Nike Zoom Rize 2 Performance Review

 The Nike Zoom Rize 2 is a follow up to one of 2019’s top performing basketball sneakers, the Nike Zoom Rize. Our test of the Zoom Rize 2 spanned two pairs and months of testing including several pandemic-induced stops and starts.

Needless to say, we’re happy to finally get this review posted. Enjoy this (very complete) performance review and let us know on Twitter if you have any follow up questions.

Traction

Nike Kobe 9 inspired outsole pattern?! I didn’t play in the lebron 18. But I know that when Nike name drops what is regarded as one of the best performing outsoles ever in the product description, it better be great.

I’m not sure the Nike Zoom Rize 2 traction is all-time great. But it was great for me during testing in both regular solid rubber and XDR rubber versions. And it was good on a mix of surfaces both indoors and outdoors. The mostly radial, partial foot map pattern covers you on movements in every-which-way. It also provides the same tread depth and spacing that made the original Zoom Rize a great option.

If outdoor play is your only option, I would recommend opting for the XDR outsole for durability purposes. However, I found the standard rubber to be the better performing option on both inside and outside surfaces. It will fray much more than the XDR, but if I’m being honest, the standard solid rubber’s durability is solid.

Cushion

This is where the Zoom Rize 2 gets interesting. For one, the forefoot Zoom Air bag improved from an already hefty 10mm thickness. On the other hand, the unit doesn’t provide the same amount of coverage. It’s essentially a large volume heel unit (think Air Jordan 35 or Nike Kobe 10) transferred to the medial side.

Despite the smaller amount of space covered, the forefoot Zoom feels bouncy and highly effective, especially for more explosive movements. The position of the Zoom bag is key. It’s decoupled from the heel section of the midsole and placed directly behind a deep outsole flex groove. What this does is provide points of extra compression on both ends. The extra compression distributes the air smoothly and enhances the snappy, springy feeling so many of us love about Zoom.

We still don’t know the foam used in the Zoom Rize series. But in the second iteration, the heel and carrier portions of the midsole feel just as good as the first. Maybe even a bit springier. Court feel aside, you are getting just about everything you could ask for from a cushion standpoint.

Materials

The Zoom Rize 2 sheds some of the weight and bulk from the original Zoom Rize by using a thinner textile base. The textile base is topped with haptic print detailing. This textured detailing is somewhat similar to what was introduced on the Nike Kobe 6. However, the “islands” are much smaller. The pattern crosses the entire lateral side and toe of the shoe, but not the medial sections. The print may protect the rest of the upper a bit, but I see it as more fashion than function. Performance-aside, I’m happy it’s there.

It’s funny, because materials may be the biggest improvement over the first iteration simply by doing less. As mentioned, excess materials were shed for a more form-fitting, decently-supportive, minimal-to-no-break-in set up. Overall, I just enjoyed the upper and suspect many others will as well.

Fit

I bought two sizes. I bought my true size in one. In the other, I bought an EP (Enhanced Performance) version (with XDR outsole) from Asia in a half size down. Though the half size down is the EP version, I don’t believe it was built on a different last. It seems more narrow than other EP and PF (Performance Fit) shoes I have. That’s just something to note in case you’re in the US and don’t want to buy via Nike By You.

Initially, both pairs seemed to fit similarly, so true size and a half size down are both playable for me. However, I prefer the fit of a half size down as they’re just a touch closer to the foot. This felt more secure as the materials do stretch just a bit over time.

Wide footers, you may want to consider half size up on this one. Although the materials shouldn’t be much of a problem for comfort, it’s a narrow shoe overall.

Support

This is what everyone is wondering or already made assumptions about. That Zoom sits HIGH in the forefoot, but is it unstable? Not in my opinion, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. I’d prefer the base to be a little bit wider. But if Nike did that, it would add extra weight. And that would just give some people a different thing to complain about.

Fortunately, I didn’t have any issue or even a scare when it comes to rolling over the footbed. I attribute it to the strength of the lateral TPU support piece that cages the forefoot Zoom. It also extends to the arch to provide torsional support across the decoupled tooling. For comparison, this plastic is much stronger than the plastic that cages the smaller Zoom bag of the Nike Zoom BB NXT. Although there isn’t a true outrigger, it still does a good job of not buckling under pressure.

The heel support works by way of an internal counter as well. But going back to the midsole height, I just want to be clear on a few things. I am not trying to sell anyone on this being a stable shoe. I’m admittedly not exactly what you would call shifty on-court. But when it comes to putting effort into defensive movements, side-steps into shots, and hard plants for off-ball change of direction, I felt secure in the Nike Zoom Rize 2.

Overall

The Nike Zoom Rize 2 is my personal favorite shoe to play in during this pandemic. Everyone that enjoyed the first Zoom Rize, will likely enjoy the Zoom Rize 2 just as much, if not more. The overall and surprisingly lighter weight of the shoe will make some feel faster and more explosive. On the other hand, the narrower base and higher midsole height will worry some people.

Chris’s experience in the Jordan Why Not Zer0.2 comes to mind. It almost seems like a combination of that shoe and the Nike Zoom Rize, but with less bulk.

If you are unfamiliar with either of those shoes, I’ll leave you with this. The Nike Zoom Rize 2 has all the necessary features to be enjoyed by bigger post players like Marc Gasol or Nikola Jokic while also appealing to faster, downhill type guards like Russell Westbrook. That may not cover everyone’s preferences, but it’s a wide spectrum, nonetheless.

