Yonex PC Fusion Rev 3 Men's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.9

The Power Cushion Plus midsole offered more than sufficient padding in these low-profile Fusion Rev 3 shoes. One hurdle to finding complete comfort was the narrow fit, which required a break-in period for most of the team. Jason, who has wider feet, explained, "If not for the narrow fit, I'd give these shoes high marks for comfort. Unfortunately, the fit was just too narrow for me, especially through the midfoot. This caused some arch soreness for about seven hours of playtesting before the shoes broke in a bit. Besides the fit issues, I loved the cushioning underfoot; the Power Cushion midsole provides a plush but responsive ride."

Unlike Jason, Chris has narrow feet. Although these shoes fit his feet better, he too had some issues at the start of the testing period. He said, "I found these shoes to take a slight break-in before they became really comfortable on the court. With each playtest session, these Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3 shoes gradually opened up and flexed better, and as a result put less pressure on the lateral sides of my feet. This initial discomfort was due to the lateral support piece placing extra pressure on my feet, causing them to ache after my first few hitting sessions. Apart from that, the fit was pretty glove-like for my narrow feet, so I didn't have any uncomfortable sliding around inside the shoes. The off-center lacing system felt odd at first, but I quickly discovered that it had the advantage of allowing me to tie my laces tightly without putting any uncomfortable pressure on the top of my feet. I found the ventilation to be adequate, and I absolutely loved the level of cushioning."

Mark also thought the Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3s felt a bit restrictive at first, but his pair didn't take long to break in. He described, "When I first stepped into these Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3 shoes my feet felt extremely secure — to the point where they were a little constricted, specifically in the midfoot region. However, after an hour of play from the baseline, that portion of the shoe opened up, offering a high level of comfort without sacrificing any other performance traits. Comfort underfoot was top-notch! For having such a thin midsole, the shoes did a great job of cushioning every step. Lastly, I loved the lightweight and ventilated feel. The uppers hugged my feet like gloves, and unlike most shoes that have a bootie, I had no issues slipping these shoes on or off."

Troy has worn a few different Yonex shoes in the past, including the first generation of the Power Cushion Fusion Rev. He compared, "Of all the Yonex shoes that I have playtested, these Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3s had the best fit for me. The combination of the slightly narrow fit, the bootie construction, and the Double Russell Mesh layer made for a very comfortable, glove-like experience. The material underneath the balls of my feet felt very minimal, giving the Fusion Rev 3s a low-to-the-ground ride. There was still enough cushion between the balls of my feet and the court surface that I didn't feel any post-match soreness. The arch support and the heel cup felt great, and I never felt as though my arches were collapsing."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.3

Although these Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3s were not as heavy-duty as the Power Cushion Eclipsion 2s, our playtest team thought the support and stability were very good. Chris explained, "I found the Fusion Rev 3s to be very supportive. The fit of these shoes made my feet feel very secure inside of them, and I was able to move confidently. I also liked the level of stability these shoes offered. There was plenty of rigidity to the guts of these shoes, so they resisted twisting very well. During all of my practices and matches, I never once had to worry about the support or stability the Fusion Rev 3s offered."

The Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3s helped Troy move around the court confidently. He said, "My feet felt very locked in and supported inside of these shoes. With the forefoot being very low to the ground, I always felt connected to the court, and I could stop on a dime. There was enough support and rigidity from the Power Graphite Sheet in the midfoot to allow me to change directions aggressively without any worries of rolling my ankles. The stability of these shoes was similar to the Nike Air Zoom Cage 3s, but I felt even lower to the ground and more connected to the court in comparison."

The fit of these shoes may not have been the most comfortable for Jason, but they did do a good job of supporting his feet. He noted, "The first thing I noticed with these shoes was the unique asymmetrical lacing system. I wasn't sure how well the Fusion Rev 3s would hold my feet in place, but I was pleasantly surprised. The shoes felt nice and secure, especially considering they are a bit narrow for my feet. My feet felt locked in place, and there was plenty of rigidity in the midfoot to offer a very stable ride."

