Jordan 2X3 Performance Review

Another surprise from Jordan Brand. The Jordan 2X3 performance review is up next.
The traction and midsole tooling was taken directly from the Jordan Jumpman Hustle, a model I enjoyed, but didn’t love. Not due to the tooling, it was more the upper that I wasn’t in love with performance wise — I loved how those look aesthetically. However, the traction on this pair of Jordan 2X3 features solid rubber, something that ended up making a pretty big difference compared to the translucent rubber outsole that was on my pair of the Jumpman Hustle.
While the Hustle’s didn’t have bad traction, it was actually very good, but the bite that I get out of this pair is just better. Seeing as how the outsole is the exact same on both models the only thing I can point at that is definitively different between the two is the rubber compound itself. This is just another case of solid rubber being more reliable than translucent.
Luckily, the outsole here is a no frills, no gimmicks and no storytelling herringbone pattern. So, if or when translucent rubber is used you won’t compromise the grip much. But if you wanted to steer clear of any potential issues, even small ones, then solid rubber is the way to go.
The outsole itself is ideal for outdoor use as well. Its herringbone is thick and aggressive. It should wear evenly and hold up longer than tiny nubs, circles or squiggly lines.
Like the outsole, the midsole and cushion setup are the exact same as the Jordan Jumpman Hustle.
I’m pretty sure the forefoot Zoom Air unit is what you’ll find in an Air Jordan 13 and 14 Retro — and like those shoes, the forefoot feels springy underfoot while maintaining a low profile height for court feel.
The Phylon used here should be touted as well. While it’s basic, it feels great. Like the Jumpman Hustle, while offering minimal cushion on paper, the Jordan 2×3 is so damn comfortable. The shoe might look thick and chunky but it certainly doesn’t feel like it.
I love the large exaggerated rounded heel area as well. I always feel these aid in transition if you happen to heel strike, but after watching some footage I was also able to see that it aids in a smooth stop. Like most, I strike my heel when braking. The rounded edge of the heel allows me to break while transitioning into my forefoot so I have zero delay in getting my feet planted for a jumpshot. It’s a small little detail that many won’t care about or notice, but it’s something I always felt with setups like this but never actually looked to see if what I was feeling was true. Turns out it is.
Again, the tooling is thick and chunky looking. Like you’d get a bit of clunkiness out of the setup while in motion. But the design of the tooling actually proved to provide quite the opposite affect.
The materials are nothing to write home about. Just mesh and textiles. Some nylon lining the innards for structural support. Synthetic leather is used in some areas, but like the mesh, it’s nothing to write home about.
It is comfortable and requires very little break-in time, but is not premium in any way.
Something I’ve found interesting is that this textile has been pretty durable. Its shown very little wear other than being a little dirty. So, why Flyknit on the Jordan CP3.12 feels better on-foot, this has been holding up a little better. Kind of weird since Flyknit is marketed as a premium knit versus your average mesh.
The Jordan 2X3 fits true to size.
Unfortunately, they’re not available in the U.S. for some reason so I can’t recommend that wide footers try them on in-store this time around. However, they are available at select Euro and China retailers so if you happen to have a wide foot I’d recommend looking for a pair from a Chinese reseller that are labeled as “Jordan 2X3 PF” — PF indicates that the shoes were built on a wider last for wider footers. If you’re not a wide footer make sure you don’t buy a pair labeled PF — otherwise you’ll end up with a shoe that is too wide.
Lockdown was a nice surprise. The lacing structure is very simple and there aren’t a lot of eyelets. It initially had me worried about dead space, but when I was laced up I was locked in really well. No dead space. No volume above the toe. No issues at all.
All of the above helped play into the shoes support. The model looks pretty basic, and it kind of is, but they do everything really well which helps the shoe fit and feel as natural as possible while being one of the most unnatural things you can wear.
The base is flat and wide. It also extends a bit to act as an outrigger. There is an internal torsional bar while the rear section of the upper and midsole does a great job at keeping your foot on the footbed.
The Jordan 2×3 is the Jordan Brand team shoe that looks like it could have been a signature and they play like they are a signature.
Great traction. Solid cushioning. Decent materials. Fit was surprisingly good — and there are versions for wide footers overseas. There wasn’t much not to like. Other than being unavailable in the U.S.
2019 continues to be a great year for basketball shoes and we’re only halfway through the year. Can’t wait to see what else 2019 brings.

