New Again: Adidas's Barricade Gets An Update

The adidas Barricade is the longest-running performance tennis silhouette in the sport for a reason: its durability and playability. Some iterations have felt a bit stiff and heavy, though, so the fresh approach the German brand has brought to the latest iteration is exciting, to say the least. The new Barricade 14 comes with an entirely updated last, a fresh approach to foam, and additional comfort-focused points throughout, giving the shoe (which released in early December) a new, more maneuverable feel 25 years after its initial release. 

Annette Steingass, a senior director at adidas, tells me that feedback on the Barricade revealed that they needed to “elevate the fit and feel of the model,” all while keeping the legendary stability the shoe franchise has become known for. “The main focus was to improve the immediate comfort from first wear and provide an overall more agile and dynamic shoe that meets the needs of the increased physicality and speed of tennis,” she says. 

It all comes with a completely new last—or mold used to make the shoe—updating the fit of the new Barricade. Adidas then brought in its Lightstrike Pro foam in the forefoot, meant to improve energy return, while keeping the Repetitor foam in the heel for shock absorption. “It’s essentially to support the demands of the modern game,” Steingass says about the foams, “and provide a snappier response off that key part of the [fore]foot.”

Adidas added touches of comfort, from cushioning in the tongue to a cushioned collar, and introduced a new outsole construction borrowed from the brand’s running shoes. A new “chassis claw” construction is meant to retain the stability the line has featured, even with the updates. So far, adidas has launched the $170 sneaker in a black-on-white design. Let’s hope more colors are forthcoming.