Feather mass, aggressive advertising, and progressive design made the adidas adiZero Crazy Light the most buzzed about basketball shoe of the season?s second half. Worn by Three Stripe starters around the league, the Crazy Light caught the attention of hoopers worldwide while putting competitors in check.
At 9.8 oz they were marketed as the lightest ever, but on court could they really do it? A Derrick Rose dumping and fear of the unproven caused many skeptics but didn?t dull commercial success. We put the latest and lightest from adidas to the test on the court. Read on to see how they did.
Lockdown: Unfortunately for the Crazy Light this review begins with its biggest weakness. While the Sprintframe upper is surprisingly strong in structure it holds shape more than it hugs. This leaves excess space around the toe box and midfoot. Adding the padding provided around the ankle could fix this problem but would of course add ounces. As a guard that relies heavily on first step and constant movement lockdown is always the most important aspect of a basketball shoe for me. While these don?t score high in that department from a feel standpoint, I can?t say they let me down on court too much.
Traction: The outsoles might not tell a story or paint a picture but they do get it done. These held their own for multiple runs outdoors in the Texas summer heat. Low ride and a grippy outsole made for solid tread when running, stopping, cutting, and sliding. Not the best ever but certainly no complaints.
Cushioning: High tech? Flashy? Neither describe adiZero cushioning yet it?s still among the best in the game. Low, light, and flexible, the EVA sole is a win for run-n-gun guards reliant on speed and court feel. From a performance standpoint, adidas has been quietly killing it in this department for a while (see adidas TS Heat Check review). Players that like to get up and down the court won?t be mad at these.
Responsiveness: Aforementioned lockdown issues really hurt the Crazy Light in this department. The adiZero cushioning and traction pull it together for the most part, but I can think of a couple times when a stutter-step or jump stop led to some moving around in the shoe. Balancing weight and responsiveness is a race that all brands are in, but adidas can take the lead as quickly as anyone else.
Support: Coming off my first ankle injury in years, I was honestly hesitant to play in these. Props to adidas, they didn’t let me down. I can thankfully say these held up great and offered awesome support. A padded ankle and steady sole provide the anchors for a Sprintweb upper that performs strong and flexible rather than frail and flimsy. These play lighter and more supportive than many other similar attempts seen in the industry.
Breathability: The Crazy Light is also crazy cool on court. I can?t think of more of a gauntlet for this category than playing outdoors in 100?+ Texas summer heat. No one passed out after the unlacing of these shoes and no puddles poured from my socks. These smell fresh enough to keep in my apartment which is rare based on the season and number of wears.
Durability: These hold up on court, even the rigors of an outdoor game, but probably won?t last much longer than a school season or year of pick-up runs. The Crazy Light upper is surprisingly strong and stays looking pretty new, but my anticipation is that over time the cushion will give way like any other shoe on the market.
Overall: The adidas adiZero Crazy Light is exactly that, crazy light. A week of runs in them will build trust in the new technology and make your other basketball shoes feel like winter boots. These are ready to play in today, but a few updates (namely lockdown) could put the next generation model in a league of its own. While players like Josh Smith and Wilson Chanlder have worn these on court I still feel this model will be most favored by lighter guards. As a player that plays with my feet more than anything else I can attest they?re great for a high tempo game and that peers with similar styles have adopted the Crazy Light too. There?s no saying a big man couldn?t sport them, I just don?t see EVA and Sprintframe being the most drop-step friendly combo. This silo should serve as an introduction to a new era for adidas basketball and a new industry standard for weight.
Available now in team colors at Shop adidas.
