Hoka Bondi 6 Performance Review

My Hoka Bondi 6 performance review starts as soon as I finish measuring my height while wearing them. Looks like I just got a lot taller!

If you’ve visited a running specific store in the last five years you already know about Hoka One One. Even if you’ve never worn a pair, you’ve definitely seen them. I’ve spent the majority of 2019 logging miles alongside many runners clad in Hoka’s beefy shoes. And then recently, fellow WearTester Eric did a full performance review on the Hoka Arahi 3. After that, I decided it was my turn to try a pair. Now, almost 100 miles later, here are my thoughts on the Hoka Bondi 6.

Starting from the ground up, lets talk traction. In my opinion, they did a great job balancing out the rubber to no rubber ratio. Some companies strip away as much rubber as possible to lighten the shoe up. Nike, I’m looking at you with the Epic React Flyknit 2. Other companies will use a softer rubber to cover the majority of the outsole that unfortunately gets chewed up by the constant wear and tear of the streets, for example the Under Armour HOVR Infinite. The Bondi 6 kept all the rubber you need, in all the right places AND it’s super durable. I can easily see it lasting another 200 miles out on the road.

I’m not going to lie. I was expecting a marshmallow like feel upon pulling these guys on. I mean come on. Look at that midsole! I gain an instant 2 inches in height every time I lace them up. But marshmallowy is NOT the word I’d use to describe them. They don’t squish underfoot. They’re consistent and super smooth. Those are excellent words for the way the cushion feels. No matter what I ran across, whether it was a sandy path, cracked pavement, random rocks, fruit pits (lots of cherry and plum trees to deal with around here), I felt like the EVA midsole was leveling everything out for me. It was as if I had my own mini shock system buffering the world beneath my feet. My furthest run in them was 15 miles and I had fresh legs the next day. I can’t say that about every shoe.

They have support well-covered. The air jordan 34 is just as wide as it is tall. You have a good, wide base in the forefoot, and then you are also cupped inside the midsole. And to top all that off, there’s a sturdy, yet nicely padded, heel cup. The padding actually wraps all the way around your ankle to the top eyelet. I felt locked into place without any part of the collar digging into my skin.

There is something to be said about good, old fashioned engineered mesh. It might not be pretty, but it works! It’s light. It’s airy. When the wind blows in any direction your toes get to enjoy it too. These shoes don’t lack ventilation. The tongue and ankle area get moist, but they’re lycra and padded, so it’s what I was expecting. Your sweat has to go somewhere.

Story time! After a fabulous lunch (EDITOR’S NOTE: This is without a doubt the first time anyone has ever said that on WearTesters. SIGH), I went to see what kind of Hoka I could scoop up at my local Fleet Feet. If you’ve ever been to a good running shop, you know they’re all about letting you test the shoes on an actual run prior to purchase. It was almost 100 degrees out. Also, I had a full taco plate in my stomach. So I passed on the test run. Instead, I made my purchase and went on my merry way. The next morning, I had 4 miles scheduled. It was not a great run. My feet felt so squished after mile 2. I didn’t understand why so many runners were such fans of the brand. It was not a great first experience. But we don’t do reviews after one trial. So the next day I pull the shoes back on and I am desperately trying to stretch out the upper. I’m basically trying to make space for my wide feet. While cramming my fingers down into my right shoe my fingers slipped under the insole and what do I find? Another insole! And not just a regular insole, a super fluffy one from another shoe brand. Someone had apparently tried on my shoes prior to me, maybe done a test run, threw in a second insole, and then decided the shoes were not for them. Let me tell you, once that extra insole was removed. it was like night and day. The fit went from very uncomfortable as my feet expanded during a run to me never even noticing my feet were expanding. It’s phenomenal. And I learned a valuable lesson. If you’re purchasing your shoes in a store, inspect them! Chris always talks about taking the time to inspect the retros he picks up for quality control and I got a little kick in the butt for not doing so myself.

The Hoka Bondi 6 is super reliable. It’s not quick or flashy. It’s kind of like your mom’s minivan. It gets the job done comfortably. I’ve been done testing them for a good 2 weeks now and I still find myself grabbing them for my short and long runs. If you’ve been on the fence about trying Hoka out, I say you do one of two things. 1) Grab a pair from Hoka directly. They offer you a 30 day trial period with free shipping and returns or 2) go talk to your local running store. Like I said, places like Fleet Feet want you to hit the trail and do some test miles prior to making a purchase. And to top it off they’ll even give you a 60 day grace period to try out their products. What do you have to lose?

Under Armour Curry 7 Performance Review

HOVR and Micro G make an appearance on the Under Armour Curry 7. Do they make a difference? Find out within our performance review.

Like most Curry models, traction is something that I never really worried about.
Herringbone is used alongside a radial pattern — both of which are my two favorite styles of traction patterns — and they worked really well. I never had to wipe the soles no matter where I played as the aggressive setup was able to quietly bite the floor and provide ample grip. This setup is perfect for, well, anyone looking for traction. Its multidirectional coverage is perfect for any player, any style of play and any move/footwork you can throw at them.
The rubber is slightly on the soft side so outdoor players will notice some fraying and grinding of the pattern. Luckily, there is a lot of rubber and multiple layers of both patterns so while it may wear down quickly, at least there is some additional pattern to go around.
Under Armour went with a dual setup here, enlisting both of its best proprietary foam compounds. Unfortunately, the cushion feels much like it does on every other Curry signature shoe — lackluster and firm.
If you’re expecting the bounce back from the Micro G and a springy plushness from the HOVR then you’ll be disappointed. Despite utilizing the tech names the setup is still firm. Stable, but firm.
This type of setup is great for those wanting a quick feeling shoe that wont sink under their feet. Stability is typically a priority when it comes to Curry’s footwear and this shoe is no different. Great for shooters, and anyone else looking for a low profile and stable setup. Similar to a Kyrie style shoe, if we’re going to compare to another guard’s signature, but without the awkwardly rounded tooling.
The knit that I enjoyed on the Curry 6 is gone and has been replaced with some textiles and a lot of synthetics.
I don’t mind the setup as it works really well on-court. So, from a performance perspective there is not much to complain about. Where I feel a bit of “meh” towards the setup is that this is a signature shoe without a signature feel. There is nothing that is premium with these, and there could have been.
Instead of using 100% synthetics, a little bit of leather, suede or nubuck could have been used. You could have still kept a lot of the TPU layers, as they don’t stretch and provide a level of durability that raw materials don’t, but the collar area, and perhaps the toe cap, could have been a nice raw material and would have given the shoe a really unique feel amongst a lineup of signature models comprised of mesh, ripstop, and knits.
Again, performance is everything and on that end there are no complaints. I just think that what UA did with the Under Armour Forge 96 was a perfect blend of premium/raw materials along with modern synthetics and textiles. It really would have taken the Curry 7 up a notch from the rest of the signature shoes available.
The fit for the Curry 7 I felt was true to size.
They fit my foot a little better straight out of the box than the Curry 6, which needed a bit of breaking in before everything felt “right”. Maybe its due to the material change, but these just felt a little better in terms of overall fit and lockdown.
If you’ve happened to have worn the Curry 3Zer0.3 then that is what I feel is most comparable to the Curry 7. Otherwise these are just better fitting than the air jordan 34 bred.
Support is very good on the Curry 7. They look like a runner, which may throw off some people, but the way they’re built just cradled my foot perfectly.
The HOVR that wraps up the sidewalls and is ensuring your foot doesn’t slide off the footbed. There is an internal heel counter along with the TPU moderator plater to help stabilize the footbed. While there is an outrigger, it’s not as present as previous models, but works just as good. They’ve found a way to slim down the overall design and make them just as supportive. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but the setup works wonderfully. It might even be the most supportive Curry since the Curry 1.
The Under Armour Curry 7 is a beast on-court.
Traction is great. Materials work wonderfully — despite not having that premium feel. The fit may vary from person to person, since no two feet are alike, but they fit me perfectly. Support was awesome.
Cushion is the one area that I felt disappointed with. I know this is a Curry shoe, therefore we can expect a firmer setup, but the way the shoe is marketed with a heavy focus on UA’s two best foams — which happen to be two of the best foam cushions on the market — without either of the two foams feeling the way I had hoped/expected left me slightly bummed out.
Luckily, everything else on the shoe works so damn good that they stay in my rotation. You never know when you’re going to head to the gym and the floor be a mess. Having something with traction as reliable as this is never a bad thing to have in your gym bag.

