Adidas Craylight 2: Performance Review

Adidas again is not shying away from the challenge of making the lightest basketball shoe. Weighing at 9.5 oz on a size 9, is it really light done right? Here is my personal take on the Adidas Crazylight 2.

Materials: 4/5

Sprintweb used here feels a bit plasticky. Some break-in time is needed. 

Sprintframe again was used to provide torsional support. Crazylight 2 is also miCoach compatible.

Adidas was able to reduce the shoe’s weight but somehow made it more supportive than the previous model, which is a plus for me. Again, Sprintweb was used on the upper and appears more plasticky to me. That said, it added a bit of protection. However, some break-in time is necessary. I felt some pinching on the upper where the shoe flexes. It felt frustrating especially if you are the type of player who buys shoes and plays in them right away, expecting the best right off the bat. The shoe’s breathability was not like the previous model. For me, the Crazylight 1 was the most breathable shoe that I have played in so far. Sprintframe appears more supportive this time but didn't feel too stiff.

Cushion: 4/5

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The creases show how reliable EVA can be.

This time I preferred the thinner insole.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I guess this was Adidas’ motto in this shoe in terms of cushioning. EVA was once again used to provide a good cushion, which we can see in almost all of their basketball sneakers. It felt good and it provided impact protection. Positions 1-3 would benefit a lot from this shoe, as most of them rely on responsiveness in their play style.

Adidas again provided an extra insole for those who might want a thicker insole that would give them enough comfort. This time, I find the thinner insole enough for me so I choose to play in them more than the thicker one.   

Traction: 4.5/5

Traction pattern is very good and the rubber used is thicker than the previous model.

Traction pattern was good and kept me confident enough to pull those quick stops. Whether doing a crossover or curling when you are chasing someone on defense, the Crazylight 2 keeps you covered in the traction department. The rubber used in the shoe is thicker now, so this is also a plus to those who are playing outdoors most of the time. Just keep in mind when playing outdoors, the court attracts dirt more so you’ll need to swipe the sole often as it attracts dirt, thus sacrificing the shoe’s grip.

Fit: 4/5

Extra laces to those who want more secure fit.

Asymmetrical heel cup for additional support.

Fit is true to size but again, it runs a bit narrow widthwise. There is enough wiggle room in the toe area but the narrow width could turn down some users. It would be wise to test them in stores to have your proper sizing. Support would come from the Sprintweb upper once broken in; and torsional and Achilles support would come from the Sprintframe. They even adjusted the heel height asymmetrically making it higher on the lateral side to help prevent ankle rolls.

Price: 4/5

You can still get these in stores, more or less on the sale rack.

Conclusion:

Once the upper material has been broken in, I can say for sure that the Crazylight 2 is better than the previous model. It has been upgraded by modifying some features of its predecessor, making it more suitable for a fast play style and leaving some of your worries like burning them quickly outdoors or being stepped on because of the upper material being too soft and not giving enough support during those quick stops. Also, considering the fact that these are on sale racks surely makes you want to consider and give these shoes a try.   

Grade: 4.1/5 

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