Performance Review: adidas Crazyquick

The need for speed has been the design catalyst for basketball footwear in recent years, with shoe companies in competition to cut weight. While adidas has run the race with the Crazy Light franchise, the brand with three stripes sought athlete and consumer insight to change the game. When asking Facebook fans if they would rather be quick or fast on the court, ‘quick’ was the overwhelming response, and soon, the Crazyquick was born.

Worn by the likes of John Wall, Iman Shumpert, and Damian Lillard in the pro game, the adiPure Crazyquick is designed to keep quick players on their toes and on top of their game. In this Performance Review, we take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of this new release basketball shoe. Is this model for you? Get a better idea by reading our review below.

Lockdown: The ultimate strength of the Crazyquick is its lockdown. While other attributes prove more polarizing, the shoe fits like a glove. A TECHFIT upper is snug, supportive, and soft. Also aiding in the fit is the tongue. The lower half of the tongue is sewn into the upper, while the top half tucks behind the eyelets. For the player reliant on quickness and first step, this shoe is a sure winner and shines bright in this category.

Cushioning: Those looking for superior cushioning and comfort won’t like the Crazyquick. Those looking for superior court feel will love the Crazyquick. The PUREMOTION midsole is the marquee technical attribute on the Crazyquick and displays the biggest trade offs. While wearers won’t feel the cushion or bounce they’re accustomed to in competitors, they will feel the court. This may be a first for some players. For my game, it was a plus, and I liked it. I think players on the lighter and more active side that play on their toes will also enjoy this feature. For those that play more flat-footed or enjoy ample amounts of cushioning, this shoe won’t meet those needs.

Traction: During my first few runs in the Crazyquick, I thought the traction was great. I played on indoor surfaces and had no issues with cutting, stopping, or starting. I later took the shoes to an outdoor court and was again impressed. Transitioning back to a dusty indoor surface, the traction did not hold up as well. Originally, I had this attribute at a 5, so those that play on only one surface may give the shoe higher marks.

Responsiveness: A high score in lockdown translates to a strong score in responsiveness. The combination of the TECHFIT upper and PUREMOTION midsole pair extremely well for little to no lag time. For both jumping and changing direction, the responsiveness impressed.

Breathability: In general, I’m a fan of the TECHFIT upper. While its snug fit scored big points in the lockdown department, it made for lackluster breathability. As you can see, the shoe features no visible ventilation. I wouldn’t say this impaired play, but it could definitely be improved upon.

Durability: After hoop sessions indoors and outdoors, the Crazyquick showed no signs of slumping on the upper or interior. Where the shoe did seem to wear down was the outsole, as discussed in the traction column. I think these shoes are built to last, but I was hoping the outsole would wear better when switching surfaces.

Support: My biggest qualm with the Crazyquick was SPRINTFRAME support, which may seem odd by the score. The shoe did its job in regard to sturdiness and safety, with a couple awkward lands working out better than they could’ve. My only issue was that I could feel the Sprintframe poking into my ankle/foot when cutting on the baseline. This didn’t result in any cuts or bruises, nor was it constant, but it was a distraction and did provide some discomfort.

When playing in the Crazyquick, I did not feel an enhanced capability to create space between my opponents, but that may speak more to my basketball abilities. The lockdown and flexibility make for quick cuts and quick first steps, which is always important to me. On the flip side, I found the PUREMOTION midsole to be incredible on defense, especially in transition situations. The flexibility is great for backpedaling on the break while having the planting power to say in front of your man. For the guard guarding a guard, the shoe shines and the technology flourishes the most.

All in all, its the PUREMOTION midsole that makes the Crazyquick a polarizing shoe. Fast guards that play on their toes and dig in on defense will appreciate the benefits of the new technology the most. Big men, stationary shooters, and bouncy forwards that demand more padding and return from their sneakers will not like these. Because of this, the shoe will grade anywhere on the spectrum based on the player type. This shoe is definitely geared towards guards, and quick ones at that.

As a guard, my biggest complaint regarding the shoe was the ankle rubbing from the SPRINTFRAME support. No one wants their shoe to distract or discomfort them while playing. I’ll glady play in this shoe again, but this problem can definitely be improved upon. Aside from that, I was really hoping the traction would perform better when switching surfaces and playing on a dusty court. At the end of the day, court feel and fit make these a rather ideal guard shoe. With some updates to breathability and traction the next Crazyquick could be fantastic.

The adidas Crazyquick is available now at adidas. Click the next page for in-game images of the Crazyquick in the NBA and NCAA.