Jordan Brand Introduces Russell Westbrook’s Why Not Zero.3

Jordan Brand’s own signature athlete and All-Star Russell Westbrook is now releasing his third signature shoe, the Jordan Why Not Zero.3. Much like the Jordan Why Not Zero.2, this new iteration of the shoes intros a disruptive design to match his game on-court and his style off-court.

The Why Not Zero.3 is an evolved version of last year’s Why Not Zero.2 The shoe recalibrates the look and feels of Russell’s signature shoe, bringing in an all-new articulated Zoom Air cushioning system for linear speed and a midfoot strap for containment. On top of that, the Why Not Zero.3 is the lightest in Russell Westbrook’s signature line.

 

Exclusive to the Why Not Zero.3, an all-new articulated Nike Zoom Air cushioning system (similar to but not exactly like the articulated Zoom Air in Nike Kyrie 6) in the forefoot features horizontal flex grooves that help enable linear speed. The idea is to provide an end-to-end explosiveness and propulsive feel on the court.
The outsole has been updated with modified herringbone traction to better enable quickness and control on-court. The decoupled outsole separates the forefoot from the heel and is an evolution of one of Russ’s favorite shoes – the Jordan XX8 and XX9.
The materials are a blend of textiles, anesthetics, and skins with stitching providing reinforcement and design aesthetics. There’s also a sleek double padded collar for in foot comfort.
To finish off the look the shoe features a clear TPU midfoot strap for containment along with a visible, exposed TPU shank plate in between the decoupled outsole to help provide stability when moving from the heel to forefoot.

The launch colorway “Zer0 Noise” is set to release January 2, 2020. It represents Russ’ desire to inspire people to block out unnecessary noise and play the game their own way.

The “Family” colorway will release January 9, 2020. It represents Russell’s family.

The “Heartbeat” colorway will release February 27, 2020. It represents Russ and his wife Nina welcoming twin girls who are now the heartbeat of their life. The colorway is also inspired by his twin girls’ bedroom which reminds girls everywhere to own their power and follow their dreams.

The Jordan Why Not Zero.3 will be available on Nike.com in full family sizing with the pricing starting at $130 for Men, $105 for GS, $75 for Pre-school, and $55 for toddlers.
An upcoming Why Not? Apparel collection will also release.

adidas Futurecraft Loop Performance Review

Last month, hoop jordan was invited to try the adidas Futurecraft Loop, a 100% recyclable performance running shoe. We were given the Futurecraft Loop alongside 200-ish influencers. Based on what I heard from the others in attendance, most articles about this shoe will focus on the recycling side of the shoe. This article will be what hoop jordan does best, an in-depth performance review.
While the Futurecraft Loop won’t release publicly until summer 2021, a public beta is coming this fall. The public beta will be free, but you’ll have to apply for it. We’ll share the public beta details on WearTesters as soon as we get them.
First a little background. Some people called these a concept car for shoes, but it’s not. This is an actual shoe that Adidas is fine-tuning for release. This is a first-generation version where the brand needs wear-testing feedback. Adidas will keep modifying the sneaker until they go into production for the summer 2021 release.
The reason the shoe is so interesting is that it could be a game changer for the sneaker industry. Recyclable sneakers may create new business models in the footwear industry — think shoe subscription models where you pay a monthly fee and always have fresh kicks, or a trade-in model where you get a lower price on your new shoes by trading in the old ones (like Apple does with iPhones).
For this review, I ran 60+ miles on pavement, trails, and in a Flash Flood warning–level rainstorm. I also wore the Futurecraft Loop to Legoland, around NYC, and as my everyday kick-around shoes for a month. I wore them a lot. Why? Because Adidas asked me to. They asked everyone who got the shoes to run them into the ground for a month and return them. When the shoes are returned to Adidas, they will be washed, ground to pellets, and melted into material that will be used to make a new pair of shoes. At this point, they can only use the recycled portion to create 10% of the second-generation model, but they’re actively working to improve that. Mostly, they want to see how hard use will affect the materials and thus the second and third generations of the Loop. After I send these back, I’ll get the second-gen version to test. We’ll update this article or write a new one once we’ve had a chance to see how the second-gen Futurecraft Loop performs.
We’ll start with the materials because they’re the big story. The Futurecraft Loop is made from 100% reusable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with no glue. They’re plastic shoes. The plastic is used in a much different way then you’re used to: spun to yarn, knitted, molded, and clean-fused to a BOOST midsole using Adidas Speedfactory tech. Adidas needed numerous technical innovations to make this happen. The one that really stood out to me was the TPU yarn. At first, it feels like you’re wearing a fuse-era basketball shoe. However, the TPU yarn breaks in over time in a way fuse doesn’t. It never got as comfortable as a knit shoe, but I did feel like it developed a nice one-to-one fit. The breathability of the yarn is another nice surprise. You don’t expect it, but the yarn’s airflow stacks up nicely against typical performance running shoes.
From an aesthetic perspective, Adidas made the Futurecraft Loop with the TPU in its raw state, so the color looked either bright white or slightly yellow depending on the lighting. Adidas left the TPU raw to better understand what happens to the materials as they age and are recycled to create the second-gen model. Adidas can color the TPU and showed us examples of red and blue versions. Apparently, the colors will get progressively darker as the shoe transforms from one generation to the next, so you’d get a slightly different shade each time the shoe was recycled.
The Boost midsole mold was reused from the air jordan 34. The Futurecraft Loop feels great on the road. The Boost is a different formulation than the normal version from the BASF Corporation. Adidas had to recreate it since this version needed to come from the TPU used on the rest of the shoe. Though a different formulation, the typical Boost bounce is there and there’s no real difference in feel from the Boost you have in your closet. Strangely enough, this new Boost does repel dirt better than previous iterations – random I know.
As a nice addition, the insole is cushioned using Boost. No complaints here on that upgrade from typical EVA foam. I did have complaints about the top of the insole. It’s the biggest drawback of the shoe and something that needs to be improved prior to launch. The insole covering is fibrous and rough. I think Adidas roughed up the yarn fibers so you don’t slide around. Unfortunately, the insole doesn’t smooth out over time as the cushioning molds to your feet. That means the insole is always slightly uncomfortable. I did get a blister on one of my toes after a few days of back-to-back running, and the bottom of my feet would often feel beat up after a long run. The cushion is typical of other Adidas models with boost, but they must improve the insole so long-distance runners don’t have issues.
The Futurecraft Loop fits true to size and wide footers shouldn’t have any issues. Because they’re made of TPU, the shoes are a little stiff for the first week, but they do break in and the TPU yarn molds to the sides of your feet. My only issue here is that the laces weren’t quite long enough and didn’t have enough stretch. The laces also slipped apart without a tightly pulled double knot. When I asked, the Adidas designers told me this is something they are actively working to improve. I was told making plastic laces is extremely hard, but they’re making progress on creating something that will function as well as normal laces.
This is one area where the Futurecraft Loop excels versus typical knit runners like the Ultraboost 19. While there’s no real heel counter, you do sit slightly inside the boost midsole. The TPU yarn is also very strong and stiff in the heel. While it does break in, it never gives as much as regular knit. Even on the most uneven trails filled with tree branches, I always felt securely on top of the midsole and was never in danger of tweaking an ankle.
Going into my testing, I was worried about the traction. After all, the outsole is made of TPU. I usually associate plastic with slipping and sliding on any slick surface. I started my first rainy run with trepidation. Luckily for me, the team at Adidas managed to create a TPU outsole soft enough that it almost works as well as rubber. The outsole had more than enough traction for completely wet streets, various trails, and concrete/pavement. The only time the traction didn’t grip well was if I ran through a puddle and the outsole got wet while the rest of the ground was dry. For 5–10 steps post-puddle, I had to be careful with my footing. Once the wetness was gone, the shoes returned to their normal traction. Overall, a fantastic effort for a plastic outsole. It does yellow (intensely) but durability shouldn’t be an issue. It didn’t wear out any faster than the regular Continental rubber outsole Adidas uses on the Ultraboost line.
The Adidas Futurecraft Loop feels like a stiffer, slightly less cushioned version of the Adidas Ultraboost 19. I’m excited to see how Adidas improves the laces, insole, and traction. I’m also ready to find out how the second-gen model performs, how Adidas does color on the Loop line, and how this may change Adidas’ business models. I’d recommend the Futurecraft Loop if you love the 100% recyclable concept or if you’re a serious runner that loves Curry 7 . Give these a try when they go to public beta. Also, there’s a chance this may be the one shoe industry future (of 14,000,605 possibilities) in which the environment wins.

Reebok Floatride Run 2 Performance Review

The Reebok Floatride Run Fast is well named. It’s a shoe built for speed days, but thanks to the Floatride cushioning, versatile enough to handle long runs.

Cushion

I recently went over Floatride cushioning in depth during my review of the Reebok Floatride Run 2. It’s a great foam for running. Reebok is under the radar in running shoe technology but that should change soon. Why? Because Floatride is awesome.
The Floatride Run Fast has less Floatride than the Floatride Run 2 but it’s also lighter and lower to the ground. Reebok got the amount of Floatride for speed or track days just right. You get a great bounce in something that’s minimal enough to wear during a race.
The Floatride Run Fast also features an EVA support rim around the top edge of the Floatride midsole. I’ll talk more about it during the Support section but it does a great job adding stability to such a plush cushioning system. It prevents you from losing any energy compensating for side to side motion.

Traction

Nicely spaced carbon rubber nubs make up the entire outsole except the heel which reverses the pattern and offers greater coverage and more rubber for heel strikes. At first glance, the pattern seems like it might have durability issues but after 60 miles it hardly looks worn.
The outsole always gripped well which made me confident pushing off as hard as I could on speed days, even if the track or asphalt was wet.

