A new installment of the Material Tests of our colleague Hugo R arrives, which is released in his analysis of shoes. To begin, he has focused in the 'KAOS' model that a great brand in racket sports like Wilson presented in the face of this 2016 season ... And we have already been able to see the likes of Paquito Navarro, Juanito Lebrón, ... !!
Padel World Press .- Good again, lovers of paddle. On this occasion we premiered with an essential material for the practice of paddle tennis, as are the shoes. Footwear is very important to fully enjoy any sport and, of course, every detail counts ... We can not ignore your state for a second if we want our health to remain intact.
The shoes are the only element that is always at stake and, therefore, for us they play a fundamental role, even more than the paddle blade itself ... From them all our blows are born directly or indirectly.
Of all the above, not to be too obvious, we must leave them in the background ... And without proper footwear not only we will not be comfortable in the blows, but also, we run a very high risk of ending badly in any displacement and execution.
After the preamble, the model that the Wilson brand has given us for this test are the new 'Wilson Kaos Negras', of which we have given good account.
Let's start with the analysis of the product in hand ...
As soon as we take them out of the packaging, the first thing that strikes us is their 'aggressive' aesthetic. Undoubtedly, they attract attention for their daring aesthetics and design, even though ours is the black model (available in other more striking colors to each one more beautiful).
As we say, the shoe is black as a base color, with details in red such as: laces, the significant symbol of the 'W' mark on the sides or the word 'Wilson' on the heel and sole.
They have a very sporty aspect, which will be liked by those who want to combine discretion with modernity, avoiding classicism.
The shoe mixes the skin in the areas of reinforcement with mesh fabric on the sides and instep, which will bring perspiration, comfort and lightness, the latter being appreciable with the product in hand.
Aesthetically, striking rubber strips that arise from the toe of the shoe and tangles by overlapping the whole part of breathable fabric, as a way of 'spider web', which in itself captivates us ... Especially when in the background we find the 'W' Wilson in red on both sides ... brutal design!
The laces of the shoe are another of the aggressive points of the cosmetics of this product. Two-tone flat laces (black and red of course) that, together with the shape of the eyelets, will permanently fix our shoe preventing them from loosening during the game.
As for the sole, herringbone, is aesthetically attractive occupying its rubber a large part of the plant. In it predominates the sauteed red with black spots, a detail that forms a perfect combination with black, giving a 'subtle striking touch'. A remarkable aesthetic experience in the whole shoe.
In general, the reinforcements of the shoe are very careful and present even in the eyelets of the laces and in a fundamental part, such as the heel. They will offer durability and safety.
We put on shoes, tighten the laces and jump to the track.
To begin, we want to thank the brand that has given us the shoes to test them thoroughly during many games. This has facilitated us to conform the opinion on a product (it will be good or bad), based on a real and maximum test. Thanks Wilson Padel.
First, highlight a factor in which many padel players are set as it is weight... These Kaos are very light and give us a sense of speed and agility. It is not one of the lightest shoes on the market but that is something that we will explain later.
With regards to comfort it is one of the aspects that they approve with a note. Without a doubt it is one of its strong points for things like:
The tongue, that piece of annoying cloth sometimes brings us head during the game. It is attached to the sole of the shoe as an arch, perfectly padded at the top and breathable on its side areas. This arc-like system is incredibly comfortable, we will not have to worry about the tongue moving and, in addition, get a great coupling to the contour of our foot. He has not loved this reed system.
We go to contour the lateral ones. The breathable mesh fulfills its function of keeping the inside of the foot dry and avoiding bad odors, amen, that influences comfort adapting perfectly to all foot types. On the track we will realize, when we make the displacements and braking, that, in addition to aesthetically, the rubber 'spider web' that surrounds the shoe helps us as a support of the foot avoiding excessive displacement when braking, we turn, we start ... Without forgetting that it influences the durability of the breathable fabric.
As for the template and cushioning, the various impacts we suffer are not perceptible, not suffering (we say from experience) for nothing in the knees.
To finish with the comfort, we aim the good torsion of the shoe, which facilitates the game of the foot to it. That's something we look at right away by the shape of the sole right in its middle ... Not only does it give great stability to the sole of the foot; It also makes it more flexible.
As for the elements that improve the fullfilment of security requirements, after the use of many types of footwear, we have come to the conclusion itself, wrong or not, that 'Safety' and 'Lightness' are two aspects that are generally at odds ... Since more safety elements, less lightness and vice versa . The market is wide, there are shoes to cover all kinds of needs and we do not mean that some extra light shoes are dangerous for our health or that some very safe shoes are made of lead, we only generalize.
In these shoes, for example, we find a balance of both, for those who look for a bit of everything. Security is not your strong point, there are more secure, but we will not say that it is negative.
Kaos is a light, agile and fast model, but not the lightest on the market ... And surely it is not because it also provides some elements of safety and durability that always add weight. Among other aspects we look at the heel reinforcement of the shoe, which provides rigidity to our heel not allowing it to move to its free will sideways. If we add the reinforcement of the 'buttress' at the base of the heel, we find a safety bonus on a vital part of our foot ... And the upper part of the heel will be perfectly padded to give us comfort and support.
Also the 'midsole', or the union of the sole and the main part of the shoe, is also reinforced, which ensures the foot in aggressive lateral movements.
We have an influence on the behavior of the rubber 'spider web' that covers the sides and part of the instep, which also performs a safety function.
We will finish talking about the grip and fundamentally the sole, of the spike type, with a good depth of drawing to ensure a good grip even with excess sand. As we said, the sole is divided into two parts being cut in half. We have found the grip perfect both in starting and braking and in lateral displacements ... After many matches has not yet suffered any modification in the form of premature wear. Good grade.
As a personal note, we are the ones who put on our shoes to play the game and when we finish we take it off and keep it. We do not give it an off-piste use to keep the soles.
In summary…
A shoe aesthetically aggressive. The brand has undoubtedly risked and although this model, being black, is less striking, the truth is that for us it is totally a brutal ACTION in sight. The 'Kaos' is what they were looking for and it is what they offer us in sight.
Its strong point for us is comfort. In this aspect we give you an 10. They have put a lot of effort in that it is a shoe that fits perfectly to all kinds of feet and that, shortly after wearing them, you forget that they are paddle shoes.
It is a light and safe shoe. Are there safer shoes? YES. Are there lighter shoes? YES ... But it will be hard to find some as balanced in these two aspects as these Kaos.
As for the grip, after many games, we had a perfect grip, as it could not be otherwise, in all kinds of trips (and we are the ones that go to all the balls).
And so far the test of the Wilson Kaos Black shoes, aesthetically 'REVOLUTIONARY' shoes that fit the foot like a sock ... We will be very comfortable playing.
Remember that your comments are well received at the bottom of this page, by twitter or by email to [email protected]
Thank you for your attention, we hope you like the analysis.
Hugo R.
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