Our verdict

For us, the Adidas Trae Young 2 is arguably better than the one that came before it, and this makes it a shoe that is definitely worth buying. We are sure that those who want to make the best out of their purchases are going to have fun with this, as well. Aside from being a performance beast on the court, we found that this shoe also has the looks that make it suitable for casual use. When you get this, it's like getting two shoes for the price of one.

Pros

  • Amazing traction on clean courts
  • Smooth heel-to-toe transition
  • Very comfortable upper
  • Super plush impact protection with Boost
  • Good energy return
  • Excellent support and lockdown
  • Unique visual appearance

Cons

  • Heavier than average
  • Seriously hard to put on
  • Not the best for outdoors

Audience verdict

80
Good!

Who should buy

Having thoroughly tested this Adidas shoe, we believe that it could be a good match for the following:

  • quick guards and athletes who share Trae Young's playing style (very agile with sudden direction changes)
  • fans of knit uppers that feel like an extension of one's foot
  • players who love plush cushioning in the heel (courtesy of Adidas Boost)

Adidas Trae Young 2 review

Who should NOT buy

We can see how people with wide feet, high arches, or mobility issues will have a really hard time getting this Adidas shoe on. The Adidas Harden Vol. 7 also has a sock-like upper but with a much more forgiving collar.

The Trae Young 2 is also not the best option for dusty and outdoor courts. We recommend Nike shoes like the Cosmic Unity 3 and the LeBron NXXT GEN for these playing conditions.

The above-mentioned LeBron shoe is also 1.5 oz (43g) lighter than the Adidas Trae Young 2.

Adidas Trae Young 2 lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

If we had to name just one reason to get this Adidas Trae Young shoe, it would definitely be its impact protection.

Adidas Trae Young 2 midsole

The slab of Boost foam at the heel is quite generous leading to a stack height of 32.1 mm. On paper, that's only about 2 mm above average but on the court, it feels immensely pampering and protective.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Heel stack
Test results
Trae Young 2 32.1 mm
Average 29.2 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
23.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

As for the forefoot, the Lightsrike foam layer comes in at 21.5 mm, based on our calliper measurement. This is right about the same as the average.

Nothing to write home about.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Forefoot stack
Test results
Trae Young 2 21.5 mm
Average 21.7 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
26.8 mm

Drop

The difference in stack heights gives us a 10.6 mm drop. Being slightly taller than average, it clearly shows how this Trae Young shoe is more biased towards heel cushioning.

Explosive players who land a lot on their heels are sure to appreciate this setup.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Drop
Test results
Trae Young 2 10.6 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
4.0 mm
Drop
13.7 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

During our playtests, we couldn't help but notice how plush and shock-absorbing the Boost cushioning was!

Using our trusty durometer to check the foam's softness, we got a mind-blowing reading of 11.5 HA! In normal people speak, this means 131% softer than average! Unbelievable!

Adidas Trae Young 2 Midsole softness
Test results
Trae Young 2 11.5 HA
Average 24.7 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Secondary foam softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

As you can probably tell from the video above, the shoe's forefoot cushioning is not as plush and compressive.

The Lightstrike used here is notably firmer, with a durometer measurement of 22.5 HA. That is the same balance of softness and firmness as we see in most hoop shoes.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Secondary foam softness

Having a firmer type of foam in the midfoot and forefoot certainly helps the shoe feel more stable. It also adds a bit of bounce for jumps.

Test results
Trae Young 2 22.5 HA
Average 27.2 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.

Insole thickness

We always include the insole when measuring stack heights. In the case of the Adidas Trae Young 2, it is 3.9 mm thick in the heel.

Slightly thinner than average, but still feels amazing underfoot combined with the Boost/Lightstrike setup.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Insole thickness
Test results
Trae Young 2 3.9 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Size and fit

Size

Adidas Trae Young 2 is true to size (10 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 53 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Do take these measurements with a grain of salt given the shoe's knit upper.

If we were to trust our calliper reading only (92.6 mm in the widest part of the forefoot), this Adidas shoe would be 8.5 mm narrower than average!

