AnotherPair Weighs in on the Nike KD 12

Kevin Durant and Nike weren’t messing around when it came to the KD 12.
The outsole on the KD 12’s traction is translucent, and sometimes a translucent outsole can be a hit or miss, we all know that. However, the traction on the KD 12 was super solid. I did have to wipe a bit when dust was present. It was nothing too crazy; a wipe here or there kept the outsole free of debris which, in return, kept me covered on the court especially on my lateral movements.
As far as outdoors, if you want to hoop in these on the blacktop, be my guest. I wouldn’t recommend it. I say keep these strictly on the hardwood, but who am I to tell you what to do, right?
Ummm, how should I put this? It’s freaking amazing! Why was it amazing? Well for starters, if you don’t sleep under a rock, then you know that the KD 12 got rid of the strobel board and replaced with full-length Zoom Turbo. What this means is the only thing between you and the Air unit is an insole. You are getting all that cushy cushion right under your feet without anything messing with it.
The impact protection was amazing. From the heel to the forefoot, the bounce is perfect. It isn’t too much or too little; just a comfortable ride while still maintaining some court feel.
As for the materials, a screen mesh with some fuse overlays in the high-wear area is what you get for the upper. Behind that, you can see the Quad-Axial Flywire, and we will get into that a little later. The tongue reminds me of some lingerie my wife would wear. I am not saying that she wears lingerie or anything like that. I’m just saying if she did it would probably look like the KD 12 tongue.
Now on-court, the tongue felt great: it’s nice and padded. I had no pressure points causing discomfort or anything. However, there is one thing I didn’t like about the tongue, and that’s how wide it is up top — nothing to do with the performance just a personal gripe. The screen mesh and Quad-Axial Flywire felt good on my feet. I didn’t experience any pinching or binding. Honestly, I prefer this setup on the KD rather than the knit, but that’s just me.
Narrow footers, I recommend you guys to go true to size. The KD 12 is pretty snug in the forefoot area, but I would call it a good snug. It’s not something that will cut your circulation off, but more of a nice secure snug like hugs from your grandmother.
Wide footers, nope. Try the shoes on first. You guys may need to go up in size. If you get your actual shoe size, then it is possible your circulation may be cut off. Disclaimer: I doubt your circulation will actually get cut off. I’m joking
I have zero complaints when it comes to support. The Quad-Axial Flywire did its job; it acts as a security blanket to the screen mesh and strengthens it which then keeps you contained during cuts and all that good stuff. Your foot sits in parts of the midsole which keeps you on top of the footbed during lateral movements.
An internal heel counter is in place for extra reassurance that you stay on that footbed and locked in. Not to mention the fit is nice and snug. Support gets an A+ in my book.
Overall, the KD 12 is a nice hoop kick and I can’t stop playing in it. I’m anxious to see what other colorways hit the market. I did see that red pair Kevin Durant has been rocking in the playoffs — that colorway is pure fire — so I may need that pair. When they’re this nice, you might want to buy ’em twice. Ain’t nothing wrong with having AnotherPair.

 

