!

Of course, the Barricade 13 had to use Adidas' most reputable rubber for the outsole - it's the Adiwear!

First of all, it is an exceptionally firm compound that showed 87.5 HC on our durometer measurement. And in most case, firmness is an indication of durability.

Just like we expected, the Adiwear stood up to the Dremel test with flying colours!

Even 22 seconds of drilling at the high speed of 10K RPM failed to cause more than a millimetre of damage to the shoe's outsole!

The only thing we found concerning about the Barricade's outsole was its thickness. Showing only 3.0 mm on our calliper, it is significantly thinner than average.

Luckily, this Adidas shoe comes with a 6-month outsole durability guarantee. It can be exchanged for a new pair if the rubber shows significant wear within that period.

As a premium tennis shoe, the Adidas Barricade 13 never disappointed us with its ability to grip the court.

The shoe mixes flat and sharp herringbone treads to provide an optimal balance of stopping power and sliding potential.

The outsole reveals its benefits straight from the box and doesn't require any breaking in.

No need to worry about lace bites or pressure on top of the foot. This Adidas shoe comes with a sufficiently padded tongue that successfully eliminates such discomfort.

Our calliper shows that the shoe's tongue is 7.1 mm thick which is on par with the average measurement.

The Barricade 13 features an elastic gusset that connects the tongue all the way down to the sole.

We always welcome a gusseted tongue in tennis shoes as it enhances the lockdown and makes us feel mush more secure inside the shoe during dynamic movements.

Unlike the shoe's 2023 edition, the Barricade 2024 doesn't have a pull tab at the back. Instead, its heel collar is extended upwards allowing you to grab it when pulling the shoe on.

The downside to that is that we experienced some chafing of our Achilles during the first few sessions. We recommend wearing taller socks to avoid this discomfort.

If you do need a custom insert to feel comfortable and perform your best on the court, you can easily use one with the Barricade 13. Its stock insole is removable.

According to Adidas, this Barricade shoe features at least 20% recycled materials. We assume that such material is used for the Adituff Recycled toe guard (based on the name).