Support

The star of the Floatride Run Fast’s support is the EVA foam rim. It’s harder than the Floatride and kept me stable everywhere I went, even a few trails. Your heel sits inside the rim. This keeps your foot on the footbed and prevents side to side movement. The EVA is also used in the midfoot just below the insole as a sort of shank plate that keeps the midfoot stiffer than the rest of the shoe. This aids stability by preventing unwanted twisting or turning.
Other than the EVA foam rim there’s a minimal heel counter that doesn’t do much of anything and some skinny fuse overlays that attach to the middle three laces loops. Helpful, but nothing you haven’t seen a lot in other shoes.
The Floatride Run Fast is built for running as fast as you can. Because of that, I didn’t expect it to be as stable as it is. The EVA foam rim was implemented well and was a pleasant surprise.

Materials

The Floatride Run Fast’s materials are minimal and very similar to the nike kyrie 6. It’s a straightforward engineered mesh throughout the upper with a reinforced toe and three fuse overlays in the midfoot that attach to the middle three lace holes. At a $140 price point, I expected a little more from the upper.
The mesh tongue is attached below the insole with an elastic band on either side. The tongue’s thickness feels good but it’s not quite long enough. As a result, the tongue often sneaks below the top level of the laces. It needs about a quarter of an inch more material. Luckily, the tongue didn’t slip off to the sides of my foot.
The collar, while minimal, has a thin but ample amount of padding and cups your heel nicely.
The laces aren’t great. They’re very thin and extremely hard to tie. They’re impossible to tie if you have gloves on. I’d prefer they use something different for the laces in future iterations of the Run Fast.

Fit

The Floatride Run Fast runs a little long but is fairly narrow width wise. I recommend getting your true size.
Interestingly, the air jordan 34, because it’s a bit stiffer in the arch, feels built up in that area. You get that arch hugging feeling when wearing the shoe. I know some runners don’t like this so I wanted to mention it even though it didn’t bug me at all.

Overall

The Reebok Floatride Run Fast is a light, speedy shoe that’s versatile enough for everyday training and long distance road races. The upper is fairly basic and there are some fit issues but overall I was really happy with how well these worked. The Floatride Run Fast will stay in my rotation when my feet need a break from whatever I’m currently testing.

Nike Joyride Dual Run Performance Review

The Nike Joyride Dual Run is an evolution in the Joyride line of running shoes. The original Nike Joyride Run Flyknit (click to read our review) was Nike’s first use of Joyride and aimed at weekend warriors running short distances. It was fun to wear but not great for more than 3-4 miles of running.
The Joyride Dual Run is both more affordable and aimed at allowing serious runners to get in on the Joyride experience.

Cushion

The Joyride Dual Run downsizes the number of compartments filled with beads from four to two. Nike removed the two forefoot compartments to make the forefoot more stable and remove the “beads sliding out from beneath your foot” problem. This makes a big difference in speed workouts. You no longer lose energy pushing the beads and instead have really good ground feel.
The same super comfy, yet unnamed, foam from the Joyride Run Flyknit returns to be the midsole in the Joyride Dual Run. The midsole only offers 19mm of foam between your forefoot and the ground but you still end up with a plush forefoot ride.
There also appears to be less beads in both the heel and midfoot compartments. The original tech featured mounds of beads pushing up into your foot. The Joyride Dual Run’s beads don’t do that. It also feels as if the insole layer between your foot and the beads includes a thin layer of padding so you don’t feel any individual beads beneath your foot.
While I don’t 100% love Joyride for running, it’s still fun, and the Joyride Dual Run improves the overall formula.

Traction

The traction pattern in the Joyride Dual Run Black and Joyride Run Flyknit is almost the same. The Joyride Dual Run dispenses with some of the hard rubber that surrounded the forefoot pods and one of the rubber pieces in the heel. Honestly, it feels about the same but the Joyride Dual Run will not be as durable as the Joyride Run Flyknit due to the missing rubber at the forefoot.

Support

The rear Joyride compartment’s casing extends almost to the ankle on the lateral side of the heel. That little bit of extra rubber, a normal sized heel counter, and your foot sitting slightly inside the midsole throughout the entire shoe keep your foot on the footbed. Nike also gives the midsole a nice wide base. While it’s not an ultra supportive shoe, Nike does a good job of making you feel as secure as you can given you’re standing on a bunch of beads.

Materials

The Nike Joyride Dual Run’s materials are standard mesh with fuse overlays. The fuse overlay in the toe is mostly a design element that wraps around and reinforces the bottom two lace loops on the lateral side. The fuse below the Swoosh logo also wraps around and reinforces both the heel and the bottom two lace lops on the medial side.
We’ve seen these materials on running shoes for years and years. Though they’re nothing special, they get the job done. It’s just kind of strange seeing pedestrian materials paired with space age Joyride tech.

Fit

While the Joyride Dual Run fits true to size (order your typical Nike size), the overall Fit of the shoe is just ok. The tongue is a stretchy half bootie that’s too short. Because of that, you’ve got to hold it a certain way to make sure it doesn’t fold up as you slip your foot inside. It was annoying every time I put on the shoe. The heel tab does help but it’s too little to overcome the tongue’s issues.
Along with the tongue, the lacing system is not very good. It has two plastic (and fuse reinforced) holes at the bottom but the top three lace loops are hidden. You lace through a layer of nylon that hides behind mesh or fuse. This makes them difficult to lace. And to make matters worse, the laces are super thin and super short. I finally stopped messing with the laces and left them tied. This made it harder to get into the shoe but it was better than messing with the laces each day.
The rest of the shoe’s mesh and it’s padded ankle collar are fairly normal for a runner. If Nike hadn’t gotten cutesy with the tongue or laces the Fit would have been solid all around.

Overall

The Nike Joyride Dual Run is an incremental improvement in the run-ability of the Joyride line. If the tongue and laces don’t bother you, it’s an inexpensive way to experience Joyride.
And despite the Joyride Dual Run’s issues, Nike is moving in the right direction. I’m optimistic 2020 will bring us a Joyride model that works for serious running while also fitting great. Keep your fingers crossed.

New Balance OMN1S performance review

After having a rough time trying to find a pair to buy and test, our New Balance OMN1S performance review is finally here.
The New Balance OMN1S traction is amazing. No other way for me to describe it.
It’s a variation of herringbone, but done is a beautiful way. It’s almost like a serrated outsole that slices through dust — even on the worst courts. The rubber used gripped every court I took them on as well no matter how good or bad the courts finish was.
For me, this is the best traction I’ve used all year long. And there have been some great ones — Air Jordan 34 — but this one has proved to be the most consistent no matter what was thrown at it.
Oh, did I mention it’s durable as hell? For you outdoor hoopers… this one will last you a good while.
Except for New Balance branding, a modified herringbone pattern that plays in to the ‘Klaw’/former Raptor theme runs full length on the outsole. This moderately aggressive pattern along with the rubber compound does well to minimize the impact of dust. The solid rubber colorway tested doesn’t seem to accumulate as much dust as a translucent may, and what is built up eventually gets pushed out due to the nature of the grooves in the herringbone pattern.
It’s not always a screeching or obvious bite – but like Ja and Ashanti, it’s always on time. Traction fit for one of, if not the best, two way player in the game.
This shoe grips to the floor just like Kawhi palming a basketball with his bear claws. No matter what direction I moved, the grip just snagged the floor — in a good way. I felt no issue nor slippage with the shoe. I didn’t even wipe much (even though it’s a force of habit to kick your leg back and do a hand swipe). The traction is straight legit.

 

This is everything I want the Curry line to feel like. Court feel. Stability. Cushion. The three wish list items I always have for cushion, and one that I tend to really only get with Zoom Air.
The Fuel Cell setup is awesome and I’ve become a believer. To all of those that run in New Balance runners… man, y’all must love running around in this stuff.
I will say that it doesn’t feel quite as nice as day one, but it still feels really good. Its also really light and flexible so there is really nothing cumbersome about the shoe at all.
Don’t let the fluffy feeling exterior or Ortholite insole fool you, New Balance’s FuelCell is a little on the firm side in the OMN1S midsole. That doesn’t make it a bad cushion, however. It is a stable setup with great court feel, transition, and comfort. Impact protection is okay, but nothing you should plan on jumping out the gym in.
Overall, this implementation of FuelCell isn’t quite on the level of other brand’s top foams, but I find it to be a suitable cushion nonetheless.
While the comparisons to other brands may or may not get thrown in, the Fuelcell doesn’t exactly scream or feel highly-cushioned. You feel low to the ground, garnering more of the impact towards your legs and knee. You do feel an ample amount of it at the heel, however, there is a drop off from the midfoot to the toe. While players who like court feel will like this setup, a person that required more impact protection, like myself, I do feel my knee/back aching more since I rely on that impact protection more. It’s not great, but it gets the job done.

 

 

The build is pretty standard for today’s modern basketball shoes. It feels like a Jaquard knit to me, and I feel it’s the safest way to go when it comes to using textiles on basketball products.
There is no real stretch to the material as the way its structured keeps everything together really nicely. It offers more of a contouring type of textile that moves with your foot instead of just wearing a sock shoe just to wear a sock shoe.
Durability has been great as well. Not traditionally something you think about in correlation with textile builds.

