Full TEAM MAC 2 REVIEW (pics) (update)

First of all I must note that Adidas Team Mac 2 are my second shoes from A brand since Bromium 4 back in 2003. I really like the appearance of the shoe, thats mainly why I considered them. And huge thanks to 3Canada and Prof. K for answering my annoying questions about this shoes and giving the valuable advices!

Now to the shoe itself.

ABOVE THE FOOT ISSUES:

The thing that distinguishes the shoe from many others is rare now visible midsole that wraps around the entire foot. Personally i like that design-wise and the way how it works. The foot is always there it supposed to be - lying on the footbed. Plus take a look on the pictures - theres some reinforcement in the forefoot - the red chunk of plastic with t-mac logo on it which lasts from lateral outrigger to lacing system forming two first laceholes. That combination of midsole and plastic part eliminates ever a possibility of leaving footbed on ever hardest cuts.
The downside of wrapping midsole is some restricting feel on first wearing(s) and not great flexibility in the forefoot area, but again - only on first wearings. Now what i like the most about midsole-the EVA which midsole made of conforms the form of your foot and providing nice supportive feel then broken-in. So i can describe the fit in forefoot area as superb.
Now to the heel. The fit is good here too. The heel-counter itself is solid, but not rock-solid though. But again, there is a reinforcement as you can see on picture, and again theres a red piece of plastic with t-mac logo on it which connected to shoe on the rear. Nice tendency collaborating the design elements and fit enhancements, i really started to search more reinforcement with t-mac logos on them . But unfortunately, third logo is on sockliner, and nothing special was there . Now look at the picture: there are some padded pods on the inner in the heel area (elements of T-Mac 5s GeoFit technology). This things wraps around your achilles tendon creating nice compressive feeling and filling the space that usually remains empty in most shoes - right around Achilles tendons. That, i believe, enhances the heel fit too. The shoe runs true to size, but since all the feets are different theres no absolutely true or not-true size. But my VC III were awfully big in 11.5 size. Team Mac 2 fits ok. My feet is very wide, so i'v experienced some hard wearings before shoe become comfortable. The shoes sole profile is really wide, more than half inch wider than VC IIIs as you can see on the picture, but shoe itself is average width-wise. Anyway, i can recommend this shoe for those with wide feet. Iv experienced minimum to none in-shoe foot movement. This, i believe, partly depends on sock type you wear and how this sock works in tandem with sockliners fabric. For example, i think that fabric that covers VC III sockliner is the best. It prevents sliding. Team Macs sockliners fabric not that great, but its ok.
Lacing system is great here - exactly what I like and think its best: the combination of hidden lacing system in midfoot and laceholes in ankle area. You can lace them tight and I like it.
The shoe generally comfortable, no special techs like booties or seamless constructions here. Some issues with breakin shoe in, but after that its ok, just nothing special as nothing minor. One thing i must note is special kind of fabric that covers Achilles tendon area and tongue. Its smooth and more strong, its good for heel area, where the fabric wears-out easily.
The tongue is not heavily padded, same GeoFit influenced regionalized padding (picture), but theres sturdy synthetic material on the other side that carries three stripes on it, so no lace-rubbing against your skin. There is no heavy padding anywhere in the shoe, but i think that heavy padding prevents tight lacing, the fit becoming loose while playing, but maybe its just me.
So 4-from-5 mark for comfort cause of break-in issues and because comfort wasnt extraordinary, it was just good.

