Adidas CrazyPower Trainer Review

Hands-On Review of the Adidas CrazyPower TR's

The CrazyPower TR from Adidas is a decent all-around CrossFit shoe, with the benefit of performing well on heavy loaded carries. This model would be a good shoe for anyone interested in training strongman events. It does run a little wide — especially in the toe box; recommendations to order ½ size down from usual are warranted.

Weightlifting

The CrazyPower TR scored well on all the components of our weightlifting metric. Though not the top performer on heavy squats, its wide, flat sole provided adequate stability under heavy loads. We found that it was not quite as stable in the heel as the Nike Metcon 3 or Reebok Nano 7. The sole of the CrazyPower TR was also not quite as stiff as the Metcon 3 or Nano 7 when testers were performing heavy cleans. It flexed a little bit more from heel to the ball of the foot.

The CrazyPower TR had its turn to shine on the loaded carries. During carries, the sole feels a little like the Adidas Samba (not reviewed here), which has long been a favorite of strongman competitors for its performance on loaded carries. The sole absorbs the shock of footfalls without feeling squishy or unstable.

Running

The CrazyPower has a sole flexible enough in the toe for comfortable sprint accelerations and stiff enough back through the heel for good power transfer. The tread performed well on asphalt, smooth concrete, and dirt. Longer runs were less comfortable, comparable to other shoes with stable heels, like the Metcon 3. The CrazyPower was less comfortable on long runs than the NOBULL Trainer and the New Balance Minimus 40, which was the top-scorer in the running metric. Both the NOBULL and New Balance had slightly softer heels, which cushioned the repeated impacts during long runs.

Support

With one caveat on sizing, the CrazyPower TR is a fairly supportive shoe. Do note that it runs a bit large, and recommendations on retail websites to order ½ size down from your usual should be heeded; the toe box felt noticeably wider than the other tested shoes. The model reviewed here has a very padded tongue, which allows the laces to be tightened with considerable force before creating discomfort. The result was a very snug and supportive feel from the midfoot back to the heel.

The CrazyPower TR earned a similar score for support as the NOBULL Trainer; both have fairly sturdy uppers, which hold the foot in place when starting, stopping, jumping, and landing. The CrazyPower TR was less supportive than the Nike Metcon 3 and Reebok Nano 7, which both have a significantly more stable connection between the sole and upper on the heel end of the shoe. This means the CrazyPower will not be quite as supportive when lifting really heavy loads or accelerating maximally in a sprint.

Protection

The CrazyPower is a sturdy shoe which provided plenty of protection from impacts and abrasions. The upper is a combination of synthetic leather and fabric with a protective layer, allowing for it to rank only slightly less protective than the NOBULL Trainer, Nike Metcon 3, and Reebok Nano 7. The NOBULL's abrasion resistance was noticeably better than the CrazyPower's. After weeks of testing, there was hardly a mark on the NOBULL. The Metcon 3 and Nano 7 both had slightly better resistance to rope-climb damage due to their superior traction on the instep. A better grip on the rope meant less slipping and less abrasion.

Sensitivity

The toe box on this model reviewed here felt noticeably wider than the other tested shoes. The extra width left our testers with the feeling of less sensitivity to lateral movements, such as during changes of direction in shuttle runs. Overall, sensitivity for landing and sprinting was a little bit less than the Nike Metcon 3. The CrazyPower TR was about on par with the Reebok Nano 7 and NOBULL Trainer. Both the Reebok and NOBULL soles have a more noticeably curled-up toe than the CrazyPower. One of our testers felt that this toe curl diminished his ability to grip the ground during heavy squats, but didn't notice it on other movements. The CrazyPower has a much flatter sole through the toes, but it is also a bit thicker. This means its sole has more consistent contact with the ground but transmits a bit less ground-feel.

Breathability

The CrazyPower TR was one of the warmer, less breathable shoes we tested. There is mesh under a protective layer on the front half of the upper, but the back half of the shoe lacks ventilation. The large, padded tongue also reduces airflow across the instep. The CrazyPower TR has more ventilation than the Powerlift 3, but both were ranked significantly behind the top-scoring shoes on breathability. The New Balance, Inov-8, Nike, and Asics shoes in our test all has more ventilation in their uppers, while the CrazyPower is probably not the best shoe for long workouts in hot climates. On the flip side, if you are working out in very cold conditions, you would benefit both from the diminished breathability and the large fit of the CrazyPower, which allowed our testers to wear thicker socks.

Comfort

This model was one of the more comfortable shoes we tested. The heel provides good stability without sacrificing much comfort and the padded tongue let our testers pull the laces very tight before introducing any discomfort on the top of the foot. It ranked behind the NOBULL Trainer, which was our most comfortable shoe. The CrazyPower TR is shaped a bit differently, so it may be more comfortable for athletes with wider feet, or who want lots of width at the toes. We determined that this model is about as comfortable as the Nike Metcon 3, out Editors' Choice scorer. The Metcon 3 fit our testers' feet better than the CrazyPower, but the Adidas shoe had a more forgiving heel, which made up for the fit.

Best Applications

The CrazyPower is a well-balanced CrossFit shoe. It would be a great choice for anyone who works out at a strongman gym, or follows some of the strongman/CrossFit hybrid programming. The combination of performance and comfort on loaded carries would make this model useful for those interested in strongman/Crossfit hybrid competitions.

Value

The CrazyPowe is priced comparably to other top-performing CrossFit shoes. It provides a good value for the mainstream CrossFit athlete and higher value to anyone interested in strongman events.

Conclusion

This offering from Adidas is a good attempt at a balanced CrossFit shoe. It handles weightlifting and running well. It has the edge on strongman events, which are appearing in the CrossFit Games and local competitions with more frequency. If you have an interest in training or competing in strongman, we'd recommend considering this shoe.