So, you’re in the market for a new pair of squash shoes. If protection, stability and cushioning are at the top of your wish list, the Adidas Stabil Next Gen could be the shoe for you. We’ve put these shoes through their paces (literally!) to bring you our full review.
A quick background on the Adidas Stabil Next Gen
The Next Gen is the latest iteration in Adidas’s ‘Stabil’ range of shoes. They’re new for 2020 and replace the outgoing Adidas Stabil X.
While the Adidas Stabil Next Gen is primarily marketed as a Handball, Volleyball and Netball shoe, these shoes have always been very popular with squash players. Look closely and you’ll see Adidas has included squash in the shoe’s specifications, so it’s safe to say these are intended for use on a squash court.
Adidas Stabil Next Gen – Design
Adidas has gone to town on the design of the Stabil Next Gen. They’ve streamlined the look of these shoes, where the older Stabil X looked quite bulky, almost utilitarian, the Next Gen looks far cleaner and more modern. However, this isn’t a case of form over function – the Next Gen retains the core features and principles of older Stabil shoes that made them so popular.
Adidas has introduced a forged Primeknit upper, reducing the weight of the shoes and giving them a real foot-hugging feel. The overall weight has reduced from 420g, to 395g (for a UK size 9.5). They’ve also introduced a lace-locking system, ensuring a snug fit around your feet as you tie the shoes.
I’ve seen some mixed reactions to the way the Stabil Next Gen look. They’re definitely one of the more ‘out there’ looking trainers you’ll see on the squash court. I do however think that photos don’t do these shoes much justice. On feet, I personally think they look great.
Adidas Stabil Next Gen – Comfort
Comfort is a bit of a double-edged-sword with the Adidas Stabil Next Gen. On the whole they’re incredibly comfortable, albeit with a few caveats to take into account.
The good
The Boost sole is, and always will be, amazing. The way these shoes absorb shocks to the heel is second to none. I’ve suffered with Plantar Fasciitis in the past and have had often resorted to wearing insoles in other shoes. These shoes feel like they have the same amount of cushioning built straight into the shoe. The rebound energy is fantastic, which is especially useful for squash where a large amount of lunging onto your heels is required.
The forged Primeknit upper really does hug your feet – even though they’re not the lightest shoes, you definitely don’t notice the weight thanks to the way they’re designed. I’ve seen people describing these as ‘an extension of your foot’, and I’d be inclined to agree.
The not-so-good
I’d strongly advise going at least half a size up in these shoes. I’m typically a UK9, and decided to go for a 9.5, which was absolutely the right choice. I’m confident if I’d gone any smaller I’d be in a certain amount of discomfort.
They’re very slim fitting shoes, so if you have wide feet, they’ll definitely feel like a squeeze. I got a blister on the inside edge of my right foot after wearing these shoes for the first time. I’ve never had a blister there before, so this was a slight bug-bear for me.
I also found it very easy to over-tighten the laces, this caused the top of the shoe to dig into my foot. I usually tie my shoes as tight as possible, though with the Stabil Next Gen, I had to consciously tie them looser to get the most comfortable feel. Once I’d figured this out, the shoes felt great.
Adidas Stabil Next Gen – Stability
There’s no surprise here – The Adidas Stabil Next Gen scores very highly when looking at stability (as their name would suggest!). The shoes feature an inner cage that reinforces the shoe and increases the sturdiness of their upper material. This combination is fantastic for the lateral (side-to-side) movements required for squash.
The non-marking rubber sole features deep grooves and is made from a really grippy material. I found no issues with slipping or sliding when lunging to play a shot, and was able to make short, sharp movements when required.
I did however find the older Stabil X shoe offered a little more protection and stability around the upper ankle area. The redesigned shape of the Stabil Next Gen feels like more of the support at the back of the shoe is focused towards the lower ankle/heel area. The Stabil X had much more of a ‘high top’ feel, with more upper-ankle support.
If you need the greatest amount of ankle protection possible, the Adidas Crazyflight Mid could be the shoe for you (if you can find them in stock). These were also introduced in 2020, and appear to be much closer in design to the older Stabil X.
Adidas Stabil Next Gen – Durability
Durability is a tough one to measure with squash shoes, as this can be very dependant on the wearer. When I’m under pressure, I have the delicacy of a bull in a china shop and the poise of a headless chicken, so shoes tend not to last very long on my feet.
I’m pleased to report the Stabil Next Gen held up just fine for me. As with all shoes, I saw some immediate scuffs on the toe area where I drag my foot. Adidas has applied TPU coating around the toe area, which should help to extend the life-span of the shoes, though I’m not sure how long this will last.
I was slightly disappointed to see less rubber protection around the toe area compared to the older Stabil X. I have some worries about how durable the Primeknit material will be underneath the TPU layer, so I’ll update this article once I get to that stage.
My main complaint with the previous Stabil shoes was the durability of the Boost sole. In every pair I owned, a deep crack formed in the Boost material directly under the heel. Thankfully Adidas has now enclosed the boost material within the rubber outsole, which has completely eliminated this issue.
Unfortunately the shoes I tested were bright white in colour (to begin with!). Now, I love white shoes – the white Eye S-line is still my favourite looking squash shoe on the market. Fresh out of the box, these shoes looked awesome. However, I found the white Primeknit fabric hard to clean, and dragging my toes along the dusty squash court floor has left an interesting imprint on the shoes. It doesn’t affect the way they function, but if you like your shoes to stay clean looking, you should consider a darker colour.
Adidas Stabil Next Gen – Overall
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect with these shoes. Such a radical departure from the older style of the older Stabil shoes had me doubting how viable these would be for squash. However, I was really pleasantly surprised with how well they performed. I’d happily recommend the Adidas Stabil Next Gen for players looking for a shoe that provides comfort, support and stability, and don’t mind the addition of a little extra weight as a compromise.
At a suggested retail price of £120 (though they can be found cheaper), these are up there with the most expensive shoes on the market. However, I really think the price can be justified. The Boost sole alone is worth its weight in gold in my opinion, and it’s very clear these shoes have been thoughtfully designed, and feel genuinely innovative.
Looks – 8.5/10
Innovative and bold, offering both form and function. May be a little too bold for some traditionalists however.
Comfort – 7.5/10
Great cushioning. Boost sole is amazing. A touch heavy compared to other squash shoes. Likely to feel very tight for those with wide feet. Definitely go up half a size.
Durability – 7/10
Previous Boost issues from Stabil X have been addressed. Slight worry about durability of Primeknit upper in the long-term, especially given the lack of robust toe protection compared to previous models.
Stability – 9/10
One of the most stable feeling shoes you can buy. Great support for all types of movement.
Price – 6.5/10
These are one of the most expensive shoes on the market. You are getting a lot of shoe for the money though, so if you can stomach the high price, they’re well worth it.
Overall – 8/10
A solid, well designed shoe, with ample cushioning, protection and support for the movements required for squash.
Purchase links
Studio photos © Adidas
Hi Rob, great review!
I just purchased Stabil Next Gen myself and plan to use it for Badminton, also included in the shoe’s specifications 🙂 I don’t like the design of most badminton shoes because of their over the top details and colours. This minimalistic shoe design is the answer for me.
So anyway, would you kindly update me about the durability around the toe area where you drag your foot on court? Apparently I just noticed that the TPU coating around the toe area is rather small and not far back enough compare to other badminton shoes. I will definitely do a lot of lunging or dragging on court and afraid this shoe is not durable enough for the job.
Cheers!
Cheers Daus, I’m glad you liked the review and it’s awesome to know you purchased a pair!
You’re right about the design, I also love the simple colours, I wish other brands would follow suit!
So I’ve been playing with the shoes for a while and they seem to be holding up okay – I’m unable to play at the minute though so I’m yet to test them to ‘breaking point’ – so far so good though, I’ll make sure the article’s updated when I do get to that point 😊
Just got the blue version of these. Sized to 11.5 (from my normal 11) – I hope they fit!!