After breaking in these Fusion Rev 3s, Mark found the support to be just about perfect. He said, "The first time on court in these shoes my feet felt a little constricted through the midfoot region. After a couple hours of playtesting these shoes they started to mold to my feet, and the support level was just where I like it. I had absolutely no slipping or sliding inside of them. Lastly, the low profile made me feel very confident when changing directions, which helped me to maximize my court coverage."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.9

All of our playtesters were impressed by the durability of the light and speed-oriented Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3s. Jason said, "For a lightweight shoe, I thought the Fusion Rev 3's outsole held up remarkably well. I put 12 to 15 hours on these shoes, and they show just slight signs of tread balding."

Mark found that these shoes resisted wear even better than comparable models. He noted, "For shoes that do not feature an outsole warranty, these Yonex Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3s are a durable option. Compared to the Nike Air Zoom Vapor Xs, which are a bit heavier, the outsoles of these shoes were more abrasion resistant and lasted much longer for me."

Chris was also pleased with the overall durability. He said, "The outsoles lasted the duration of the test with plenty of life left, even under the big toe of my right foot, which is my highest wear area. The uppers also resisted court abrasion well. I scuffed the toe tip of my left shoe a lot, but the uppers proved up to the task and lasted without issues."

The Fusion Rev 3's durability wasn't in the same category as the heavier shoes Troy typically wears, but it was good, all things considered. He elaborated, "The Yonex Endurance Rubber held strong throughout this playtest. I was surprised that the outsoles held up as well as they did, considering there wasn't a significant amount of material on the bottom of these shoes. I wouldn't necessarily consider these shoes to be as durable as the Asics Gel Resolution 7s, but they were good for their weight class. I would likely use these shoes as a match-day option and use the Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion 2s as everyday trainers."

Traction - Score: 4.4

Our playtest team loved the level of traction these Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3 shoes offered. Mark explained, "I did the entire playtest on hard courts, and whether the courts were freshly cleaned or not, I never once had any problem changing directions or making an abrupt stop. It isn't often that I find outsoles that have superb traction and still offer good durability, but I got that with these shoes."

Jason also found a great balance of grip and give. He noted, "The unique tread pattern provided really good traction on the hard courts. I could slide a bit when trying to stop and change directions, but there was the grip I needed for that initial step toward the ball. When I was on the defensive, I felt like I was covering the court well due to the high level of traction and the lightweight feel that these shoes provide."

Echoing the other testers, Troy said, "There was enough grip to allow me to change directions easily, but I never felt like the outsoles were too sticky. I like a little bit of give to the outsoles whenever I have to slam on the brakes, and I thought these outsoles provided that to me."

Chris felt very comfortable moving around the court in these shoes. He said, "The level of grip versus give was perfect in the Fusion Rev 3s. I was able to come to a quick stop with great control, and I was well balanced for my next shot. When looking to change directions or set off on a quick sprint, I found these shoes to offer excellent grip."

Weight - Score: 4.5

Coming in at 13.1 ounces (size 10.5), these Fusion Rev 3s are lighter and faster than previous versions. The low weight, low-to-the-ground profile and snug fit made these shoes feel like they were built for speed. Jason described, "The Fusion Rev 3s felt light and low to the ground. I'd put these right up there with the Nike Air Zoom Vapor X or Asics Solution Speed FF shoes in terms of their light weight and great court feel."

The weight on the scale doesn't always correlate to how a shoe feels on court, but that wasn't the case with the Fusion Rev 3. Mark explained, "On paper, my threshold for a lightweight tennis shoe is around 14 ounces, so at 13.1 ounces, the Yonex Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3 definitely qualifies as such. Not only do the specs of these shoes indicate a lightweight ride, they provided me with one as well. For those long three-set matches, I appreciated how these shoes did not feel like they were bogging me down."

Despite their reliable support and stability, the Fusion Rev 3s provided a speedy feel for Troy. He said "These shoes felt light and fast, and they didn’t sacrifice support. I even thought these shoes felt a bit lighter than the 13.1-ounce weight would indicate. Coming in with a similar weight to the Nike Air Zoom Cage 3s, these Fusion Rev 3s felt a bit lighter on the court. I loved how stable these shoes felt, but at the same time, they were flexible and speed-oriented."

Like Troy, Chris also found these shoes to offer more than just a lightweight feel. He concluded, "These Power Cushion Fusion Rev 3s felt light and fast on my feet. I think the glove-like fit, supportive ride and responsive cushioning all helped make the shoes feel very fast. Since I was also pleased with the durability, I have to say good job, Yonex, for producing a shoe that not only feels great on court, but also lasts well."

Overall - Score: 4.0