BEYOND THE FOOT ISSUES:

The shoe incorporates Adidas forefoot tech - Adiprene +. I was really impressed how it changed in feel since i played in Bromium 4! Though the implementation (last picture-how it was in Bromium 4) remains the same i think. To tell the truth it feels a lot like firm Zoom Air now. Its not such low-profile, but its bouncy and you feel that it is there, below your foot on every step. The cushioning requires several wearings to break it in. Somebody noted that its a little hard ride especially under the toe. Its not Zoom Air and Adiprene+ insert is placed only under ball of the foot area, so you cant touch it with your toe, but under the ball of foot the feelings are great. Im 5.11, 185 lbs so maybe a lighter person will not be able to feel it, but for me its ok. And i sure that Adiprene+ lasts longer than Zoom Air. Moving to the heel. Theres nothing except EVA in the heel, so the cushioning is ok, but not great, just conventional. But its greater in terms of impact protection for me than, say, And1 Chosen 1s heel Harmonix system. Other thing that good is new PU sockliner that much greater than OrthoLite one, that was in Bromium 4. Its firm, but cushy, feels a lot like performance sockliner from VC III, providing less cushioning, but more cushioning feel. And its lasts long I believe. The sockliner do not glued in, but somehow it stays in place all the time, no sliding.
So I was really impressed with forefoot cushioning of the shoe. The heel cushioning is quite a conventional. The court feel is worser than my favorite Chosen 1s, but greater than my not-favorite VC IIIs. Its closer to Chosen 1s so i rate court feel as good. Anyway, then there is some cush technology in the forefoot, there is sacrificed court feel as well, except Zoom Air, so its closer than anything to Zoom Air.
Torsion system is there, but you know what im going to say, so i just say that its works as always, plantar fasciitis please dont disturb . Minimal to average height of arch in this shoes, it's did not bother my flat feet.
The thing i really liked about the shoe its sole design. I like wide soles with outriggers! The stability is just awesome!!! Iv never had a shoe that has so stable feel! As I have mentioned before, i have wide feet, so in most shoes my foot stretching the upper in the forefoot and little part of my foot extended over footbed on the lateral side and theres nothing under this part of foot. Its giving unstable feel. Thats why I like outriggers and with Team Macs 2 all was ok. The outrigger is flexible, so no clunky or any unnatural feel at all here. Also theres such a popular now sole curving on the medial side. Its naturalizing feel and enhances traction on occasions then you quickly changing direction and shoe turned inward.

The traction. No herringbone, no stellar Chosen 1s traction, the traction exactly like VC IIIs, i mean average. Its absolutely wonderful if your floor is clean, tend to loose if its dirty, but no sliding, some grip was always there. I feel that traction improving, so Ill update this part later.

Ankle support. Yes, I think its belongs to beyond the foot part of review cause mid-cut upper is all about heel fit which is critical in preventing placing your foot in improper position. That why i like mid- and high-cut shoes. Four inches of leather and padding cant save your ankle with 180 (put here your weight) lbs above from being flexed and then sprained (made the mechanical calculations if you want), its even cant reduce severity of sprain unless your shoe made of plastic and extends till middle calf. So I think shoe must prevent such situations, not handle them. The key word: stability. And its there! But if you want, i can comment on the upper. Team Mac 2 are mid-cut shoe with lacing system extended to highest point. But no special techs there. The upper do not resrict your foot much, its pliable, but no stretching and fit-loosing. So the ankle support is almost perfect. But again, just dont expect that it will grasp your leg like Nike Air Zoom Flight 2K3.

OVERALL:

Great, very light, mainly 2,3,4 positions oriented shoe, with price that you just cant beat! GREAT shoe for outdoors as well, because the sole is durable and the shoe is well-build. The ventilation is also strong point of the shoe: large perforated areas in the midfoot, ventilational window under the foot and perforations in sockliner above the window. Just look at the pics!

Dont really like to rate anything with marks, but ok.

COMFORT & FIT: 4.5||||5
CUSHIONING & COURT FEEL: 4.5||||5
STABILITY & ANKLE SUPPORT: 4.5||||5
TRACTION: 4||||5

UPDATE: i'v played in TEAM MAC 2 for couple more times and the the traction improved a bit at long last...but anyways it's not that great.

P.S. Thank you for reading! Forgive me my English!

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Great (and long awaited) review.
I might cop these now..

thanks

thanks for the review. i might pick up a pair to ball in.

I havent seen these on the shelves anywhere.

allstar colorway is now available for something like 50$ on one major seller's website...
<<<<WANTED:XVIII (sz 11-11.5) >>>>