Nike Kyrie Low 2 performance review

The Nike Kyrie Low 2 performance review is here. Thankfully, they’re better than the original.
While the traction on the Nike Kyrie Low 2 isn’t an ideal setup for long-lasting outdoor basketball play, indoor players should love how they grip the court. I was able to take them on all my usual indoor court suspects and I never had any issues with them. They keep up with the wearer while on offense and help you keep up with the opposing player while on defense. It doesn’t squeak at all, but most of you already know that sound doesn’t equal traction.
For those curious, they did play well outdoors. However, the nubs that make up the traction are very thin to help reduce the weight a bit. I don’t recommend them for players that primarily play outside unless you’re cool with burning through kicks at a fast rate.
Despite what I had originally said in the initial detailed look and review of the Kyrie Low 2, the cushion setup is the same as the original Nike Kyrie Low — featuring heel and forefoot rectangle Zoom Air units. Unlike the original Kyrie Low, these don’t feel bad under-foot. The original was a bit on the firm side, due to the Phylon used, while these offer a slightly more bouncy setup. You still retain all of the court feel you’d want or expect from a Kyrie model, but you also get a little more cushion while you’re on the floor.
I apologize for the incorrect tech specs that I gave previously. I’m getting older and have a lot of sneaker knowledge stored inside of my tiny little brain… plus the original Kyrie Low felt like ass. So, I guess I just fed up there.
Textiles were used for the upper and they work very well: they’re soft and flexible while being sturdy. The last they used to build the shoe around helps keep you feeling snug and secure despite the softer build. Sometimes, you end up sacrificing a bit of durability when using textiles, but these have held up very well. They show little to no signs of wear and tear. In contrast, my CP3.12 that I’ve been testing are looking a little beat up as the Flyknit isn’t quite as rugged as the “cheaper” textile found on the Kyrie Low 2.
There are some TPU panels in place and all of them work really well. They do add a little extra weight to the shoe, but the upside is greater durability. The eyestay or lace holes that your laces run through are reinforced with the TPU as is the toe drag area at the forefoot. The shoe looks pretty minimal, and they are, but everything added to the shoe serves a functional purpose without much wasted space.
The Kyrie Low 2 fits true to size. They are on the snug side so wide footers should try them on in-store if possible. They’re mainly snug at the forefoot area so it may depend on which part of your foot is wide.
Lockdown was great at the forefoot, but the rear section did take some adjusting to throughout game-play. A super snug fit can throw me off sometimes as I tend to not lace the shoe up as tightly as I typically would to start. This is a quick and easy fix once you figure out how tight the shoe should be to keep you secure, but sometimes you just have to deal with it until the game is done. There are no timeouts when playing pickup. Once I figured out how I like these guys to fit, I really have no complaints. I feel they’re a no-nonsense type of shoe. They may not be what some expect aesthetically for a signature model, but they play really well so there isn’t much room for complaints.
Support is just what you’d come to expect from a performance shoe. I actually feel like shoes nowadays have gotten the basics of support down to the point where I feel a support section within a review is almost pointless and damn near repetitive. Obviously, a score or grade on the support as a category is important, but actually taking the time to talk and write about it has gotten me feeling very deja vu-y on a regular basis. Maybe I should start elaborating on stability rather than support nowadays — unless the support is piss-poor or overly restrictive. Maybe you guys can let me know your thoughts.
As for the Kyrie Low 2… they have a flimsy heel counter that I feel could’ve been a bit stronger, but still worked. There is a small torsional bar at the midfoot while the fit really helps reinforce everything they’ve put in place. The rubber wrap at the lateral forefoot is to contain your foot onto the footbed. It does a pretty good job at it. If it were any stronger, then it may cause some pain along the outside of some wearer’s feet so it feels like a nice balance of support while having a bit of give to the area.
The base is one of the more stable platforms on a Kyrie model. Most Kyrie’s tend to have the rounded tooling which is great for those that like to feel fast on the floor, but not so great for those that don’t want to feel like they’re running around on miniature balancing balls. For the Kyrie Low 2, the tooling is still rounded, but it’s rounded at the edges of the shoe which is perfect for, well, almost everyone. Faster players still get that mobile feel under-foot while players — like myself — that prefer some stability under-foot get that as well. Balance has been achieved here, and it’s something I like to see with footwear.
Is the Nike Kyrie 2 Low leaps and bounds better than the original Kyrie Low? Not really as both offer really good traction, fit and support. However, the Kyrie Low 2 does tweak the Phylon compound enough to allow you to feel the Zoom Air under your feet without taking anything away from court feel. They’ve got just enough of everything to keep most players happy without breaking the bank.
If you’re someone that wants to indulge in a certain aspect of a shoe, like cushion, then there are other shoes out there that will be able to take care of that need. But if you wanted something fairly light, low and fast… this is it.