Nike KD XII 12 Performance Analysis and Review

“Innovation” is what every sneaker head wants these days. Despite all that I write about newer rarely means better, new tech speak gets everyone’s attention. Thankfully, Nike went with the ol’ tried and true with a sprinkle of innovation to give us one of the most well rounded KDs to date.
Pros: traction, low to the ground yet bouncy cushioning, fit, stability, containment
Con: runs narrow
Sizing Advice: true to size length wise but runs narrow. True to size for regular and narrow footers, wide footers will probably want to go up half a size.
Best for: any position
Buying Advice: KD is not MJ, Steph, or Lebron so just wait a few weeks or months and you’ll see more and more discounts as always. I got these at Dick’s for $120 on release day which is fair. More fair is $100, bottom around $60-75.
Weight
15.5 ounces which is average for a mid
Traction
Pretty much the same set up as the XI but with more segmentation within each semi circle which helps the sole brush dirt away. This translucent outsole isn’t as sticky as what we’re used to seeing and it still picks up some dust but the segmentation allows it to brush most of the dust away. My first few hours days on dusty floor weren’t great but I suspect it just needed a very light break in.
Nike has done a nice job with its subtle yet effective micro grooves in my opinion. From the Kobe AD to the KD 12, I have been happy overall, albeit at different degrees of success. These are not the absolute best traction ever but it is far better than average and will keep the majority of hoopers including my picky ass self happy.
Nice job Nike!
Cushioning
Let’s face it, cushioning marketing is every sneaker companies sweet spot. 99.9% of the world could care less about different lace set ups, new ways to improve ankle mobility or what street superstar ABC’s great, great second uncle lived on; people want good looks and a good feeling cushioning set up.
Yippee!
There is a lot of tech marketing surrounding the KD12 with the articulated zoom seemed in directly to the strobel plus an extra hex zoom in the heel. Cool, sounds awesome right ? It feels like full length Zoom should, you know like the Zoom BB with an extra Zoom unit in the heel to give it just a little extra sexy sauce.
With all that cool new tech speak, I don’t think attaching the Zoom directly to the shoe feels any different than using a cloth strobel like the Zoom BB. It’s like sleeping with sheets on your bed vs no sheets at all. Same diff, both feel great is the bottom line (yep that bed reference goes back a few years and stand true still).
I really like how they shaped the insole to match the gaps in the Zoom so there isn’t any wobble from the outer rim space . Stupid simple details like that are important.
I personally can’t tell the difference between articulated versus regular full length Zoom but even so if you didn’t tell me the tech specs of the Zoom set up, I still would have been happy. Did I mention the cushioning gets even better with break in as the foam breaks in?
Well well well well done Nike! Did I say well done? Well done, how I do not like my steak but how I like my Zoom.
Fit
Wide footers will want to go up half a size, regular and narrow footers can go true to size. Length is true to size while width is narrower than normal. I tried both true to size and half size up and while there was a little more space at the toe, the width just felt better for me from a comfort perspective without any excess shifting or movement inside.
If you can’t figure out how to get your foot into the KD12, maybe you should pick up a different sport. Half tongue construction gives you plenty of space to get your foot in
Ankle collar construction holds the ankle and heel down with some contouring. The collar portion above the contours does not conform around your ankle like a Hyperdunk does so you will see and feel some space around the upper part of your ankle.
Overall it’s just a simple semi traditional set up, no heel slip, no side to side movement. Both lateral and medial sides are raised to keep your foot in place (see support).
Nothing much to say here, it just works.
Nice job Nike!
Materials
Oh wheww, if it’s labeled it must be legit. No editing allowed Nike (see Protrogate)
Quad axial flywire.
What’s that mean? It means the flywire is going up and down and left to right. Using the word quad and axial makes it sound way more impressive but it’s really just a mesh with some flywire haphazardly mixed in for strength and texture. It pops a little but to start but not much and it’s a nice blend of strength and flexibility. People that want a material to looks or feels expensive will not think much of this upper What happened to the flyknit movement ? These could have been made out of regular mesh but what fun is that in a sig shoe?
Did you know KD loves baking? Why else would Nike put parchment paper on his shoe? This little tag is annoyingly cheap looking and feeling but it saves Nike 2 cents per shoe thanks to Ted from accounting
Overall materials are fine, nothing ultra luxurious and it works fine with a splash of color and texture with the QuadAxial Flywire.
Support and stabilityPer usually, support comes from the fit and normal flexibility heel counter. In addition the raised Phylon on both sides of the shoe keep your foot upright and on the footbed.
Midfoot support is good, not overly flimsy but not board like either.

Stability is good nothing outstanding. I would like a little more width like the PG 3 and WNZ2 but it works fine.
No issues at all with support and stability.
Containment
After taking a break for the past three years, containment is back!No issues here.. it’s like 2015 y’all!
Raised midsole heel to toe keep your foot in on hard cuts. Who would have thunk it?
Conclusion
The Durant line really did a 180 from the KD XI which in my opinion is a good thing. Although the XI was ultra comfortable and free flowing it didn’t have the level of support I’m really used to. Obviously, Kd has no issues in them so why should a recreational baller have any? #itainttheshoes
As many of you know the Zoom BB1 is one of my favorite shoes of all time due it’s all around performance but it’s cloth strobel full length Zoom really made the Zoom stand out; putting on the KD12 gave me flashbacks to the Zoom BB thanks to the cushioning set up because it feels just that good. By switching back to a directly underfoot Zoom set up, the shoe just feels fun and exciting with even more Zoom in the heel. Of course, cushioning isn’t the end all for me and thankfully, the KD 12 does everything well from A-Z. It is a bit understated looks wise and draws some serious inspiration from the Hyperrev line
Maybe it’s just the colorway 
But similarities aside, the lack of KD signature touches is fine for me even in this rather plain black white Day One colorway.
Not a bunch of story telling on the XII. This and the tongue paper are the only real graphics showing it’s KD’s shoe
It isn’t the sexiest looking shoe I’ve ever seen but it’s performance on court is fantastic.
Should you go out and buy today at retail?
It’s almost been a whopping two weeks since the release date so we’re right around the corner for discount time. Twenty percent off soon, then price drops in a month or so..it really pays to be patient. As I tell y’all every time, don’t get hyped up from a Shoetuber review that says $150 is a good price and then gives you a bunch of affiliate hyperlinks. Just sit and wait and save money so you can buy more pairs of a great shoe at an even better price.. or use those savings for hoop lessons or training sessions to actually get better at the game we all love.
I can’t believe this but the hits keep coming in 2019. Another first team