 

FitWeave is the name – the upper reminds me of the Crazylight Boost 2016 jacquard a bit. It’s flexible, but just a tad bubbly in the toe, which can be offset by going a half size down, which I did. It is a strong material, so containment is not an overall issue so long as the fit is right.
The tongue area’s stretchy knit provides crazy ventilation but does allow for some unwanted shifting. This is where the synthetic suede eyelets and collar (Heatwave colorway) play an important role. For $140, I’m not mad at the upper base, but for the synthetic touches, were talking about felt like stuff that is far from premium – it especially looks bad in the pink color it comes in.
Taking price out of the equation and going strictly performance, everything is functional.
Going true to size, which is what I originally had done, proved to be a mistake. The shoe fits 1/2 size too long. While playing in the pair in my true size my foot was never locked in at all and there was all kinds of shifting while making any sort of movement on the hardwood.
Luckily, I was able to find a pair 1/2 size down — hit up hoop-jordan.com if you’re looking for a pair. They seem to sit there even though they’re sold out everywhere else. Once I went down 1/2 size the lockdown was damn near perfect. From heel to toe and from medial to lateral side — just solid all around.
One thing I don’t love is the tongue. It’s light and well ventilated, but it’s really thin. So, there were times when I’d had laced the shoe up a bit too tight and it would cut off circulation in my foot. A quick adjustment and I all was well, but it’s just the one thing that made the shoe not quite perfect for me.
I never tried the New Balance OMN1S on in my true size. Starting with Nightwing, I heard enough recommendations to go down a half size and that seems like it was the best decision made. In length, a half size down is perfect for me, and in width I have no issues.
As I alluded to in materials, lockdown is highly dependent on the eyelets of the OMN1S, as the tongue area and midfoot band are just too stretchy for my liking.
New Balance has wide options on their direct site, but purchasing from there seems to be quite a struggle compared to retailers like Footlocker and Shoe Palace that only seem to carry standard sizing. If you are a wide footer and take a shoot at NB online’s wide options, just consider that these run long also.
Hella long (insert a “That’s what she said!”). I have a size 13 and the shoe feels like a size 14+. So, it is highly recommended to try on a pair, or if it was a guessing game – 1/2 size down at least. Luckily – New Balance might be one of the few if not so far only available grand that has the normal and wide foot option to select – Shoutout to NB for showing love for us Shrek-feet people. I went with thicker cushion socks to alleviate the extra room in the shoe and played fine, I just wish the sizing gets corrected for future models ahead.
Support and containment was horribly dangerous when playing in my true size, but as stated previously, the second pair I bought 1/2 size down feels damn near perfect.
The fit and lockdown are able to properly do their thing while the standard support features — torsion shank, heel counter and outrigger — all work really well together.
As usual, getting the right fit is step one, then everything else in support should take care of itself. The internal heel cup is nothing spectacular but combined with a good fit it will do well along with a wide-enough base, stable cushion, lockdown and torsional support. Nothing amazing, but enough to get the job done.
While I’ve been critical about the way New Balance has been marketing the shoe, and making them nearly impossible to find, I will say that the design team that was in charge of creating the product did a really good job. If more basketball players were able to get a pair with ease instead of having to jump through hoops and pay ridiculous amounts above retail then I think you’d see a lot more New Balance logos on the court. Until that happens, New Balance basketball shoes will continue to be thought of a relic of the past instead of what they should be thought of as — one of the best basketball shoes of 2019.
I’m still not sold on this being a 1-5 position shoe but then again, what does positions really mean in this age of basketball where some NBA point guards wear max cushion sneakers and some centers often go the minimal cushion route?
does a solid job with the OMN1S coming back into the basketball marketing. Sizing needs some work but if you overcome that then everything comes together nicely for a pretty good performer.
It’s nice to see New Balance come back to basketball with a solid shoe. Would we like to see more models? Of course. Would we like New Balance to get the sizing right? Absolutely. Does the shoe hit all the checkmarks? I say it does. The shoe won’t make you play like the MVP Kawhi Leonard, but Darius Bazley and newly signed Dejounte Murray all seem to be onboard and so am I. The shoe provided everything a ball player like me requires (again – sizing and cushioning are the minor downsides) to play competitively without any worry. The shoe provided great traction and a solid build. I’m definitely excited about what’s next for New Balance as it’s a nice shoe to restart the basketball line.

adidas D Rose 10 Performance Review

Ten years of signature shoes for Derrick Rose and adidas Hoops. Is the adidas D Rose 10 the best one yet?

The traction featured on the D Rose 10 are two of my favorite patterns — herringbone and radial patterns just tend to grip the best more often than not. However, the patterns used here are so tightly spaced that even the smallest amount of dust will accumulate and cause a noticeable lack of bite throughout gameplay. A quick wipe and all should be free and clear for a brief period of time, but if your court conditions are less than ideal then you may end up with some really lackluster grip.

 

Obviously, the cleaner the court the better the grip applies to almost every shoe, but it’s emphasized with the D Rose 10.

Cushion is Bounce once again, and it’s not as plush as it was on last years D Rose 9.

 

This version of Bounce gives off a slight budget-friendly feel to the shoe versus a premium feeling cushion worthy of the $140 retail price. But, and there’s always a but, you still maintain a good amount of court feel with some cushion under-foot. I just found it to be strange that every pair of my $105-115 pair of Dames with Bounce cushion have felt awesome under-foot and the D Rose 10 did not live up to my previous experiences.

 

Materials are vastly different than last years D Rose 9 as the pleated textile was replaced with full grain leather. This made for a really premium feeing shoe straight out the box along with a fairly fast break-in period.

 

This setup does stretch a bit more than I’d have liked once they were broken in, which caused me to constantly have to adjust my laces for a tighter fit, but some may end up enjoying this — such as wide footers.

 

This makes me think that the leather isn’t the best cut or style of leather, I may be wrong, as I’ve not had this much stretching of leather in quite some time. Although, it could have been due to the one-piece leather build instead of additional overlays adding some extra structure and support.

I was forced to go down 1/2 size due to all other sizes being sold out, but I’m happy that I had to since the shoe fits long… and the leather stretching thing too.

 

Wide footers may be okay going true to size, but those that aren’t extremely wide footed may be okay going down 1/2 sz once the shoe has broken-in.

 

Lockdown suffered a bit due to the material stretching, but it could’ve been much worse… adidas harden vol 4, I’m looking at you. Luckily the rear TPU heel counter holds you onto the footbed and extends toward the midfoot. I do wish the midsole cradled or cupped the foot in the forefoot as I feel it would’ve made the material stretch less noticeable, but perhaps that’s something they can improve upon in the next model.

Support is pretty average. Not bad by any means, but not over abundant either. Just enough is in place to keep you safe and secure while playing. The midsole has enough torsion support while the forefoot is exaggerated enough to act as an outrigger first lateral stability.
Mom Overall, the adidas D Rose 10 is much better than the previous model. They’re not quite as amazing as the D Rose 6 PK were, but they’re as nice as the early models the shoe is supposed to pay homage to. If you’re a D Rose fan and wanted to keep your collection going then these will likely make you happy. If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck then there are many other models in 2019 that will provide that for you.

Nike Air Zoom SuperRep is built to serve the performance

Nike’s SuperRep family of footwear is built to serve the performance needs of class-based fitness athletes.
Each unique silhouette — including the debut shoe, the Nike Air Zoom SuperRep — responds to the specifications of a particular type of workout, be it a boot camp or spin class. The shoes are created with a commitment to extend the same level of expertise provided to professional athletes to all enthusiasts who work on a daily and weekly basis to better themselves.
“Fitness classes are booming around the world,” says Jamie Jeffries, VP/GM of Nike Training. “Working out is its own sport, and Nike’s SuperRep shoes are designed to deliver on the performance needs specific to these activities.”
The Nike Air Zoom SuperRep is an innovative shoe built specifically for the rigors of high-intensity classes.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts alternate bouts of going all-out with periods of rest to recover. The movements are diverse — burpees, kettlebell swings, lunges, mountain climbers, push-ups, squats and many more — and are sequenced to get maximum impact from maximum effort.
Using Zoom Air in the forefoot not only creates a dynamic aesthetic, it also helps provide impact protection and a responsiveness that gives back rep after rep after rep.
This cushioning — a two-unit system under the forefoot — doesn’t act alone. A plate running from heel to forefoot helps roll the foot forward and into a ready position for the majority of upright HIIT movements. The upper is crafted to support lateral moves, such as skaters and side lunges. The “burpee break” provides stability in plank positions and allows the foot to bend naturally when driving into mountain climbers.

Alongside the air jordan 34 is the SuperRep Go, made for quick home workouts, and the SuperRep Cycle. The spikes on the spin shoe are made with rubber to prevent slips and falls in the spin studio.

Air Jordan XX2 22 Performance Review

Since the Curry 7 review is just around the corner, I thought I’d step back and review the AJ XX2 since the Curry 3 took a huge bite out of the AJ XX2 back story.  I’m disappointed that UA went there but if the Curry 3 performs, nobody will care. I guess since the XX2 was such a sales dud maybe UA thought they could pull it off without anyone noticing? I don’t know …

Pros: traction, fit, support, materials
Cons: pod cushioning is too targeted and feels unnatural, tippy in the heel, pricey at $175 especially in 2007.
Sizing: half size down
Best for: guards
Weight
16.5 oz so just a half ounce more than the Crazylight Boost 2016.
Traction
Jordan Brand usually does a good job with traction and this was the highlight of the air jordan 34 for me. Stuck extremely well on clean floors and needed minimal wiping on dusty floors.  Probably would have been better if the entire outsole was the same depth but then the IPS system wouldn’t “work” as well
Cushioning
IPS is back again for the third straight model starting with the XX. Hurray?
I couldn’t tell a difference in density in any of the aforementioned models and this was no different. The IPS foam feels great overall at least with a nice bit of springiness.
As for the heel, Jordan Brand brought back the modularity idea allowing the player to swap between Max Air and Double Stacked Zoom. Now that sounds great in theory but the Max and Zoom don’t cover much surface area And the double stacked Zoom is nearly as thin as a quarter (I mean two quarters since its double stacked). Maybe this was the beginning of the end for real Zoom
You can feel the cushioning if you like quarter size set ups. It literally feels like a quarter size lump of cushioning is under your heel. Having the logo raised in the insole doesn’t help either.
Which feels better between the two ? Zoom pod for sure. It just has a more even feeling than the Max set up.
Overall cushioning is decent but far from ideal. A simple forefoot zoom and regular heel that covers the entire heel like the Kobe VI would have been great.
Fit
The XX2 came out before Nike and JB went to a more narrow last and fit so 10.5 fit me perfectly. Finger width of space at the toe, no heel slip and no space side to side.
The upper starts a little stiff since it is real leather but it breaks in nicely and gives a decent almost one to one fit. Not quite perfect but still good overall.
I really liked the simple lacing set up with the lace lock because it just works.
MaterialsWhat is this foreign space age material ? Oh it’s real leather. Good luck ever seeing leather again from any company.
JB and Nike were really pushing the quilted interior back in 2007.
Personally I like the look and feel but it doesn’t make a difference performance wise.
Nice materials and build quality, may leather Rest In Peace