And yet, on foot, it is actually quite accommodating. So much so that it can even fit a wider foot! We also noticed that after a few times, the material breaks in and stretches even more.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Trae Young 2 92.6 mm
Average 101.6 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
92.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
109.2 mm

Toebox width - big toe

We also checked the toebox width around the big toe and the calliper returned 71.2 mm. Again, narrower than average but not an issue when actually worn on foot.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Trae Young 2 71.2 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 59 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
71.2 mm
Toebox width - big toe
85.1 mm

Lacing

The laces don't really do anything in this Adidas shoe because, well, it fits snug even without them.

Just be careful not to cinch the shoestrings down too tight because that will only add pressure to the already close-fitting experience.

Adidas Trae Young 2 laces

Stability

Lateral stability test

Despite all that plush cushioning in the heel, the Adidas Trae Young 2 felt impressively stable in our playtests! We must say that the shoe kept our feet securely in place at all times, even during the most intense movements.

Torsional rigidity

One major contributor to the shoe's supportive construction is of course the presence of a torsion plate in the midsole.

But in this Adidas shoe, it's more than just a linear shank. It is a strategically designed, firm, and sturdy TPU unit that extends outwards and to the sides of the platform, holding it firmly and not letting it twist.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Lug depth

When we actually tried twisting the shoe in our hands, there was little-to-no give. Thus, we rated its torsional stiffness with the highest possible score - 5 out of 5. This rigidity really enhances the shoe's stability and helps to prevent a nasty ankle twist.

Test results
Trae Young 2 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Seeing a knit upper always makes us a little suspicious of the shoe's foothold. However, Adidas came up with a pretty effective workaround here. Ankle pillows!

Having two generously padded units on both sides of the ankle proved to be very helpful in keeping it securely in place. They actually added some structural integrity to the rearfoot, convincing us to give a high score of 4 out of 5 for the shoe's heel counter stiffness. We experienced zero heel slips.

Test results
Trae Young 2 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

What else makes the Adidas Trae Young 2 feel so stable? Its monstrously wide platform!

No seriously, this is by far the widest base we've seen in a basketball shoe! Measuring the widest part of the forefoot with a calliper, we got a whopping 122.2 mm! That's almost a centimetre wider than average!

Adidas Trae Young 2 Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Trae Young 2 122.2 mm
Average 115.0 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
106.2 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
124.5 mm

Midsole width - heel

But wait, it gets crazier in the heel.

In the widest part, our calliper showed 101.6 mm which is also a good centimetre wider than average. We can definitely see how Trae Young would want this kind of landing area for his lightning-quick direction changes.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Trae Young 2 101.6 mm
Average 90.3 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
80.0 mm
Midsole width - heel
105.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

We really enjoyed the smooth and seamless heel-to-toe transitions of this Adidas shoe. They seem to be created by multiple factors:

  • midsole curvature in the heel
  • raised toe tip
  • really good amount of forefoot flex

To measure the latter, we used a gauge that shows how much force it takes to bend this Adidas shoe to a 90-degree angle. Turns out, much less than average! It required only 31.4N which is 30% less than it takes a typical basketball shoe.

Apparently, freedom of movement is a must for Trae Young's feet!

Test results
Trae Young 2 31.4N
Average 38.5N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
17.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
62.2N

Weight

Given that it was designed in collaboration with Trae Young, we did expect a lightweight and speedy shoe.

Unfortunately, this was not the case. According to our scale measurement, this Adidas shoe comes in at 14.8 oz (420g) in a men's US size 9. That's half an ounce heavier than the average basketball shoe in our lab.

On a lighter note, the Trae Young 2 is not as heavy as the Adidas Harden Vol. 7 (16.5 oz).

Adidas Trae Young 2 Weight
Test results
Trae Young 2 14.82 oz (420g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Breathability

What can we say, the shoe's Primeknit upper looks like a sweater and certainly feels like one! So the fact that it had decent breathability was a nice surprise to us.

Putting this Adidas shoe to our demonstrative smoke test, we found that it is pretty stuffy in the toebox but still lets the air pass through the instep area.

Adidas Trae Young 2 vs. Under Armour Curry 10 (the most ventilated hoop shoe out there!)

This convinced us to give the shoe's breathability a balanced score of 3 out of 5. It is not ideal for a hot summer session but has more airflow than basketball shoes on average.

To support our findings in the smoke-pumping machine test, we also put the shoe's upper against bright light. This test clearly shows that the material is extra tightly woven in the toebox but is a little bit more transparent in the tongue. 

