The adidas Crazylight line has been around for ten years now, and while the model slid off the “light” rails about three years ago, it was still a solid performer in every phase. The line skipped 2017, but it’s back now with new materials and familiar cushioning. How is the Crazylight Boost 2018? Let’s go…
The Crazylight Boost 2018 had serious grip on every surface. The pattern follows the CLB16, with varying shapes and groove spacing, but it is solid, thick, and durable. Stopping power is definitely the strong point and almost too much — the stops are harsh and quick, to the point it almost makes your foot roll over the footbed. Normally, this would be great, but some details in other categories to come will explain the issues with this traction on this shoe.
Dust is never a problem as the wide grooves and hard rubber don’t allow any specks to move in for long. And finally, we have a shoe that should last outdoors for a while. There was not much work put in on concrete during this review, but for the couple of wears that I did run outside, there is no signs of wear or tear anywhere.
Full-length Boost is never a bad thing. By now you know how Boost works — foam pebbles are heat-welded together to provide impact protection and energy return all at once. The Crazylight Boost 2018 is no different, and actually may be the most cushion-y Boost we have seen in basketball because it borders on UltraBoost comfort.
The midsole, at least in the heel, also borders on UltraBoost compression, which leads to instability if you are a heavy heel-striker on landings and plants for jumps. adidas countered this slightly by raising the outsole rubber around the lower half of the Boost to provide some slight containment. However, when coming off screens around the 3-point line and planting off my heel for jumpers, I could feel some compression around the edges. It didn’t make me feel unsafe but it did mean I had to take a split second to solidify my base before going up to shoot.
The forefoot Boost is caged and solid on the lateral side but exposed on the medial side. This offers serious stability for plants and cuts, keeping your forefoot contained, while exposing on the medial allows the Boost to compress and absorb forces. Much like the Harden Vol. 1, the cage works great for court feel and reaction without losing too much cushioning.
adidas went the Rose 8 route on the materials for the Crazylight Boost 2018. Where the CLB15 gave us the first Primeknit in basketball, and the CLB16 featured a jacquard version and a Primeknit version, the Crazylight Boost 18 features…mesh? According to the tech specs on adidas.com, the upper is textile. In hand, it feels like elastane with no stretch, and it is very similar to the first two Energy Boost running models.
While this material was great on the runners, in basketball it just has too much give and very little containment. There is a fused area around the inside of the toebox to help with toe drags and durability and some additional fuse (TechFit?) around the lace holes and lateral forefoot. The heel is thickly padded with a soft foam and liner for comfort. In all, completely basic and comfortable on-foot.
Easiest way to put this: go half a size down. I didn’t, and I should have. However, I refuse. I am a 10.5 in my true size — 99% of my shoes all my life have been a 10.5, and I measure 10.5 on Brannock devices. Therefore, I order 10.5 in every shoe I test unless, like Reeboks, I know they run big on me. The 10.5 in the CLB18 left me with almost an inch of room between the end of my big toe and the end of the toebox.
Transition suffered because of the extra room. The rest of the shoe was equally roomy and the simple lacing system did very little to hold my foot down. I tried to pull the laces tight to stop movement but as soon as I let them loose to pull the next set, the previous set would expand out and loosen again.
Heel slip was a huge issue in the early versions of the CLB16 (for some reason my later black/white version was better in that aspect than the first white version). In the Crazylight Boost 2018, most, not all, of the heel slip is gone, thanks to the variable lacing at the collar. Three lace holes allow you to pick and choose the set-up that works best.
However, at least on my foot, no matter how I laced or how tight I pulled, I never felt secure in the heel. Maybe a half-size down would have erased the extra space all around the shoe, but then that isn’t a proper fit. Wide-footers will love this shoe because it’s one of the few shoes today that should fit all but the widest of feet with no issues.
Let’s start with the good: the midfoot of the Crazylight Boost 2018 is supported by the same TPU shank we had on the Rose 8 and it’s fantastic. Running from the middle of the heel to the middle of the forefoot, it supports the shoe and keeps the shoe from bending in on itself.
The heel counter is low and non-restrictive, which would feel great on a faster, lighter shoe, but the CLB18 has a heavy midsole and soft upper materials — not exactly a lightweight (it’s something I haven’t figured out, because the Crazylight Boost hasn’t been light in a while). Couple all of that with the fact this is a lowtop, and heel slip and movement is a given, especially with the satin-slick lining in the heel area.
