Adidas Combat Speed 4 Wrestling Shoe Review

Traction & Grip: 2.3/3

The Combat Speed has good traction when you’re actually planted on the main portion of the outsole. Dallas didn’t experience much slipping while taking shots or going live, and under normal wrestling conditions he felt confident driving through the mat.

The problem appears when you move onto the side of the shoe. There isn’t much traction coverage wrapping around the edges, so once Dallas’s foot got into those angled positions, the shoe became noticeably more slippery. That’s relevant during scrambles, pivots, finishes, and other situations where your foot isn’t sitting completely flat against the mat.

This was one of the first things I questioned when looking at the outsole. Adidas uses a relatively small rubber traction area combined with split-suede sections underneath the shoe, and Adidas itself highlights that split-suede outsole as part of the Combat Speed design. After Dallas actually wrestled in them, I think the best way to describe the traction is good underneath the foot, but limited around the edges.

That’s not enough for me to call the Combat Speed a slippery shoe overall. Dallas liked the grip during actual live wrestling. But if you’re used to shoes with aggressive rubber wrapping farther up the sides, this is something you’ll notice.

Comfort & Fit: 1.6/2

Dallas wore his normal size 10.5 and found the Combat Speed to fit true to size. He had a comfortable amount of room around the toes, solid overall width, and very good heel lockdown without experiencing pressure points or rubbing.

The biggest consideration is the break-in period. These aren’t nearly as comfortable when they’re brand new as they are after you’ve spent some time wrestling in them. Dallas described the difference between a fresh Combat Speed and a broken-in pair as almost night and day.

Once broken in, the shoe becomes much softer and starts delivering the sock-like feeling that Adidas advertises. That’s also what reminded me of the Nike Inflict when I first handled them. Both shoes use relatively thin construction that keeps everything close to the foot, although Dallas thought the Inflict felt more premium and provided better ankle support.

Wrestlers with particularly wide feet may want to pay attention to the narrow sole platform. Dallas felt that as the upper softened, a wider foot could eventually feel like it was coming slightly off the sides of the sole.

Durability: 1.7/2

For such a lightweight shoe, the Combat Speed held together well throughout Dallas’s testing. He didn’t notice meaningful fraying, peeling, stitching problems, or sole separation after roughly two and a half weeks of drilling and live wrestling.

What changed wasn’t the shoe falling apart, but the amount of structure it provided. The more Dallas wrestled in it, the softer the upper became. That makes the Combat Speed more comfortable and flexible, but it also means the shoe gradually feels less supportive.

We aren’t going to make a full-season durability claim based on two and a half weeks of testing. What we can say is that there were no obvious construction failures during our test period, and the primary change was the shoe becoming softer rather than physically breaking down.

Weight & Flexibility: 1/1

Weight and flexibility are easily two of the Combat Speed’s biggest strengths. The entire shoe uses very little material compared with more structured wrestling shoes, and Dallas described it as occasionally feeling like he wasn’t wearing shoes at all.

That’s basically what stood out to me when I first picked them up. They’re thin throughout the upper, easy to flex, and much less rigid than the Adidas Tech Fall we previously tested. Adidas also describes the Combat Speed 5 as an ultra-lightweight shoe built around a single-layer mesh upper and flexible support structure.

They do feel stiffer when brand new, but that changes significantly after break-in. Once they’ve softened up, there isn’t much restricting the natural movement of your foot, which makes the Combat Speed particularly appealing for wrestlers who hate bulky shoes.

Price & Value: 1.5/2

Dallas is actually higher on the value than I am. He said he would personally buy the Combat Speed at full price because he views it as a durable, reliable shoe that rewards you once you get through the break-in period.

I paid $100 for our pair, and at that price I think they’re expensive for what you’re getting. Looking at the construction, limited side traction, lighter ankle support, and overall simplicity of the shoe, I personally see the Combat Speed as closer to a $60 to $80 wrestling shoe.

That makes the price you find them at pretty important. Adidas Wrestling currently has the Combat Speed 5 listed at an $85 regular price and, as of August 20, 2026, a $40 sale price. At $40, I think the value is excellent. At $60 to $80, they’re easy to justify. Once you approach the $100 that I paid, I’d start comparing them much more closely with other options.

How Do the Combat Speeds Compare?

The Nike Inflict is probably the closest comparison based on feel. Both have that thin, sock-like construction, but Dallas felt that the Inflict was the more premium shoe overall. It offers more padding, support, and traction, while the Combat Speed gives you a lighter and more grounded feeling.

The Adidas Tech Fall sits on the other side of the spectrum. It’s more structured and rigid, so wrestlers who want additional support may prefer that style. The Combat Speed is better for somebody who wants their wrestling shoe to interfere with their foot as little as possible.

I’d also consider the ASICS Aggressor if traction is one of your main priorities. I’m personally a fan of the way RUDIS wrestling shoes look and feel as well, so there are plenty of alternatives if the stripped-down Combat Speed design isn’t what you’re after.

Who Are the Adidas Combat Speeds Best For?

The Combat Speed is best for wrestlers who care primarily about weight, flexibility, and feeling connected to the mat. If bulky wrestling shoes bother you and you like something that eventually conforms closely to your foot, this design makes a lot of sense.

I’d be more hesitant if you prioritize maximum traction coverage, heavier padding, or substantial ankle support. Wrestlers who spend a lot of time on the edges of their feet and prefer aggressive sidewall grip may especially notice the outsole limitation.

Final Verdict: 8.1/10

My original 9/10 impression was too high, and Dallas’s testing is exactly why we use dedicated product testers in the first place. I could tell that the Combat Speed was lightweight, flexible, and built differently from something like the Tech Fall, but I couldn’t determine how that outsole behaved during live wrestling or how dramatically the shoe changed after being broken in without somebody actually putting it through practice.

Dallas’s testing showed that the Combat Speed has good traction when planted, a true-to-size fit, excellent weight and flexibility, and respectable early durability. It also showed that the lack of side traction is a legitimate weakness and that some of the shoe’s support disappears as the upper softens.

On the Graveyard Scale, that leaves us at:

• Traction & Grip: 2.3/3
• Comfort & Fit: 1.6/2
• Durability: 1.7/2
• Weight & Flexibility: 1/1
• Price & Value: 1.5/2
• Overall: 8.1/10

The Combat Speed isn’t the wrestling shoe I’d choose if I wanted maximum support or traction coverage, and I don’t love it near the $100 price I paid. But at the right price, it’s a very good lightweight wrestling shoe for athletes who want flexibility, mat feel, and as little unnecessary material around their feet as possible.