Adidas Stabil X Review

The Adidas Stabil X is a shoe that’s primarily marketed as a handball shoe, however has become a really popular high end model for squash enthusiasts.

The main features of the Adidas Stabil X are its high-top shape, sock lining and Adidas ‘Boost’ cushioning. These three factors combined make for a foot-hugging shoe that’s both supportive and comfortable.

They’re one of the more expensive shoes you can purchase, with the latest models selling for well over £100. Thankfully, adidas appears to constantly update the colour scheme of these shoes, with older shoes often appearing in their sales for far cheaper.

Does Boost make a difference?

Boost is a technology marketed by Adidas that moulds together small, squishy pellets made from ‘thermoplastic urethane’, which are then moulded into the midsole of a shoe.

This in theory results in a shoe that feels incredibly bouncy, with fantastic shock absorption and incredible energy return on impact.

It’s something that really has to be experienced if you’ve never tried it before. At the time of trying the Stabil X, I had a pair of Adidas Ultraboost trainers, so I was thrilled to see the technology make its way into a pair of shoes I could play squash in.

I can happily say that the Boost technology is awesome in a squash shoe. Your heels are the first thing to make contact with the floor when you’re lunging to reach a ball, and you really notice just how cushioned these shoes are in that scenario.

Adidas Stabil X – Fit and feel

The first time I wore these shoes, it was an interesting experience. I’m a UK size 9, however (thankfully!) the shop I purchased them from only had 9.5. They’re very thin fitting shoes and fit rather tightly around the sides of your feet.

The width of the shoes was a slight bugbear to start with as I found my feet cramping in the middle of a game – far from ideal. However with a little perseverance they eased off and moulded to my feet really well.

The high top style of the shoe really locks your foot in place – aided even further by plastic moulding around the heel that tightens along with your laces. The inner sock lining helps your foot to feel really comfortable inside the shoe too. They’re incredibly stable feeling shoes – hence the name ‘Stabil’!

The one drawback to all this technology

With signifiant under foot cushioning, ankle and heel support, where the Adidas Stabil X struggles to keep up with the competition is in its weight. There’s no escaping the fact that this is a heavy shoe. It’s probably one of the weightiest shoes on the market.

Thankfully, the snug fitting around the whole of your foot makes this weight less noticeable as it helps to evenly distribute the weight. Make no mistake though, when compared to something like the Asics Gel Fastball 3, you’ll definitely be aware of the fact you’re wearing these shoes when you step on court.

Adidas Stabil X – Durability

Durability is a hard one to comment on. These shoes aren’t designed to play squash in – they’re technically handball/volleyball shoes. It would be like complaining that an apple doesn’t taste like an orange. Still, they’re sold on squash websites and marketed as a squash shoe by the many different squash stores, so it’s still a worthwhile point to address.

For me personally, they were both good and bad. I’m a criminal for dragging my toes, and these really did stand the test of time in that aspect. I wore these shoes to absolute death and got perhaps 4 months of use out of them (playing 5-6 times per week), which is longer than I’d expect shoes to last.

Where these shoes proved disappointing however, was in the Boost heel. On my two pairs of these shoes, the midsoles developed deep cracks on both shoes in the same place. I imagine these shoes aren’t designed for the constant lunging that squash demands, and it unfortunately shows.

I also completely wore away all the texture underneath the front foot on the first pair of these shoes I purchased, however the second pair I purchased (a newer model) seemed to address this and the issue thankfully seemed to subside.

Adidas Stabil X – Overall

The Adidas Stabil X is an incredibly well thought out shoe that provides more cushioning, support and stability than you could ever ask for. If you’re the type of person who struggles with your ankles, these could prove a really worthwhile investment.

The heavy weight and durability in the heels does make me question how viable these are as a squash shoe, especially for people who are looking to run and lunge at a fast pace for a full match. You don’t see any PSA professionals wearing these shoes, and I think this may be the reason why.

James Willstrop and a few others have been wearing the Adidas Stabil Bounce, a low top shoe without a different form of cushioning, which I believe is the more logical choice for serious squash players.

However, I imagine that for more relaxed, or perhaps older squash players looking for a comfortable and supportive shoe, these would be perfect. The high price of these shoes could be a really worthwhile investment in the interest of preventing injuries.

Reader reviews of the Adidas Stabil X

Before submitting your review, please read our Reader Reviews and Comments Policy.