Eventually, the heel slip was minimized but heel area is soft and flexible and never gave a sense of locked-in security. The padding is too soft to hold the foot in and lacing super-tight gave some foot-numbing lace pressure across the top of the foot. I changed the lacing pattern up to stop the pressure and got even more heel slip, so lose-lose. It wasn’t like I could take the shoe off without untying (like another shoe I am currently reviewing), but doubt crept in, and if a shoe isn’t worry-free it ain’t for me.
The only thing saving the stability while playing from being completely lost was the containment of the forefoot. The cage comes up over the outside of the foot and holds the foot over the footbed in that area. If you wore and enjoyed that area of the Harden Vol. 1, the Crazylight Boost 2018 should work for you.
So close. Again, the downfall of the Crazylight Boost 2018 is heel fit. Arguably the best Boost cushioning we’ve seen, durable traction that works indoors and outdoors, and a comfortable upper on-foot all have the makings of a borderline great shoe. But, the fit kills it. Again, maybe a half-size down would solve the problems, but I don’t have endless funds to try out 15 different sizes and see what works. If I order a 10.5, it should fit like a 10.5.
If you enjoy bouncy Boost and killer traction with a running-shoe feel in the upper, go with your Harden Vol.c1 size and give the Crazylight Boost 2018 a try. If you need lockdown and confidence-inspiring support in the heel, try the Harden Vol. 2 or Rose 8.
Heel slip is an easy fix — really, it is. Hopefully, the Crazylight Boost 2019 solves the issue and we can finally get the killer team lowtop we have been looking for from adidas.
Since Adidas is “European” sizing I suggest go with your dress shoes size, BR or EUR but not US, this should fix the sizing problem most of the time… I love to wear boost to ball, but the lacing and fit are always the nightmares except D Rose line…Personal played in
Rose 5 Excellent, Rose 6 Good, Rose 7 Excellent…
Crazy Explosive 16 BAD…..Crazy Explosive 17 OK……Crazylite boost 16 BAD…
Waiting for my Rose 8 but not sure if it will be good since D Rose himself twisted ankle twice already.
personally, i felt the crazy explosive low 16’s fit to be on point. i did go up half size though since i couldnt get my foot in the collar. but once i got it in there, my foot wasnt going anywhere even with the almost half inch space in the toe box.
is this a good outdoor option
Yes, very
I think you have to wear them in .5 down and reassess. I don’t think anybody who knows Adidas can disagree about their sizing and heel slip issues. That’s been well documented.
But you’re gauging fit on a shoe that wasn’t in your most appropriate size. You said yourself you should have gone .5 down, but you refuse…? I can’t accurately judge how tights or bball shorts or compression tops perform if I get the wrong size, regardless of what size I usually wear.
I refuse because I bought a 10.5 because that is what I wear in kobes, lebrons, roses, curry’s, hardens – I am a 10.5. If the shoe doesn’t fit in my normal size, then fit sucks. When you but a pair of basketball shorts in a size medium in a brand you buy all the time and the next medium fits like an XL, are you saying “fit sucks” or are you saying “maybe I bought the wrong size?”
On top of that, I don’t have another $120 to spend.
No Bro, and in all honesty you should take this review down, doesnt make sense.
If you buy gap jeans they dont fit the same as club monaco, furthermore this is the very thing that people were waiting to see if it would be fixed, I dont even bother buying my nike sneaker size,11.5, in adidas especially for performance.
I play in the clb2016 primeknit now , copping the kobe nxt ad day one!
Reading is fundamental – I said I was a 10.5 in Adidas shoes too, or did you miss that? So, if I buy levis in a 30 waist, for 15 years, and all of a sudden my 30 don’t fit, and I didn’t change weight, is it my fault? Nope, sizing is off.
Just like these. I wear a 10.5 in 3 pairs of dame 4, 2 pairs of harden 1 and 2, rose 7, rose 6, rose 8, Explosive 16 and 17. Now the clb18 is too big in my size. That is a SIZING ISSUE, A FIT ISSUE, and fit sucks if I can’t order my normal size and feel confident. How can I recommend them to consumers if I don’t know fit/size? I can’t. Take THAT down.
He started off that portion of the review stating to go a half-size down though. His personal reasons for not doing so make sense especially if they weren’t available in store at the time of purchase.
I’m with you on the 16s. I got jacquard pair I’ve been sitting on for months waiting for outdoor use!
Adidas really needs to address their wacky sizing issues, but to say the “fit sucks” knowing after having tried the shoes on that the size you bought doesn’t fit you, is pretty silly. Return the shoes, hold off on the review… or write a separate piece on how Adidas sizing is a big problem. Don’t be reductive and lazy.
The fit doesn’t suck, you just refuse to adjust to Adidas’ size chart…which is totally your prerogative and if you wanna do stuff like that, nobody is going to stop you.
But don’t categorize the fit as sucking when you already know with as many shoes as you get per year, that Adidas sizing doesn’t make any sense and lacks uniformity across the board.
Ok, Joe – first, i didn’t say the fit sucked in the review. I clearly stated go half-size down. Normal consumer brain, the larger shoe buying audience out there, may buy 2 or 3 shoes a year. They order THE SAME SIZE THE HAVE BOUGHT IN THE LAST 5 ADIDAS SHOES, just like i did, and it is too big. “Maybe i should order a half down because i know adidas sizing?” No, that makes NO SENSE. In the last 7 months I have bought – BOUGHT – the CE17, the rose 8 (2 pairs), the dame 4 (3 pairs), the harden vol.2, and the CLB18. Only 1, O-N-E shoe didn’t fit. That it NOT a reviewer/consumer problem, it is a sizing and fit issue. And if they cant get it right, I’m not wasting more time and money. You have the review – I told you to size half down. If you don’t, then fit will suck.
As far as lazy, c’mon, we do these reviews after playing for multiple sessions for multiple hours and then sit and write for a couple of hours and try to convey our thoughts so you can best understand and purchase the shoe. All you have to do is read the words and decide. Why don’t YOU but the clb18 a half size down from normal, spend your money on a shoe that may or may not fit, and then tell us how it works?
Dude, I wouldn’t have even commented had it not been for the fact that you said the fit “sucked”. You DEFINITELY said that the fit sucked. A few people called you out on it and MAGICALLY the word disappeared from the entire review.
You clearly edited the review.
Which is fine because it is an acknowledgement that multiple commenters were justified in calling you out on it.
But at least put an asterisk somewhere in the review stating something along the lines of “this review has been edited from its original posting to reflect to reviewer’s true feelings regarding fit” instead of sneakily editing the review and then turning around and calling me a liar.
Kinda ridiculous of you to pull that stunt…
Hi Joe
The review was published at 11:10am and had not been edited since. Luckily the back end of the site keeps track of all that stuff along with the time stamps on our automatic Twitter and FB pushes once an article goes live. I can assure you that there were no edits made to the review after it was published. Maybe you interpreted what was written as the reviewer saying the fit sucks, however, that isn’t what was written nor was it ever.
As for the sizing issue — adidas is known for messing up sizing on most of its footwear. If a shoe is not available to try on in a retail store, which most of these newer adidas Hoops models are not, then going with your true size is usually the best options as its the safest bet. Additionally, whatever someones foot measures on the Brannock Foot-Measuring Device is what the person’s true size is. That is what every shoe size should be based on as its the only universal foot measurement guide. If a shoe does not fit based on that measurement then the shoe, unfortunately, does not have a proper fit. This is then something that a reviewer or consumer would want to point out so others purchasing the shoe don’t wind up with a pair that doesn’t fit them properly. This is something brands and retailers should be doing, but most do not, or do not do accurately.
Everyone here does their best to give information that is as accurate as possible. In this case the reviewer simply stated that if you plan on buying a pair then you will want to go down half a size from your true, undisputed, foot measurement size provided by the Brannock Foot-Measuring Device.
Thanks!
NW
And you are clearly a misguided, opinionated fool who wants to project words where they weren’t. I said in the comments and on my IG, where you have been starting this with me (yeah, smashbandicoot_ – deny it). This review has not been changed one time since it was published. If you like the shoe, fije, but I stand by my review. If you don’t like it, go watch or read someone else. Which, honestly, is probably who you are anyway. As far as multiple people calling me out, well, where? 2 on Here? You on IG? Get a clue.