PUMA Uproar Performance Review

Puma Hoops is on a roll as the Uproar is even better than the Clyde Court.
Blade traction makes an appearance on the Puma Uproar and it’s awesome. It may not be leaps and bounds better than the traction pattern found on the Clyde Court, but it was more reliable on all of the courts I play on.
The blades are in place in such a way that it covers nearly all linear movements and there is a section along the outrigger that covers lateral movement. It’s a very solid setup that really does get the job done well.
The rubber compound is also pretty hard so they would be a decent option for outdoor basketball.
Puma’s HYBRID technology is used at the heel and the tech specs on puma.com claim the midsole is IGNITE. However, the midsole doesn’t feel like IGNITE; it’s much more firm with less rebound/energy return under-foot than any of the previous iterations of IGNITE I’ve tried before.
Court feel on the Uproar is pretty good due to the firm setup but I would have liked the midsole to have sat a little lower to the ground so it didn’t feel quite as clunky until broken-in.
If you’re looking for court feel, then this setup will work very well for you. If you’re looking for something with a little bounce back or rebound then you may want to look for something else. If you want a little cushion and a lot of nike air force 1 feel, you can always replace the insole and get your wish.
Materials depend on the colorway. I personally preferred the All-Star pair that used a mixture of textiles and synthetic leathers. I felt this setup allowed for less break-in time while still containing the foot at key areas and stress zones.
For those that want more leather and less textile, the Spectra and Palace Guard colorways will fit the bill. Both used textile along the tongue and internal booty sections of the shoe while all the overlays wrapping the foot from the heel to the forefoot are leather and synthetic leather. A little more break-in time will be required, especially at the toe, but once broken-in, you’ll be good to go.
The Puma Uproar fits true to size. Wide footers may want to go up 1/2 size, but try them on first to be sure.
Lockdown was awesome in both pairs I played in. It’s a little better in the leather-based version, but not by much. The All-Star pair broke-in to the point to where I needed to readjust the forefoot lacing to get a bit of a tighter fit. Otherwise the entire lacing system works perfectly from the ankle to the forefoot.
Support in the Uproar is what you’ve come to expect from basketball shoes: heel counters and a wide, flat base for stability. An outrigger would have been nice, but you sit in the midsole enough to make it where it’s not a feature that is sorely lacking.

For only releasing two basketball shoes in the last decade or so, Puma really has impressed quite a bit. The Clyde Court was a very good start, but the Uproar is just a beast on its own. Cushion needs work but everything else on the shoe worked perfectly. Aesthetically, I think I prefer the Clyde Court in certain colorways, but the Uproar is pretty cool in certain colors as well. Best of all, they look different. You’re not one of many on the floor, you’re usually the only one out there wearing the brand.
I can’t help but wonder what Puma Hoops has in store for its third basketball shoe. Will it be even better than the Uproar? I hope so.

Stanley Tse Weighs in on the Jordan Why Not Zer0.2

It’s that time again. Stanley Tse weighs in on the Jordan Why Not Zer0.2.