Support and Stability 
Ah, when a higher cut shoe didn’t fold like a bad hand in Texas Hold em. I really liked the combo of the firmer mid cut with a stiff heel counter
JB also says the XX2 features a titanium coated midfoot shank plateErrr, just because it is painted silver doesn’t mean it’s titanium Jordan Brand. Clearly plastic with silver paint. It does its job just fine but don’t hype a piece a plastic as something it isn’t.
The XX2 is stable in the forefoot even without an outrigger but the heel is a little tippier than I prefer. The protruding outsole under the modular unit doesn’t help either.
Overall support is good but the tippy heel isn’t trustworthy.
Containment
Clean simple lines with no major physical barriers would be worrisome with today’s knits and woven uppers but leather is strong and doesn’t have that stretch on hard cuts. Also this extra leather rand helps in containing the foot. Similar idea to the Curry 3 “midsole frame”
Conclusion 
Every sneaker has a snorey..I mean story. Out of ideas, let’s say make up one about fighter planes! Zooooom fast powerful stealthy (is that a word? ). It’s everything an Air Jordan should be! Whoever was running Jordan Brand back then needs to be destroyed like Cyberdyne in Terminator 2 to prevent the proliferation of story telling these days. Unnecessary and adds no value to sneakers; let the players wearing them write the story.
Inspiration aside, the shoe itself is a good overall performer but the ultratargeted tiny heel cushion really ruins the shoe. Let’s see how UA does with the same inspiration.

Air Jordan 11 ‘Bred’ OG vs 2019 Retro Comparison

We’re less than two weeks away from the official launch of the Air Jordan 11 ‘Bred’ Retro for 2019. How does this remastered version of the shoe stack up to the original?

You’ve got to give credit where it’s due. Jordan Brand did a very good job recreating the Air Jordan 11 to be as close to the 1995/96 version as possible.
Materials are the one area that are a glaring distinction between the two. Yes, we’d love to see the Air Jordan 11 brought back better than ever, but that isn’t what the brand has been trying to do. They’ve been trying to replicate the original, not replace it.
The truth is that the leather tanneries, textile manufacturers and carbon fiber manufacturers that Nike hired to make the parts that make up the OG Air Jordan 11 are no longer in business. It’s literally impossible for them to make the AJ11 exactly the way they were. So, getting as close as possible is the next best option. For that, we say good job.
There are some small and subtle things they still can work on. The most notable being the toe shape. The squared looking toes of the last decade are just boxy looking and make the original’s sleek design look bulky. If we can see some refinement of the toe shape in 2020 then we’ll be pretty happy.
We hope you enjoy our detailed comparison of the OG Air Jordan 11 Bred and the 2019 Retro. Good luck to everyone going after a pair. You’ll be able to find them available on Nike.com

Nike Kyrie 3 vs 2 Performance Review and Comparison

Executive Summary: plays almost exactly the same as the Kyrie 2. Similar firm cushioning and very good traction. Shoe starts stiff but breaks in. No real reason to buy the 3 when the 2 does nearly everything the same or better though.
Pros: traction, court feel, fit, support and stability, containment, very durable
Cons: traction pods protrude and cause a little bit of inconsistent traction in the heel, needs periodic wiping on dusty floors on Non pod portions, cushioning needs break in and is very stiff and firm like the Kyrie 2, materials start stiff but break in, not the best value out there especially now that sale time is upon us.
Sizing: true to size, very wide footers will probably want to go up half a size
Best for: guards looking who value response and quickness; players who liked the Rose 4
Buying Advice: wait for sales, Nike made a lot. $90 is fair, $65 is near the bottom. Or just buy the Kyrie 2
Weight

14.5 oz which is pretty average
Kyrie 2 is the exact same weight
Traction
If there is one thing you can say about the Kyrie 6 line, it’s that it’s traction patterns look aggressive.
The main attraction of the Kyrie 3 traction is the use of traction pods in the forefoot that ride up the sides.
The rubber is softer and raised a millimeter or two from the rest of the shoe.
The concept works and the pods do their job very well. The rest of the shoe is a blade pattern or modified herringbone and feels softer than the Clutchfit Drive herringbone but firmer than the Kyrie 2 rubber.  I wish the entire outsole was made of the pods’ rubber or Nike put some of these pods throughout the entire outsole like the AJ XX because on a few occasions I’d spin out at the heel since the forefoot stuck better than the rest of the shoe. This occurred even on pristine floors. Nitpicky I know.
One concern with the traction pods is durability and efficiency once they wear down. I think they will still work fine once they wear evenly with the rest of the outsole but expect more wear in that area due to the softness of the rubber.
Overall traction is very good overall but I feel the Kyrie 2 provided better consistent traction overall especially on dirty floors since it is the same rubber, pattern, and depth throughout the outsole. Neither required too much wiping but the 3 needed a few more wipes per session. Not quite top tier stuff but still good overall.
Cushioning
Here is the tech highlight of the Kyrie 3. The rest of the shoe is Phylon just like last year’s.
If you did not like the cushioning on the Kyrie 2, you will not like the cushioning on the Kyrie 3. Say with me again, if you did not like the cushioning on the Kyrie 2, you will not like the cushioning on the Kyrie 3. One last time..
Cushioning is very firm on the Kyrie 3 just like the 2. It starts off very very stiff but softens a little with break in. I could feel the Zoom a tiny bit just like on the 2. It is serviceable and responsive as Randy noted but I just prefer a little more softness in the forefoot because I have Morton’s neuroma in each foot.  The good news is that the neuromas didn’t flare up badly but I could feel some buzzing after an hour just like the 2’s. I prefer a more balanced cushioning feel overall and these are just a little too hard for my tastes. The set up feels almost exactly the same as the Rose 4 except the Rose 4 has a thicker PU insole. Very low to the ground and quick feeling.
*interstingly enough if you check out sneakerdebut see the Kyrie actually sits at nearly 18 mm which is higher off the ground than the Harden V1 or CLB. Of course that’s not accounting for the insole thickness which probably evens it out. Thanks reader Pflite*
Although this didn’t really affect cushioning much, these two changes make the cushioning on the 3 feel a smidge firmer:
Number 1
The Kyrie 5 featured Poron in the forefoot while this year’s does not. Hard to really tell a difference but to the touch Poron is softer.
Number 2
The Kyrie 2 had an ortholite insole while this year’s doesn’t have the ortholite markings so in guessing it’s not ortholite. Anyways, the name doesn’t matter but the Kyrie 3 insole is very thin and flimsy like a limp noodle (it can barely hold its shape when I took the pic) plus it feels slightly thinner towards the middle than the Kyrie 2 insole. It’s as if someone wore down the insole of the Kyrie 2 and put it into the Kyrie 3. That’s how thin it feels to me. On Adidas Boost models, the thin insole is fine since it has all that Boost below it but with this firm set up, Nike really should have given us a thicker insole.
If you’ve ever played in basketball ball in tennis shoes like the Adidas Barricade or even the Nike Zoom Vapor 9, that’s what the cushioning feels like. Actually the Zoom Vapor 9 has the exact same size Zoom and a similar if not thicker Phylon set up from heel to toe including the foam strobel.
However, the Zoom Vapor feels better because the insole is thicker. If you want to improve the comfort level of the Kyrie 3, get a bigger size and put in a thicker insole to add a couple of millimeters more of cushioning.  Keep in mind that it might feel better underfoot but one or two millemeters isn’t going to fix any knee issues you might have.
Fit

I bought my true to size 11 and initially thought I should have gone up half a size. However, after playing in them a few weeks, true to size was the way to go. Even though I’m a wide footer, these stretched out enough for me. If you’re Fred Flintstone, you should at least try half a size up before deciding on the correct width though.
There is no movement in the forefoot, very little deadspace above the foot in the toe box and zero heel slip. Midfoot fit is still tight like the previous models but not deathly like the Kyrie 1.
After a few hours of break in time, you almost forget they are on your feet as the upper softens up. Almost
Even though the Kyrie 3 has a very good fit, the Kyrie 2 has an even better fit due to the strap that helped pull the ankle and heel back further.
Materials
In case you’re part of the Night’s Watch or need to defend Winterfell….
The materials start off stiff but soften up quickly. They don’t feel Flyknit soft or anything but they do soften up enough after a few hours of break in time. The spiked look doesn’t really convey a soft warm comfy feel does it?
The lateral side of the upper is a similar fuse  as last year’s model
Not cracker crispy like the Kyrie 1 but not definitely not Snuggles soft.
The medial side and toe box is mesh with a nylon backing and feels a lot softer than the lateral side. The front of the toe box does have a hard rand for durability as well.
I’ve noticed this is a trend these days as shoe companies have added strength and stiffness to the lateral side for containment and support while leaving the medial side soft for flexibility. Hmmm, maybe I did make a difference .(I’m kidding I don’t have that kind of pull)
Of course we can’t forget the featured marketing portion which is the forefoot flex area.

Across the top of the foot,  a long stretchy band flexes with your foot for support during quick cuts and sprints. 