I’m not on instagram, no idea what you’re making reference to, however the word ‘multiple’ means: having or involving several parts, elements, or members… so are we counting the guy above that outright demanded that you take this review down or not?
Add in Dan Solo, myself and whoever it is that you’re referring to on instagram and thats 4.
Sounds like I’m not on an island here.
Seems like its you who needs to get a clue.
Friendly suggestion: Order two pairs of Adidas, try them on, send the pair that doesn’t fit back and get a refund. Very simple.
I don’t care to address this matter with you any further as it is clear you will bang your head against a brick wall until you feel like you are validated- so good day, sir!
The bball shorts example is a great one and it happens all the time to me, especially with Jordan brand. This is DeezyVSOP from NT by the way, so we go way way back and don’t get me wrong here. For me, I would say the shorts fit big or small, and then I would get the size that fits me best. Just recently, I ordered an Adidas Dame shirt online. I have a few already in L, but the picture online says the model is 6 2″ and wears a L. I’m 5 8″ so I went with M, which is perfect.
To me, fit is about how a shoe fits when you have the correct size. I would say you’re commenting more about how Adidas is consistently inconsistent with their sizing issues (to me, a lot of their bball shoes run .5 big). But if you wore the CLB 2018 in .5 down, which seems to be the correct size for you regardless of whether it’s your usual size, you probably would have had a better experience. Then your perspective on fit, at least how I perceive the word, would be different. For me, I try not to think in terms of normal size or TTS anymore, since I wear 9.5 in a lot of shoes and 10 in a lot of shoes.
Example:
SN Creator – 10
Rose 1 – 10
Rose 2 – 9.5
Rose 2.5 – 10
Rose 3 – 9.5
Rose 6 – 9.5
I can recall one review by NW I think where he had to get another pair of a shoe in .5 down to really review it because they were simply too large, and it changed his entire review. I think that’s what people here are trying to say and everyone knows Adidas is all over the damn place. Sizing and fit is by far the biggest downside to ordering stuff online.
Deezy, thanks for commenting. And yes, the main point here is the problem everyone had 2 years ago was with got on the clb16, as well as other Adidas shoes, and it still is a problem. This, to me, is inexcusable, and needs to be pointed out.
I think the sizing issue with Adidas is not so much the need to go half down, but the consistency in making that call.
CLB16 – Half down no question my *perceived* TTS
Harden V1 – I should’ve gone FULL size down
Rose 5/6/7 – what I consider my TTS feels big but half down feels too snug
CE16 – TTS (I have to tie tight at the collar but it wears without slop)
I think in respect to a review, though, you should do it at the best-fitting size unless it’s entirely out of your control (like, you can’t return it). In reality, I half-down with most BrandBlack pairs, current Way of Wade, even some Nike’s (LJ15 as an example). I like to set Nike/Jordan as my baseline because of the general consistency otherwise, but I don’t even have a definite casual or cycling shoe size. I don’t think there’s really a “true size” in the end. Shoes can come long, short, wide or narrow…regardless of the number printed in there. Logic dictates you just take the one that fits right.
If these could have been tried on, I agree, and I would have went half down. No one carries these in store though, so how does anyone know what to order? That’s why I scored fit down – you’ve been here long enough to know us, so this isn’t really an argument with you, just explaining. If a consumer bought these, like I did, without trying on, fit could suck because you would guess and be 50/50. Makes no sense – make the shoes the same freaking size.
Wide footer friendly, you say? Now I’m intrigued. My one big problem with the 16s was they were very tight. I’d like to try them on now, especially with the outdoor-ready traction.
I went down half a size with the 16s, but honestly I probably should’ve went down a full size. That thing was long. This is probably the same.
I don’t understand why it’s so hard for ALL companies to have consistent sizing. Get the engineering and production people together, and determine how many mm each size will represent (size 9, will be x mm, size 10 will be x mm). And then use that across all your footwear lines.
