Let’s take another lesser-known hoop shoe in today’s era of “signatures everywhere” – today, I bring you my comprehensive Adidas Marquee Boost review.
It’s a shoe that doesn’t seem to impress at first sight but I heard a lot of good things about it, so I’ve decided to give it a shot. Plus, you can get these for dirt cheap (50% off) during the time of this review on adidas!
So, can Boost be done on a tighter budget? Or is that a recipe for disaster? Let’s find out…
SPEC SHEET
Model: Adidas Marquee Boost
Build: Mid-Top
Weight: 16.2 oz / 459 g. (size 10)
Retail Price: $130
Cushion: Full-length Boost
Grab the shoe here:
🛒 AMAZON 🛒 STOCKX 🛒 GOAT
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I. COMFORT & FIT
As a lot of us know, Adidas has recently been really killing it with their basketball releases in terms of pure comfort and the overall experience inside the shoe.
I wouldn’t say the Marquee Boost is a top contender among the most comfortable shoes but it’s damn near close, and that’s more than enough for me.
We have some nice internal padding around your achilles area, the upper is nice and soft in key areas and the buttery smooth midsole adds to making the shoe great to wear and play.
I’ve also noticed the shoe has pretty unusual lining inside, which is sooooo smooth, that it almost feels too smooth. I didn’t experience any slipping or containment issues due to that, so no worries there.
One thing I did notice is the shoe did feel a little heavier than today’s average basketball shoe.
No, I didn’t feel like I was wearing a pair of medieval clogs but the shoe does present itself as a bit bulky, especially during the first few times of play.
Because of this, you kinda feel like you’re definitely wearing a shoe on your feet while playing.
I’m not entirely sure this was only because of the weight or something else but there were moments where I felt like there was some resistance applied to my feet.
The key to having a very pleasant & seamless experience in a hoop shoe is when you pretty much forget that you have a shoe on during game time.
For the Marquee Boost, I missed that feeling at times – though it’s nothing really major and didn’t cause me to hate it. Not at all.
As for sizing, I am a wide footer and went true to size, despite some folks recommending going down half a size.
The fit is not ideal at the start – the shoe does run a bit long and takes a bit of time to break in. After about a week, the fit normalized and they became pretty good.
However, there’s still some extra space in the toebox and that’s what likely added to the shoe’s heavier feel.
If you’re looking to optimize the fit as much as possible, I’d suggest going down half a size or trying them on first, if you can.
Overall, a solid package with a few dents – they get the job done but a few simple fixes could’ve made them even better.
II. TRACTION
Classic herringbone is back and it’s a welcome addition to a basic shoe, with basic intent – provide adequate comfort and performance.
There are no pieces of storytelling or any other things that a lot of times end up as gimmicks to what could’ve been solid traction. Hey, it’s not a signature, so that stuff is put to the side.
As you can see, the lateral portion of the pattern that’s separated from the rest of the outsole has larger and more spaced-out grooves and the rest are much denser, making the shoe perform slightly inconsistently in terms of sensitivity to dust.
The traction itself is great – I had tons of bite at all times, didn’t slip when the outsole wasn’t clogged with dust and herringbone simply does the best job in providing wide, multi-directional coverage.
Be ready to wipe them often though – this is one of the most sensitive outsoles I’ve tried in a while, so letting them pile up all that dust and debris will result in reduced bite and occasional slips here and there.
Clean courts – fine, minimal issues. Dirty, older courts, or outdoors – these will be a bit of a chore to constantly wipe if you’re looking to stay at 100% traction at all times.
The rubber seems durable – so it’s a solid outdoor option if you can handle the outsole collecting dust like crazy.
III. CUSHION
Full-length Boost is implemented in the Marquee Boost and it’s pretty much as good as Boost usually is. However, how Boost is implemented also has an effect on how the ride will feel.
On this shoe, the forefoot Boost section is caged into a plastic frame, limiting the foam’s contortion and providing a more responsive and stable ride. The heel section isn’t caged and Boost truly shows its properties there.
Overall, the package turned out to be really good. The forefoot section is quick and responsive, and even though it feels a little dead, I was able to stay very quick and achieve the acceleration times I wanted.
The heel section is super soft and bouncy with tons of quick energy return and impact protection.
The overall ride and step transitions were pretty smooth and VERY comfortable and the shoe does feel versatile, so I can see most positions play in these and have a good time.
The foam in the heel does have a lot of give to it and you’ll sink into the heel quite a lot, so if you’re a quick guard who needs 100% responsiveness and quickness full-length – I think the Marquee Boost won’t give you that.
Don’t get me wrong, the shoe’s cushion setup is well-balanced and fairly versatile but not ideal for players who are looking for maximum responsiveness.
Your foot sits pretty high in the carrier as well, so court feel will be subdued, though not to a point where it’s non-existent.
I think realistically, this setup will work for pretty much all positions but especially well for more explosive athletes, high jumpers, and heavier players.
IV. SUPPORT
Support overall was solid – I have no major complaints about it. The shoe’s outsole is very wide, making it a stable foundation to play on.
There’s an internal heel counter in place, a TPU midfoot shank, outriggers and the ankle collar itself is pretty supportive – not to a point where it’s a chore for your ankle but still provides some extra lockdown it.
Foot containment is also good, I never slid out of the footbed or anything messed up like that.
The shoe could’ve felt even more responsive and secure if I didn’t have all that extra dead space in the forefoot area. That’s on me though – I should’ve gone down half a size but hey, it is what it is.
Overall, the shoe is supportive but not to a point where it’s too much – and if you can get the fit right, it’s even better.
V. BUILD & MATERIALS
The shoe’s upper is mostly mesh molded with Fuse in key areas for more structure, with some knit mixed in and a synthetic leather overlay around the laces.
A surprisingly premium and high-quality combo for a $130 non-signature! Mesh & fuse will be the main materials felt on the shoe while playing and that’s not a bad thing – it’s comfortable, structured, and durable.
The knit and synthetic leather areas are kinda just there – they don’t really do much to improve comfort or performance, nor do they improve durability.
However, the shoe looks to be very durable nonetheless, I took these out both indoors and outdoors for a few weeks and I don’t see a single sign of wear and tear.
I guess the only minor gripe I have with the materials is the lack of proper ventilation. I don’t really care much about that but felt like you should know about it at least.
VI. OVERALL
The Adidas Marquee Boost is a solid option for those looking to get a total steal, as you can get the shoe for very cheap on Amazon, as well as StockX & GOAT.
They’re pretty versatile, they’re durable, they’re good for outdoors, Boost is still amazing and the materials used are worthy of the $130 price tag.
The shoe does have its flaws here and there.
The sizing is inconsistent which is something Adidas has been dealing with for a while now, the outsole collects dust like crazy and the shoe does feel a little bulky, especially at the start.
However, if you can get past the few minor gripes and find a great deal – I think the Marquee Boost is still a great option.
You’ll find the scores of the Marquee Boost at the end!
? BEST DEALS ON THE MARQUEE BOOST
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WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
Thanks a lot for reading the review! I truly hope you found it informative!
Looking for a PREMIUM Boost experience? Perhaps something that isn’t labeled as “budget” but priced very closely to the Marquee Boost, and with full intentions of delivering an amazing Boost experience.
I would highly encourage you to check out the D Rose 6 Boost! It’s an older shoe but the review will explain just how little that actually means for it.
Regardless, will you be picking up the Marquee Boost? Do you have any questions or want to share your experience?
Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can!