Nike used a thinner mesh and Flywire to allow extra  flexibility at the forefoot.  I don’t it feel stretches at all but that thinner mesh allows for a more natural flex area. Plus it’s hard to quantify if it really works since the rest of the upper is so much stiffer than this little area.
If you’re big on materials and have to have that pure Flyknit or Primeknit or mesh feel, you probably will want to steer clear of the Kyrie 3. I think the materials are fine and don’t affect playability but every person has different needs and wants.
Support and Stability 

Support is good with the Kyrie 3 thanks to the fit, heel counter and stiffer fuse on the lateral side. Just plain and simple, solid support. As stiff as the upper starts off, it is plenty flexible like the Kyrie 2 and isn’t going to save any ankles
Nike continued with the curved outsole but didn’t choose to market it this time around.It seems slightly less curved in the forefoot than the Kyrie 2. After not playing in the Kyrie 2 for a year you can feel a difference with the curved outsole but it doesn’t make a difference for me in terms of performance.
Also helping with the stability was the firm, low to the ground cushioning.
Overall just a solid supportive and stable shoe. Same as the Kyrie 2.
ContainmentNo surprises here as containment was excellent thanks to that stiffer lateral fuse upper as well as the raised midsole. Softer materials might be all the rage but there are benefits to using stiffer and stronger materials like Fuse.
Conclusion 
Not the best value out there but a good performer overall. The Kyrie 3 has great traction, a good fit with solid support and stability and very firm cushioning. I had no issues with aches or pains but then again don’t have knee or back issues (knock on wood). The Kyrie 3 just feels like a quick high cut tennis shoe for players that value lateral quickness over everything else.
Cushioning will come down to personal preference and if you didn’t like the 2 cushioning you will not like the 3. I’ll even qualify that statement with this; If you don’t like UA Charged you will not like cushioning on the Kyrie 3. Charged foam is easily thicker bouncier and softer. If you want to improve the comfort of the Kyrie 3, size up and swap out the cheapo insole.
Is the Kyrie 3 an upgrade over the 2? No I don’t feel it did anything better than the Kyrie 2.
Is it worth paying $120? No probably not. There are plenty of shoes out that at the $120-$130 range that do everything just as well or better than the Kyrie 3. Curry 2, 2.5, 3 all come to mind.  Plus it’s almost mid season so there are plenty of sales on earlier launches.  Do not buy these if you want a softer cushioning set up or if you want a Charmin soft upper material. 
I’m guessing Nike made a lot of these to capture the new Kyrie fans post championship. If Kyrie 2 sales are any indication, these should hit $90 under range soon and bottom out around $65. If you want a marginally better performing and cheaper shoe, stick to the Kyrie 2.

Air Jordan XX9 vs XX8 Performance Review

I’ve read all the great reviews about the XX9 so I picked these up during the Nike clearance sale for $124 to see  what all the hype was about.  I will also compare the XX9 to the XX8 SE
Before I get into the comparison let me give you a sale pitch on a new 2015 Mercedes.
Introducing the newest, lightest and most technology advances Mercedes, the MB 2015. Here are some features we added:

• A new material for the frame 

Here is what we took away

• Replaced the rear air suspension with standard coil overs made for an Accord. You don’t need that anymore
• Made the air suspension feel more like coil overs but rest assured it is air.
• Replaced all carbon fiber parts with plastic. Who needs carbon fiber anyways.

Oh and we made the price 50% more than last years model.
and the material is not as durable and susceptible to abrasions and will degrade faster than last years materials. 
Now would anyone in their right mind go for the newer model and not feel like they have been duped ?  You can argue that the new frame is where the increase in cost is coming from but if you believe that I have some ocean front property in Arizona for you.
PROS: Traction, comfortable sock like upper, breathable, forefoot cushioning , fit
CONS: No Zoom in heel? These are called Air Jordans, not forefoot Air Jordans, containment, tipsy at the heel, upper not durable
BEST FOR:  lightweight guards, straight runners/non cutters, swag champs
TRACTION
Traction is great on both the XX8 and XX9 but I think the fatter pattern took away some of the bite. The XX8 has much sharper peaks and deeper grooves made from a slightly more pliable rubber than the XX9.
Verdict: XX8
CUSHIONING
When I read that Jordan Brand decided to take away the heel Zoom Air because it wasn’t really necessary, I thought “is a $225 shoe without Zoom Air necessary? What about cavier and sushi rather than Mac and cheese ? ” This isn’t about necessity, it’s about the luxury of owning the premier basketball shoe.
Anyways, the new unlocked Zoom set up is more recessed into the sole and turned a quarter turn. This 1) lowers the ride compared to the XX9 2) allows the Zoom to flex more naturally since the  segmentation runs sideways vs lengthwise 3) makes the unlocked Zoom less prone to popping and costing Jb less money for returns. I had a friend of mine bust his XX9 and air jordan 34 air in the span of two weeks and he isn’t even a high flyer (sorry Ben, the truth hurts lol). Luckily, they were both under warranty so he got replacement vouchers.

Above: The transition is better thanks to the additional rubber between the forefoot and heel.
I have yet to pop mine but I know it’s just a matter of time.  The thing that irks me is why did JB bother to set up the XX8 the way they did ? Didn’t they weartest the shoes beforehand? What if my shoe pops outside the 2 year window? It isn’t a defect but rather a design flaw imo
Above: almost perfectly flush with the outsole
Below: at least 1 or 2mm more protrusion on the XXThe new setup feels less unlocked than the XX8 since it is recessed and you’re contacting the floor with the Zoom and outsole all at the same time versus just touching the floor with Zoom only . You can still feel it though but you have to know what to look for. It isn’t worlds away better feeling than regular Zoom like the XX9 but it does feel great nonetheless.
The foam in the heel feels like Phylon and does its job but to skimp out doesn’t seem like Jordan’s style. I am a heavy heel striker especially when I’m running down the court so I really like to feel that extra bounce on the XX8.
VERDICT: XX8 easily especially in the heel
FIT
The XX9 fits great plain and simple. They eliminated all the deadspace on the shoe to make it as sock like as possible. Look how much smaller the XX9 looks vs the XX8
I went with my normal sz 11 and they fit perfectly, leaving me a finger width between my big toe and the end of the toe box. The heel fit is is fantastic too thanks to the dog bone inside the heel that prevents any slipping.

One thing to note with the flexible upper is that the laces come loose more quickly than normal. When you see a movie and a guy is tied up in rope, how does he get out ? He wiggles and shimmies to loosen the rope and that’s precisely what happened when the upper flexes and moves around the ankle. I’d start the game perfectly tied but it kept loosening up as the game went on.  Not a big deal but just something I noticed.
The XX9 fit very well albeit it had more of a normal shoe fit since the upper isn’t Performance Woven upper and Flightweb or whatever they call it. I had perfect lockdown in the XX9 as well and did not need to size down like some other reviewers stated as I stuck with my size 11. No deadspace or side to side movement to speak up either but the XX9 just fits better.
VERDICT: XX9
SUPPORT and STABILITY
Some shoes have great support and marginals stability while others have exceptional stability but mediocre support.  In my opinion I’d rather have the latter so I don’t have to worry about the support since the stability of the shoe will keep me firmly planted.
The XX9 support comes from its fit and have heel counter.  I am an over pronator and you can see it just by looking at how my laces lean toward the inside of my ankle.
There is a plastic shank but it does little in keeping my ankle from rolling in whereas the XX8 has a carbon fiber shank plate or flightplate as they call it.
Above: carbon fiber over plastic any day
As I said earlier I don’t mind a shoe that is stable while sacrificing some support but the XX9 failed my heel test. Sure, upon a perfect landing I won’t sprain my ankle but I’m more concerned with imperfect landings when I have to land on my heel or when I’m pushed mid air.
See how narrow the XX9 is vs the XX8
In addition the heel counter is a lot more flexible than the XX8Good ol carbon fiber. Why change a good thing ?
VERDICT: XX8
CONTAINMENT
Every carbon fiber piece on the XX8 was replaced with plastic on the XX9 including the footstay at the forefoot. Couple the woven upper with a more flexible plastic and the net result is below average containment. I could feel my foot coming out of the footbed and feeling the plastic flex on hard cuts. The woven upper is fine but there needs to be either 1) a stiffer footstay 2) higher footstay 3) more coverage along the lateral side , maybe even midfoot to forefoot.
I did not have this problem with the XX8 although I have had better containment on shoes such as the Rose 5 or Lebron Solder VI. I think if you are lightweight or don’t cut a lot or very hard you wouldn’t notice the containment issue but I definitely do.
VERDICT: XX8
DURABILITY:
This happened after fifteen minutes of shooting around. I thought it was dirtIt is hard to see in the pic but the woven upper already started fraying from a little toe drag…. After fifteen minutes of shooting around. I’ve seen and read about ripped uppers/Lace loops so it doesn’t surprise me but it is still disappointing.  Maybe some kind of reinforcement at the toe box like they make for most hoop shoes ? The golf shoe cousin of the XX9, the TW 15 has reinforcements at high wear/ high stress areas such as the laces and toe box( review coming)
I know JB wanted to showcase the upper but come on..
PRICE: 
AJ XX9 retail: $225
Sale price: $125
AJ XX8 SE retail: $150
Sale price : $79 although I got a steal on Eastbay for $60 after coupon
In free kyrie 6 reviewer world you can just a shoe without taking price into account but I’m buying these myself so I want the most value I can get.
VERDICT: AJ XX8
CONCLUSION
Although I enjoyed the slightly lower ride, ultra comfortable upper and lightweight,the XX9 just didn’t do it for me. It lost some of that bounce, traction, as well as stability  while adding a hefty $75 to the retail price. Is it worth $225? Hell no.Is it worth $125? Maybe depending on what your individual needs are but they aren’t going to make my rotation. Is it better than the XX8? No, but don’t get me wrong, it is a good shoe overall but I can get more value, more Zoom, and more support from the XX8 for a lot less money.