Reebok Nano 9 Performance Review

Crossfit has come a long way in the last few years, and the Reebok Nano has been here every step, jump, and WOD of the way. The Nano 9 is billed as the best yet, but is it? Only one way to find out…
Reebok is still using the split-finger outsole we have seen in just about every other Nano model (at least he ones I am familiar with) and it works. Not to the extreme of the Vibram Five Fingers but using the same concept, the Nano 9 outsole is split in the forefoot enough to allow for each toe and toe area to grip the floor almost independently. Called METASPLIT, the outsole also allows for lateral flex, meaning the shoe rolls sideways as well as forward, so on lateral movements or climbs the outsole stay in contact with the surface. The heel area in this colorway is a translucent, which is normally bad, but it is Reebok, which is good. For some reason, Reebok historically has had great translucent rubber and the Nano 9 is no different – thick, solid, and wears extremely well under stress. The diamond pattern worked well on squats and lunges as well as box jumps, short runs (more on that next), and even some court work – not basketball, but some drills one of the new trainers at 24 Hour Fitness showed me (he plays on our league basketball team – I don’t need a trainer).
Here is the main change and the one that may really get on air jordan 34 traditionalists nerves. The Nano 9 has added cushioning to an already solid platform, which would seem like the opposite of what most Crossfit/workout shoes aim for. Never fear – Reebok knows what they are doing. While I might have wished for some Floatride (that stuff is AWESOME!!!), Reebok stayed with some normal EVA and it is just enough to make short runs fun but doesn’t set the heel-to-toe offset completely crazy. To be completly honest, I am NOT a Crossfitter – I do some of the same exercises and lifts but I don’t compete and haven’t converted to “the lifestyle”. However, I do lift three days a week, short HIIT runs on those days, and warm up for basketball days with box jumps, lunges, and rope drills. The Nano 9 had no “energy return” as claimed by other cushioning systems, but it did absorb every landing and running 2-4 miles on treadmills or hitting stairsteppers was no problem.
I freaking LOVE the Flexweave uppers Reebok has used over the past couple of years. The Nano 8, JJ WattII, the Fusion Flexweave runner – all of those uppers were flexible, lightweight, breathable, and durable. The Nano 9 upper takes things a bit further with the Flexweave Stretch. The concept is the same – nylon threads woven to give lateral support while still being flexible in the toebox, but the new weave allows for some stretch (well, it is right there in the name), just enough to keep from restricting movement but still keeps your foot on the footbed during movements. The one thing the Flexweave Stretch has over the older materials is it is softer to the touch – not much of a performance feature but it does feel better on the foot.
The Nano 9 does have some areas of fuse over the weave, mainly around the laceholes, but the beloved Vector logo comes back for the first time in years and it is fused over the weave as well. The toe rand also has some light fuse around the edges for toedrag and ropeclimbing durability but it isn’t thick enough to stiffen the shoe. The tongue is well padded but not bulky and is part of an inner bootie system that feels great on the inside, with no hotspots to rub blisters or chafe.
The Nano 9 is a curious fit. Length-wise, I normally have to go down a half size in Reebok performance to a 10, but the Nano fit around a 10.25. I don’t think I could have went down, but true to size gave me just a little more length than I normally like. The forefoot is also roomy, with some deadspace around the outside of the footbed and a little over the toes, so when laced tight there was a slight bunching at he end of the lacing system. This could be because of the Flexweave Stretch not being completely solid, and it wasn’t enough to completely compromise stability, but the fit was not one-to-one if that is what you are looking for.
The midfoot fit is solid, mostly due to the laces but also because the inner sleeve takes up any of the extra room in that area. The sleeve isn’t a true one-piece upper system but the tongue is attached to the sleeve about halfway down. The heel fit is absolutely locked in with an extension of the sleeve running around the heel and up to the top laceloop. The inner has sculpted padding that fits and molds around the heel and sits right under the ankle, taking away any extra movement.
One worry about cushioned shoes while lifting is the instability, especially in the heel – no one wants a soft foam midsole collapsing under a 400 pound squat bar or when coming down from a jump. If you want to know how to cause an ankle roll or knee injury, that is it. Luckily, the Nano 9 has a crazy support system in the heel, featuring raised sidewalls along the lateral and medial heel that runs all the way to the midfoot. It isn’t a hard rubber but is stiff enough to provide enough support for any lift you would do. The rubber sidewalls run down and around the cushioning, tying the sidewalls into the outsole, providing an even stronger support system on lateral movements.
The forefoot outsole/midsole combo is wider than the footbed, which gives the forefoot a solid base for planting and jumping as well as landings. There is no midfoot support shank but the stiffness of the rubber and the flat platform work well to keep your foot bending the right way
Best Nano ever, but I have only tried 4 of them. The added cushioning is perfect for the athlete that may not be a true Crossfitter but the Nano 9 still has the best qualities of the previous models, which should make the diehard ‘Fitters happy. If you need a shoe for the weightroom, rope climbs, two-miler, and plyometrics, the Nano 9 is perfect out of the box. If you desire a true zero-drop, minimally padded shoe, like a Chuck Taylor, you will want to keep looking.
Reebok has been making some serious performance shoe sin the training and running line for at least the last 6 years. they just usually fly under the radar because of the Classics line (kind of like the new Air Jordan models). It’s a shame really – the Flexweave is a seriously awesome upper material and their Floatride cushioning is just as good as Boost but waaaaay lighter. The Nano 9 just continues in the performance vein and shows how advancement doesn’t have to mean scrapping the old – it sometimes means tweaking what works. Oh, and the Vector logo – please Reebok, don’t ever let it go away. Sincereley, everyone.

Nike Lebron Ambassador 12 Performance Review

The Nike Lebron Ambassador 12 is here. This overseas Lebron model is always a hit. Can the 12th shoe in the Ambassador series follow the same path? Let’s find out.
The Nike Lebron Ambassador 12 uses the same outsole traction pattern as the Lebron Ambassador 11. The only thing that changed in this particular pair is that it uses a translucent outsole and doesn’t state it has XDR rubber. The grooves are thick and wide and played well on clean courts. There were some instances where I had to wipe, but that was more likely due to the very dirty courts. The Ambassador line has been extremely consistent in terms of traction. The Ambassador 8 and Ambassador 9 had the best traction but the 11 is solid.
Did I say the word consistent already? Because the Ambassador line has been consistent in the cushion set up as well. As previously stated, the midsole and cushion set up is also the same as the Ambassador 11. Forefoot and heel Zoom provide ample responsiveness and court feel with a bit of impact protection. Bigger players like myself will feel the impact from the Zoom Air along with the soft phylon. This is a setup that provides good cushion and responsiveness.
The materials are where there is a slight difference from the Ambassador 11. The weatherproof shroud is gone and a wrap-around strap is implemented (similar to the Lebron 17). The Ambassador 12 has an overall mesh build with some fuse and vinyl overlays to provide durability. The upper is lightweight with support and features little to no break-in time. The shoe has a soft phylon midsole with heel and forefoot Zoom Air for added cushion. Finally, a translucent wide-gridded outsole traction pattern finishes off the shoe.
The fit was true to size for me. While the Ambassador 12 is still an Asia only release, it was built on a wider last, therefore allowing guys with wide feet like myself a perfect fit. Narrow footers, you’ll still be able to stay true to size. However, if you like your toes at the tip of the shoe, I’d suggest 1/2 size down. The lockdown was sufficient especially with the strap across the midfoot adding to the traditional lacing setup.
The midfoot strap keeps your foot locked into the heel where the external heel counter takes over. You sit slightly inside of the the phylon midsole which, along with a nice wide base, helps prevent rollovers.
I say this on every Ambassador post and I’ll say it again. The Nike Lebron Ambassador 12 needs to be STATESIDE!!!! It was a pleasant surprise to see the King himself wear this exact colorway during warmups of a preseason game. I’d love to see him actually play in a pair. The Ambassador line has been the most consistent line in the Lebron series (just don’t mention the Ambassador 10 please). They’re wide-foot friendly, outdoor-ready, and budget ready.
If you’re in the market for a less expensive, wide-foot friendly, signature line shoe, the Ambassador 12 is for you. You’ll enjoy the ride while giving people buckets.

Nike Lebron Ambassador 12 Performance Review

The Nike Lebron Ambassador 12 is here. This overseas Lebron model is always a hit. Can the 12th shoe in the Ambassador series follow the same path? Let’s find out.
The Nike Lebron Ambassador 12 uses the same outsole traction pattern as the Lebron Ambassador 11. The only thing that changed in this particular pair is that it uses a translucent outsole and doesn’t state it has XDR rubber. The grooves are thick and wide and played well on clean courts. There were some instances where I had to wipe, but that was more likely due to the very dirty courts. The Ambassador line has been extremely consistent in terms of traction. The Ambassador 8 and Ambassador 9 had the best traction but the 11 is solid.
Did I say the word consistent already? Because the Ambassador line has been consistent in the cushion set up as well. As previously stated, the midsole and cushion set up is also the same as the Ambassador 11. Forefoot and heel Zoom provide ample responsiveness and court feel with a bit of impact protection. Bigger players like myself will feel the impact from the Zoom Air along with the soft phylon. This is a setup that provides good cushion and responsiveness.
The materials are where there is a slight difference from the Ambassador 11. The weatherproof shroud is gone and a wrap-around strap is implemented (similar to the Lebron 17). The Ambassador 12 has an overall mesh build with some fuse and vinyl overlays to provide durability. The upper is lightweight with support and features little to no break-in time. The shoe has a soft phylon midsole with heel and forefoot Zoom Air for added cushion. Finally, a translucent wide-gridded outsole traction pattern finishes off the shoe.
The fit was true to size for me. While the Ambassador 12 is still an Asia only release, it was built on a wider last, therefore allowing guys with wide feet like myself a perfect fit. Narrow footers, you’ll still be able to stay true to size. However, if you like your toes at the tip of the shoe, I’d suggest 1/2 size down. The lockdown was sufficient especially with the strap across the midfoot adding to the traditional lacing setup.
The midfoot strap keeps your foot locked into the heel where the external heel counter takes over. You sit slightly inside of the the phylon midsole which, along with a nice wide base, helps prevent rollovers.
I say this on every Ambassador post and I’ll say it again. The Nike Lebron Ambassador 12 needs to be STATESIDE!!!! It was a pleasant surprise to see the King himself wear this exact colorway during warmups of a preseason game. I’d love to see him actually play in a pair. The Ambassador line has been the most consistent line in the Lebron series (just don’t mention the Ambassador 10 please). They’re wide-foot friendly, outdoor-ready, and budget ready.
If you’re in the market for a less expensive, wide-foot friendly, signature line shoe, the Ambassador 12 is for you. You’ll enjoy the ride while giving people buckets.

Nike By You Reveals Opening Week Collection

Last season’s NBA opening-week footwear indulged in the league’s generous colorway rules and brought wildly creative designs to the floor, as seen in the Nike By You custom designs led by nine rookies and sophomores.

This year, the project was expanded to 23 players who customized their footwear based on four signature silhouettes: Kyrie 5, the KD 12, the PG 3 and the Zoom Freak 1. Here are all the Nike By You colorways — and the personal inspirations that helped create them. You can customize your pair now on Nike.com.
Kostas Antetokounmpo, forward, Los Angeles

Legacy is the word that Antetokounmpo wanted to carry through his shoe, with regal purple accents a perfect match for his team-inspired base yellow. The word is embossed on the inner tongue to remind him to represent his family’s name every time he plays.
OG Anunoby, forward, Toronto

The London native sought out a loud colorway for opening week, choosing a mosaic of contrasting colors and tying the look together with neon green laces.
Mikal Bridges, forward, Phoenix

A self-proclaimed momma’s boy, the Phoenix forward designed a KD 12 based off his biggest supporter and main role model. The shoe is completed in a soft purple and yellow color scheme and includes his mother’s initials on the tongue tag.
Miles Bridges, forward, Charlotte

The athletic forward chose a colorway scheme after his favorite animal, the gorilla, a paradigm of intelligence and aggression. Purple and gray accents add a touch of some of his preferred colors. His son’s birthday is printed on the heel, and a personal reference is included on the tongue.
Bruce Brown, guard, Detroit

Inspired by the idea to never judge a book by its cover, Brown customized his shoe entirely off his love for country music, covering his KYRIE 5 in a mix of yellow, burnt orange and sky blue in a tribute to his favorite country artist.
Jalen Brunson, point guard, Dallas

The Dallas point guard designed his shoe from his personal mantra, displaying an acronym on the tongue for “The Magic is in the Work.” The upper is layered in his team’s colors.
Donte DiVincenzo, guard, Milwaukee

The Milwaukee guard designed his KD12 based off his close relationship with his mother. He highlighted her favorite color throughout the shoe’s upper and added in their motto, “Stay True,” which appears on the back heel tab.
De’Aaron Fox, point guard, Sacramento

In addition to the team-inspired color scheme, the third-year guard included subtle details for his foundation, placing other personal details on the inner tongue and the back heel.
Darius Garland, point guard, Cleveland

The Cleveland point guard designed his shoe in a deep red base with a white flytrap containment system. The bright colors were inspired by the attention he’s had on him since he was young, and how he is constantly reminded to stay humble.
Jaxson Hayes, center, New Orleans

The seven-footer chose a color palette inspired by the reason he first fell in love with basketball — a first-grade team he played on that sported navy blue and gold.
Tyler Herro, guard, Miami

The rookie sharpshooter designed his PG3 around his belief in continually evolving his dreams; he’s already charting new ones now that he’s found his way into the league. With an attitude of always wanting to stand out, he chose bold color-blocking throughout the upper and polished off the design with personal details, such as the initials for his nickname (Boy Wonder) on the heel and an acronym on the tongue as a reminder to earn his playing time.
De’Andre Hunter, forward, Atlanta

The versatile forward came from unassuming beginnings, describing himself as a player who didn’t take basketball too seriously until he was older, developing a supportive relationship with his mother along the way. The colorway pulls from his memory of a childhood gym where his mother rebounded for him. The acronym on the tongue stands for a personal motto: “Skills Over Politics.”
Chandler Hutchison, forward, Chicago

The Chicago forward tells his personal story through his Freak 1 silhouette — printing “Underdog” on the inside of the tongue of his shoes, which represents how he felt he was under-recruited throughout his career. He incorporated his high school’s colors into his shoe to acknowledge his coach as pivotal in helping him get noticed by college scouts.
Jonathan Isaac, forward, Orlando

The blue, white and black colorway is inspired by his Orlando team and is dedicated to its fans. The forward gives his shoe a pop of orange inside and on the laces.
Jaren Jackson Jr., forward, Memphis

Jackson’s vibrant shoe was designed to exude the energy he brings to his team’s play. The initials on the tongue stand for a motto repeated in his family since he was a young player: “Much required, much given.”
Ja Morant, point guard, Memphis

The point guard combines colors from different teams throughout his career that helped propel him to the league — from Sumter, South Carolina to Murray, Kentucky to Memphis, Tennessee.
Josh Okogie, guard, Minnesota

The technicolor theme of this PG3 expresses the guard’s mindset to keep bringing the energy to every single game. “NONSTP” is printed on the tongue loop to remind him of this night in and night out.
Royce O’Neale, forward, Utah

The forward loves candy, so he designed his KD12 to look like his favorite treats. He also embellished his shoe with details referring to his mother and other members of his family, linking back to his childhood (where his history with candy began).
Cam Reddish, forward, Atlanta

The Atlanta forward built a color mosaic with blues and reds from the formative teams he’s played on throughout his career that have helped develop him into the player he is today.
Jerome Robinson, guard, Los Angeles

The shooting guard designed his shoe with an earthy palette to highlight some of his favorite hobbies, camping and hiking. The phrase “Live Free” is printed on the heel and represents his life ethos.
Collin Sexton, point guard, Cleveland

This wild colorway from the point guard revolves around personal expression. The acronym on the heel stands for “Move with a Purpose,” a personal mantra of his.
Anfernee Simons, guard, Portland

A mix of the colors from his NBA team and his Florida high school team, the shooting guard’s shoe follows his pride in being drafted out of high school. Simons added his home zip code (32701) across the heel tag as a shout-out to his hometown.
Brad Wanamaker, guard, Boston

The guard had a multifaceted journey to the league once he graduated college. His shoe tells the story of how he arrived to the NBA after playing with teams in France, Germany and Turkey, each represented by colors in his shoe. As an added touch, he calls out his hometown of Philadelphia on the shoe’s tongue.