Traction was just straight awesome for me. I’ve played on clean courts and some slick courts and the traction gripped. While it features a non-traditional circular pattern, the pattern gripped the floor aggressively. Keep in mind that the rubber is soft, so it won’t last long outdoors. However, that doesn’t mean it didn’t work for outdoor courts. I can’t complain, except, perhaps it would be nice if the shoes could transfer some of Brodie’s athleticism to me, and that triple-double prowess.
A slight change of pace going from Full-length Zoom Air to just Forefoot Zoom Air. However, the Forefoot Zoom Air unit is unlocked, and is the same setup found in the Air Jordan 33. The shoe also features an injected Phylon midsole, which was bouncy (and felt good for those that needed added support). Impact protection was felt immediately without any break-in time. Despite the heel not featuring any actual cushion, the Injected Phylon gave the feeling on the heel very soft and responsive protection without the lack of energy return. I did like how this felt for my heavy-footed gameplay, although I’d still prefer having Zoom Air. Overall, for slightly heavier players, and for those quick on their feet or play on their forefoot, this worked very well.
The materials feature a combination of mesh and knit. They fit and feel very comfortable around my foot without any feeling of any straining or additional lace pressure. Additionally, zero break-in time was required which is a huge plus. It would have been nice to have seen a bit more of a mix-up between materials, such as leather or Battleknit, but that is a personal want and not something that the shoe needed.
True To Size. Plain and simple. Even for a slightly wide-footer myself (and I know there are plenty of you out there wondering and have wider-feet), they fit very well. Some slight adjustments of the lacing and you’re ready to go. The lockdown was adequate, especially with the help of the overlay panels placed along the midfoot to wrap around gives the shoe a nice change of pace in aesthetics and functionality. I do wish there was an extra lace loophole along the very top of the shoe for a more secure fit at the rear ankle, but not once did I ever slip out the shoe. I was locked into place and ready to go.
Good, not great. It took a while to get adjusted to the way the outsole was designed as it’s got a slight roundedness to it. Not saying it’s a bad thing, however, not all players are used to playing on their toes, especially coming from the Why Not Zer0.1 with its very flat and stable base. If it had a slightly extended outrigger it would probably help balance out the slight wobbliness of the shoe for those who aren’t used to it, but it’s not a big gripe. It’s somewhat of a transition. Adequate lockdown, soft phylon, a large Forefoot unlocked Zoom Air bag. Overall, I really loved the setup.
The evolution of Westbrook’s line has only come to fruition of two shoes, and so far they’ve hit the mark each time. You feel quick off your feet, comfortable, all while the shoe gives you everything you need, and removed everything you didn’t want. There are some things that could have been added to the structure of the shoe, but that’s just me nitpicking. The shoe gives a little bit of a blend between the Air Jordan 28, 29, and 32 — all of which were beasts on-court. So, if you were a fan of those models all together while being a fan of Brodie’s shoe then you won’t be disappointed.

Nike+ (Plus) System Review and Basketball Performance Reviews

Here it is… the review on the Nike+ Basketball System.
Hit the jump for Pros & Cons.
Pros
– Stat tracking
– Increase competitive drive through stat tracing
– Measures your vertical
– Measures your speed/ steps per second
– Easy to use
– Interaction with other players/ friends/ ballers
Cons
– Price – sold together with sneakers – huge turnoff sneakers  – huge turnoff
– Doesn’t measure actual speed, just the amount of steps per second
– Lags and takes long to sync to iPhone/ iPod
– Takes too long to sync so I end up leaving it on making stat average inaccurate
By now you all know that I personally feel that this system is a very cool thing to have but not entirely necessary for your typical ball player. If you are the type to want an increased vertical, track and measure your progress all while competing with your peers then this is something you will greatly enjoy. However, it’s also something that the younger crowd will gravitate toward versus us older guys. If you are a College or NBA player there is no point to owning the system since you already have proven yourself to be more than capable performing at the highest level.
Most players just need to get laced up and hit the court so it’s a give or take type of thing… if the above is something you find useful then it will be an asset to your game, if not then you will just end up wasting your money… unless it’s just the shoe’s colorway you are after…

air jordan 22 performance review

Since the Curry 3 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 6 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 XX2 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 air jordan 1 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.
Materials
What 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 plate
Errr, 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.