Stanley Tse Weighs in on the Nike Kyrie 6 Performance Review

The Illuminati has its ways, just like the way Kyrie controls the ball like a yo-yo. With Zoom Turbo making a return, will the Kyrie 6 make its predecessors proud? Let’s find out.
Traction on the Kyrie 5 was good, however the traction on the Kyrie 6 is a major upgrade. Once you get past the coating material on the shoe, the shoe just clamps down. Multi-directional traction has this shoe ready for battle from the get-go. The rubber is soft (outdoor players be aware), however, the shoe grips well. The best thing about this shoe is that no matter how you plant your feet, you’re definitely covered.
Same setup as its predecessor. The Nike Zoom Turbo is used in the forefoot and it feels amazing. It’s even better because the shoe feels lower to the ground without sacrificing any stability. The added plus is the injected phylon used for the midsole itself and it feels responsive from the start. Smooth transitions, low ride, and responsive feedback are a great combination that create a nice ride.
The Kyrie 6 uses some textiles along with some genuine leather along the midfoot to give it a nice old school feel. The interior of the shoe is heavily padded, which is taken from skate shoes, to give you extra comfort. The shoe is finished off with the Zoom Turbo forefoot cushion along with injected Phylon and a soft rubber outsole for solid traction. The material usage overall is solid and the midfoot strap and extra leather along the midsole give it a 90s old school basketball vibe. A great combo.
Here’s where the minor struggle comes in. On the previous Kyrie 4 and Kyrie 5, I had to go up half a size, and unfortunately, for the Kyrie 6, it wasn’t available in the 1/2 size up of a 13.5. I had to use the 13. I will say if you wore cushioned socks, be prepared to scream in pain. I wore thin socks initially to break-in the shoe, which helped a tad bit, especially in the “less painful agony” part. After the shoe broke in, it hurt less. And while the shoe still felt tight, it was bearable to the point of being able to play aggressively and not feel worrisome.
Solid as long as you get your proper size. 360 degree traction, soft midsole, proper lockdown, an extra padded interior, and your foot sits directly on the footbed without any slippage.
If you liked balling in the Kyrie 4 or 5, then you’ll absolutely love the Kyrie 6. It’s not a big change between the models. However, it’s evolved into something much better. I wish I had a 13.5, but once broken in, the shoe was as fun as watching an aging Uncle Drew cross up the competition. I definitely suggest trying them on in-store before purchasing. Besides that, the evolution of the Kyrie line is here to stay and we’re quite impressed. Here’s to the next one.

Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit 3 Performance Review

The Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit 3 checks all of the technical boxes. It has a knit upper, a midsole combining two soft foams, an outsole built for durability, and a plush collar and tongue. It’s got the whole package to be a solid everyday running shoe. And if you’re not familiar with Mizuno as a running brand, this is a good place to start.
We tested the Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit 3 from both a male and female perspective. This review is based on our experiences using the shoes for speed workouts, trail runs, treadmill training, long runs, casual wear, and more.
Let’s start the performance review by focusing on our favorite part of the shoe, the cushioning.

Cushion

Jodi: The cushioning system is pretty darn impressive. It’s a combination of XPOP PU foam and Mizuno Foam Wave. Every time I ran in the Sky Waveknit 3 I felt like I was flying down the road. They felt light and responsive. They’re one of those shoes where it’s hard to tell where your foot ends and they begin. It literally felt like they were one with my feet.
Drew: When I initially unboxed the Sky Waveknit 3, my eyes were immediately drawn to the cut out on the outsole that provides access to the XPOP foam. Just pushing it with my finger showed me it’s as bouncy as adidas Boost or Nike React. The Mizuno Foam Wave that carries and sits above the XPOP feels very plush, like Nike’s Cushlon or other soft EVA foams. Together, the package is extremely good at impact protection and giving your foot a nice bounce off the ground. This is a shoe that’s long run friendly. Your knees and back will take less of a pounding and recover quicker because of the cushioning package.

Traction

Jodi: The Sky Waveknit 3’s traction is solid. It’s everywhere on the outsole but broken up in all the right places to keep the shoe light and flexible. It’s carbon rubber reminds me of what Under Armour used on portions of the UA Curry 7. Which begs the question, how durable is this setup? I’ll let Drew answer that…
Drew: This outsole is built to last. My pair has approximately 50 miles in them and looking at the outsole rubber you’d think I’ve run 3-5 miles in them. This outsole and cushioning system will most likely last 300-500 miles which isn’t a given in most of today’s running shoes.
One small note. Initially, the outsole didn’t grip very well on wet roads. It was only slight slippage with each footfall but it was noticeable. It got better over time as the outsole gained some miles but it’s something to be mindful of when taking your initial runs in them.

Support

Jodi: The Sky Waveknit 3 has the sturdiest heel counter I’ve ever encountered. You put them on and the shoe pretty much sucks your heel into place. And don’t worry, the heel counter is heavily padded so rubbing isn’t an issue.
Drew: I agree with Jodi on the heel counter. It’s super stiff and does it job well. The Waveknit itself is on the stiffer side so the upper holds up well to turns. On trail runs it still wasn’t quite enough containment in the forefoot. The heel was great so I tried them on trail. But because your foot doesn’t sit inside the midsole you can get over the edge in the forefoot. It’s better to avoid rocky or root-filled trails and stick to asphalt or gravel.

Materials

Jodi: Mizuno calls the upper’s material Waveknit. It’s very formed and tough. Where the Nike Epic React is pliable, stretchy, and thin, the Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit 3 is the complete opposite. The only real stretch the shoes gave me were on the top of the toe box where the holes are larger to give you breathability. Because the rest of the shoe is so layered your feet don’t get much of a breeze outside the toe box. Side note: I don’t know if Drew noticed this, but the pattern on the toe box is shaped like a heart. Maybe I noticed this more because my shoes are bright red and I’m a girl…
Drew: It is a heart! If you look at the shoe top down from the front you can totally see it. On my grey pair I just thought it was a normal grouping of ventilation holes. Now it definitely appears a cheeky Mizuno designer snuck in a heart. I kinda like the personality. Most running shoes these days are all business.
Also, Jodi is right that the Waveknit is layered and thick. It’s different than knit from other brands but that means it’s also more supportive. It’s not what we’ve come to expect out of a knit but it’s an interesting change of pace. Want a thicker, more durable knit shoe? The Sky Waveknit 3 is perfect for you.

Fit

Jodi: Fit is where the shoe didn’t work for me. Lengthwise, the shoes are my true running size. Width was another story. I had to run with mine laced as loose as possible to give me some wiggle room. I could see my socks peeking through between the sides of the tongue and the upper due to how I had them laced (and the lockdown was still great!). I would feel amazing and light as I headed out for each run only to have my feet start swelling around mile 2 and be royally uncomfortable by mile 3. Anyone with even slightly wide feet should buy the wide version of the Sky Waveknit 3.
Drew: Even with my narrow feet, the Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit 3 was tight. I generally like my shoes that way but I would recommend the wide version if you have anything other than narrow feet. As Jodi said, lengthwise they’re true to size. The Waveknit, despite being a thicker knit, flexes extremely well. The collar and tongue are also super padded with an almost memory foam material. As long as you get the right width, they’ll be comfortable.

Overall

Jodi: If you have a narrow foot, the regular width Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit 3 would be fantastic. It’s built to be fast and light. All the potential is there. Unfortunately my feet needed the wide version. So if you’re a wide footer like me, just make sure you get the wide version.
Drew: The nike kyrie 6 cushioning and durability are the big attractions. This is a shoe that will last you a lot of miles and be kind to your feet, knees, and lower back. Just make sure you know they run narrow so you can go wide (if needed).

adidas Posterize Performance Review

The adidas Posterize (briefly known as the adidas Trifecta) aims to bring a lifestyle aesthetic to the court as an amalgam of past adidas models — and of course with the tooling of last winter’s adidas Marquee Boost. Does this new construction add value as a performer?
If you know the Marquee Boost then you’re familiar with this outsole – full length herringbone with a wider spaced zone of the pattern pointing laterally in the forefoot. What was a slight issue in consistency in the Marquee Boost is less of an issue in the Posterize, though you will still want to keep up with wiping on dustier settings.
Everywhere else the traction was just fine, including outdoors where the rubber seemed to do well against the grain and even showed potential for durability.
Maybe being the outsole of my pair of Posterize is much less of a translucent (I’d say somewhere in the 90% range for opacity) than the pair of Marquees I tested, they just more consistent – even if minimally so.
Again, the midsole of the air jordan 34 is carried over to the Posterize. I really enjoy the setup, but somehow it is even better this time around. Where the torsional plate of the Marquee Boost made the midsole a little stiff in transition, the Posterize is much more flexible and smoother right out of the box.
I checked with a source to make sure, and yes the same style torsion system was used, however, my guess is that the spring plate is possibly thinner as you get so much more range of motion without required break in or loss of support where needed.
Back to the midsole – Boost is still a killer cushion when done right, and this setup is just right in my opinion. The forefoot sits lower to the ground, giving an awesome mix of response and impact protection. The heel does have a little more volume, but it really is nothing serious to critique, unless you are dealing with a pre-existing ailment that can’t handle so much cushion (see Nightwing2303’s adidas Marquee Boost Performance Review for more on that). Otherwise, you really can’t ask for more out of a cushion setup like this.
Both flashy and functional, the upper of the Posterize is great. Textiles, leather, suede, synthetics – you basically get a little bit of everything except a knit here, and it’s awesome. The base of the upper is covered in a breathable mesh, the suedes over the rear panels add support to an already strong internal heel cup, and the tumbled leather overlay moving towards the forefoot is a nice addition.
A variation of the shell toecap from the adidas Superstar is featured covered in 3M, the tongue is traditional and pays homage to the adidas Crazy 2 with its screen mesh ventilation, and a removable ankle strap and other design lines give the adidas Fast Break some representation. Even the thick rope lacing blends well with the aesthetic and serves good purpose.
Combine all this with a comfortable lining and internal sculpting and you have yourself another great shoe to transition on and off the court seamlessly. If you are looking to spice things up a bit, yet, still find comfort in something form fitting, look no further.
I went down a half size to cut a little bit of length in the Posterize. I do feel I could have been okay true to size, but to be safe I’m happy with what I decided on. Wide footers have a chance at going true to size with no issue being that the tongue is not attached to the footbed in any way, but if you do have a wide foot and something feels off TTS, don’t force it.
Lockdown is also great. The thick rope laces take a strong hold once you make your adjustments – just make sure you knot/double knot so it doesn’t come undone multiple times in a game. I’m also happy to say I have no concerning movements or heel slip within the Posterize, whatsoever – something I can’t say for either pair of Marquee Boost I’ve owned in my true size as low cut or in a high cut at a half-size down.
It all comes together beautifully – the right fit, good usage of materials, solid heel counter, and torsional support all over a wide and flat platform. No, the ankle strap doesn’t add anything performance wise, but it’s nice you have the option to remove it if you please.
If the adidas Posterize ends up working for you, then it should really work for you.
If you’ve tried the aj 11 white silver and liked it, you should really like adidas Posterize. Boost still has a place in basketball, and with other companies now making use of similar foam, I don’t mind the decision to recycle tooling to continue offering Boost in some capacity.
The adidas Posterize is top-to-bottom comfortable and makes for a solid performer that holds up well. This is one of those pairs that will see a lot of wear from me, even as testing is complete.