Jordan CP3.12 Performance Review

Chris Paul’s Jordan CP3.12 is a surprise hit. Click through for our full performance review.
Traction on the Jordan CP3.12 was really good. I mean, I was semi expecting the traction to be pretty good, as most CP3 models are, but holy crap these were reallygood.
They screech as if they’re about to rip the floorboards up and dust was rarely an issue. If dust became an issue it was towards the midfoot and heel where the pattern is tighter. But a quick wipe and I was good to go.
They even played nicely outdoors (cushion too) which I feel is a huge plus in today’s sneaker market. Most shoes are made to wear out rather quickly. Yet, the CP3.12 has been holding up really nicely both inside and out.
Forefoot Zoom Air (same size and shape as the Air Jordan 13) along with a lightweight Phylon midsole. Sounds similar to most basic Zoom Air-laced models like the PG1, the Jordan Zoom Zero Gravity and Jordan 2×3 etc. However, they feel more like an Air Jordan 13 without the clunky podded tooling.
I felt light and fast, but never felt I was unstable or as if the shoe lacked court feel. They weren’t over-cushioned or under. They felt just right. While I still miss Podulon… the cushion setup on the CP3.12 didn’t have me wishing it was anything other than what it is.
Flyknit is used, which I find to be very strange as the price point of the shoe is $100. Nike and Jordan Brand usually price its knits at a premium, this shoe did the opposite. I’m not complaining, I just think it sends mixed signals to consumers. Now I definitely know (even though I already did) that Flyknit isn’t premium and I won’t want to pay premium prices for it ever again after experiencing it at the $100 price. Not to mention when it hits outlets.
As for what it offers… it plays just like the Performance Woven featured on the Air Jordan 29. Yes, it’s that good. It broke-in within minutes and kept me secure. It’s not the most durable material out there, but if you want something ready to go out of the box then this setup will cater to that want or need.
The CP3.12 was very tight when I first tried them on, but as mentioned above, they break in very fast. True to size worked best for me, but if you have a wide foot I’d try them on in-store if possible. The forefoot area is on-piece until it opens up to the tongue so that might be a little tight for some foot shapes.
Lockdown was solid. No complaints. No issues. No cares in the world. Once I was laced up I just had fun and played. Each and every time. It’s exactly what you should get out of a performance shoe. Something that doesn’t bother you at all. It’s just there and out of the way while doing everything you require it to do.
Lateral support looks worse than it actually is if you’re basing it off of the image above. This folding over thing is very common and allows the foot a bit of give when in motion. This would have been bad had the midsole not cupped the foot a little bit — which is why you see the midsole with a fold in the middle.
The base is also decently wide. So, while they don’t have a pronounced outrigger, the lateral edge comes out far enough to stabilize you upon these types of movements.
The internal heel counter could’ve been a little stronger, but it got the job done so I can’t complain too much about it. It’s more of a nitpick, but if I was the brand making the shoe I’d have requested one just to be on the safe side.
Overall, I’m just surprised. I thought the CP3 line quietly died. Then the shoe was unveiled. Then it released out of nowhere without any push or promotion from the brand. It’s as if Jordan Brand doesn’t care about the shoe or care if they sell any of them. If they don’t care then why would any consumer in tune with the sneaker space care?
Despite the lack of build-up to the shoe, they played really well. They’re a no-nonsense type of shoe that offers a lot of performance for it’s $100 price point. Since these are CP3’s they’ll likely be hitting outlets soon and for under retail I’d feel like I just came up on a great deal. Hell, I paid $100 for these things and I feel like I got a good deal as it is.
If you were in the market for a solid pair of hoop shoes that requires little break-in time, great traction, solid cushion, fit and support then these might be what you’re looking for.

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 5 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 Air Jordan 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 Fastpass 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 2 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.
Containment
No 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.

UA Curry 2 Performance Review and Comparison

If you’re thinking about getting the low, here is my review. Stick to the mid
**just wrote a comparison of the Curry Two, Rose 6, Lebron XIII if you’re deciding between the three*
King of the Court Or pretty damn close
I’ll admit it, I love Steph Curry and everything he’s about. From family to golf to hoops, he’s awesome. I loved watching him grow from the Davidson days to the MVP and NBA champion.
I also loved how the UA Curry 6 ooked, but didn’t love the cushioning set up as I’ve stuck to my Clutchfit Drives due to the more responsive and softer cushioning set up.  My Curry Ones do see daylight on occasion but they are mostly seeing the inside of their boxes. With the Curry Two, I have a new go to shoe that claims my top spot.
Pros: outstanding traction, cushioning, support and stability, containment, USA price of $130
Cons: better quality control ? Asia price of $195?
Best for: guards primarily. Bigs may enjoy the Charged only stable set up
Here is my original Curry One  ReviewWeight  

UA shaved an ounce off the weight from the Curry One and is only half an ounce heavier than the CF Lightning which is UA’s lightest current shoe.
Here are the other UA shoes’ weights for reference:
Clutchfit Drive 1: 14 oz
Curry One: 15 oz
UA Torch: 14.5 oz
UA Lightning: 13.5 oz
Traction 
Under Armour ditched the traditional herringbone set up and went with a multidirectional pattern that UA calls “organic herringbone”.  It is not a story telling pattern but not a plain Jane herringbone set up either.
The rubber is much softer than the Curry One set up, the edges of the grooves are thinner/sharper and the grooves are deeper. 

The end result is outstanding traction that I would put right up there with the Kobe IX and New Balance OMN1S.

I tested the Two directly against the Kobe IX and was amazed even after I did this
I stepped in all the dust I swept up with both the Kobe IX and the Curry Two and both just kept going without missing a beat. Amazing
The Twos just squeak and stop on any surface. The Curry One and Clutchfit Drive provided excellent traction but I did have to wipe to keep it that way while the Two takes it another notch without wiping. Just perfect.
Cushioning
For me the Achilles heel of the Curry One was the cushioning. A layer of Charged Foam over Micro G didn’t feel like anything special to me. No bounce or responsiveness at all left me no choice but to stick with the Clutchfit Drive. I’ve said it before, cushioning really gives a shoe its personality and that’s where I thought the One fell short. It isn’t always a performance deal breaker but it changes how much I enjoy wearing a certain shoe. So it was really disappointing that the Curry One didn’t have that fun responsive feel like the Clutchfit Drive.
The Curry Two uses a full length pure Charged set up just like the Clutchfit Drive 2.  I reviewed the Clutchfit Drive 2 and enjoyed the Charged only set up, especially versus the Curry One. I’m pleased to say that the Curry Two feels almost exactly the same as the Clutchfit Drive 2 but slightly softer and more responsive. The set up is not nearly as firm as the Curry One and almost as soft as the Clutchfit Drive 1. I’d say it plays one half to one level firmer than the Clutchfit Drive 1 while the Curry One plays two levels firmer. It feels more similar to the Curry One Low but even softer. I should also note the Curry Two rides the same height as the One.
Charged vs Micro G 
As I stated in my CFD2 review, pure Charged feels denser and firmer than Micro G. It feels plush when moving slow but firms up on sudden movements. I could feel the cushioning firming up on quicker movements and softening up on slow steps with the Curry Two while I couldn’t feel anything but a very firm set up on the Curry One.  If I had to choose between Micro G and the pure Charged on the Two, I’d have to wuss out and say it depends on the day. Sometimes I like the firmer feel of the Two and sometimes I like the softer feel of the Clutchfit Drive I.  As of today, I’m loving the Charged only set up of the Curry Two though.
**side note
There is not a removable insole in the Curry Two, it is sewn in. Can’t tell what it is but it definitely isn’t Ortholite . It is extremely minimal though to allow the wearer to get lower to the ground and to feel the Charged foam . I do not believe there is a last in the shoe so that really helps bring the Charged foam alive. Very similar to what Adidas does with Pure Boost. **
I should also mention that transition  from heel to toe is seamless despite having a pretty sizable shank plate. I was worried when I saw the pics because it reminded me of the XX8.
This iteration of Charged is what I expected out of UA the first time and I really like it a lot.
Fit and Materials
I bought my normal size 11 and these fit about 1/4 size short length wise which is ok for me since the width was perfect and didn’t suffocate my feet like the Curry One Low. If you’re a tweener who likes more space at the toe, I suggest going up half a size or wear thinner socks. If not stay true to size. You can see just by looking at the shoes side by side that the overall size of the Two is smaller.
Speedform replaces the Anafoam upper of the Curry One
I wasn’t sure how this would play out since I’ve tried the Speedform Apollo running shoes before and found it comfortable but somewhat lacking in warmth. Speedform was marketed a lot when the Apollo came out and in essence it is a seamless thin upper made in a bra factory (although there is a seam on these  where the synthetic starts ). Here is a good read about it on Gizmodo
You can see how much more padding there is in the ankle collar
I heard a slight tearing sound at the heel when I first put these on but I guess it’s just the fabric stretching because I didn’t see anything torn.
When I laced these up for the  first time, I had a little rubbing from the ankle collar but it went away quickly

Below: web straps at the forefoot for additional lockdown and containment
I still had that cold feeling due to the thinness of the upper but as I played, I forgot about that feeling and that I was wearing shoes at all.  No heel slippage or movement side to side at all. Fit nirvana achieved.
The toe box is synthetic and takes a few only a few minutes to break in. It does wrinkle quite a bit but does not peel and tear like the toe on the Curry One. There is very little if any deadspace in the toe box above the foot and zero side to side.
Here is a shot of the tongue and toe box
The rest of the Speedform upper just conforms to the foot after warming up.

Above:  you can see the cut is a little lower with the Two.
Breathability is just average. You might see lots of holes but that just leads to another layer. I could care less anyways.
Support and stability
Support comes from the excellent fit and heel counter

while the stability comes from the flat wide outsole. I found the Curry Two to be more stable that the One as it is not tippy at all.

Above: I really like the segmented heel similar to the Super.Fly 4. In the middle is Charged foam
Couple that with the firmer  Charged set up and larger shank and it is a very stable shoe. I found the stability to be outstanding  without being restrictive.

Excellent job by UA.
Containment 
Containment is also excellent on the Curry Two. No issues with my foot coming out at all from the footbed due to the synthetic in the toe box and footstay as well as a raised midsole (ala Rose 5)
Below: my foot sits at the crease
Midsole is raised all the way around the shoe
Seems like all the companies are raising the midsole up to keep the foot contained. I hope this trend continues.
As you can see the medial side is also raised but UA was doing that with the Spawn. In the Spawn you could feel it under the arch but you don’t really feel it under the arch with the Two since the Charged wall is more to the side and not directly underfoot which I actually prefer.

Just no movement side to side even on hard cuts.
Conclusion 
The Curry One didn’t sell that well initially. I mean they sold but they didn’t have crazy Jordanlike sell outs until Curry won the MVP and the Dubs captured the title. Then it was reseller mania, fakes from China, stats on Campless, people saying what an awesome shoe it was (same people prior said they’d never wear UA) …. Surprised the bandwagon didn’t break with all the people jumping on it.
The Curry Two didn’t radically change its looks as it it keeps a similar silouette to the One. However UA overhauled everything from the ground up by changing the cushioning, upper and traction and all for the better.  And personally I love almost every colorway of the Two. UA is going to make a lot off me. $130 times 6 or 7 must have colorways…times two for some . Yikes
I really liked the little details in this shoe as well. Each shoe has its nickname sewn in.

Look at all that stitching
The only downside to the shoe that I can think of is a little excess glue and the foam rails wrinkle a lot.
But after all is said and done, everything on the Curry Two is as good as or improved from the Curry One.  It looks great, performs even better and the price stayed relatively the same at $130 (except in Asia, sorry guys !). Did I mention the traction? I’m still giddy about how well it performed. As I said earlier the Curry Two is now at the top of my rotation beating out the Clutchfit Drive 1, Rose 5, and Soldier VI. It does every exceptionally well but thetraction really pushed it to the the top. The first colorway to drop in the US will be the “Iron sharpens Iron”colorway on October 24 and I’ll be waiting patiently for my two pairs.
Well done UA. SHORYUKEN!!

Jordan Ultra.Fly Performance Review

It’s been a little while since I’ve hooped in a performance Jordan model (the Jordan XX9 and the CP3 8 were the last ones) and the Ultra.Fly had a number of things going for it. It’s the stripped-down cousin of the Super.Fly, a model that’s now four versions deep and is consistently one of the better performers on the market. It’s at an attractive price point ($125) and features an interesting TPU/mesh build for the upper.
Word today is that the Bulls’ Jimmy Butler will be debuting the shoe on-court, making it a faux-signature for an up-and-coming two-way star.
Besides that, I was able to scoop them at my local House of Hoops before most people had gotten a good look at them. On the shelf, it looked like it could be a gem in the Jordan line, perhaps an overlooked model than was great on court.
That perception, unfortunately, was pretty far off.
Fit
We’ll start with the good here: the fit was actually really nice. The base of the Ultra.Fly is thick mesh, and that’s covered from heel to toe in a Kurim webbing. Some have compared it to UA’s Anatomix line, but the upper is much thicker and the Kurim is much more pronounced – the Anatomix shoes were closer to SprintWeb or layers of Fuse than this is.
We first saw Kurim on the initial LeBron 16 Elite images, so it’s great to get a first impression of the new tech here. It’s a second skin-like structure designed to provide containment and support – basically a flexible cage. Planting and cutting or changing directions at high speed didn’t cause any slippage on the interior. It’s really a natural feel, flexible and the containment is excellent.
The lacing system is simple, laced straight up with no frills, notches, Flywire or straps. I usually prefer this, and simple is better when it comes to lacing. It would have been nice to get some flat or paracord laces instead of the round ones used here (they feel cheap and kind of outdated) but that’s an extremely minor gripe. The tongue is also excellent – thick and padded, and part of a snug inner sleeve. JB did not skimp here and it’s definitely appreciated.

There is no external heel counter and the interior one is pretty flimsy. It’s easily squeezed and manipulated. While I didn’t notice instability on-court, I’ve woken up the day after playing with a bit of a tweaked ankle each time – and I’m attributing that to the lack of a solid heel counter. I have generally very strong ankles, but occasionally I’ll get a shoe without a solid heel and I’ll get sore. It’s not terrible by any means, and I only mention it because it may not provide the ankle support you’re looking for if that’s an important part of your shoe choice.
Overall, I liked the lockdown and natural feel on-foot that this upper combo provided. The Kurim is unconventional for sure, but it functions really well and was definitely the best aspect of the shoe.
Heel-Toe Transition
While I wasn’t able to find a definitive answer, I believe it to be a Phylon midsole with an articulated Zoom bag in the forefoot; transition is really smooth. The outsole/midsole bears some resemblance to the Kyrie 2, and while it’s not quite effortless like that shoe, it’s still very good. There’s no break in time either – these are good to go from a transition standpoint right out of the box.
However, the overall cushioning and comfort of the shoe kind of hampers the transition. With a lack of midsole support and impact protection (which I’ll get into in the next section) I felt that simple straight-line running was pretty painful.
Cushioning
I’ll just say it: this is probably the worst cushioned shoe I’ve played in for a long time. As mentioned before, it’s a Phylon midsole – same compound used in the Kyrie 2 – but even as low profile as the Kyrie was, the Ultra.Fly has even less impact protection. I typically don’t mind a thinner, lower midsole (I was a fan of the Kyrie 2 and Crazyquick 1) but these just did not work for me.
There were a couple factors that I believe played into this. For one, it’s basically just a flat midsole with a slight heel-toe drop. No extra support, no shank, no special design that utilized its low profile build. The Kyrie 2 was designed for natural movement and was sculpted to promote that, and the Crazyquick was designed to be insanely flexible with flex grooves and traction pods perfectly placed. The Ultra.Fly is basically just a flat surface hitting the ground each time you take a step.
This leads me to my next point, concerning the articulated Zoom bag. Because there’s no additional support, I don’t feel like my foot hits the Zoom bag properly. While I can feel something in there at the forefoot, it’s mushy and I really can only feel it flex. I don’t notice any additional responsiveness or cushion from the bag, so the Zoom doesn’t really do its job. The bag protrudes slightly from the outsole and is bottom-loaded (embedded in the outsole and not on top) so the responsiveness is already muted there. A dual-density setup like Podulon probably would have worked better.
I mentioned it on an IG post, but if Zoom is too flexible and your foot doesn’t exert force on the bag, then you’re not going to get the responsiveness you expect. Zoom is basically fibers stretched tight and stitched to two plates in a pressurized bag. On an exposed Zoom bag, you can see the fibers stretched and attached to the top and bottom of the bag. When the bag receives force from your foot and it compresses, it naturally wants to push back out and respond to that force. This is where you get the super responsive Zoom feel from. By putting flex points in that bag, I feel like it just flexes when you walk instead of absorbing that force and bouncing back.
The court feel and stability are fine – the shoe rides real low to the floor – and I never felt unstable per se. But after the first couple wearings I my back and arches of my feet were very sore from the lack of support and cushioning. This lasted a couple of days and unless you’re a young buck that never gets hurt, I would be vary wary of these. I also felt that the ball of my foot was basically touching the gym floor due to those flex points in the bag.
The stock insole is embarassing, and I swapped it out with the thickest one I had from a pair of old James (this is my go-to insole when the one I’m testing is no good) and I did notice a significant improvement at least in comfort.
Still, you shouldn’t pay $125 and immediately have to swap insoles just to get passable comfort. This is one of the few things that will get me legit upset with a shoe.
Traction
The traction pattern is a full length wavebone setup, and it’s pretty good. It felt pretty sticky and slightly pliable to me. I could stop on a dime on a variety of surfaces including a tile-ish court, although a dirty floor will require the usual wiping. It’s a one-piece rubber outsole so the feel is pretty consistent and confidence-inspiring underfoot.

Materials/Durability
I think the Kurim upper will hold up pretty well and the TPU-like material already gives you some abrasion protection to begin with. The midsole is only going to break down more over time though, so I can’t imagine impact cushioning will get any better.
A use of different materials likely would have driven the price up, but it also would have probably prevented the shoe from ever being made – it pretty much needs to be set up like a Super.Fly 4.5 in order to be a good performer. A Flight Plate was badly needed, and I would have loved to see the tri-Zoom bag like the 4 instead of this articulated one.
Bottom line, I simply did not enjoy playing in these at all. I don’t feel it’s a reflection on all Jordan performance shoes, but the materials here certainly need an improvement. Giving it the tech it needs and selling it in the $140 range would have been more plausible to me from a performance perspective, but I get why they stripped it down.
Despite the great lockdown and fit (plus they look pretty sweet), these will be exiting the rotation ASAP. If you’re looking for extreme court feel or don’t need a ton of impact protection, the lockdown on the Ultra.Fly is great so they may be an option for you. April 2 is the official release date.
But in my opinion, there are plenty of better options out there for less money. Sorry…

Nike Lebron Solider 9 Performance Review

The spawn of the Air Raid, Zoom Vick and Lebron XII might be ugly but beauty, or ugliness in this case, is only skin deep.
Here is the ugly contest performance head to head
Hyperdunk 2015 vs Soldier IX Head to Head
If you’ve read my Top 5, you’d know that the Soldier 13 has been one of goto shoes for almost three years . I stocked up on them because they were that good (and still are). Excellent fit, cushioning, traction, support and containment, the Soldier VI excels at everything.
I didn’t like the Soldier VII bc it didn’t feel like it had the same Zoom as the VI plus they were super stiff and I didn’t like the VIII bc it felt like cushioning was made of only foam (I did love the fit though).
Which brings us to the Soldier IX
Traction
The Lebron Soldier line has typically been great in this department which is one of the reasons I love the VI. Although the pattern is very different from the VI the IX holds its own. The IX did a great job on all surfaces and was very consistent regardless of the amounts of dust even though I didn’t feel that bulldog bite I love from the very best traction setups.
I really like the pattern especially the vertical lines bc they really help stop you on hard cuts and defensive slides . The little nodules are similar to the Kobe X concept but aren’t nearly as small and flexible. But they really do a good job shooing dirt out of way like a toothbrush.
It just doesn’t get clogged up with dust so you’ll never slip but other shoes like the Rose 5, Clutchfit, Aj xx8 all bite harder but I have to wipe more often with those shoes. A better way to put it is the Soldier IX traction doesn’t grab quite as hard as the best setups but it doesn’t get affected by dust as much as the other setups either. In other words they are just plain consistent.
Cushioning
Finally a Zoom set up that can compete with the VI. The VI had very large Zoom units which is a rarity these days and the IX is no slouch. These feel firmer than the VI but they actually feel like Zoom Air but still not as responsive and bouncy as the VI. Takes only a little time to bring the Zoom to life.
Fit
I went true to size with my normal sz 11 and these fit perfect width and length wise. It’s funny, as I was lacing these up, I was looking for more lace holes and there are only 4 total since the soldier’s lacing” system is composed of straps;one strap goes around the ankle to lock in the heel and ankle
while the other strap connects to some flywire that goes under and over the forefoot while the strap goes over the midfoot.
The result of the straps is perfect lockdown particularly at the midfoot. I didn’t feel the strap across the forefoot do anything unless I really tugged at it hard and folded the upper
I tugged and pulled the straps as hard as I could and I didn’t feel any difference with the Flywire. All of the tension increase I felt was on the midfoot and where the strap meets the Flywire IMO it is too loose and high above the foot to do anything bc it doesn’t sit flat on top and across the foot so unless you have a very voluminous foot you won’t feel it. It does add some nice color though . A standard strap set up would have sufficed but regardless you’re locked in.
Heel lockdown is excellent thanks to a padded notched ankle and strap of course
Reminds me of Alice in Wonderland
Below: The ankle collar wraps around the ankle unlike the XII which stops much shorter than the Soldier or the Elite XII
Versus the VI the fit is a little better but nothing significant
Support and Stability
Support is excellent in the Soldier IX without being overbearing.
The wing is part of the entire “frame”‘for the shoe which I really like. Since the wing is made of foam , it flexes and creases with the foot unlike Hyperposite or TPU.
It provides a nice stable base to build the entire shoe around because everything is connected to the one piece base.
Above: heel counter that is connected to the wing that is connected to the midsole that is connected to the hip bone ..
I also liked the fact that the upper is one piece
Above: the only stitching on the upper.
Soldiers have always provided a nice balance of freedom and support and these do it just right. I feel like these provide a little more support than the VI especially at the midfoot.
Containment
Almost every marquee shoe I’ve tried performs well in the typical categories like traction, cushioning and support but very few do a good job at containing the foot since the lightweight minimal upper movement. The Soldier line has always done a good job with containment and these are no different.
Fuse and the wing provide strength and rigidity to the upper to keep the foot contained, not the Flywire, on hard cuts. . I said earlier, there is too much slack in the Flywire so the upper absorbs the the impact and provides containment before Flywire can do anything. Regardless, I loved the containment in these. Reminds me of how the VI performs in this category.
Conclusion
While the Lebron signature line focuses on the latest and greatest technology, the Soldier line just plain performs proving newer and fancier isn’t always better. This shoe does everything better than the XII without all the gimmicks at a much lower price. This colorway retailed at $140 and hit $109 on Nike.com only a few weeks after being released , probably because they are so ugly and busy. Soliders never sell out so if you want to be frugal just be patient and prices will hit the typical $99 to $69 range and will eventually hit outlets for even lower. I’ve always felt the Soldier line was perfect for tweeners like me: Bigger/heavier players that can still move quickly and need flexibility and support and stopping power and these are fantastic. I love shoes that do everything well and the IX really has no weakness, kind of like Lebron.
Overall these could eventually replace my Soldier VI once I run out. They do almost everything as well as the VI (support especially under the midfoot was better than the VI). For now I’ll stick to my VI. Glad I stocked up but good to know there is a worthy alternative .