adidas Defiant Generation Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.9

Built with a heavy-duty canvas upper, lots of heel cushioning and an updated fit, the Defiant Generations felt comfortable to all of our playtesters, regardless of foot size. With the narrowest feet on our team, Britany has always found adidas shoes to fit too long and wide, especially in the toe box, and often considers sizing down a half size. She said, "I was happy to see that the fit was updated, and I stayed in my true size 8. The length felt perfect, and although there was still a little room in the toe box, I didn't feel like it was too much. I found the cushioning firm and supportive underfoot, whereas the cushioning around the ankle was plush. This isn't necessarily a knock, but I found the arch support to sit a little back. This didn't cause any discomfort, but it's something I noticed."

Having worn previous versions of these shoes, Michelle was pretty sure she knew what to expect with this update, but she loved the changes adidas made, saying, "They fit much better! The previous Defiant Bounces were wide and long and didn't hold my feet well enough for match situations, but I was really happy with the fit and feel of this new version. These Defiant Generations held my feet the way I would have expected of the Stycons. The ankle collar was plush, and I had no break-in or discomfort. The Bounce cushioning underfoot felt firm and responsive, not too plush or mushy. My tiniest complaint is that the insoles are glued into the shoes, and there were times when I was moving aggressively and I 'fell off' the insoles. However, at this price point, I was super impressed that these shoes felt like a top option from adidas and something I could rely on when competing and practicing. Also, there was a noticeable arch, which was great since we rarely see tennis shoes with high arch support. I do have a higher arch, and I think that support helped me feel like the fit was even more streamlined and suitable for my feet."

Tiffani's wider feet gelled nicely with the original Defiant Bounces, and she still wears them casually, so it was easy for her to compare the two models. She said, "The updated Defiant Generation shoes definitely have a different fit. They're closer to a true medium width and true in length as well. Since I have wider feet, I could feel the squeeze on the sides of my feet for the first couple of hours. The uppers then began to soften, and I started to enjoy the comfort. The cushioning felt soft, especially under my heels, and I liked having some arch support. Most tennis shoes are pretty flat, but these Defiant Generations offered a medium level of arch support. Ventilation was average, so I was removing my shoes and changing my socks after hits, which is what I typically would do during the summer anyway."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.5

Our team really put the Defiant Generations to the test when it came to support and stability. Brittany has always been a fan of bootie construction in tennis shoes since it helps keep her feet in place, but she felt a little let down on court. She explained, "There were multiple times I was pulled out wide and the shoes stopped, but my feet would continue over the edge. I think the uppers were giving too much, and I felt like I was being slowed down. My worries were confirmed at night and the next morning when my previously injured ankle was extremely sore. This happened multiple times when I was playing singles. It wasn't an issue when I was playing doubles and didn't have to move as much."

Tiffani didn't feel fully locked in when she was moving aggressively in the Defiant Generations. She said, "These shoes were adequate during training hits or drills, but it felt like I was sitting on top of the shoes rather than inside them, which is common when shoes are too narrow for me. When this happens, I tend to slide from side to side inside the shoes, and that's what happened with the Defiant Generations. When the uppers loosened up over time they weren't able to hold my feet in place over the shoes. To their credit, though, these shoes didn't allow my ankles to roll when this happened. I just prefer a more secure feel for lateral movements."

Unlike the rest of the team, Michelle found the uppers supportive, but she had some issues with the built-in insole. She said, "The updated uppers gave me more confidence and security when I was moving. I felt like I was hugged snugly in these shoes, and because of that, I felt well supported. As I mentioned above, the only issue I had was a feeling of falling off the insole. If the insoles were removable, cut a bit wider or even thinner, I don't think I would have noticed it as much. There were times when it felt like my feet were fighting to tear the insoles away from the uppers, if that makes sense."

Durability - Score: 3.9

Spending a few weeks playing in the Defiant Generations allowed our team to really try to wear down the outsoles. Tiffani typically plays three or four times a week on hard courts, and she found these shoes durable enough for her needs. She described, "I am not seeing any premature smoothing on my outsoles, but the toes have scuffed up a bit. Since I tend to turn my foot over and drag it on low slice backhands, the court has chewed up the midsole material on the lateral side of my left shoe."

"I was pleasantly surprised by the durability of these shoes," said Michelle. "These Defiant Generations come in at an awesome price, so I was assuming the outsoles might wear down fast. However, after a bunch of time on the court, the outsoles remain intact; I haven't been able to put a dent in them! The uppers are also holding up well, and I feel like my shoes still look fairly new after trying to wear them out for the past month."

Brittany agreed with Michelle's assessment. She added, "After 10-plus hours on a gritty indoor court playing a mix of singles, doubles and practice, these shoes still have lots of tread left on the outsole. There is no smoothing or balding on either shoe, even in my high-wear areas. I will say that I would be a little wary if I were a toe dragger, though. I was starting to see some damage above the toe bumper on the upper as well as part of the midsole on the outer edge of the shoe."

Traction - Score: 4.0

While traction is often overlooked, it is always important to our team, and the Defiant Generations seemed to perform well in this category for everyone. Michelle loved the traction these shoes offered. She said, "They felt fairly tacky in a good way. I sort of expected them to be more slippery, but I was happy to find I could almost stop on a dime if I wanted to. I'm sure they would also aid in hard court sliding, but I just can't pull that off!"

When a pair of tennis shoes fades into the background once you start playing, that's generally a good sign. Tiffani described, "I wasn't ever thinking about the traction level, which is always a bonus. I thought the shoes were gripping well, but the outsoles also allowed me to transition smoothly to the next shot. I have no complaints in this department."

Brittany echoed, "I didn't really think too much about the traction since I was more concerned about the give of the uppers. It was grippy when it needed to be, but I never felt stuck on the court. The traction remained consistent throughout the playtest."

Weight - Score: 3.9

Having tested shoes in all weight categories from adidas, our playtesters felt confident classifying the Defiant Generations in terms of weight. These shoes felt fairly light around the court for Tiffani. She explained, "The Defiant Generations aren't designed to be ultra-fast like the Ubersonics, but they didn't feel heavy. I would classify them as slightly lighter than average."

While Brittany didn't find an especially light or speedy ride in the Defiant Generations, she didn't feel that they weighed her down in any way. She said, "I found the weight to be middle of the road. The Defiant Generations do not feel light, but they never felt heavy or clunky. I was able to move around the court without any restrictions."

"I think these are great mid-weight shoes in the adidas lineup," added Michelle. "They certainly aren't as light as the Ubersonics, but they felt much faster than the Stycons. I never felt weighed down and felt quick enough to pick up the speed when I needed to."

Overall - Score: 3.7