KSwiss Hypercourt Express 2 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.5

The KSwiss Hypercourt Express 2 lived up to its predecessor's reputation as a comfortable, plush shoe. Our wide-footed playtester, Tiffani, has been a fan of KSwiss over the years. She said, "These Hypercourt Express 2s instantly felt comfortable. When I slipped them onto my feet I noticed a wider fit in the forefoot and a cushioned feel underfoot. KSwiss shoes have historically fit my wider feet well, and that was again the case here. These shoes didn't require any break-in time, and I headed straight to the court. Although not as soft as the original version, the uppers are quite flexible and held their shape better throughout the playtest. I don't recall having any issues with arch support, and the ventilation was about average."

"After many years playtesting KSwiss shoes, two things remain the same: plush cushioning and a roomy fit, especially in the forefoot," continued Brittany. "The Hypercourt Express 2s are no exception. When I slipped these shoes on my feet I was rewarded with instant comfort thanks to the plush cushioning underfoot, around the ankle and at the tongue. There was no break-in period, and because they are so comfortable and well ventilated, they are among the rare shoes I will continue to wear off court once I have finished my practice or match. However, I do have narrow feet, and there was definitely a lot of extra room within the shoes. But thanks to the padding, I was able to cinch the laces tightly without any discomfort on the top of my feet. A recurring issue I have with KSwiss shoes is the arch placement. Like with past models, I could distinctly feel the arch support sitting slightly forward when I am just standing around in these shoes. It's not uncomfortable, just something that I noticed. However, as soon as I started to play, I forgot about them altogether."

Although Michelle enjoyed the comfort, she found the Hypercourt Express 2s a little roomy on her medium-width feet. She said, "KSwiss always makes some of the most comfortable shoes, and the Hypercourt Express 2s are no exception. These shoes offer a plush feel as I step into them and great cushioning underfoot. Another thing KSwiss is known for is a wider fit, and that was the only issue I had; they ran a little wide for my medium-width feet. I was able to pull the laces tight and cinch up the fit, but I did notice some crinkling on the upper at the top of the toe bed. Once locked in, I was good to go. No rubbing, little break-in and loads of comfort."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.9

There were mixed reviews when it came to the support of the Hypercourt Express 2s, mostly due to the roomy fit. That being said, our playtesters still found enough stability for their needs. This is where Tiffani noticed the biggest improvement over the original model. She said, "The Hypercourt Express 2s felt supportive and stable throughout the review period. With the first model, the uppers started to stretch out and I ended up experiencing toe jamming. That was never a problem with this update. I felt confident on quick forward stops as well as side-to-side movement. I have no complaints in this section."

"I like stable tennis shoes, and I found these Hypercourt Express 2s to be in that category," added Michelle. "Because of the wider fit, they weren't as supportive as I wanted when I wasn't tied in super tightly. The uppers held me in well as long as I was tightly tied and snug in my shoes, and I felt confident moving aggressively in them. I like that KSwiss was able to take some weight out of these shoes without compromising the stability."

Brittany did experience some movement within the Hypercourt Express 2s. She said, "Cinching the laces tightly helped decrease the movement, but it was still present, especially on sudden stops. For the most part, it didn't bother me at all. I was pleasantly surprised with the stability, particularly in the ankle. With a past ankle injury and having just playtested shoes with limited stability, I felt good in the Hypercourt Express 2s. My ankles welcomed the stability and didn't experience any soreness, even after a long, tough practice."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.1

One of the highlights of the KSwiss Hypercourt Express 2 playtest was the shoe's excellent durability. After spending over 10 hours in her pair, both on and off the court, Brittany thought the durability was excellent in both the outsoles and toes. She said, "I am seeing very little, if any, wear, and I anticipate having many hours left in these shoes well after the end of the playtest. The toe bumper and upper material don't show any signs of wear either."

Michelle also appreciated the Hypercourt Express 2's durability, and she noted how consistent it felt as it wore in. She explained, "I was impressed with how well these shoes held up through our playtest. They are fairly durable, and that rubber wears consistently for week after week of use."

Echoing the other playtesters, Tiffani said, "I've worn these shoes on hard courts for about 15 hours, and I haven't seen any signs of wear. I'm impressed by the combination of durability and lightweight feel. Both my outsoles and toes are holding up very well."

Traction - Score: 4.0

Our playtesters thought the Hypercourt Express 2s offered a grippy response, but they still had enough give to move from shot to shot smoothly. Michelle likes a stickier outsole, so she appreciated the traction from these shoes. She said, "They were on the tackier side, which meant I knew I could move aggressively and quickly bounce back without worrying about my feet slipping out from underneath me."

"The outsoles felt a little on the stickier side of the spectrum, but it wasn't to the point that I felt stuck to the court," noted Tiffani. "The Hypercourt Express 2s still allowed me to pivot and move to the next shot without losing any time, and these shoes always gripped the court reliably."

The Hypercourt Express 2s started out a bit sticky for Brittany, but they grew more to her liking as the outsoles wore in. She said, "I prefer a slight amount of give, and I thought the outsoles smoothed out slightly as the playtest wore, resulting in to the perfect balance of give and grip. I didn't really have to think about my movements, and I was able to push off in any direction seamlessly."

Weight - Score: 4.2

With new Surgelite midsole technology, the KSwiss Hypercourt Express 2s weigh just 10.8 ounces (size 8.5) — almost an ounce lighter than the previous model. Tiffani noticed the difference on court. She said, "The previous model was light, but these Hypercourt Express 2s feel faster. I think they weigh just a bit less, but their more streamlined design helped them feel much quicker around the court."

Even with the Hypercourt Express 2's roomy fit, Brittany still found them quick around the court. She said, "As a fan of lightweight shoes, I appreciate KSwiss making these new Hypercourts lighter than the previous generation without sacrificing the stability or comfort. Not only do these shoes look sleek and streamlined, but they perform that way as well. I felt light on my feet even with the extra room within the shoes."

Wrapping up the playtest, Michelle had similar feedback to Tiffani and Brittany. She concluded, "I love that KSwiss took some weight out of these shoes without compromising any of the characteristics that we expect from this model. These Hypercourt 2s felt speedier than versions from the past and never seemed bulky. I think they are a great step forward into a more modern version of the super comfortable Hypercourt Express!"

Overall - Score: 4.2