Hoka Carbon X Performance Review

The Hoka Carbon X, simply put, is Hoka’s answer to the Nike Vaporfly Next%. The Carbon X is a carbon-plated, highly cushioned long distance running shoe. And just like with Nike’s signature long distance racing shoe, all of the Hoka athletes are using it for their races. And just like with Nike, the goal is to help athletes hit PRs and even World Records. When the Hoka Carbon X was first introduced, Jim Walmsley, a Hoka athlete, used it to set the world record for the 50 mile distance. And as a bonus, the Carbon X is priced at $180 which is $70 better than the Nike Vaporfly Next%.
To find out how the Carbox X performed, we tested it over 50+ miles of speed workouts, races, long runs, hills, treadmill runs, and casual wear.
We’ve now done several Hoka reviews including the Rincon, Bondi 6, and Arahi 3. All of them got high marks. Now, let’s see if the Carbon X is really the “speed machine” Hoka says it is…

Cushion

I wrote down “springy” in my notes after my first run in the Hoka Carbon X and I continued to get the same bounce the entire time I was testing them. It’s a race shoe that feels plush.
Right below the foot there’s a layer of Hoka’s Profly X EVA foam, under that is a Y-shaped carbon fiber plate, and touching the ground is a layer of injected rubberized EVA. This combination works. I especially appreciate the Y-shaped carbon fiber plate as it makes the shoe just a touch less stiff than its carbon-plated competitors. It’s not as squishy as other Hoka running shoes but that’s done on purpose. The Carbon X is built for speed on race day and I found it’s combination of responsiveness and soft cushion to be perfect for road races and speed workouts.
Very much like the Nike Zoom Fly 3, it delivers the speed you need alongside cushion that will last for the longest of races.

Traction

The injected rubberized EVA outsole really grips the pavement even in wet conditions. There was no slipping or sliding. It also adds a lot to the cushioning package. However, it doesn’t offer the durability needed for 300-500 miles. It’s not a surprise because you’re just running on foam.
I’d prefer Hoka do something like they did with the Rincon and add outsole rubber to high wear areas. They didn’t use rubber on the Carbon X, most likely due to weight concerns, but I hope they figure out how to do so in the future. It’s a glaring omission from such a high performance shoe.

Support

The Hoka Carbon X features a wide base that flares as it approaches the ground to create a wide and stable platform. This is a different approach from Nike’s skinny Vaporfly and one that will accommodate a larger group of runners.
You sit inside the midsole at the heel and feel low to the ground while still sitting quite high overall. There’s no heel counter, just some embroidery that does nothing. In a race day shoe like this you don’t expect a heel counter so I’m not sure what all the embroidery is for. Looks maybe? All it seems to do is add weight.
True to Hoka’s typical style, the Air Jordan 34 is one of the more stable shoes in its category and can even take on some light trail work as needed.

Materials

The entire upper is engineered mesh with some fuse at the lace loops and a cored mesh tongue. The airflow is fantastic. This is a great shoe for someone running in a hot or humid climate.
The tongue is backed by lycra and features wings that extend down and connect to the midsole. While the tongue is a little floppy looking, once you get a foot in the shoe it’s not going anywhere.

Fit

The Hoka Carbon X fits true to size. And while it’s great for those who want a carbon plate without the narrow last of the Vaporfly Next%, it does have a few oddities in the fit.
First is the puffy toebox. You’ll have plenty of room for your feet but the material puffs above your foot and it may bother you if you don’t like excess material above your toes. It didn’t bother me. The engineered mesh is super light so it didn’t rest heavy on my toes. It does look a little strange and lessens the Carbon X’s casual appeal.
The tongue is less like a tongue and more like a sheath. This can take some time to get used to as it’s a strange cross between a typical tongue and an internal bootie setup. It works though so most people will be able to get past it.
Finally, the shoe can feel stiff and bottom heavy due to the carbon plate. Contrary to the current narrative, carbon plates are not for everyone. Make sure you’re ok with the added stiffness.
While the three items above make the fit a little odd in places, I think the majority of wearers won’t mind them. The Carbon X doesn’t have hotspots and the upper is very minimal and light. The positives in the fit outweigh the negatives but it’s worth trying them on in person to make sure the above aspects don’t annoy you.

Overall

The Hoka Carbon X is a bouncy, race ready shoe that includes all the normal stylistic choices that make Hoka’s shoes unique. With long term durability being the only real drawback, I think this is a great shoe for training or racing fast.

Nike Kyrie 6 Performance Review

The Nike Kyrie 6 Performance Review is now complete. We hope it helps anyone out interested in purchasing a pair.
The traction on the Kyrie 6 looks like an evolution of what we saw on the Kyrie 5 and its performance has evolved as well.
While I had solid traction with the Kyrie 5, the Kyrie 6 has offered me even more traction. It’s got a tackiness that I never had to wipe — not matter which court I took them on. It also has traction going in all directions. From heel to toe and even wrapping up and around the sides. It shouldn’t matter what type of footwork you have, the traction on the Kyrie 6 is everywhere, and should remain in contact with the ground no matter what.
The rubber is a little soft for outdoor use, but if outdoor basketball is all you’re able to play then you’ll at least have great traction while it lasts.
The same basic setup as the Kyrie 5 with a twist injected into the mix.
Nike’s Zoom Turbo is used once again — and it’s a cushion that I really love. It has just enough bounce to it while remaining low to the ground. Never sacrificing court feel or stability for a little bit of cushion is a great thing.
The midsole itself is where we have the slight twist compared to last years setup. Injected Phylon was used and it feels great right out the box — as does the Zoom Turbo. This combination of a slightly softer midsole with the thinner Zoom Turbo really allows the forefoot cushioning to shine. It offers a nice and smooth transition from heel to toe while having just enough cushion to last a regulated game or a three hour pickup hoop session.
Materials are back to what I loved in the Kyrie 4 — for the most part.
The forefoot feels closer to the Kyrie 5 as the textile is a bit on the stiff side, but not quite as stiff as what was used on the Kyrie 2. This textile still moves well with the foot but without stretching too much. It’s been durable as well which is a plus for those that put a lot of strain on their textile shoes — hopefully you won’t bust any holes in these for a while.
Now, the heel section is what I really love. It’s a great soft genuine leather that just feels awesome. It wraps around our heel and ankle in a way that feels like a second skin.
My thoughts here are similar to what I felt about the Puma Clyde Hardwood. This type of material setup should be used more often. It’s a shame that we have more shoes releasing each year than we can count on both hands, yet, we can count on a single hand which of these releases are made with this type of material quality.
I found the Nike Kyrie 6 to run small. I personally went 1/2 up, which is something I rarely do. They’re still fairly tight, but its the type of tight fit that I like out of my basketball shoes. However, I’d strongly recommend you to try these on in-store just to ensure you get the right fit for you.
Lockdown was great. It may have been due to the snug fit, but the lacing structure was awesome and implemented in two ways. The forefoot offers the semi-standard nylon cables, while the midfoot offers the internal hidden lacing. At the collar we have the traditional punched holes which work well.
I did not feel the midfoot strap did much of anything. It could be there, it could not be there, and I feel the lockdown and fit wouldn’t be altered much.
Support in the Kyrie 6 is pretty standard. Flat sole, rounded edges that extend just enough to act as an outrigger. Your foot sits within the shoe which works well with the rear heel counter to ensure your foot remains on the footbed without rolling off of it.
If you liked the Nike Kyrie 5 then you’ll likely really like the Nike Kyrie 6. It’s not a shoe that is leaps and bounds better than the previous model, but the minor tweaks are noticeable enough once on-foot. Just make sure you try them on before buying as I feel they run smaller than usual.
I hope our performance review on the Nike Kyrie 6 helps you if you were interested in purchasing the shoe and we’ll catch you on the next one.