Jordan Why Not Zero 2 Performance Analysis and Review

Sorry about the delay, kids’ Spring Break put me behind a few weeks since Spring Break puts me behind on work stuff which then puts me behind other stuff etc…*
It’s funny how fast enthusiasm and hype wane after a few weeks.. one week it’s all forums and sneakerheads talk about and the next week it’s on to the next shoe. Kind of like how fast the Thunder went from possible Warrior stoppers to the 7th seed in the West. This year’s playoffs are going to be
Like Forest said, you never know what you’re going to get with a box of OKC Thunder. Conversely, you do know what you’ll get from the Why Not Zero 2… a great all around performer at a decent retail price. Wait as always folks, that one month with months hot shoe won’t hurt your skills or lack there of any.
Pros: traction, cushioning, fit, SUPPORT, stability containment, feels premium
Cons: traction pattern may tear with wear.
Sizing advice: true to size
Best for: any position
Buying advice: Wait as always. Stats are great but the world isn’t in love with Russ. $100 or less is fair, bottom around $50-65.
Weight
16.5 ounces which is slightly heavier than most mids.
Traction
Like the WNZ1, the traction is excellent. Very soft and pliable rubber with good depth keeps dust at bay. Excellent bite right out of the box on all surfaces with very little to no wiping on dusty floors
The only issue , although I haven’t had it yet, is these split 0 will split or tear with more wear. Anytime you segment pieces of an outsole, they are prone to tearing. UA are you listening ? Definitely not recommend outdoors.
Overall, well done JB!
Cushioning
Similar sized forefoot cushioning as the AJ 33 but less protrusion still gives the wearer plenty of forefoot zoom feel. It’s like 1998 again y’all!
It isn’t AJ XX8 feeling since the protrusion is huge but the size of the Zoom unit and the removal of foam make the Zoom feel Zoomy! It’s nice to see Zoom make a slight comeback now if we can only get Nike/JB to give us heel Zoom too. Glad I have all my Soldier VI’s!
The rest of the cushioning is injected Phylon which feels good underfoot from the get go. You won’t mistaken it for Lunarlon or Boost or anything premium but you’re not going to miss it either. It has just the right amount of give and spring to it that you don’t miss it and actually enjoy the full ride.
Well done JB!
Fit
I went true to size and these have a little more room than the Why not 1 which is a good thing imo. If you want a really tight fit you could go down but true to size should fit most everyone
No movement inside the shoe, no heel slip, so simple I barley have to write a paragraph.
Straps for just a little more lockdown around the midfoot
Same with the wrap around around the ankle
Overall I had zero issues out of the box, none during play which is exactly what you want.
Great job Nike!
Materials
Materials don’t matter for me but these materials LOOK way more premium than most shoes in the 140 under range. All the textures and contours gives off a luxurious feeling than pretty much every shoe I’ve reviewed under $140. Once again, value is the operative word. No difference in performance versus something made out of plain mesh like you see in the toe box but it feels a lot more expensive than most.
It’s a bit of a throwback with the quilted feel ala Aj xx1, xx2, Lebro sphere linings etc but on the outside instead.
Nice job stretching that dollar for us JB!
Support and Stability
A shoe with some support ? Why not right ?
With the basketball shoes going lower and lower every day, it’s nice to feel some support around my ankles. It isn’t a sock like mid cut but a mid with some actual structure. You can still fold over the lateral side but if you push from the medial side from the inside, you have some actual support. JB/Nike used an asymmetrical design on the AJ XIV and Soldier VI with a higher medial side and this gives off a similar feeling of support.
Midfoot support is good as well with a nice plastic midfoot shank in the shape of a W.. as in Westbrook for those who aren’t 🕵️‍♂️.
There is also plenty of arch support as you can see on the medial side.
Although the WNZ2 does not have an outrigger it is plenty wide in the forefoot for support.
Overall zero issues with support and stability.
Well done JB!
Containment
Yeppers, no issues here
Conclusion
I’ve literally got nothing to complain about with this shoe. If The AJ XX8 had a baby with the Soldier VI, this is pretty much what you’d get. JB made the WNZ2 a lot more fun this time around with a bouncier cushioning set up while keeping the shoe just great all around.. kind of like Mr. Triple Double.
Price wise, at $125, it isn’t the cheapest shoe out there but if you’re worrying about a $15 difference between what typically constitutes “budget”, maybe you shouldn’t buy these at retail and just wait like I always suggest. Russ isn’t loved like MJ, Steph or Lebron so guess what, these will fall in price just like the WNZ1 (man I hate typing the whole name). Fair is around $90 with the bottom around $50-60. With the playoffs and Thunder season possibly ending early, expect these to drop in price quickly by summer.
The streak of first teams continues for 2019

Air Jordan 22 Performance Review

Since the Curry 3 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 6 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.
TractionJordan Brand usually does a good job with traction and this was the highlight of the XX2 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.
Materials
What 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 plate
Errr, 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 air jordan 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.