And if you are wondering how "tightly woven" we are talking, our microscope shots help to demonstrate that very well.

Adidas Trae Young 2 microscope

There are no defined ventilation holes in sight!

Adidas Trae Young 2 microscope upper

Test results
Trae Young 2 3
Average 2.5
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

But, fortunately, the lack of breathability is very well compensated for by the knit's wear resistance.

Drilling the shoe's toebox for a good 12 seconds at a 5K RPM speed, the material barely got any damage! And we didn't even drill it where the suede overlay is!

Getting a perfect score of 5 out of 5 for its toebox durability, the Trea Young 2 really stands out from the average basketball shoe. And it's not even made of synthetic leather!

In the comparison photo below, you can see how bad it can get when we put mesh uppers through the same Dremel test.

Adidas Trae Young 2 vs. Adidas Harden Stepback 3 toebox durability
Adidas Trae Young 2 vs. Adidas Harden Stepback 3
Test results
Trae Young 2 5
Average 3.7
Compared to 56 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

We also checked the durability of another sensitive upper area - the shoe's heel lining and padding.

That's where the Adidas Trae Young 2 did a pretty average job. Assessing the damage caused by 4 seconds of drilling, we rated its wear resistance as 3 out of 5. That's quite normal for a typical hoop shoe.

Although there is a caveat - with the amount of effort it takes to get this thing on our feet, we might as well tear the collar up in a few months! We'll talk more on that in the Size and it section.

Adidas Trae Young 2 heel padding durability

Test results
Trae Young 2 3
Average 3.5
Compared to 53 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Feeling how hard the shoe's outsole rubber was gave us a lot of confidence in its durability. Initially.

Our experience was indeed proved by the durometer reading of 84.8 HC which is harder than average! But apparently, this wasn't enough to make the Adidas Trae Young 2 a solid outdoor-ready option.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Outsole hardness
Test results
Trae Young 2 84.8 HC
Average 81.9 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
61.3 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole durability

When it was time to get real with this Adidas shoe, we turned to our Dremel and found that its outsole performed worse than average.

After 22 seconds of drilling at a high speed of 10K RPM, the outsole developed a 1.6 mm deep dent. That's more than what we normally get in hoop shoes that are meant for hardcore outdoor use. For example, the Harden Vol. 7 only got 0.5 mm.

Adidas Trae Young 2 outsole durability test

But the good news is that the Trae Youg 2 is not horrible for outdoor courts either! We think that you can absolutely enjoy an occasional game without worrying about destroying the shoe.

Test results
Trae Young 2 1.6 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 44 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

The amount of rubber protecting this Adidas shoe is also slightly thinner compared to other shoes. Our calliper shows 3.4 mm which is a little below the average.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Outsole thickness
Test results
Trae Young 2 3.4 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

Let's be honest, if you often play on dusty courts or hate frequent wiping, the Adidas Trae Young 2 is not your best pick.

But if we're talking clean court, the shoe offers an amazing, stop-on-a-dime kind of grip. Thanks to three different types of traction patterns, we felt very confident when making quick direction changes.

Adidas Trae Young 2 traction

Tongue padding

Lace bites could very likely be a problem for high-arched players as there is only 1.3 mm of material separating the skin from the laces.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Tongue padding
Test results
Trae Young 2 1.3 mm
Average 9.4 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

Tongue: gusset type

Given the shoe's sock-like collar, it doesn't have a tongue per se. The upper is made of this one-piece sockliner that is sewn together at the bottom of the shoe, underneath the insole. That way, it feels very much like a sock!

Once on, the shoe feels amazingly comfortable against the foot. And we could write a poem about its cosiness if it wasn't for one "little" problem... It is a real pain in the neck to put on!

Because of its quite narrow and not-so-stretchy opening, we really struggled to get the Adidas Trae Young 2 on. Every. Single. Time! And it doesn't get better with time, unfortunately.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Trae Young 2 Sock like

Heel tab

It was very kind of Adidas to add two pull tabs on both sides of the collar but... it would be nice if they actually helped to get the shoe on more easily.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Heel tab
Test results
Trae Young 2 Finger loop

Removable insole

The shoe comes with a removable sole which can be swapped for any other insert or orthotics of your choice.

Adidas Trae Young 2 Removable insole
Test results
Trae Young 2 Yes