Nice review Duke. Your assessment of the cushioning, containment, traction, and support are spot on. Fit is a tricky thing in most shoes since we all don’t have the same feet. That said I don’t see how anyone could play competitive ball in these in their true Nike/JB size. I have a pair of the black/golds and went 1/2 size down based on early feedback from you and others. Width, length, and heel lockdown are all very good at this sizing. I know I’d be swimming 1/2 size up in my true size and would not feel confident playing competitive games in them. Also, the upper of these have a stretchy feel similar to the non PK CE 16 lows. These have less fuse overlays which is fine 95-99% of the time. On really hard cuts or intense side to side slides on D I feel the upper stretch a bit. It doesn’t feel unstable, but it does give me a tiny bit of pause. I wonder if over time I’ll stop noticing it (desensitization) or if it will get worse if the materials stretch out more with continued heavy use. Overall I still really like the shoes and will keep them in my rotation. They won’t by my go to shoes which is still a toss up between the CE16 lows and Harden 1s (with the Harden 2s and XX8 SEs close behind).
Back to sizing…I’m not sure what adidas is doing with sizing since half of their recent basketball shoes are TTS for me and the other half I must go 1/2 size down. I’m constantly ordering 2 pairs of shoes off ADC with each new release to find my right size. I’m blessed with the ability to do so and realize most are not. This puts additional burden on the consumer and looses them some customers.
Are you on Niketalk? I think we talked about these the other day.
Yep. si3n4 over on NT. Used to also be a regular contributor to the “ask a kicksologist” thread on SC before that went away a year or two ago.
Really appreciate what you, NW, and the other reviewers are doing on this site. It must be hard to not respond to all the BS comments you get. best of luck.
Good to see other NT members here!
That’s my point, though – i ordered what size I thought would fit me best, like any consumer would, and it didn’t fit. Looking at this as a casual shoe buyer, not like us sneakerheads who know Adidas, this is a confusing, confounding, solvable issue. And you’re right – I’m not wasting anymore time on this shoe. However, and I mean this honestly, I would love to hear the thoughts of some of you since you now know to go a half size down.
I understand the hassle in having to return and reorder, but a consumer also wouldn’t commit to a shoe size that didn’t fit unless they really couldn’t get another.
And the general point some of the comments are trying to make is similar to what Dan pointed out: Nightwing did follow up half-size down, I think more than once. The one I remember was the Rose 6, which then ended up being one of his favorites at the time — and I think originally he was kinda so-so on the shoe apart from cushion and traction. That’s a pretty big jump in impression. Granted it was the PK build, but I know others went half-down (including myself) and it changed things up.
Nonetheless there is merit in review that carries through with the non-ideal size. Definitely boldfaces the need for any prospective consumer to order half-size down. The assessment on Traction/Cushion/Materials also stands regardless of size.
And honestly, that was kind of my point – the clb16 had huge issues with sizing/fit, and 2 years later, same problem. They couldn’t get it fixed in 2 years. I will say, at half size down, I think the shoe would play great, but I wanted to highlight that Adidas still didn’t get it right or consistent.
I agree with this. I will always avoid shoes that requires you to go half a size up or down.
Every time I had to do that, there was something that I was giving up in terms of fit. I tend to have more blisters on shoes that requires me to go half a site down. When I go half a size up, I feel like the shoes is always on the verge is slipping off my feet (even though it never happens) just the feel of the shoe is not the same.
I’ve learned my lesson and will always go for shoes true to size. With all the options available, you should not settle for less.
This shoe Fit is a Starting 5 ranked for me since there’s no more heel slip. Had no problem with my size UK 8 back in CB16 , so does in my new CB18, fits perfectly!
Traction: Hall of Fame, Cushion: All Star, Materials: 6th man, Fits: Starting 5, Support: Starting 5
(from me, a user which wear a right size shoe)
wow, the FIT seems to bring out ALOT of passion in folks!!! thanks Duke for the review. appreciate your time, effort, opinion. as someone who works for a shoe company, it’s the company’s responsibility to be correct about its sizing. we measure our shoes ALL THE TIME. sometimes we’re on & other times we’re not, BUT an inch longer than the size of the shoe is unacceptable. my company doesn’t expect our customers to have to figure out what we mean by 10.5 and we as consumers shouldn’t have to. thanks again for the review & keep up the good work!!!!!
Duke, you say “Wide-footers will love this shoe because it’s one of the few shoes today that should fit all but the widest of feet with no issues.”. Will that still be true when going down half a size?
May I ask how much does it weigh? Recently got clb18 as a gift, dont know why its called crazy light, my 10.5 size clb18 weigh 15.25oz.