Hoka Rincon Performance Review

The Hoka Rincon has been getting rave reviews (one examples here). They are one of the lightest running shoes on the market at 7.7 ounces and cost only $115. I’ve enjoyed Hoka’s shoes up to this point and the Rincon seemed like the exact type of shoe I’ve wanted from them, a light responsive runner that is good for both distance and speed work.
I ran 40+ miles in these on roads, trails, and the beach to see how they would hold up across different conditions. The Hoka Rincon was my every day running shoe for the last two months and I used them for both long runs and short distance speed work.
Cushion
I absolutely loved running in the Hoka Rincon. The Rincon has the traditional Hoka max cushioning setup. The midsole is thick and plush but there’s still a ton of bounce with each step. The main difference I noticed between this shoe and other Hoka shoes is that the insole is thinner. This thinner insole adds a large measure of responsiveness. I felt the ground really well and it helped a lot with speed work. The Rincon was easily the most responsive Hoka I have worn. The cushioning was great on long runs as well and my usually bad knees didn’t have any problems.
Traction
The outsole of the Rincon is mostly made up of the EVA foam from the midsole with a few spots featuring harder rubber. There are less hard rubber spots on these than other Hokas. This is most likely because they wanted to keep the Rincon as light as possible. I don’t mind the trade off but don’t expect the Rincon’s outsole to last very long. After just 40 miles, I noticed the outsole beginning to wear down. I don’t see the outsole lasting longer than 200-250 miles. Besides the durability concerns, I didn’t notice any issues with the traction. I ran on trails, roads, and in wet conditions and didn’t experience any slipping.
Support
Most running shoes made to be light end up lacking support, and the Hoka Rincon is no different. The upper is minimal but the heel cup is sturdy enough to satisfy neutral runners. If you overpronate a lot, I wouldn’t recommend these. Most support issues I have with shoes are because my feet are too wide for the footbed, but the Rincon’s width was perfect for me. If you want a light shoe with a good amount of support I recommend the Hoka Arahi 3 (read my review here).
Materials
This was my favorite set of materials I’ve ever had on a running shoe. Yes, you read that right. The upper is made of an insanely breathable mesh that you barely feel when running. It’s thinner than the upper on the Hoka Clifton 6 but feels just as nice on foot. These are the type of running shoe that you just put on and completely forget about. They feel flawless on foot. I ran in these without socks for a quick 5k (running without socks is acceptable for triathletes…I promise I’m not being weird) and the amount of wind I felt going through the shoe is like no other shoe I have ever worn. The only issue with the materials would be the durability of the midsole foam.
Fit
I usually get Hokas in a size 13 but bought the Rincon in a 12.5. My last pair of air jordan 1 stretched out a bit and after a few miles they felt too big on me. I figured I would go half down half a size to see if that helped and it did. The 12.5 fit me a little snug when I first tried them on but after the first run, they were perfect. The fit is great, the width is perfect for my slightly wide feet, and overall, I loved how they felt. There were no uncomfortable spots, hotspots, or pinching.
Overall
The Hoka Rincon is best value for a running shoe I’ve ever seen. At only $115, they’re a no brainer. The Rincon and the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2 are easily my favorite running shoes of the year. They’re both light, responsive shoes with plush cushioning and breathable materials. The only difference is that the Pegasus Turbo 2 is $65 more. The Rincon’s materials are amazing, and the cushioning doesn’t suffer from the light build of the shoe. If you are looking for an affordable all-purpose runner then you should be considering the Hoka Rincon.

Hoka Rincon Performance Review

The Hoka Rincon has been getting rave reviews (one examples here). They are one of the lightest running shoes on the market at 7.7 ounces and cost only $115. I’ve enjoyed Hoka’s shoes up to this point and the Rincon seemed like the exact type of shoe I’ve wanted from them, a light responsive runner that is good for both distance and speed work.
I ran 40+ miles in these on roads, trails, and the beach to see how they would hold up across different conditions. The Hoka Rincon was my every day running shoe for the last two months and I used them for both long runs and short distance speed work.
Cushion
I absolutely loved running in the Hoka Rincon. The Rincon has the traditional Hoka max cushioning setup. The midsole is thick and plush but there’s still a ton of bounce with each step. The main difference I noticed between this shoe and other Hoka shoes is that the insole is thinner. This thinner insole adds a large measure of responsiveness. I felt the ground really well and it helped a lot with speed work. The Rincon was easily the most responsive Hoka I have worn. The cushioning was great on long runs as well and my usually bad knees didn’t have any problems.
Traction
The outsole of the Rincon is mostly made up of the EVA foam from the midsole with a few spots featuring harder rubber. There are less hard rubber spots on these than other Hokas. This is most likely because they wanted to keep the Rincon as light as possible. I don’t mind the trade off but don’t expect the Rincon’s outsole to last very long. After just 40 miles, I noticed the outsole beginning to wear down. I don’t see the outsole lasting longer than 200-250 miles. Besides the durability concerns, I didn’t notice any issues with the traction. I ran on trails, roads, and in wet conditions and didn’t experience any slipping.
Support
Most running shoes made to be light end up lacking support, and the Hoka Rincon is no different. The upper is minimal but the heel cup is sturdy enough to satisfy neutral runners. If you overpronate a lot, I wouldn’t recommend these. Most support issues I have with shoes are because my feet are too wide for the footbed, but the Rincon’s width was perfect for me. If you want a light shoe with a good amount of support I recommend the Hoka Arahi 3 (read my review here).
Materials
This was my favorite set of materials I’ve ever had on a running shoe. Yes, you read that right. The upper is made of an insanely breathable mesh that you barely feel when running. It’s thinner than the upper on the Hoka Clifton 6 but feels just as nice on foot. These are the type of running shoe that you just put on and completely forget about. They feel flawless on foot. I ran in these without socks for a quick 5k (running without socks is acceptable for triathletes…I promise I’m not being weird) and the amount of wind I felt going through the shoe is like no other shoe I have ever worn. The only issue with the materials would be the durability of the midsole foam.
Fit
I usually get Hokas in a size 13 but bought the Rincon in a 12.5. My last pair of air jordan 1 stretched out a bit and after a few miles they felt too big on me. I figured I would go half down half a size to see if that helped and it did. The 12.5 fit me a little snug when I first tried them on but after the first run, they were perfect. The fit is great, the width is perfect for my slightly wide feet, and overall, I loved how they felt. There were no uncomfortable spots, hotspots, or pinching.
Overall
The Hoka Rincon is best value for a running shoe I’ve ever seen. At only $115, they’re a no brainer. The Rincon and the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2 are easily my favorite running shoes of the year. They’re both light, responsive shoes with plush cushioning and breathable materials. The only difference is that the Pegasus Turbo 2 is $65 more. The Rincon’s materials are amazing, and the cushioning doesn’t suffer from the light build of the shoe. If you are looking for an affordable all-purpose runner then you should be considering the Hoka Rincon.

Jordan Jumpman Diamond Low Performance Review

Long before the Jordan Jumpman Diamond, Team Jumpman models were considered a thing of the past. Not anymore. Over the past year or so, Jordan Brand has been coming up with budget-friendly models that do more than just sit on shelves, they perform.
The traction of the Jordan Jumpman Diamond Low is interesting. It utilizes a multidirectional diamond and herringbone traction pattern that’s very thinly and closely aligned. This particular model was purchased from Asia, so it also provided XDR rubber. One gripe I did have, and not just for this Jordan Model but for a lot of Nike and Jordan shoes, is the clear coating they apply to certain outsoles which causes a lot of slippage till it wears off. I honestly don’t believe it’s necessary. I want something to grip the hell out of the court, rather than having to break in the outsole. After the coating rubbed off, the traction was great. I was able to stop on a dime and gather myself quick even when the court wasn’t clean. An occasional quick wipe and I was good to go. I do wish the outsole traction was thicker with larger gaps so it didn’t pick up dust in between the grooves. However, as stated before, one wipe and I was good to go. Outdoor ballers beware as the thin traction lines frayed quickly.
The cushion of the Jumpman Diamond is made up of a soft Phylon midsole and a responsive top-loaded forefoot Zoom Air unit. It felt very similar to the Why.Not.Zero2. And that’s not a bad thing because I loved how that shoe felt on foot, even as a heavy-footed player. Could they have added a small volume Zoom Air Unit in the heel? Yes. Would it make a vast difference? Probably not. I would have liked to see some heel Zoom Air implemented, but for a budget-friendly model like this I don’t expect it.
The full list of materials are a simple textile and synthetic upper, a diamond gridded cage system for lightweight support and stability, a soft phylon midsole complemented with forefoot Zoom Air, and a diamond herringbone rubber outsole. One gripe I had was very minor. The tag inside the tongue of the shoe (images can be viewed here) chafed. The message could have easily been stitched into the tongue rather than placing a layering material that caused discomfort and scratching on the front of my shin (if I wore no-show socks). Mid or crew socks are necessary. The combination of everything put together was simple while providing me all the necessities without the extra added weight (similar to the Air Jordan 34). I like what Jordan is doing and I hope they continue.
The Jordan Jumpman Diamond Low fit true to size. I ordered an overseas model which are generally built on a wider last. I did try on the US model as well and there’s not much of a difference. Wider-footers like myself are able to stay true to size while normal footers will want to try on in-store. Some may consider going down a half size due to the slight bit of extra spacing in the toe area. I like the extra little room, but your preferences may vary. The shoe seemed to contour very well to my foot so I didn’t have a problem tying them up tight.
Support comes directly from the fit of the shoe and the build. The big tongue seemed to be used on both the low and mid versions of the Jordan Jumpman Diamond and didn’t cause any hindrance once the shoe was laced tight. The Diamond gridded cage structure really gave the feeling of solid stability. My foot and heel felt locked in and ready to go. The traction (once the coating of the outsole wears off) is solid, especially on heavy defensive slides while staying in front of your opponent (unless of course your teammates don’t call out a pick and you get pummeled by a big ogre). And the soft midsole along with the forefoot Zoom Air unit provid enough responsiveness on heel to toe transition.
The Jordan Jumpman Diamond was a really dynamic shoe. It’s made for those that want to be treated seriously on the hardwood. From the price, build, fit, materials, to the overall build of the shoe, anyone who puts on this shoe is in for a fun ride. The Jordan Brand team has really stepped up their game to help people realize their flagship model isn’t the only shoe that can perform well on the court.

Jordan Jumpman 2020 Performance Review

The Jordan 2X3 was a nice performer that unfortunately never made its way to retail stateside. However, what could be called its successor in the Jordan Jumpman 2020 is available and we have a performance review ready.
Herringbone in a mostly traditional fashion makes up the Jumpman 2020. Though it directs from front to back, there is still multidirectional coverage due to the nature of the pattern. I wouldn’t call it super tacky or crazy stopping power, but I was secure making all types of movements on court, even when caught around the divot under the heel.
Most of the rubber is solid with nice groove spacing, while the forefoot pod showcasing tech is packed a little tighter in a translucent compound. This area not only attracts more dust but is a little more difficult to clear of any buildup.
Fortunately, the traction only failed me once early on in testing, and that was on a super dusty court. Otherwise traction has been super reliable indoors and outdoors, though I wouldn’t recommend spending too much time outside as the rubber wears down significantly from a few hours in the elements.
Nike has been doing a lot lately with larger volume forefoot Zoom units, and that trend has spilled over onto this Jordan 1 sneaker. I won’t lie – in person I was a little underwhelmed with the actual volume of the Jumpman 2020 Zoom compared to other sneakers with more standard oval-shaped bags, but on foot it does make a difference in my opinion.
I had a great experience with transition and response in the Jumpman 2020 as the extra bit of coverage up front added some fluidity to different types of movement. While the midsole doesn’t sit as close to the floor as some other sneakers, I don’t feel those that appreciate court feel will have much to complain about here as it rides lower than it appears to be externally.
There is no cushion in the rear of the shoe – my guess is that it is an injected Phylon — even though it is a little on the dense side. Fortunately, Jordan Brand added those divots – or “Landing Zone” as they call it – under each heel which provides some compression and slight bounce back upon impact. Despite my feelings that this part of the midsole may be bottoming out, this addition kept the Jumpman 2020 from being a pain to play in.
I also want to note that the midsole doesn’t seem to have much of a heel-to-toe drop. Some hoopers may like this, some may hate it. Personally, it didn’t bother me – just something I felt should be noted.
Well, if you’re not psyched to pay a premium for the mesh and other minimal materials the Air Jordan 34 offers, the good news is you can save $70 to get a similar build, which is a little beefier in some areas.
The mesh feels plasticky on the exterior, but on foot there hasn’t been any discomfort, pinching, or anything of the sort. The textile lining probably helps with that while the rest of the upper features synthetic leather overlays and skin fuse over the toe. Everything is lightweight, durable and supportive, including the thick nylon cables embedded in the upper, like the Nike Zoom Rize. I feel the synthetic leather could’ve been scaled down a bit, but for $110 you get cost-efficient materials that work, simple as that.
True to size works perfectly fine for me, and some wide footers may also be able to get away with true to size, though a half size up may also be more suitable – you’ll just have to judge for yourself. The lacing system allows for customization at each pair of eyelets and does a good job of locking down.
If you’ve had the chance to try on its big brother, the Air Jordan 34, expect the Jumpman 2020 to fit similar but not quite as snug. I liked the fit of both, but I feel the 2020 is a lot more forgiving while still being able to tighten things down so there are not issues with movement of the foot anywhere in the shoe.
All of the usual contributes to good support in the Jumpman 2020. It isn’t a standout in terms of category, but I had no issues with support at all. The internal heel counter does feel a little weak, but a good fit helped prevent any heel slip and the materials don’t seem substantial in the areas needed, but are actually pretty sturdy.
Most of all I enjoyed the nylon cabling along each side. As a part of the lacing system and the upper, they do a good job of keeping you in place on the footbed. That, combined with a semi-wide base make the Jordan Jumpman 2020 a breeze to play in.
Jordan Brand continues to follow a simple formula that offers signature-worthy performance in its lower-priced models. The Jordan Jumpman 2020 is a great alternative to the higher tier models as it is a more tried and truer set up compared to the potential growing pains that come with innovation in signature models. For a while I even enjoyed playing in the Jumpman 2020 over the flagship it was designed after.
If the Jordan Jumpman 2020 is on your radar, I say go for it as I think it does everything well enough to satisfy everyone, no matter the play style. As I sort of already mentioned, the flashy new stuff is great – even functional in many cases – but sometimes reliability trumps all, especially when its on better end of the hundred-dollar range.

Nike Zoom Kobe III Retro Review

Largely forgotten thanks to the popularity and greatness of the Kobe IV, the ZK III was and still is one of the best fitting shoes of all time and is the granddaddy of Nike’s current line of shoes.
I remember the first time I laid eyes on the Kobe III… I almost threw up. Coming from my love of classic Jordans,  I thought to myself, this has got to be one ugliest shoes of all time. I never tried them due to how hideous I found them to be. I was repulsed, but then I decided to buy a pair after they went on sale, and then I fell in love.
TRACTION
Okay, well nobody is perfect . Traction on the ZK III is by far the worst aspect of the shoe as sports a diamond patterned sole. The ZK III has a diamond theme throughout the shoe inspired by Kobe’s daughter Diamante
It isn’t terrible after break in but it certainly isn’t great either. The diamond pattern doesn’t allow the rubber to flex and push away dirt like a traditional herringbone pattern would; Actually , it inhibits it since the thickness of the diamond makes that section firmer since so much rubber exists inside each diamond. Luckily the rubber is pliable and soft so some dirt can get swept away. This is by far the worst traction pattern on any Kobe 4 Protro though. I still slipped everywhere on dirty floors but on clean floors it was good but still not great especially for a Kobe.
CUSHIONING
Targeted Zoom in the heel and forefoot. Despite having the same set up as many other Nikes at the time, this set up felt very muted to me. Didn’t really get the bounce back even though it was there but it doesn’t feel like the crappy Zoom Air that Nike has been putting out lately either. I can feel it but I guess the response in the heel is more dissipated throughout the entire heel area.
I was surprised how low to the ground the forefoot felt back then although a lot of shoes have gone that route since then. Can’t really feel the Zoom in the forefoot but I’m guessing Kobe wanted that court feel instead.  There is a noticeable heel to toe drop but it isn’t bothersome but takes a little time to get used to.
FIT
Fits like a sock with a sole, Just a plain perfect fit all the way around. No heel slippage, no deadspace at all.  The upper literally wraps around the foot and ankle thanks to the flexible upper. The upper is made of mesh with a tpu overlay to provide support and containment.
Below: hey look real leather !
Compared to newer shoes, the upper reminds me of the Clutchfit Drive… Actually the whole shoe reminds me of the Clutchfit Drive (except the CF has better traction).
SUPPORT AND STABILITY
Support comes mainly from the fit and the large outrigger at the forefoot.  The heel counter is hidden but is effective albeit flexible.  Stability is excellent due to the outrigger and wide flat outsole.  I never felt like i would sprain my ankle in these thanks to how stable try were.  Despite the wonderful stability, the III feels natural underfoot.
CONTAINMENT:
Despite a minimal upper my foot never left the footbed on hard cuts. The TPU upper kept my foot in place perfectly.
CONCLUSION
This shoe is 8 years old, how did time go by so fast ? I still remember Kobe wearing these agains the Celtics in the finals like it were yesterday.  Regardless of age, this shoe set up the platform for Nike basketball; look at the lineage since then and you can connect the ancestry straight to the Kobe III: Hyperdunk(s) or any Hyper shoe, fuse or mesh uppers, low tops (the upper is so flexible it Nike decided to get rid of mids).  If Nike gave the Kobe III the Kobe IV sole, you’d pretty much have a perfect shoe.

UA Black Ice Performance Analysis and Review

Since the Bucks are balling tonight, I figured I’d dig these out and write a review on them. Back in the day Brandon Jennings was the only face of UA hoops while he was in Milwaukee so why not bust out the tried and true Gucci black and red Black Ice (s) for shits and giggles. I’ve had these in cold storage for the past 8 or 9 years..get it? Ice? Black ice? Nevemind
I thought these were sexy as hell when I bought them and I really liked the UA curry 7 brand. And for $110 what the hell right? I remember getting them late at night around Thanksgiving time and I opened them up and smiled because the new shoe smell slapped me in the face and the patent leather sparkled with hints of green. And damn that Micro G felt amazing. Micro G >>>>> HOVR which is pretty much remarketed garbage.
Pros: traction when clean, cushioning, fit, support and stability, containment
Cons: lots of wiping needed on dusty floors,
Sizing : true to size to half a size down depending on preference
Best For:any position
Weight
A little lighter than average for a mid at 14 ounces. Most mids are around 14.5-16 ounces
Traction
Shattered glass or ice traction pattern looks cool and works great on clean floors, but can be Chazz Michael Michaels on dusty floors…get it ? Ice skating? Blades of Glory ? Black ice ? Never m..
Although the traction isn’t the worst on dusty floors, this is the main weakness of the Black Ice. Really skating on thin ice when it comes to acceptability with these on dusty floors. Get it ? Thin ice? Black Ice? Never..
Cushioning
I’ll take this “old” cushioning over HOVR in the Havoc and Curry 6 any day every day, no questions asked. Zero, Zilch, Nada. Micro G on the Black Ice gives me everything; it’s low to the ground and springy right out of the box.
Oh yea Mr Orange sole. Micro G insole I do miss thee. Some shoetubers don’t even know the difference between a open cell ortholite insole which is BLUE vs an orange Micro G insole
You’d think Micro G was made of diamond dust the way UA has gotten so cheap with it. HOVR is marketed like a MOFO but it’s 95% BS. UA is slowly putting more Micro G on their shoes again at least.
Fit
Ah back in the day when one size didn’t fit one. I bought a 10.5 and 11 and went with the 10.5. Patent leather toe boxes like this usually have more room in the toe box and these are no different. Easily could have gone with 11 though without any issues since the fit is adaptable to many foot sizes.
No heel slip or side to side movement. The strap is just there so don’t expect any help from it. You can’t really make patent leather hug your foot (see Aj Xi) so there isn’t a perfect one to one fit in the toe box but it’s acceptable.
Materials
Definitely considered premium today. Patent leather and synthetic leather that feels like leather/nubuck. No issues here but no awards given by me for materials.
Support and stability
So asymmetrical it looks like a haircut from the 90’s
A lowish Mid that has a higher medial side to help with ankle support m. Air Jordan XIV anyone? I really love this concept because it works without compromising ankle mobility.
Even though there is no a super tiny outrigger I had no issues underfoot since the outsole is very wide and flat.
No issues overall here
Containment
No issues thanks to stiff patent leather, a little strap etc..
Conclusion
This was the first b-ball shoe for UA and they did a great job. Maybe UA should revisit the mold or rehire the designer. If traction was better like the UA Juke, then these would be probably be considered into getting some PT but of course with sig shoes you gotta make them unique. Man the Juke traction is/was fantastic..
The rest of the shoe works pretty well and I have zero complaints. It’s one of the shoes I like but don’t love but could have loved if a few improvements were made.
Oh and by the way Bucks in 6 over my dude Kawhi and company. Unless the Klaw gets some help, I just don’t see them getting to the finals over a more talented and deeper team.

Nike LeBron 17 Performance Review

Seventeen models in for LeBron James and Nike Basketball. Is the Nike LeBron 17 the best one yet? Our thoughts within our performance review.

The traction doesn’t look bad or feel bad, speaking on its rubber compound, but I could never get any reliable coverage when playing in the shoe.
Some plays would be fine while others would have me slipping. Didn’t matter which court I was playing on either. Whether it was the nicest floor, or my local 24 Hour Fitness, I just wasn’t comfortable making any move in the shoe. Something I find to be unfortunate as the traction I feel is the foundation of a shoe. The rest of the entire build could be awesome, and in this case it is, but without a solid foundation under-foot then the rest really doesn’t matter.
What could be going wrong? I’m not 100% sure. Part of me thinks someone that is a bit heavier may get a bit more bite out of the traction. That is just pure speculation, but it’s one of my initial thoughts. However, I’m also leaning heavily on the premise that it might be the forefoot cushion implementation. There is a split between the two forefoot Zoom Air units and the foam midsole is very soft. While maneuvering on-court it sometimes feels as if the two pods end up splitting to the point where I end up missing coverage by the time my foot fully plants.
Again, I don’t know what the issue truly is. Those are just my thoughts as to why I may be having issues. However, without consistent traction I’m not itching to get the LeBron 17 back on-court anytime soon.
If maximum cushion is what you’re after then the LeBron 17 should make you very happy.
You literally feel as if you’re running around on Air. Impact protection might be some of the best it’s ever been as well. You don’t even feel the impact of your foot touching down on the ground. The forefoot Zoom Air, rear Air Max and soft Phylon midsole all absorb everything before it even has a chance to reach your knees.
On the flip side… court feel is non-existent. You feel like you’re on a platform. Almost as if you’re hovering above hardwood. Some may really love this sensation, I didn’t hate it, but it’s also not my preferred setup.
There are outriggers on the forefoot lateral Zoom Air unit and the rear Air Max unit for those wondering. They’re not huge, but they get the job done in terms of helping keep you stable while you float on Air.
Again, not my preferred setup, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say they’re super comfortable. I just prefer sitting a bit closer to the ground, and if I’m not, I like shoes that feel like you are. The Air Jordan 34 is one of the better setups for that. A max cushion system that doesn’t make you feel like you’re running around on a hovercraft.
Nike has been marketing the materials as Knitposite, but I feel they should have just called it Battleknit 3.0. I realize the names are just semantics, but its better to not confuse your consumer by using the term Posite — which is synonymous with Nike’s Foamposite material.
The “posite” sections of the knit are just TPU or glue infused yarns. We’ve seen this on basketball shoes from nearly every brand at this point. Renaming it to make it sound fresh and new, while smart, is deceiving. However, it works as advertised which is the most important thing.
The pure knit sections feel and play like a shoe you’ve had for years. It has that broken-in feeling fresh out the box and feels better each time you lace them up. It’s “posite” sections are great as well. The firmer sections of the knit offer great containment and support throughout the upper. From the heel all the way to the forefoot — there is strategic support pieces throughout which has played great.
While the cushion might be one of the standout features of the Nike LeBron 17, I personally feel the best feature of the shoe is the Knitposite material.
The Nike LeBron 17 fits true to size and is very reminiscent of one of my favorite LeBron models to-date — the Nike LeBron 8.
They shoe does run a little short, something I don’t mind nor did I have an issue with as the knit build is soft in the forefoot, so I’d still recommend trying the shoe on in-store just to make sure they fit the way you prefer prior to buying a pair online.
Lockdown is something I enjoyed quite a bit. Whether I laced them all the way up to the top, or left the top eyelet alone for some additional range of motion — lockdown was nearly perfect. I say nearly since I don’t thing there is a true way to measure what “perfect” really is. Perfect for me may suck for you, but for me, the fit and lockdown were fantastic.
From the outriggers on up to the build, support was not what I was expecting. In a good way.
After the LeBron 15 I’ve been hesitant to play in some of these higher sitting shoes. However, the LeBron 16 and now the LeBron 17 have shown that brands can do maximum cushion setups while still offering a bit of stability and support. Obviously, you’re not getting the same level of stability in the LeBron 17 as you would in something like the Curry 6 or D.O.N. Issue 1, but it’s just enough.
The upper is nice and supportive in all the right areas so when you combined everything you get a fairly well-rounded shoe that excels in the cushion department.
Overall, I really enjoyed the Nike LeBron 17 from the cushion up. Traction has kept me from wanting to play in them any longer than I feel I have to. I hope that isn’t the case for everyone, and I hope there are people out there that get great traction from the shoe if they happen to purchase them. All I know is that I played in two different pairs in two different colorways and had the same results in both. I liked everything, loved some things, but disliked the traction.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Nike LeBron 17 from a performance perspective in our WearTesters Discord community. Thanks for watching, reading and continuously supporting WearTesters!

Reebok Nano 9 Performance Review

Crossfit has come a long way in the last few years, and the Reebok Nano has been here every step, jump, and WOD of the way. The Nano 9 is billed as the best yet, but is it? Only one way to find out…
Reebok is still using the split-finger outsole we have seen in just about every other Nano model (at least he ones I am familiar with) and it works. Not to the extreme of the Vibram Five Fingers but using the same concept, the Nano 9 outsole is split in the forefoot enough to allow for each toe and toe area to grip the floor almost independently. Called METASPLIT, the outsole also allows for lateral flex, meaning the shoe rolls sideways as well as forward, so on lateral movements or climbs the outsole stay in contact with the surface. The heel area in this colorway is a translucent, which is normally bad, but it is Reebok, which is good. For some reason, Reebok historically has had great translucent rubber and the Nano 9 is no different – thick, solid, and wears extremely well under stress. The diamond pattern worked well on squats and lunges as well as box jumps, short runs (more on that next), and even some court work – not basketball shoes, but some drills one of the new trainers at 24 Hour Fitness showed me (he plays on our league basketball team – I don’t need a trainer).
Here is the main change and the one that may really get on Reebok Nano/Crossfit traditionalists nerves. The Nano 9 has added cushioning to an already solid platform, which would seem like the opposite of what most Crossfit/workout shoes aim for. Never fear – Reebok knows what they are doing. While I might have wished for some Floatride (that stuff is AWESOME!!!), Reebok stayed with some normal EVA and it is just enough to make short runs fun but doesn’t set the heel-to-toe offset completely crazy. To be completly honest, I am NOT a Crossfitter – I do some of the same exercises and lifts but I don’t compete and haven’t converted to “the lifestyle”. However, I do lift three days a week, short HIIT runs on those days, and warm up for basketball days with box jumps, lunges, and rope drills. The Nano 9 had no “energy return” as claimed by other cushioning systems, but it did absorb every landing and running 2-4 miles on treadmills or hitting stairsteppers was no problem.
I freaking LOVE the Flexweave uppers Reebok has used over the past couple of years. The Nano 8, JJ WattII, the Fusion Flexweave runner – all of those uppers were flexible, lightweight, breathable, and durable. The Nano 9 upper takes things a bit further with the Flexweave Stretch. The concept is the same – nylon threads woven to give lateral support while still being flexible in the toebox, but the new weave allows for some stretch (well, it is right there in the name), just enough to keep from restricting movement but still keeps your foot on the footbed during movements. The one thing the Flexweave Stretch has over the older materials is it is softer to the touch – not much of a performance feature but it does feel better on the foot.
The Nano 9 does have some areas of fuse over the weave, mainly around the laceholes, but the beloved Vector logo comes back for the first time in years and it is fused over the weave as well. The toe rand also has some light fuse around the edges for toedrag and ropeclimbing durability but it isn’t thick enough to stiffen the shoe. The tongue is well padded but not bulky and is part of an inner bootie system that feels great on the inside, with no hotspots to rub blisters or chafe.
The Nano 9 is a curious fit. Length-wise, I normally have to go down a half size in Reebok performance to a 10, but the Nano fit around a 10.25. I don’t think I could have went down, but true to size gave me just a little more length than I normally like. The forefoot is also roomy, with some deadspace around the outside of the footbed and a little over the toes, so when laced tight there was a slight bunching at he end of the lacing system. This could be because of the Flexweave Stretch not being completely solid, and it wasn’t enough to completely compromise stability, but the fit was not one-to-one if that is what you are looking for.
The midfoot fit is solid, mostly due to the laces but also because the inner sleeve takes up any of the extra room in that area. The sleeve isn’t a true one-piece upper system but the tongue is attached to the sleeve about halfway down. The heel fit is absolutely locked in with an extension of the sleeve running around the heel and up to the top laceloop. The inner has sculpted padding that fits and molds around the heel and sits right under the ankle, taking away any extra movement.
One worry about cushioned shoes while lifting is the instability, especially in the heel – no one wants a soft foam midsole collapsing under a 400 pound squat bar or when coming down from a jump. If you want to know how to cause an ankle roll or knee injury, that is it. Luckily, the Nano 9 has a crazy support system in the heel, featuring raised sidewalls along the lateral and medial heel that runs all the way to the midfoot. It isn’t a hard rubber but is stiff enough to provide enough support for any lift you would do. The rubber sidewalls run down and around the cushioning, tying the sidewalls into the outsole, providing an even stronger support system on lateral movements.
The forefoot outsole/midsole combo is wider than the footbed, which gives the forefoot a solid base for planting and jumping as well as landings. There is no midfoot support shank but the stiffness of the rubber and the flat platform work well to keep your foot bending the right way.
Best Nano ever, but I have only tried 4 of them. The added cushioning is perfect for the athlete that may not be a true Crossfitter but the Nano 9 still has the best qualities of the previous models, which should make the diehard ‘Fitters happy. If you need a shoe for the weightroom, rope climbs, two-miler, and plyometrics, the Nano 9 is perfect out of the box. If you desire a true zero-drop, minimally padded shoe, like a Chuck Taylor, you will want to keep looking.
Reebok has been making some serious performance shoe sin the training and running line for at least the last 6 years. they just usually fly under the radar because of the Classics line (kind of like the new Air Jordan models). It’s a shame really – the Flexweave is a seriously awesome upper material and their Floatride cushioning is just as good as Boost but waaaaay lighter. The Nano 9 just continues in the performance vein and shows how advancement doesn’t have to mean scrapping the old – it sometimes means tweaking what works. Oh, and the Vector logo – please Reebok, don’t ever let it go away. Sincereley, everyone.

adidas Harden Vol 4 Performance Review

adidas switched things up a little bit with the Harden Vol 4. Were the changes worth while? Find out in our performance review.

Herringbone was used on the Harden Vol 3, and most of us loved it. No frills. No gimmicks. No data driven patterns. Just traction that worked. With the Vol 4 adidas went back to the way things were, with a pattern that doesn’t look like it’ll play well, but surprised us once we took them for a spin.
Despite the pattern being flat and unimpressive looking, I rarely found myself having issues. If dust became a major concern a quick wipe and I was quickly back to playing without even thinking about traction.
When a pattern/rubber compound works as well as this you end up with a bit more confidence as you know the foundation of the shoe won’t fail you. That’s pretty much how I felt with the Harden Vol 4. I didn’t really have to worry. On really bad floors I just wiped every-so-often and I was on my way.
Traction on the Harden Vol. 4 is crazy. It’s great. It’s CR-R-REAT (no?)! On only one court did I ever have to wipe. Even so, each time I returned to that court the need to wipe was less frequent and all it took was a light stroke to get that Red Nose-hanging-off-a-tire-swing bite I was accustomed to on every other floor.
The rubber is super tacky, especially in the forefoot where the pattern becomes more compact and covers more ground. It may even be strong enough to handle outdoors fairly well, but all I know for sure is indoors, this is one of the better tractions I’ve experienced in the smaller selection of shoes I’ve played in this year. Again, CREAT.
Boost is missing from the Harden line for the very first time, and I will admit I did miss it a bit.
I felt the Harden Vol 3 had the best implementation of Boost as it sat low to the ground while still providing a bit of impact protection. When I heard Lightstrike was replacing the Boost cushion I was excited. I loved Lightstrike in the N3XT L3V3l, but here I felt it was a bit too soft.
Stability was never compromised as you sit just as low to the ground as you would in the Vol 3, but the Lightstrike on the N3XT L3V3L was a little thicker and had a bit more density to it. It gave off a lighter feeling Bounce whereas the Lightstrike in the Harden Vol 4 just feels… soft. It wound up causing some leg pains as I’ve been ramping up my days on-court since the calf tear. I don’t have these same pains when I play in my Air Jordan 34, LeBron 17 or ANTA KT5, so it has left me with the conclusion that this implementation of Lightstrike just isn’t for me.
I was nervous about Lightstrike after my experience in the adidas Streetball, but after some testing overlap in the Harden Vol. 4, I’m now all in with the foam – when implemented correctly.
Maybe its because I’ve played some models by adidas that used Bounce to take court feel to a whole new level, but the Lightstrike in the Harden Vol. 4 felt leaps and bounds better than most foams I’ve experienced, despite having an extremely thin layout itself. I’m not sure what was different, but I even felt well protected against impact in the 4 while recovering from outdoor play in the Streetball – a pair that did nothing for my triple-decade knees.
If you like Bounce, this feels like an even lighter version of it while still carrying some properties of Boost. Even better – and maybe it’s just me – the cushion feels better underfoot the longer I wear. I’m talking feel good at the beginning of a session, feel great by the end of a session, then start all over the next time. Big fan of this, I am.
There looks to be two different styles of build with the Harden Vol 4. One features a lightweight mesh build with premium overlays. Meanwhile, the other features a Primeknit build with synthetic TPU overlays.
The pair I’ve been wearing uses the Primeknit build and they still look brand-new despite wearing them for the past few weeks on-court. Break-in time with most of the upper is quick and painless, but there is this section where the elastic band sits atop the midfoot that still hasn’t quite broken-in and I’m not sure if it ever will.
This elastic band is on both versions of the shoe, so keep that in mind. If you wanted something that was a bit more breathable then I’d recommend going with the mesh build with premium overlays. However, both versions will perform the same.
No nice, raw materials in this colorway. I guess there’s nothing to complain about when a pair slips through the cracks early, and honestly the Primeknit upper and synthetic overlays of the colorway tested worked extremely well for me personally.
The fuse is thin, flexible and does its job to protect the knit from high wear while the upper wraps and flexes nicely with the foot. The synthetic leather panels and heavily stitched areas that reinforce the lacing system have no negative impact on comfort. The elastic midfoot band, while tight at first, did eventually break in to a comfortable level while barely needing laces for lockdown in the area.
I’m still interested in testing the mesh and suede builds arriving, and I believe there may even be some full leather builds down the line but for now, I’m happy with performance of this Harden’s materials.
I went true to size, and have for all of the Harden models I’ve worn. The only one where I felt they fit a bit big were the Harden Vol 1.
Going TTS worked out perfectly for me and I have no real complaints about the fit other than the elastic band area. The first time I wore them I had to take them off due to foot cramps. Since that initial run it’s gotten better, but they still feel as if they’re brand-new each time I lace them up.
Lockdown I felt was very good. Much like the previous versions of the Harden Signature line. If you have a wide foot and wind up going up half a size then you may encounter some heel lockdown issues, but if the shoe fits you the way they should then you shouldn’t have any problems. There is even the external cage with alternate lacing holes just in case you need to experiment a bit to achieve the lockdown you prefer.
True to size was perfectly fine for me, but I can’t speak for wide-footers. Maybe there is some hope since I have a higher instep which didn’t take so well to the suffocating midfoot band initially but eventually found a sweet spot of comfort. I just say prepare to ask for two sizes if you get the chance to try on, because that band is seriously snug.
Midfoot lockdown is exceptionally good of course, but if I were to nitpick I’d prefer the first set of lace-loops start a little bit further towards the forefoot. Luckily movement up front was not an issue, so that is just a preference. Near flawless otherwise.
Other than the traction, the support is the one aspect of the shoe where I feel they’ve really found their groove.
From the low profile tooling, to the FYW (Feet You Wear) styled setup and the way they blend it all together. The entire shoe works in synergy with itself in all aspects. The midsole really cradles the foot, the lacing keeps you locked-in at all times. Standard features like the heel counter and torsional plate all work well.
I know low tops get a bad wrap in terms of support, which is unfortunate as some of the more supportive basketball shoes every made have been lows.
All the little things make the Harden Vol. 4 good for support. You sit low to the ground over a wide base with portions caging you in and acting as outriggers. The customizable lacing panels and elastic also help keep the foot in place always while a strong plastic counter and sculpting keeps the heel in place as well. adidas has been killing it with support for most of its signatures and team shoes, and these are no exception.
I love everything about the Harden Vol 4 except for two things. First, the cushion didn’t work well for me this time around. Second, that elastic band has really been a pain in my ass… or foot. Strangely enough as I love a nice snug/secure fit, but this thing felt like it was strangling my feet half the time.
However, despite my personal issues with those two areas, everything else really worked well. Lockdown and stability are two major wins while the traction was a huge plus. If you’ve enjoyed the last three Harden models then you’ll likely like the air force 1 as well. Wide footers may want to try them on first because the elastic band, but otherwise these will suit the needs of those looking for something lightweight, supportive and comfortable.
The Harden Vol. 4 is fast, controlled, and has been a personal joy to play in. I do think it may be a hit or miss for some, but from my personal experience it has been a top performer.
I typically prefer more of a cushioned feel over court feel, but I feel the Harden Vol. 4 gives enough of the former and even more of the latter, and that’s something I would love to see in a lot more shoes going forward. The Beard’s step-back is going to be serious in the Harden Vol. 4, but hopefully if you try then you won’t feel any steps back in the signature line. I didn’t.

adidas Streetball Performance Review

A modern take on the adidas Streetball 2, the 2019 edition looks to blur lines between lifestyle and performance, but does it truly live up to its name? Jalique is here to provide a performance review after primarily testing outdoors.
The outsole pattern of the new Streetball has rugged, almost boot-like vibes – and in terms of durability it’s a go. For actual performance, however, there was a little left to be desired in terms of traction. Often, a light slip could be felt on shiftier movements, taking away milliseconds I would have loved to at least feel I had by placebo to gain separation. On defense, I was a little more secure, probably because that’s more familiar territory for me as far as footwork – I’m certainly no Kyrie with the ball in my hands.
I’ve gotten some questions about indoor performance through our WearTesters Discord Community, so I did take the Streetball inside for practice and one indoor game. Traction didn’t feel any better inside unfortunately, it was about the same experience. My conclusion is that there is just not enough coverage throughout the shoe to give more stopping power. I think adding more herringbone where the super-thick and wide spaced chevron pattern may have added some stopping power. Not the worst, but certainly not the best, even for outdoors.
One of the main features that drew me towards the Streetball was the cushion after positive reviews of Lightstrike on the adidas N3XT L3V3L. I regret to say on the adidas Streetball I didn’t have the best first impression of it, and I now know it just isn’t the best implementation of the foam on this sneaker. While testing my pair, I was fortunate enough to acquire both the N3XT L3V3L at a steal and the Harden Vol. 4 early. Man, do I have a much better opinion of those two sneakers and their cushion.
The adidas Streetball midsole just feels dead in the forefoot, if I’m being honest. Don’t let the chunky aesthetic fool you, there is a ton of court feel up front and a lot of flex which makes for good transition, but it also feels dead as if no real protection is there. The heel feels a lot better, with a little bit of bounce back after some break in, it’s just too bad that wasn’t of much use to me while playing.
Court feel is cool and all, but when other sneakers can provide that and cushion underfoot with the same foam, and the outdoor shoe doesn’t its just difficult for me to enjoy – also, my knees haven’t felt great from the moment I finished testing the Streetball 2019 outside.
This is where things get good for the Streetball – in most colorways. In the upper you get a little bit of everything, some of which varies between colorways but doesn’t affect performance. The main highlights are the raw materials, which this shoe gets right on the money. Tumbled leather and buttery suede hits — what’s not to like about that? If you are a fan of the adidas Continental 80 and its leather, then you should be happy with this build – its soft, molds well (so long as you find the right fit), can take a little beating, and is still supportive despite being a thin cut. I dig it — a lot.
Even though the neoprene is an actual tongue connected to the footbed by elastic bands, it gives off even more of a 90’s vibe like sneakers of the time with internal sleeves. For all the materials that some will not find any excitement in, they are applied in moderation and/or strategically placed, such as the rubber piece sitting on the suede overlay near the pinky toe. A good mix of fashion and function, materials are good in the adidas Streetball, just stay away from the Flash Orange colorway – the quality of those just doesn’t compare to the rest.
Two colorways have been available for some time through adidas online, but I thought it was best to wait until now when more colorways have gotten a wider release and hopefully on shelves for everyone to try on first. As a slightly narrow footer, ideally I could have gone a half size down as the shoe ran a little wide and long, but I know of some others that feel perfectly fine going true to size.
Lockdown could’ve been better, but wasn’t terrible. More lace holders could have improved it, but at the same time it was nice to do a quick yank to tighten up all the way through the lacing system. However, the round laces were a little annoying as they come undone easily, even when double knotting.
Overall, fit is a little too much of a guessing game when ordering online. True to size in the shoe may work well for a broader spectrum of folks, but I strongly encourage everyone to judge for themselves in store, if possible. For me personally, a half size down would have given a little more security, not that I was at much risk in my true size.
You don’t get all of the standard support features in the adidas Harden vol 4, but for what you do get, it is adequate. Under foot, I can’t feel any torsional plate or bar under foot, but the midsole damn sure doesn’t budge when you try to bend it, so there shouldn’t be issues in that area. Speaking of the midsole, it does cup the foot just slightly most of the way around and the outsole uses exaggerated pieces at each side of the heel to stabilize it along with the rubber/suede overlays in the forefoot, which also laterally contain you a bit.
I don’t feel a real heel cup either, but was saved from any side movement at the heel somehow. Normal heel slip did occur, but few and far in between. While it wasn’t enough to concern me, some may not feel comfortable with that at all, so you’ve been warned. Otherwise, I felt perfectly fine moving around with the few support features given, despite not having the best fit and traction.
When asked before, I’ve said I think the adidas Streetball meets minimum requirements to hoop in. After owning for over a month I somewhat stand by that, I would just revise by saying the shoe has just enough performance aspects to hoop in. Despite its confusing nature as an adidas Original branded model, the company has openly showcased the sneaker as one you should not be afraid to play in. I didn’t mind playing in it, buy I do find it to be more lifestyle-driven than performance-oriented.
Don’t get me wrong, if you find the right fit, don’t mind minimal cushion over asphalt, and like the looks of the adidas Streetball, then this could be an option. For me, I just expected a little more for outdoors – as did my aging legs.
I wouldn’t call this a go-to outdoor option but I will say if I am wearing the Streetball — which has grown on me casually with that chunky Yeezy look — and I get put on the spot to play a game or two outside, I don’t feel like I have much of an excuse shoe-wise to not try and get some buckets. If that doesn’t happen though, then I’m perfectly fine to continue rocking these at leisure — the adidas Streetball is still one of my favorite pickups this year.