The Air Jordan 34 with a Performance Review

Jordan Brand never fails to push performance boundaries with the signature shoe. Does the 34 live up to the name? Only one way to find out…
You don’t get the title of GOAT by being weak, meek, and small-minded. You have to be daring, strong, and willing to take chances. Over the course of 34 years we have seen no swoosh branding, visible Air, patent leather, carbon fiber plates, IPS, interchangeable insoles and cushioning systems, a zipper shroud, and FastFit. The Jordan 34 takes it back to basics like we have never seen before, and… It. Works. Here we go…
Utilizing an almost full-length herringbone pattern (the midfoot is smooth but it doesn’t really matter), the Jordan 34 proves it means business from the jump(man). Herringbone has been the go-to pattern when a company needs to get back to what works, and the Jordan 34 works. On four different courts, dirty and clean, the 34 was sticky stuck. The way the pattern is slightly rotated, which shouldn’t mean much in the bigger performance picture, makes the shoe feel even smoother when moving on offense and even better laterally on defense. The pattern is wide as well, meaning dust doesn’t really build up and clog the grooves, which is a fantastic fact for the floors we play on (I’ve seen some of y’alls gyms on Discord – they are bad).
As for outdoors, well, like most modern shoes, I wouldn’t. The pattern is thin and the rubber is soft. I couldn’t see these lasting longer than a couple months on rough concrete surfaces and for $180 I wouldn’t want to wear them through that condition anyway.
Ever since the Jordan XX8 debuted in 2013 (that seems so long ago) the Jordan signature shoe has made a point of trying to redefine the Zoom Air cushioning we have loved since the Jordan XII (I know, it was Tensile Air). Utilizing a Flight Plate system, the Zoom was Unlocked and freakishly bouncy and responsive. The Jordan XX9 and XXX took similar paths – Unlocked forefoot Zoom and Flight Plate (now called a Speed Plate). The Jordan 34 takes the next level.
The whole forefoot is a huge Zoom unit, under the plate that is now called Eclipse. The plate compresses the Zoom and springs back into shape, providing a crazy, impact-protected, responsive ride. This is seriously the best Unlocked Zoom since the XX8 and feels great in every direction. however, where the XX8 was a crazy, almost uncontrolled Zoom, the 34 is solid and stable. Where I really noticed this was on pull-ups or coming off of curls. It didn’t matter what angle or speed I was jumping from, the shoe always seemed to stabilize on lift-off and landings, giving me a platform to go from and making shooting easier (it all starts with the legs). The midsole foam is softer than the 33 in every way so the Zoom is felt quicker and easier. The heel also has Zoom, and even though it is only a heel hex unit, it can still be felt under foot and absorbs every impact well.
Taking a page from the adidas basketball book, Jordan Brand has decided to use different materials on the upper, depending on the colorway. The blue void went with a ripstop-like material and the Chicago white/black/red went with a more traditional mesh makeup. The Eclipse (black/white, released 11/9) colorway I reviewed is extremely similar to the Chicago color. The materials are nice but nothing special, utilizing a single-layer mesh across most of the upper with some nubuck/synthetic hints around the lace cables and forefoot. The heel hits with a leather panel and JumpJumpJumpJumpman logo embossed (no Nike Air on this colorway). The materials work, and that is the most important part, so no real complaints even though it sounds like I’m a grumpy old man (I am).
For the first time in a long time, I had to go up a half size in a Jordan model. The toebox is short and boxy and just a little too close for my comfort (for reference, I wear a 10.5 in every Lebron and most Kobe’s as well as the Jordan 32 and 33). By going up half the fit was near perfect from heel to toe. The lacing system pulls the shoe around every spot and works with the semi-separate heel to allow for upper flexibility so there are no funny bends and bubbles. There are no real flex grooves anywhere in the upper so the materials need to be thin and flexible (that’s the WHY of the materials) and once the shoe gets a couple of wears in the upper feels like an extension of your foot.
As for heel slip or movement internally – nope. Again, the thin upper flexes and folds with your foot, the lacing pulls it all together, and the higher cut and ankle padding keeps your heel locked.
One thing Jordan signature shoes have always been is supportive. If you know anything about Mike’s feet you know he had bad ones (the reason he went to a carbon fiber plate in the 11 and up) and the Jordan 34 would make him proud, or at least less pained. The support starts at the lockdown and again, the laces lock you into the upper with no movement, pulling you down and not squeezing you in. The materials are next – the mesh doesn’t have much, if any, stretch, meaning once you are in you are IN.
Moving to the midsole, where we have had Flightplate and Speedplate, in the 34 we get Eclipse Plate (almost sounds like a superhero evolution). The Eclipse Plate works similar to the other two systems as far as compressing the Zoom and providing response while still providing a stable base for takeoffs and landings. The base of the shoe is not extremely wide but still does ride wider than the foot inside it. Speaking of your foot, it sits inside the edges of the midsole, meaning there is no side-to-side sliding off of the footbed.
Full disclosure – I broke my Eclipse Plate while testing. I noticed a popping sound in my left shoe and thought it was the Jordan logo on the sole coming off or getting air behind it. Nope. There is a seam running heel to toe in the middle of the plate and mine has separated. Never fear – Nike/Jordan is taking care of the replacement just like they always do – one of the best return policies ever.
Once again, Jordan proves it is a shoe made for the Greatest Player to Ever Play. Combining fantastic cushioning, great traction, and a streamlined look that takes away the overlays and cables from the 33, the Jordan 34 is built for performance at any position and style. While the retail is on the high side ($180), you can buy the 34 knowing you are getting a shoe that will out-perform most anything else on the court. If you are a player at any position that needs lightweight cushioning and support, you have to check these out. If you stay away from any Jordan that Mike didn’t wear, don’t be a fool – Mike could probably still drop 20 in these right now.

Air Jordan XI 11 Performance Analysis and Review

Hey guys I just wanted to say that sometimes I have weird dreams. Sometimes I dream. That he is me. You’ve got to see that’s how I dream to be. I dream I move, I dream I groove
Like Mike, if could be like Mike. Weird dream huh?
With the Concord XI coming out (again) I figured I might as well dust off my 2001 retros. They question is if you want to ball in $220 sneakers.
Pros: SEXY, traction when clean, cushioning, fit, stability, containment
Cons: traction gets iffy when rubber gets harder/older and can get slick on dusty floors, cushioning could be updated but not needed, carbon fiber makes shoe stiffer than newer shoes
Best for: any position
Buying advice: buy the colorways you like, don’t buy the XI just bc it’s a discounted colorway . Expect to pay retail for OG colorways
Weight
16.5 ounces which is half an ounce more than the X which I wrote about last week. I can almost guarantee people will say it doesn’t feel heavy while they say the X does. Numbers don’t lie, people do.
Traction
I’ve always found this traction to be good on clean floors, ok to awful on dusty floors depending on age of the shoe. Over time the rubber forms a shell and gets ultra slippery. You can remedy this by using sandpaper or wearing them outdoors to take off the old layer.
Most of the traction in the important areas is herringbone so it works but the little flat spots can pick up dust (dirt plus oxidation =yellowing) which can cause some slipping. However the herringbone is there to slow down the slide so it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
Overall, great when clean, ok on dusty floors, but can get worse with age.
Cushioning
Airsole unit.
Geez it sounds like such an old and antiquated term because in reality it is. But don’t worry it still shows up in shoes like the Lebron Witness 3 …you know 23 years after the AJ XI (yes I said this in my X review)
Cushioning feels good enough but it’s really the action on the foam you feel with a thin layer of air you feel. I actually like how the X feels a little better but that’s just preference.
Fit and Matierals
I decided to combine these two for the XI because the patent leather affects the fit.
Half a size down is the way to go for everyone except maybe the widest footers. Even today it’s hard to get a good fit with patent leather due to the nature of patent leather.
PL is NOT soft and flexible and is stiff in design. JB added the Pl for looks and strength around the shoe.
The rest of the shoe ballistic mesh similar to what you find on the LBJ II and would be considered premium nowadays. It’s flexible yet strong and not paper thin like a lot of mesh materials we see today.
Overall the fit is good with no heel slip and some a little space in the toe box (double sock to fill that space). That’s why I go down half a size.
Some might say the nylon webbing straps are predecessors to Flywire. I guess it kind of is but the straps cover more surface area to give a little more coverage (newer isn’t better). They also really help give the XI a sock like feel as it hugs the foot and ankle.
Overall, materials are nice although JB has skimped in the past but usually not too badly on the XI. Fit is also very good heel to toe although there can be some space in the toe box depending on your foot shape and preference.
Support and Stability
Support is extremely minimal on the AJ 11 bred and is really one of the first shoes I remember being a sock with a sole. It’s no wonder we see so many low top iterations now since this upper adds nothing support wise
Hey look I made XI lows!
Midfoot support is great thanks to MJ wanting and needing a full length carbon fiber for plantar fasciitis although this says its for propulsion 😆

PF, at least I have that in common with MJ.
The CF does make the shoe stiffer than today’s modern shoes but once you’re playing you don’t notice it at all. And if you do, go work out.
Stability is fine with a kinda sorta outrigger and wide outsole.
Overall not issues as the shoe plays safely and naturally.
Containment
Very good no issues here . My foot actually sits below the raised midsole a few millimeters from heel to toe. Plus the patent leather doesn’t stretch (think of it is the antithesis of mesh). Aside from setting a new trend, patent actually had a job to do.
Conclusion
Twenty three years later and a pretty much the GOAT shoe of all time, the AJ XI prints money for Jordan Brand whenever they release classic colors and even some not so classic colors. (RETRO PLUS colors for old timer collectors that remember that term ).
After 23 years shouldn’t all sneakers these days put these to shame on court? The XI has been drinking legally for a a few years now. However, year after year after year after year you see NBA players rocking the XI which tells me either
1) wear what you feel confident wearing
2) technology hasn’t improved much in over two decades or make a difference at all for professional players playing for millions of dollars per game
3) look good play good is a real thing
I choose to believe all three. What if Zoom or Boost were put into the XI? Would it make it any better ? It might feel a little better and more fun but you would’t see any improved performance. Those who think that newer and improved cushioning adds any serious “performance” benefit might want to check their jumper in the mirror. Just getting the basics of a sneaker down is good enough on any court for any skill level.
I’ve always loved looking at the XI especially the concords and my closet has been filled with probably twenty plus at one point in my life. But it isn’t a shoe I absolutely love playing with on court but it’s more than serviceable after two decades and can hold more than its own against any modern shoe. Is it the shoes ? Nope but it feels good to look good so why the hell not. I can give you 220 reasons why not but rational thinking isn’t any sneaker head’s forte.
Buy it if you love them, rock it if you want to, your skills are your skills, just know you can’t buy them off a shelf.
Overall, I love how these look and they perform well on the court even against modern shoes with the latest and greatest but they’ve never been in my rotation due to some traction issues and some slight space in the forefoot. So ironically these get a second team rating. But don’t worry I’m still going to try to cop this weekend.