Adidas Crazylight 1: Performance Review

The Adidas Crazylight 1 is (obviously) the first shoe of the Crazylight series. Adidas has shown how a lighter-weight shoe performs on court. This shoe has been around for the past couple of years, and this review is based on my use of the shoe during a prolonged period of time. I know many other people have reviewed this shoe, but I figured I should start this blog with a post about the shoe that first got me interested in the finer details of basketball shoes.

So, is being light the way to go? Check out my personal review on the Adidas Crazylight 1.

Materials: 3.5/5

Sprintweb technology implemented on the Crazylight 1's upper. Breathability is one of the shoes' highlight.

Sprintframe to prevent the shoe from overflexing.

Adidas used their Sprintweb technology in this model, giving the shoe a minimal look and feel. With this, they were able to shave a lot of the weight. At 9.8 oz (size 9), Adidas touted this model as the lightest basketball shoe during that year. Players who preferred mobility on the court will benefit from this as the lightweight materials encourage players to move around the court more. Sprintframe also serves as the shoe’s main support. Some might feel it to be too stiff while others might prefer this minimal setup, so it is advisable to try the shoe in stores.

Of course, having less material will take its toll on protection –if you get stepped on, you will feel their weight due to the light materials.

Cushion: 4/5

Those who prefer more cushion, Adidas included an extra insole dubbed as "Crazy Comfort".

EVA foam doing a fine job for impact protection.

The Crazylight 1’s cushion is made from EVA, Adidas’ go-to-mode of cushioning. Players are assured that their feet and knees will be taken care of as EVA has been tried and tested for impact protection and compliments the shoe well so players may be bolder in pushing their fast play style to the limit. Adidas also gave the players another option in the cushion department by providing another insole with every purchase of the shoe. Players who prefer a fast-play style can use the “Crazy Light” insole, while those who need a bit more protection from hard landings will benefit from the “Crazy Comfort” insole. Personally, I prefer the “Crazy Comfort” insole because I find the Crazy Light insole to be too thin for me and I want to make sure I get the best protection I can get from the shoe.

Traction: 4/5

Traction pattern covers most of your moves on court.  

The shoe features a unique traction pattern, which is particularly helpful for players who prefer a fast-pace playing style. However, I felt that the rubber used in these was too soft for outdoor play. So, just a piece of advice to those who play mostly on outdoor courts:  The shoe’s outsole might not last as long as you would expect.

Fit: 3.5/5

Fit is true-to-size, though widthwise runs on the narrow side. Wide-footed folks might want to try these on first to ensure a good fit. I’ve felt some pinching on the sides of my feet due to the Sprintframe. This is another reason why I preferred the Crazy Comfort insole to remedy this. Good fitting comes from the Sprintweb upper, which is soft and doesn’t need any break-in time. The Sprintframe provides torsional support and adequate Achilles heel support.

Price: 4/5

Bought the shoe from Toby's Sports back in 2011 for Php6,995. You can find these shoes now at different outlet stores for a low price since this is the first of the Crazylight series.

Conclusion:

At 9.8 oz, the Crazylight 1 encourages you to be more active on the court. Although there are some issues that prevent the shoe from performing to its fullest potential, solutions like swapping the insoles out (from the Crazy Light insole to the Crazy Comfort insole) might help the player to still enjoy wearing these, giving them the confidence to be more aggressive on the court.

GRADE: 3.8/5 

ANALYKIX GRADE: