Nike Zoom Fly 3 Performance Review

The Nike Zoom Fly 3 is one of two Nike running shoes in 2019 to feature a carbon fiber plate. The Zoom Fly 3 is the more budget friendly of those two shoes. The other shoe is the world’s consensus number one racing shoe, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% ($250). Nike has been the driving force behind returning carbon fiber plates to popularity. Other brands have caught on and are releasing their own really good carbon fiber plate shoes (for example, the Hoka Carbon X). At $160, the Nike Zoom Fly 3 is among the least expensive running shoes to feature a carbon fiber plate so we had to try them out.
The WearTesters team (Eric Delgado and Drew Whitcomb) tested the Nike Zoom Fly 3 for over 140 miles across a wide variety of surfaces in speed workouts, treadmill training, long runs, casual wear, and more.
Eric: I was skeptical of the cushioning when I first tried on the Zoom Fly 3. The React cushioning on these is not as soft as the React found in other Nike running models (like the Epic React), it’s bouncier and denser. The bounce is a good thing, but I thought the density would make my knees hurt after long runs. Surprisingly, that didn’t happen. After a few miles, the cushioning really softens up and the carbon fiber plate, coupled with the bounce of the React foam, continue to propel you forward effortlessly. I was running times I usually run with less effort than normal. I ran my personal 5k record the very first time I wore them. I thought I was traveling at my usual pace until I looked down at my watch and saw that I was about 30 seconds faster. My knees and back always felt great after runs in Zoom Fly 3.
Drew:  I agree with Eric that the Zoom Fly 3 feels heavy in hand but not on foot. Once you start running the amazing bounce it provides, due to the pairing of React and the carbon fiber plate, make it feel like the shoe is really pushing and helping you with every step. It’s a really nice, plush ride. A side benefit of the midsole being so heavy is that the cushion doesn’t bottom out. Ever. To test the endurance of the cushioning set up, I wore them for an entire week. 40 total miles spread over 5 straight days of running workouts, a rest day, and an 11.5 mile long run. The cushion took the punishment. There was a noticeable loss of bounce by the end of the week but the shoes were still performing at a high level. That’s unheard of among mainstream running shoes. This is one of the better cushioning setups on the market.
Eric: Nike used a hard rubber for most of the forefoot area as well as two spots on each side of the heel. The rest of outsole is exposed React. The traction on these wasn’t impressive but it got the job done. I felt like I would more easily slide on smooth surfaces compared to typical running shoes. But this is a hybrid racing shoe, so traction isn’t as important when you’re expecting to run on dry concrete and asphalt. I experienced zero issues when running on normal race friendly surfaces.
Drew: The first time I wore the Nike Zoom Fly 3 I ended up running in a driving rainstorm. Within minutes my clothes, my shoes, and the roads were soaked. That storm gave me the chance to try brand new traction in the slipperiest possible conditions. And I didn’t have any issues. No slipping or sliding at all. Even though the outsole doesn’t look like much, it operates like a car tire channeling the water away and letting you get a good grip.
After about 80 miles in them, the traction was showing heavy wear. I doubt I’ll get the desired 300 miles out of the Zoom Fly 3, 200-250 miles seems like a more realistic target. That’s not unexpected with a shoe that proclaims itself race-day ready, but it’s also marketed as an everyday shoe. It would be nice to get more miles from the outsole.
Eric: Not much to write about here, this is a neutral shoe with a very narrow last and midsole. It was a problem for me and my wide feet. I felt like a bit of my midfoot was hanging over the edge of the midsole. I was able to help the situation with an arch support insole (this one’s my favorite). Because of the instability, I completely avoided running on trails or uneven surfaces when wearing the Zoom Fly 3. I did notice that the faster I went, the less I noticed the instability. I’m not an overpronator nor do I heel strike, but I like shoes with a bit of support (as you can see in my review of the Hoka Arahi 3). If you have a narrow foot and prefer forefoot striking when you run, then the lack of stability won’t be a problem.
Drew: As long as you don’t spill over the footbed, the Nike Zoom Fly 3 will support you on roads, sidewalks, and tracks. I tested these on uneven ground and rocks to get a feel for how they’d respond. The React midsole absorbs the rocks well but there’s not enough side to side protection to avoid ankle sprains on real trails. The midsole does flare out in a sort of outrigger-like way at the forefoot but doesn’t do much due to the pliability of the React cushioning. Save these for your road and track runs.
Eric: The materials on the Zoom Fly 3 are fantastic. I thought it was a bit too heavy to be on par with other serious racing shoes. Nike’s other carbon plate option, the Nike lebron 17 is about 2.3 ounces lighter. That’s a huge difference in a running shoe, especially when you compound that over a 6, 13, or 26 mile race. The weight discrepancy is mainly caused by the React cushioning. React cushioning is a lot heavier than ZoomX (but also a lot cheaper). The rest of the shoe is fantastic, the inner booty on the shoe is amazingly comfortable and more breathable than I thought it would be. The Vaporweave shroud on top of the booty is great for running in wet conditions and dries quick.
Drew: The Vaporweave upper is super light. I don’t know how they make Vaporweave but Nike has another winning material. It looks like ripstop or plastic in pictures but in reality it’s a stretchy plastic-y material. It reminds me of the type of material used to laminate paper. Hopefully Nike tells us more about it in the future because I can see them using it a lot more in upcoming running models.
The materials do have some issues. The half neoprene/half mesh bootie gets really smelly. The neoprene portion around the collar and down what would be the tongue absorbs massive amounts of sweat and is the last part of the shoe to dry. I like how it hugs the foot, but now that my shoes are too disgusting to be used casually I wish they’d used a different material. Even touching them for this review is…not the best experience. I’m going to have to wash my hands (and keyboard) after I’m done.
The laces, while better than those on the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2, come undone when soaked. I had them untie on me on 3 separate long runs (I even double knotted them!). Instagram has taught me some people solve this with elastic speedlaces but a shoe of this caliber should have better laces out of the box.
Eric: These fit long and narrow. If you have a narrow foot, I would recommend going a half size down on these. I took my usual size 13 but felt like I had a bit too much room in the toe box after my first run. Besides the length of the shoe, the fit on these felt fantastic. The inner booty forms great around your foot and I didn’t experience any pressure points when I was running.
Drew: I’ve got a narrow foot and can safely say these are one of the more narrow runners I’ve tried. The heel is really narrow. If your foot doesn’t taper to a smaller heel these shoes will most likely not be for you.
My big toe had more room than usual and I may have been able to go down half a size but I decided doing so might crush my small toes. The lateral side of the shoe curves sharply and I was worried I’d lose some toenails if I went smaller. Trying them on will help if you’re worried about extra room.
The achilles pillows are a nice touch though I wish they had put a little more padding over the seams at the rear collar. They didn’t cause any hotspots for me but I’ve seen seams like that do so. Finally, the neoprene bootie collar isn’t easy to slip on and could use tabs on tongue or heel to help get them on easier.
Eric: I was very skeptical of carbon fiber plates and thought it would be more of a gimmick, but man was I wrong. The stiffness of the plate really springs you forward when you press off your stride and I was running the same times as usual with less effort compared to other shoes. It really helped in the later miles of my workouts when I got a bit tired. It’s one of those shoes that makes you want to run 1-2 more miles than you intended. The instability was an issue for me and I also wasn’t happy with how heavy they were compared to other carbon plate options, but at $50-$100 less than most pairs it’s a good trade off. The materials were top notch and if I needed to run my fastest 5k these are the shoes I would grab out of my closet.
Drew: The Air More Uptempo Denim has flaws but overall I think it’s worth the money. Most long distance runners will feel an extra bounce in their stride, enjoy the high end cushioning and construction, and be able to utilize these for speed work, long runs, and races. It’s a versatile shoe that makes running a little more fun.

Why I Passed on the Nike Kobe AD NXT FF

If you follow me on social media I bought the NXT but sent it back mostly due to this
This is with the insole in btw I took pics without it as well. Not a trend I’m a fan of personally and I know MJ definitely wouldn’t wear anything like this.
After 10 months, I finally got rid of plantar fasciitis a few weeks ago with stretching, a night splint, stretching and surprisingly (sort of) some BOSU exercise.
Anyways, I decided I did not want to deal with PF again so why risk it with a shoe I don’t find attractive at all and it’s expensive (we all know schwollo pricing rule #1, everything goes on sale). In addition it feels so similar to the NXT 360 that I really didn’t need see the point.
But as a “reviewer” I did want to share my thoughts anyways and you can decide if it’s for you even though I’m sure there are 100 reviews out by now.
Weight
16 ounces so right on par with every other mid.
Traction
This pattern looks pretty good but given the history of translucent outsoles I’d guess you’d need to wipe fairly frequently. Probably very similar to the Kobe ad NXT FF
Cushioning
Yay another drop in insole. At least Nike has fixed my biggest peeves about drop ins which is the low side walls.
Nothing ground breaking here. Cushioning directly underfoot feels great but I can’t say it works any better than conventional set ups.
The insole is just a mix of REACT and Cushlon.The little cut out is for the FF mechanism
If you like drop ins, you’ll like this set up. Very similar in feel to the 360 NXT. I wouldn’t consider it an upgrade or anything.
Fit
As with all Nikes and Kobes these fit true to size for me leaving me a finger width at the front. No heel slip walking around the house either which isn’t surprising.
The real marketing star of the show is the fast fit which really gives zero benefit to the wearer unless you’re really bad at lacing up your shoes.
You can see how thin these cables are but you don’t feel any pressure from them
This is probably the first time I got a good look at fast fit. It’s a plastic wind toy.
Although it works well enough, Fast Fit assumes every player wants the same lace(less?) pressure so you really can’t tune it to your exact liking. I like more pressure over the midfoot and ankle personally. But FF works fine but once again there are non actual benefits to it. The AJ 34 already ditched it which is pretty unsurprising.
And yes I’ll try my best to review the Air jordan 34. Looks pretty good to me all around.
Materials
MEHterials
If premium feeling or looking materials are your thing these are not it. The outer layer is stretchy while the base layer is just mesh.
Support and Stability
No issues here although the higher cut doesn’t really have any structure to it.
Stability is improved in the heel and isn’t nearly as rounded as the NXT and Exodus. I already sent these back and I forgot to take a pic. Sorry! Forefoot outrigger is stable as always See below
Containment
I don’t foresee any major issues here. Slightly raised midsole.
Conclusion
I didn’t actually wear them so there is no conclusion but if you’re a PF sufferer or want more midfoot support, look elsewhere. If you really want these, why pay $200 when they’ll go on sale soon? I’ve been too busy to write so instead of buying everything out there, I’ll wait for something I’m actually interested in. I’m still waiting on a better coloroway of the Alphadunk and of course the AJ 34. So hope have a review for those in the near future.

PUMA Legacy Performance Review

I may not have balled in the PUMA Clyde Court or Uproar, but I’m sure happy the PUMA Legacy could be my first hoops experience with the brand.
I don’t know how best to describe this traction pattern beyond what I’d call kind of an alternating zig-zag sequence – I just know for the most part, it works. The rubber compound itself is pliable but also strong, so I was able to always get a subtle, but good bite from the Puma Legacy so long as I kept up with wipes on dusty settings.
It’s not an automatic stop always, but more of a gradual, secure stop as the rubber slightly sinks to grip the floor. I did experience some light slips on or two times when forgetting to wipe, but fortunately nothing drastic. I’d prefer wider groove spacing for less dust buildup and deeper tread for outdoors, but overall, I found traction to be suitable enough.
HYBRID is mentioned for cushioning, and by the feel of it, it may only be in the heel, though I could be wrong. Everything feels dense, especially in the forefoot with better than average court feel and response, while the heel is a little chunkier with just a slight bounce to it, though I didn’t notice it so much during actual gameplay.
I’m surprised, but happy to say I had no issues with this setup as far as impact protection goes. Never did I experience any startling impact on hard landings, nor did it feel any aches and pains from impact following games.
The only thing I’d really change about the cushion isn’t related to cushion so much. The footbed is a little to slick for my liking, so there were times here or there I swapped out insoles for something that felt a little more grippy but wouldn’t alter the cushion experience much. Going forward, I may stack insoles, but we’ll get to that shortly.
Engineered mesh and synthetic leathers make up most of the upper with a mesh over the traditional mesh tongue which I was a fan of along with the internal padding around the ankle. For a synthetic, the heel portion is not bad at all as it does well at mimicking real leather, minus the slightly cracking type of creasing (which I really could care less about). The leather running along the eyelets doesn’t feel as nice but is no different from a lot of synthetics found on some higher priced lifestyle options and it does its job well, so hey.
For the forefoot, the engineered mesh feels more like a stiff knit that does, soften up over time, but not very much. Glue layered underneath, or whatever it may be holds the structure up in the toebox, which unfortunately leaves a little volume above the toe, but otherwise the shoe moves well enough with the foot that I feel good about it. No excess pressure or points of pain, no complaints. Also, no excess damage – the upper looks pretty well intact so you might be in luck when it comes to durability.
True to size for me both in length and width. I know it seems to run long for some, but it was overall a good fit on my feet sans the slight bubbling up over the toe. I tried to address this by trying a half-size down, but that just ran way too short and snug for my liking.
While experimenting with insole swaps as I mentioned before, I ran a couple games stacking the thinnest aftermarket insole I own over the stock insole and that pretty much eliminated any dead space. Now that I am done testing, that may be how I play the Legacy going forward, though I have no major issues with playing in the shoe with just one insole.
Dick’s Sporting Goods and  online are the only two retailers I have seen carrying the lebron 17, so if you are near a DSG with stock, I’d recommend giving them a try on just to be sure you have the right fit for you. Just make note that the shoe does break in a little bit, but not by much as it’s not really needed anyway.
Support around the heel was great whether I left the last set of eyelets unused or laced all the way up. There is a strong heel counter and the overall fit and ability to adjust with lacing makes that area nice and secure. The forefoot doesn’t have as much for support features but still does the job well in addition. I was worried that the slick insole surface would lead to some issues since the base is not super wide, but movement was kept at a minimum due to strong materials and decent fit width-wise. Once I got going in the PUMA Legacy, I really had no worries about playing in them.
At $100 (depending on where you purchase) the PUMA Legacy is straight up solid all around. It’s not a knock your socks off sneaker, but one you can count on to get the job done without giving it much thought. If you are looking for a shoe you can just go out and ball with, and not feel any kind of rush to get out of afterwards, this might work for you, especially if your looking for some good court feel with not much in the way of tradeoff. It might not be one of my absolute best performers but it is surely reliable and one of my favorite pick ups this year, on or off court.

Nike Kobe AD NXT FastFit Performance Review

The best iteration of Nike’s laceless FastFit system is here.
Traction on the Nike Kobe AD NXT FF is aggressive in both looks and performance.
The scale pattern has proven to be fairly durable during indoor testing and has a bit to it that reminds me of the solid rubber offerings from the Nike Kobe 11 EM. Something I love is that the channels or grooved in between each row of these scales are spaced far enough apart that if dust is present on your court then it falls right through. If you happen to play on a really filthy floor, like I do at my local 24 Hr Fitness, and dust starts clumping up on the outsole a quick wipe and I was good-to-go.
Outdoors, the traction does grip and grip well. However, I wouldn’t want to spend $200 on an outdoor shoe, nor would I want my outdoor shoe to have a traction pattern made of nubs. Herringbone would be my go-to as it wears a bit more evenly.
Cushion comes in the form of a drop-in midsole featuring full-length React. There is a small section of Cushlon that acts as a stability layer in the rear heel, but the majority of the midsole is React foam.
If you’ve played in the Nike Kobe AD NXT 360, which featured React and Lunarlon, this setup isn’t as plush/soft as those were. However, I found this setup to be slightly more enjoyable as I like a little firmness for stability/court feel purposes, and there was plenty of React to go around for impact protection.
Materials are interesting. It felt like I wasn’t wearing anything at all when I first put them on. Because of this I was hesitant to play at normal speed. Once my warmups were done and I began playing my first few games in them, I went from being hesitant to forgetting I was wearing anything at all.
Under the spandex-like overlay there is Nike’s QuadFit material. I believe that internal section of the shoe is what really carries the brunt of the weight and force applied when cutting and changing directions. Add to the QuadFit system the nylon “laces” loops that the FastFit system is fed through, where laces would traditionally be, and you have a fairly normal setup for a shoe.
They fit true to size, and lockdown was a pleasant surprise. As mentioned in the material section above, I was very hesitant at first, but wound up falling in love with how they felt. For some reason they just fit my foot right, something I was unable to achieve with the Air Jordan 34 until after I realized you can pull the FastFit system too tight. With this version of the system, I could only pull them to a certain point and then they just wouldn’t tighten up anymore. I’m not sure if something was tweaked with the FastFit system to ensure there could be no over-tightening, but what the reason — these felt perfect for me.
Support was another surprise, given the flimsy nature of the build. Without using the cupsole to their advantage, I don’t think this material setup would have worked as well as it had. Luckily, your foot sits within the cupsole just enough to cover you on lateral movements while the outrigger takes care of the rest. There is a small heel counter in the shoe that also worked pretty well. The overall support was very reminiscent of the Nike Kobe AD NXT 360 — everything relied heavily on the entire shoe working in tandem with one another along with the fit, support features and FastFit lacing design.
Overall, I enjoyed the Kobe AD NXT FF a lot more than I thought I would.
I had called the Nike Kobe NXT 360 a next generation type of shoe, and they kind of outdid themselves with this one. The rounded feel of the tooling featured on the NXT 360 was removed and replaced with something a bit more traditional — very similar feel to the Kobe 11. While the traction durability issues seem to have been addressed as well.
While the Air Jordan 33‘s FastFit system left me wanting more, the only thing with this version I could complain about is the lack of zonal tightening. With the lacing system being comprised of a single pulley system I can see why targeted zonal tightening is missing. It would be awesome if it was a future feature of FastFit — but only time will tell.
If you end up grabbing a pair of the Nike Kobe AD NXT FF then I hope you enjoy the shoe as much as I did.
Thank you for stopping by, reading, watching, and commenting. We at jordandebut.com appreciate your continued support. Now get off your computer, smartphone, or tablet and get back on the court. Enjoy your time on the hardwood while you still can.

Air Jordan XX8 Performance Review

Believe it or not; “Damn, those are ugly!” is not the first thing I heard when I walked out on-court in the Air Jordan XX8… but “where can I get a pair?!” was…
Hit the jump to read the full Air Jordan XX8 Performance Review.
Traction – For the second time in less than a year I receive ample traction from a translucent outsole.
The Air Jordan XX8 provides you with pliable rubber in an aggressive pattern that makes up the entire surface. There will never be a point in time in which you are without traction. Even on the slickest of courts, the XX8 held up surprisingly well.
With the rubber being as pliable as it is, it feels fairly sturdy enough for outdoor surfaces… not sure how quickly one would want to lace up a pair of $250 basketball sneakers for outdoor use but knowing its a possibility is always nice.
Cushion – I went over the new implementation of the Proplate Zoom Air in a Performance Teaser but just in case you missed it… its amazing.
The LeBron X offers a bouncy feeling Zoom unit that runs full length and may restrict certain movements for some Guards. This is where the Air Jordan 34 comes in. You receive a similar spring with your stride but its targeted to the forefoot which comes in handy with the decoupled heel. There will be a period of adjustment with the overall setup since the Zoom unit sticks out a little bit but after a few nights of play you wont even notice it.
There is another large volume Zoom unit placed in the heel and while it’s not as pronounced as the forefoot’s setup, it works perfectly and offers quite a bit of impact protection.
Material – While there is very little in terms of overall material, what is there actually works and works very well. This is probably the best use of a shroud or zip up enclosure that I’ve experienced. Nike’s Zoom Flight Club was pretty good as well but this fabric shroud offers much better containment that a leather enclosure.
This is also where the Air Jordan 11’s one flaw resides as I had some separation at the toe after being stepped on a few times. The toe rand features a thin layer of Fuse-like material for durability and protection of the shroud itself. Unfortunately, it would have been more durable without the Fuse layer in place altogether… or if they would have used a slightly thicker Fuse – something like what is found on the Kobe 8’s toe rand. The area’s that ended up separating can easily be repaired and they haven’t separated any more than when it initially happened so it seems to be a fairly targeted issue and may not happen to everyone but it’s something to be aware of… if you see anyone that rocks a size 15… stay out from under their feet.
Fit – The overall fit is wonderful and going down ½ size was perfect for me as it provided me with the glove like fit that I crave.
The Dynamic Fit system is minimal but works very well. Each lace loop acts as a finger and holds your foot down and into its proper place. Each piece draws your foot into the midfoot’s Flight Plate and heel counter perfectly… when you couple this system with the zip-up enclosure you receive one of the best one to one fits you could ask for. “Fits like a glove” comes to mind when describing the XX8… but I’ve never had a glove fit this good.
Ventilation – The ventilation is hindered quite a bit. Most of the interior is made of mesh but the outer shroud doesn’t allow for too much air flow. You have multiple options as to how one could wear the shroud – up, down or partially zipped – and it could slightly increase or decrease the ventilation but overall… its not the most well ventilated shoe.
Does this effect their performance negatively? Not at all. Just like the kyrie 6, these have such a smooth and contained fit that the lack of ventilation is only going to be a personal gripe for consumers that wish to have some air flow.
Support – The support is unbelievable for how minimal the upper is. Everything is soft and flexible yet rigid in all the right areas. With the Flight Plate offering torsional support and the decoupled Carbon Fiber heel counter in place, everything does what its supposed to without complicating things. Simple placement and structure offering just the right amount of support.
If you need ankle restriction, this shoe wont offer much of it. Even with the shroud zipped up all the way, its like wearing a sock, not a brace.
Overall – Is this the best performing Air Jordan of all time? I don’t think I can answer that… at least not for everyone.
There are now 28 models to choose from and each model will provide someone with something that is on their list of must-have performance features. All I know is this… my requirements are widely available on the Air Jordan XX8 – Traction, Fit, Cushion and Support… its all there and its abundant.
One thing is for certain… if you are a tech junkie when it comes to the latest and greatest in performance footwear… then you have to give these a try.

The Price is Right: Pricing 101

Class is in session, be sure to take notes. Just try not to be Harry and Lloyd
As much as I love writing about shoes, I think getting great kicks below retail is more valuable to my readers than any review I put out there. Lots of “reviewers” like to complain and rag about prices of kicks based on tech specs but the fact of the matter is latest and greatest tech doesn’t cost much more than regular tech. A lot of factors go into pricing and believe or not performance technology is not the main factor. However, companies know consumers want to pay more for the latest and greatest help move sales. So here is a round up of topics that help you the consumer understand the whys of pricing.
How much does a shoes cost to make?
This was covered extensively in this article and I’m assuming everything is correct or close to it at least. What’s funny is UB’s cost roughly ten dollars more to make but are sold at $180. Same goes for Air Maxes and their mark ups. Brand perception and popularity within a brand goes a long way..more on that below.
Why do shoes cost more outside the US?
Typically it’s due to tariffs but don’t worry , we’re going to get a nice price hike too thanks to #45 (not MJ). Learn more about politicking in real time with an industry you actually care about ! Nike, Under Armour, among others, urge Trump to remove footwear from tariff list
FWIW I learned that tariffs don’t work in college since you just get retaliatory tariffs from other countries and everything just ends up costing more for everyone. Kinda cool yet frustrating to sea mai edoocasion at werck.
Why does Nike cost more than other brands?
Nike is one of the strongest brands in the world and is mentioned along the likes of Apple, Facebook, Toyota, McDonald’s.
Nike sales are DOUBLE Adidas and its sales are exponentially bigger than the likes of UA, Anta, Li Ning etc.
How much is double ? In sports terms think losing 100-50. Or shooting 140 vs 70 on the golf course. That’s a damn lot folks and a lot of leverage to play with especially when you’re dealing with billions of dollars.
Part of becoming a strong brand IS to leverage it in pricing. Why sell a pair of shoes for $100 when you can sell it for $120? Add on the brand power of a superstar like MJ or Kobe or Lebron (or KD or Kyrie or Giannis) and you can add another $10-25 bucks on top of that. Don’t think Nike is the only one to do this, all brands do this, even ultra tiny brands like Brandblack. Shoe companies are not non profits so it makes sense to maximize profits.
As much as “performance “ sneakerheads like to think that tech is the only part of a shoe that counts towards retail pricing, sneakerheads in general don’t account for much in sales and “performance “ sneakerheads account for even less. (My guess is sneaker culture accounts for maybe half a percent or less of total sales). Smaller brands which do much lower volume than Nike probably have more “performance” sneakerhead purchase percentages than Nike or Adidas since nobody will be out rocking Anta or Li Ning on a hot date. Nike knows all of this, trust me.
Throw in Nike.com’s 30 day wear it and try it return policy, their two year warranty (I’ve personally had good success with filing claims with Nike. I’ve probably been rejected maybe twice in twenty years ) along with their return anything new anytime from Nike.com and yea you’re going to have to pay a little more. Adidas.com and UA.com also have similar 30 day policies but they don’t allow returns for new items anytime. Why people don’t know about this policy is beyond me but hey now you know
Toss in Nike athletes propensity for winning vs its competitors, it makes for a winning and more expensive brand overall. Nobody wants to to wear 2nd or 3rd place kicks. Sorry Adidas James, Dame, Tmac, D Rose. ..geez the list is getting longer. Always the bridesmaid amirite?
Example: Jordan OG Colorway Retros
As I said above Nike is not stupid they know where every dollar is going and the same goes for Jordan Retros. Back in the late 90’s early 2000’s when sneaker collecting starting to ramp up, a pair of AJ IV white cements or black reds cost $100 retail the same as they cost back in 1989. Same goes for the AJ III, V, VI, XI retros that came out the next few years. Fast forward 18-20 years and they charge $200-225 for the same colorways. Twenty years and billions of dollars later, inflation cause prices to doubles, JB just wised up and decided to take that money resellers were getting and putting it into their own pockets. Why sell for $120 and watch resellers pocket $100 when we can get that same $100? No tech innovation at all, just a bunch of nostalgia for the  and high demand to maximize profits. Sometimes AJ Retros sit but usually they are models nobody cares about (7-10, 14 and later) or the colorways are non OG. Everyone wants a piece of history and what better way to show off than on your feet. Obviously Nike is trying to do the same with Lebrons and Kobe’s at slightly lower price points but the difference is MJ IS MJ, the second greatest sneaker salesman behind Al Bundy.
Don’t want to pay Nike retail? Well you’re in luck, Everything sits nowadays so if you wait a month or two you’ll see discounts in a hurry. Speaking of retail price decay…
How fast do retail prices drop?
* please note this does not apply to high demand OG Jordan Retros or limited edition shoes*
I’m going to use Nike and Adidas as my primary examples. Nobody cares about anything UA aside from Curry’s and UA doesn’t discount Curry’s on their website and it appears that retailers take their sweet time discounting Curry’s as well. I’m not sure if it’s a UA policy or agreement with retailers but the fact that Curry 4 have popped up at UA outlets in entire full size runs in all color ways that were thought to be sold out suggests it’s a UA policy., did I mention they cost 55-75 bucks ?
So let’s start with a typical Nike signature release at a fairly average price point of $140.
Week 1: $140- no discounts or coupons allowed usually. *Dicks in store as well in store Footlocker Finishline etc will allow coupons sometimes depending on the store manager or employee apathy*
Got the Carpe Diems for 20% off week of release. Thanks Dick’s.
Week 2–4: units aren’t moving, online retailers lift coupon restrictions so after waiting a whopping 7-14 days, you can save $28 dollars. The only shoes that sell out nowadays are OG colorway Jordan’s I, III, IV, V, and XI. Maybe Vi. Some YEEZYS This is assuming the sneaker company isn’t making five pair for hype beast reasons. New price: $ 112
Month 2-3:usually sneakers that are still sitting even after coupon restrictions have been lifted means they are sitting as inventory and it’s time to start discounting. Typically you’ll see a $140 shoe get a $10-20 discount plus coupons so that $140 shoe is essentially $96-104. This was a personal sweet spot for me personally. But I can still resist at this price because I’ve been playing this game a long time. However, $100 for a good performing shoe with fairly good tech and sig athlete is hard to turn down. But you gotta think from a regular consumer and not performance head. New price: $96
Month 4-7: expect a bigger discount at this point depending on the player. Russ? freak 1? Those guys aren’t needle movers but at least the kicks are fairly reasonably priced. Russ Did the Dew but he ain’t top tier material as evidenced from the post KD era. Expect discounts of $25-30 at this point plus coupons . Assuming a 20% discount. New Price: $88
Month 8-12: at this point it is time for retailers to get this garbage off the shelves. $30-50plus coupons. Hell we might even be at the end of the NBA season.. speaking of seasonality and discounts. Assuming max discounts and 20%: New Price: $72
12 months plus
Once sneakers pass the one year mark you’ll find them at outlets and Clearance stores. Outlets seem to hold on to previous models for about 18-24 months past the release date and then they consistently show up at discount stores. $ 29.99 -39.99 seems to be the going rate about two years later. I’ve had good luck at Marshall’s and Burlington and very occasionally Ross (Ross abs Marshall’s are owned by the same company). Always sign up for outlet emails so you’ll know what sales are coming up.
Obviously this isn’t to the dollar but you can see that prices fall fairly quickly then level out and the accelerate again as the new season comes closer to rolling around. Forty to fifty percent off retail isn’t unheard of at all when everyone wants the newest upcoming model even if it isn’t any better.
As you can see prices fall naturally as sales start to slow so if you don’t want to pay retail just wait. Each company is trying to extract as much profit from each individual person and if they could somehow price each shoe to each person’s tipping point they would. This is why social media networks and data mining all that information is so valuable. Facebook isn’t just for sharing FOMO, it’s for getting every ounce of data about its users and connecting the dots to make more money. It’s damn cost effective and efficient too. It isn’t exact but it’s getting there but in the meantime, they just set the price that the data analysts say they should based on a bunch of a models and voila, that’s what they price them at.
What about Secondary markets like GOAT, Stock X eBay etc.…
I’ve had no major issues as a buyer off secondary markets and have been a member on eBay for 20 years (yikes!!). eBay has become overly buyer friendly which sucks for sellers but makes purchases a lot safer for buyers (once again shitty for sellers). I’ve only bought a few times off GOAT and Stock X and have had no issues at all although the process of getting the shoes takes a little longer since they verify the item before it ships out to the buyer.
The real beauty of secondary markets is that it is truly based on supply and demand plus human need and emotion. If a seller realllllly needs the money you can get a steal .. or maybe he or she is just sick and tired of relisting a pair or maybe the spouse said get rid of all your shoes, it might be my lucky day. I have found these markets also let you get near outlet prices since a lot of time resellers are just trying to flip outlet finds. Curry 4’s used to sell for $150-200 but once the outlets starting selling them for $55-70, they started selling on the secondary market for $65-85. The major take away is don’t be afraid to use these and or use your credit card as extra buyer protection.
Another benefit of secondary markets (excluding Stock since they only do new shoes) is you can buy USED. Just like a car with 1k miles, a pair of shoes worn once or twice or ten times go for a lot less than new. Yes, it is a gross if they are heavily worn but worn once or twice casually ? I’ll take my chances. Actually I have bought more heavily worn shoes and just put some elbow grease into cleaning them and have never had an issue. This of course was back when everything wasn’t retroed.
What about Nike and Adidas coupons ?
Once upon a time Nike rarely did coupons but now they have a 20-25% off clearance sale almost every other month. I know you can find a ton of deals with this but it’s best to wait until close to the end of the NBA SEASON or summer or back to school. Actually back to school is probably the best time because last years shoes have been sitting 7-10 months and are on heavy clearance and you can add on a nice coupon to it. 40-60% off total isn’t unheard of and is actually normal
Adidas: 2nd is First Last
Remember when Ultra Boosts were ultra limited ? People wert paying $225-250 for UB’s ? People believed that Boost cost $$$ so they were willing to shell out the extra cash just to try that limited supply. Now that Adidas has released a a regular supply of Ultra boosts, they sit just like any other shoe and have gone on sale for half off retail on Adidas.com Even the Game of Thrones pairs didn’t hype to the point of extreme stupid prices. #youknownothingjonsnow #neitherdoesadidas
Anywho, Adidas BBALL IS YOUR BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK even if it doesn’t have marquee champions in their stable. Remember this ?
Yea the day after I got an email from adidas for $50 bucks off the Dame 5. $50 bucks off the Dame 5 after he hit a swagger dagger from 37 feet.
I got a $50 off coupon after the Raptors won with Lowry and Ibaka too. Winner winner chicken dinner? It didn’t get me to buy anything
Imagine Nike saying 40 dollars off the kyrie 6 after Kd dropped 40 during the first round (italics) let alone the Finals. AJ IV $23 off after the shot over Ehlo? Yea don’t think so.
I got a coupon for 30% everything on Adidas.com a month after the Dame 5 was released. A month !! That brought the prices down to $80 and they still sat and Hardens down to $98 (still sitting kids) Adidas doesn’t have the market share or brand power like Nike which is great if you’re truly in it for just balling. And if you really aren’t into the name, get Adidas’s team shoes like the Marquee Boost or ProBounce. They go to heavy discount even faster than my example above by about 3-4 months. Yep even my Marquee Boosts were selling for $54 a few weeks ago which is about what I said in my review. Patience is your friend
So seriously when’s the best time for the biggest discounts?
Most shoes release in the late summer early fall to coincide with the new NBA season. Of course Nike has such a huge stable of athletes that they need/can spread out their releases to keep investors happy with a steady stream of revenue quarter over quarter. October is Lebron, late November is Kyrie time, early January is PG, and KD got bumped up finally from summer to April. Adidas basically does Sept October for Harden and December/Jan for Dame. I digress
So the biggest discounts and coupons typically come during Black Friday (Thanksgiving time with discounts 20-30% on almost anything. Dick’s will sometimes do a 40% off one item around this time as well. I’ve found that Ebates BeFrugal also bump up their cash back so I’ve seen 35-40% total discounts very early on in the sneaker cycle). If you don’t have a cash back account from some company like Ebates or BeFrugal, do yourself a favor and sign up. I’d post a referral link but I’m really too busy to find it).
After Black Friday, post Christmas and New Years have big sales as well since retailers want to get rid of inventory to save on taxes just like car dealers. Expect almost as generous coupons and discounts as Black Friday.
After this, almost every major US Holiday gets a coupon attached to it: Easter, Labor Day, Memorial Day, graduation days, July 4th. Usually these are 20-25%.
So based on sales, release dates and price decay, your best time to buy is SUMMER. Take your pick but you have a nice three month window with the NBA Season finishing up, Memorial Day, semi Annual clearance sales, Labor Day and back to school. That even gives you spring chickens some time to save up during the summer. July 4th is around the corner let’s see what coupons that brings… Happy hunting!

adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Low Performance Review

The adidas Pro Bounce Madness 2019 was tested months ago, now it’s time for the current adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Low. Were there any differences? Is it even necessary to have more than one Pro Bounce model this year? Allow me to share my experience.
Another model, another experiment with the application of herringbone.

Deep grooved, zoned areas of the pattern make up most of the forefoot while the traction transitions away from herringbone into a shallow, tightly spaced tread at the heel. The solid rubber and unique outsole shape provided a little extra coverage and therefore a little more stopping power, especially laterally. Minus some wiping after the occasional dust buildup, traction was pretty good.
Outdoors, there was a slight drop in performance, however nothing drastic. Just remember what I said about the back half of the traction and its shallowness. If you aren’t playing on your forefoot, you’ll chew through the heel rubber in no time.
Court feel, comfort, and flexibility – I expected nothing less from this iteration of Bounce. My views on the Nike Kyrie 6 cushion basically mirrored Nightwing2303’s performance review on the DON Issue 1, so I’m thinking anyone who liked the Bounce there will equally enjoy this year’s Pro Bounce.
Impact protection is most important to me these days and there are stronger options out there in terms of impact,  yet Bounce is one of the foams I can trust to keep me feeling okay for a while when needed. It’s not my absolute favorite cushion, but one I still find enjoyable to play on and seems durable enough.
Since the less recent Pro Bounce Madness 2019’s mesh didn’t provide a ton forefoot containment, I kept close tabs on how these materials would work this time around. The verdict: A stronger textile for containment, but poorly executed as it left dead space all around the toe box, which was an odd sensation given how tightly things were between the midfoot and forefoot.
There is a fuse layer at the base of the lacing system that was a pain to break in. I’m talking PG 3 break in, cramp-like feeling, but it took longer to get past in this model — bummer. Knowing that overlay could have been slimmed down, possibly even removed entirely, just turned me off from completing testing a lot sooner than I could have.
The upside is that this area of fuse does eventually break in, and when it does it completes a super nice level of overall comfort, even without internal padding. I wish I knew why adidas decided to leave the pillows out after consistently including them recently, I could have really used them in this shoe…
I try to avoid using terms like sloppy, but I’m not sure there is a better way to describe the fit of the Pro Bounce 2019. It’s mostly narrow (though not uncomfortable, sans the fuse), but once you get to the toe box there is dead space above and all around. To top things off, it runs just a touch long, leading to a bit of slipping at the heel.
Because of the fuse wrapping so tightly above the foot I’m just not sure this will work for wide footers but give them a try on if you want and are able to. As an average, maybe slightly narrow footer I was uncomfortable going with anything besides true to size – anything else would be too painful or too roomy to feel safe at all.
I wanted to love everything about the Pro Bounce 2019, but the fit was the shoes most glaring issue. Nothing I couldn’t play through, but also nothing I ever got excited to play in because of that.
Lateral stability basically overrides the lack of heel stability that came from the fit. There is an internal heel counter and external clip which wrap the heel to at least halt any side to side movement. Also, the base runs wide for the length of the shoe and the midsole forms straight up into the lateral banking barrier.
All of that is atop a low-profile cushion, so you shouldn’t feel like you’ll ever slide off the footbed. Even with movement in the heel, the Pro Bounce 2019 is secure for the most part, so I at least could manage to move around without much worry in the low.
Having now tested both the adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Madness and now the “regular” Pro Bounce 2019, I have to say they are very similar, but this pair is my least favorite of the two. Traction, cushion, and textile choice are all very good, and there is even a good balance of support and minimalism in my opinion, however the break-in and fit of this pair were difficult to overcome.
The Pro Bounce Madness on the other hand has a better fit with little to no break-in required and performs nearly as well everywhere else, making it the better option over this model – again, my opinion.
At $110, the adidas Pro Bounce 2019 will have a hard time standing out against signatures both within its own brand and externally. I do think the shoe will work best for narrow footers, but for everyone else, I’m not quite sure this is the sleeper either its 2018 or 2019 predecessor was.

Wilson Evo Nxt Review and Comparison

Since we’re talking about balls…
So I got a Wilson email about the Evo NXT and like the sucker I am, I saw only 100 were being sold so I jumped in and bought one. Ok I was going to buy one anyways because I was interested in the NXT when I first heard about it. As most of you know the og EVO is not my favorite ball to play (I like playing with my own balls?) but since it is on every court every league every day and night, I kinda have to use it and get used to it.
The good news is that this ball will be released in normal quantities in the future but when ? The other possible good news is that maybe Wilson will phase out the old one and the ball has NXT. I guess Nike and Wilson use the same nomenclature guys?
I like writing about balls because it doesn’t take me a long time to dissect one and there aren’t one thousand pieces of BS to sift through. This ball only really has a few things to talk about.
• Micro-Touch Cover – An extra layer of texture on the pebbled cover creates double-layered grip, and channels away moisture for ultimate control.
• Super Soft Core – extra cushioning allows your fingers to dig deeper into the surface for better control and a softer feel, helping every player find the shooters touch.
• Extended Range Tech – the super soft core construction redistributes the weight and balance of the ball making it easier to shoot from long range.
• Moisture Wicking System – the system minimizes moisture on the cover for better grip throughout the game.
• 100% Composite laid-in channels – the only 100% fully composite leather ball on the market with laid-in channels for extra control.
Cover
Top left clockwise: NXT, the Rock, Solution, OG EVO
This section pretty much covers bullet points 1,2,4. As a fan of the air jordan 12 solution ball and a non fan of the og Evo cover, this ball feels like a hybrid of the two which some will like and some will not.
The cover doesn’t feel as “leathery “ as the OG cover but doesn’t feel quite like the Solution either. I’ve been discussing balls with my friends and almost everyone who looks a solution turns it away because it looks cheap but when you play with it, namely shoot and dribble with you, you see why Lonzo had a lot of success with it. I think people will be that same way with the NXT. It is a very rubbery orange color versus the brownish synthetic leather of the OG and most any synthetic ball but man it handles and feels so controlled like the Solution. It does not feel like the OG EVO, The Rock or Baden Elite. I do think Wilson May have a Tf1000 legacy vs OG type of problem selling the public on a new and improved version of this ball.
Overall, if you like the feel of the OG Evo, you’ll probably find no need or want to change. If you want a little more moisture absorption and consistency you’ll like this cover. If you like the way the Solution plays but wish it had a little more padding, you’ll also really like the way this cover plays. Leather like look and feel does not equate to a better cover. If you want that type of cover stick with the OG, the Rock or Baden Elite.
Channels
Top left clockwise: NXT, the Rock, Solution, OG EVO
All look and feel the same . Nice wide and deep channels deeper and wider than the EVO make this so easy to handle and shoot with. Have you ever shot with the Wave? It’s odd looking but has the Solution cover and those ripples on it make it easy to shoot with because you can just get that much more extra leverage all over the ball and not just within the channels. I think the wider channels just make this ball a breeze find your pocket and to shoot with.
Extended range tech
The oddest claim on the NXT is the range tech where it “redistributes the weight and balance “. So yea about that .
A basketball is only a few millimeters thick so adjusting the weight around a millimeter or two isn’t going to make a world of difference and I tried “scientifically” testing this by just moving farther and farther back but alas my numbers were the same. Maybe the redistributed weight makes the ball feel light or or increases or decreases spin by half a revolution per minute but in reality you aren’t going to see a difference in your range..and if you do, your opponent has that same advantage so it’s truly a wash.
And sure enough it doesn’t weigh any different than any of my other balls (insert joke). I’ll give the ol’ scale a error margin of plus minus an ounce.
Extended range tech is bs but hey if everyone gets the same BS it doesn’t matter.
Conclusion
I sat here writing this review and said to myself why am I writing this ? Why do I write any review about anything ? Buying a better ball doesn’t help you put the ball in the basket any better and even if it did, you just gave your opponent the same advantage and that’s assuming the other team wants to use YOUR NXT ball. But after thinking about it, it’s not necessarily that a ball is better, but it’s about getting the most out of your dollar. And therin lies the crux of the review because this ball is currently $79 which is almost double (sometimes double when the OG is on sale). I got my TF1000 OG for $80 when Spaulding did a limited release a few years ago and everyone knows that’s my 🐐. All that being said, I think the NXT IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE OG EVO. However, people are resistant to change and you may or may not see the NXT taking over the court. TF legacy anyone ? New Coke? All that being said, I’m very pleased with the NXT and I’m a fickle mofo when it comes to my balls..err basketballs. After using this ball I really don’t have that fear of burning through my beloved TF 1000 stash which says a lot. I’d put this ball right behind the TF and right ahead of the Solution, the Rock and Baden Elite. Do I think $79 is worth it? Yes and no. If I’ve learned anything blogging, it’s that $79 retail isn’t what you have to pay unless you want to be first in line. Dick’s will undoubtedly get this ball and they have a sale pretty much every two weeks with almost no restrictions so 20% off takes this ball down into the $54 dollar range which is pretty much inline with the OG (except when it’s on sale around $35-40). If you can’t spring for that extra fifteen bucks, it’s okay just work with what you got or hit em in the nuts.
Glad to see Wilson got rid of the Wilson X and decided to refocus their efforts on true basketballs again. First team rating in the NXT, well done Wilson!!

UA HOVR Infinite Performance Review

The UA HOVR Infinite is Under Armour’s latest attempt at a neutral cushioned running shoe for serious distance runners. It looks a lot different than a typical Under Armour shoe and takes its design cues from traditional cushioned distance shoes. But can UA make a shoe that competes with respected running brands like Mizuno, Saucony, and New Balance?
Under Armour was kind enough to send both Jodi and I the UA HOVR Infinite to test. We both ran a lot of miles in the Infinite including various types of workouts in a bunch of different conditions. Once we had the Infinite in hand, both of us were excited to test it. Let’s find out if our excitement was justified.
Jodi: The cushion is Under Armour’s relatively new HOVR. The idea behind it is that it provides a ‘zero gravity feel’ to maintain energy return to help eliminate impact step after step. It’s surrounded by a compression mesh called Energy Web. The mesh contains and molds the UA HOVR foam to give back the energy you put in. It’s a nice cushy ride. Not too much cushion and it doesn’t feel sloppy. If more people would give it a chance, it would hold its own with the current cushioning darlings that are Nike React and adidas Boost (blasphemy I know).
Drew: This was Jodi’s first time trying HOVR cushioning. She came in with super high expectations because Chris and I have done nothing but compliment it since it was introduced. Even with those expectations, she thought it delivered. Bottom line, HOVR impresses almost everyone that tries it. For me, the HOVR in the Infinite feels too light to protect my legs and back the way it does. I was always surprised when I finished my long runs and my legs felt so good. The HOVR absorbs impact really well but still feels firm enough that my steps always feel like they’re propelling me forward and I’m not losing any energy into the cushioning.
Jodi: The traction is made up of two types of rubber: blown and high abrasion carbon. There are plenty of deep cutouts for flexibility. Most of the shoe is covered by the really soft blown rubber. And I mean very soft. The pavement started eating away at my high wear areas within the first couple runs. The high abrasion carbon rubber is only along the edge of your heel. They used the blown rubber primarily because it helps give you that soft, cushy ride. This is something that harder rubbers just don’t provide. I wish they had used the harder rubber along the front lateral section of the shoe. Even just a strip of it would have been nice. If this shoe is your primary running shoe it will only take a couple months to burn through the traction to the EVA midsole. As far as how the traction worked on various surfaces, I ran in sun and rain, through mud and puddles, on grass, along rocky trails, and just around the neighborhood. I was always confident about the shoe sticking to the ground underneath me.
Drew: I didn’t have any issues with the traction. It worked well no matter the running conditions. I didn’t burn through the blown rubber quite as fast as Jodi but I agree it would be nice to have some carbon rubber reinforcement in the toe or forefoot areas. I know they use all the blown rubber to decrease weight. It helped prevent the Infinite from getting too heavy and added another bit of softness to the overall ride. It’s a trade off but I think it was worth it given the overall goal of the shoe.
Jodi: The support and lockdown are on point thanks to a sturdy internal heel counter and an upper that didn’t have any weak spots. The whole package kept my feet locked in place nicely.
Drew: Thanks to a thick heel cup, sitting inside the HOVR midsole (just slightly), and the wide base of the shoe, this is one of the more stable neutral cushioned shoes on the market. It’s got enough support to survive some fairly rough trails in addition to anything an urban environment can throw your way.
Jodi: The upper is an engineered mesh that’s extremely lightweight and breathable. It’s the kind of mesh I crave. Plenty of airflow for your toes, enough stretch to keep you comfortable, and, thanks to a molded toe rand, you don’t actually see my toes. That last bit might sound weird but with all of these newer shoe models going to a more sock-like look, it’s worth noting. The tongue and heel counter have plenty of padding so there was no digging or heel slippage and no lace pain on the top of my foot. Speaking of the laces, they’re the kind of oval type that are by far my favorite. You don’t have to double knot them because they don’t come untied. Another major plus with the Infinite is the many reflective details. You have them across your toes, along the bottom of the lace line, up the tongue, on top of the tongue, down your heel, and on the bottom of the shoe. I’ve been known to complain in the past about other brands skimping out on the reflective gear or just forgetting about it entirely. Under Armour must have heard me because they nailed the 3M details.
Drew: The Nike Freak 1 is on the heftier side but the airflow is very good and delivers a light breeze across the front two thirds of the foot. The mesh they use is the sort you see often on top of the line runners and Under Armour was smart to utilize it. I tested the UA HOVR Infinite Reflect version which takes the reflective portions that Jodi mentioned and supersizes them while staying at the same $120 price point. Check my Instagram to see them in all their reflective glory. The midsole, laces, toe cap, and back third of the shoe get a reflective layer on top of the normal materials. If you run a lot at night, this is the best you can hope for in a sneaker. Your feet will be seen and lit up by all headlights or flashlights. Having also worn the regular version of the shoe, the extra 3M does not add any significant bulk or stiffness to the upper. However, the laces are different than the regular Infinite. The Reflects use a flat lace to allow for them to use half reflective thread. They’re also a bit stiffer than the normal oval laces used on the regular Infinite.
Jodi: The fit is where things get tricky. Not every shoe is made for everyone. And what I mean by that is that the UA HOVR Infinite is not meant for me. Now this might confuse all of you because I just spent the last several sections raving about the shoe. You’ve probably also seen various headlines where this shoe is the WINNER of the 2019 Runner’s World “Recommended” Award. I was baffled when I read that because the news broke as I was testing the Infinite. I ran just over 50 miles in them before deciding they make better workout or casual shoes (for me). It may be the ergonomic EVA sockliner that is contoured specifically for a woman’s foot. Something about this feature makes my feet feel like they are being rubbed raw after about 2.5 miles. The way that its molded is supposed to eliminate slippage and provide ideal underfoot comfort. I will say that upon initial try on that I loved how much space there was in the forefoot and that there was NO slippage once I started running. But maybe I need someslippage. I tried to test this theory by swapping the insoles out but I can’t say it helped. This leads me to think that the discomfort I was feeling has more to do with the Infinite’s heel to toe drop. It’s 8 mm, nothing crazy, but instead of it being a gradual slow drop, it feels like it’s more sudden. The drop starts at your arch so that when you’re running the sole pushes you up to your toes very quickly.
Drew: I really enjoy the fit of the HOVR Infinite’s for long runs. It runs true to size with plenty of room for toe splay and the HOVR cushioning is plush well into the second hour of running. I think most runners will have plenty of room in the Infinite. I didn’t have any of the problems with the sockliner or drop that Jodi did. I do think she made a good point in the Materials section. This shoe is not the type of shoe that gives you a one-to-one fit. It maintains its structure in a very traditional way. The fit is a throwback to runners of the late 90s and early 00s. The Infinite weighs a lot less than shoes of that era did but you get the same feeling when you wear them.
Jodi: I’m no expert, just a girl who loves to run. All great runs start with good feeling feet. The UA HOVR Infinite is just not a shoe I can wear with confidence for long runs. I do enjoy them for an easy 30 minute run. Like I said when we reviewed the Nike Free RN 5.0, I see my running sneakers as tools. The Infinite is another shoe that’s a very good tool.
Drew: This is a review where Jodi and I differ. I think the UA HOVR Infinite is a solid long distance shoe with great cushioning and a nostalgic fit and feel. I suspect our differences of opinion are because the shoe is made differently for men and women (which is why we do a review from both perspectives in the first place). The differences could also be because our feet are different and this was just a shoe that didn’t work for her. This highlights the importance of taking the information WearTesters provides and then making your own decision with your individual preferences in mind. There’s no reason to get stuck running in a shoe you don’t like. Unless, that is, you’re a WearTester and it’s literally part of your job