adidas J Wall 1 Performance Review
Not bad for his first model.
Traction – One of the best looking story telling patterns I’ve ever seen, and I had high hopes for them too. While they perform decent, they weren’t ‘the best’ when you consider what else is available within the same – or very close to it – price range. Dusty courts will require you to wipe at every dead ball while clean courts still had some minor issues. Outdoors was a complete letdown as I was sliding all over the place. They aren’t horrible, linear movements and stops are a breeze, but lateral maneuvers left a bit to be desired.
Cushion – adiPrene+ is supposedly running full length, but it felt more like it was only present in the heel. The heel felt like it had more bounce and rebound to it while the rest of the midsole felt firm in comparison. If you play regulated games then you’ll be just fine, but if you run pick-up all night… grab a cushioned insole to go with the shoes.
Materials – I love the materials… and I wish something like this was on the Rose 5. While the mesh upper wont prove to be the most resilient material, it will take care of you without creating any awkward flexing, pinching or hot spots. They are game-ready fresh out the box. Fuse is wrapped around the toe and eyestay as well, so those areas will help protect the material a bit. Each colorway will also feature a slightly different woven upper, so some versions may be slightly more durable and less breathable and vice versa.
Fit – They fit true to size, but Eastbay (I just noticed this today( recommends going down 1/2 size. Mine fit me perfectly, so I don’t think I’d be able to pull off going down at all, but I’m sure each person will have a different experience. Lockdown in the shoe is surprisingly good. For having such a minimalistic upper, they keep you pretty secure from heel to toe. The lockdown wings strap the midfoot down while the top eyelets keep the heel drawn into the back of the shoe. For something that retails at $115, you’d expect something more basic… but these feel like they’re ready for anyone to lace up and take for a spin.
Ventilation – This particular colorway is very well ventilated. Like I mentioned above, some versions have different woven uppers. With that you’ll receive more or less ventilation. If you go with the pairs that are similar to the one I played in then you’ll be happy with the ventilation for sure. If you don’t care either way, then just pick the best looking colorway and have fun.
Support – Most of the support comes from the shoes fit and lockdown. Both were solid and in turn you get a really supportive ride while remaining minimal. The FitFrame does a great job as well, as it replaces adidas’ usual SprintFrame, and I feel this is the best way to go as there was plenty of support, but none of the pain that can be associated with the SprintFrame.
Overall – I like them some days, and other days I could go for something different. Mostly because some days I play for and hour and a half (which is when I like them), and other days I play for a few hours and that’s when I wish I had brought something with better cushion along. The traction issue is something I can look past when I play on clean courts, but dusty courts were a huge letdown. For their price, I feel you can just add $10 and get the ClutchFit Drive and get much more for the money. If these were available for $90 or less then they’d be a great on-court option for those looking to save some cash.