 The Nike LeBron Ambassador series is a consistently solid basketball shoe that releases yearly in Asia. Generally made for outdoors play, but with a build that can work extremely well indoors, the shoe is in its 13th year. Does the Nike LeBron Ambassador 13 reign supreme or will this iteration be an afterthought?

Traction

Have you ever heard fingernails scratching on a chalkboard? Or watched the cars drift in a Fast and the Furious movie? That’s the best way to describe the traction of the Nike LeBron Ambassador 13. Wholly balls this thing bites. Stop on a dime good. Going 0-60 and stopping in less than a second good. No matter the lateral cuts you make, quick switches on defense, hard plants, or triple-threat jab steps, the shoe just clamps onto the floor as if its life depended on it. The traction might have overtaken the Lebron Ambassador 9 as my favorite traction of this line.

Cushion

Get your tissue boxes ready, because this news is like taking an L on nike kyrie 7. Nike took out the forefoot Zoom Air. Let me reiterate. My knees take an L every time I have to wear these on court. While there is a large heel Zoom Air bag, the lack of forefoot cushioning really killed me. Not literally, but my knees need some serious WD40 after this. I’m not saying the shoe didn’t work, It just doesn’t fit the mold of what’s necessary for a shoe built for outdoor courts.

Someone at Nike Basketball team decided it wasn’t necessary to have forefoot Zoom Air. Instead they relied on the low to the ground ride to make the shoe lighter and faster. While I don’t disagree with their idea…actually, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY disagree with the idea. The forefoot Zoom has been a staple of the shoes in the Ambassador line since the beginning (which featured forefoot Zoom Air and heel Air Max). Why would Nike take out something that’s been working so well? Something that’s been even better than the Soldier Line on occasion and even giving the signature line a run for its money in some instances?

It seems to be a cost-cutting move that doesn’t include the shoe’s primary use case in the equation. I’ve tested Asia exclusive models for years now. The feedback I get is that about 90%+ of the Asian market plays outdoors and needs good impact protection. And, now, that same 90%+ of the market is pissed, including your boy. Nike owes me a pair of good knees. Please, for all the LeBron Ambassador line fans, bring back both the large volume forefoot/heel Zoom setup and the soft Phylon midsole from the Ambassador 8 and 9. Then, we’ll forgive you.

Materials

Since this is an alternate to the signature model, the materials have never really stood out. The simple mesh upper, strategically placed fuse, XDR solid rubber outsole, phylon midsole, and a large volume heel Zoom Air unit make up the shoe. The material combo works. It just needs the forefoot Zoom bag back. Are you tired of me talking about it yet? That’s how much it affected me.

Fit

For the first time, the shoe itself fit a little snug, even after I relaced the shoe. However, after a game or two, the shoe fits like a glove. I mean that in the most modest way possible. While overseas basketball shoes are generally built on a wider last, this shoe seems to have been adjusted a bit. My slightly wide foot struggled for the first 10 minutes. But after some heat built up in the shoe, it molded around my foot quite nicely and got better with time.

Support

Oh boy, here he goes again. Yup, I said what I said and I stand by it. I want my ****** forefoot Zoom Air back! Okay, besides that, the support is adequate. It doesn’t overdeliver, but the Ambassador line was always built on a no frills platform. The Nike LeBron Ambassador 13 sticks to the same script.

Overall

The LeBron Ambassador line has always been quite solid and continues to be (with the exception of the forefoot Zoom Air removal). The Nike LeBron Ambassador 13 is light, strategic, and just darn good (with the one issue). The wider base of the shoe allowed me to plant my feet without hesitation and jolted my confidence in the solid XDR rubber outsole and the pattern. The upper molded to my foot and I almost felt like I didn’t have the shoe tied on.

But again, it only takes one thing to break my confidence and that is the lack of proper cushioning. LeBron James himself is 6’8” 240+ pounds of championship muscle. His signature line has a full length Zoom Air strobel along with a heel Air Max unit. Previous Ambassador models had enough cushion to work for those who play on the blacktop. For the money I and others paid for them, we deserve forefoot Zoom Air.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the air jordan 35 minus the forefoot cushioning. Will the Nike basketball team be able to rebound from this hiccup? Time will tell, but I speak for myself, the Asia basketball community, and the LeBron Ambassador fans: please don’t take away what has worked so well. We want to continue to love the Ambassador line as much as have to this point.

Nike LeBron 18 Performance Review

 18 years of performance basketball shoes built for the most explosive basketball player ever (EVER!!!). LeBron James’ Nike line is typically the flagship for Nike basketball technologies and the Nike LeBron 18 carries on the tradition.

The shoe already has a place in history. LeBron won his fourth title overall and first with the Los Angeles Lakers while wearing them in 2020’s NBA Bubble. But despite the hype, the question remains, is the LeBron 18 a great performing basketball shoe? Let’s find out.

Traction

Chris: The traction was very consistent during my time in the Nike LeBron 18. Indoors, it worked wonders. I love the flex grooves as it allowed the rubber to remain in contact with the floor at all times.

Outdoors, they’ve held their own as well. Not extremely durable, but effective nonetheless.

Bryan: No herringbone, but all of the herringbone angles are there, at least in the forefoot where they’re needed. The traction doesn’t have an extremely hard bite, especially on lateral movements. But to be honest, I never had issues unless the court was just absolute trash. I felt like I was slipping slightly when coming around curls and screens but realized it was more of the midsole compressing than the traction slipping.

One thing that helps keep the foot on the floor are the large flex grooves cut under the ball of the foot and then down the center of the forefoot from the top of the toebox to the ball of the foot. The same concept was used on the Nike LeBron 17 by splitting the Zoom Air in the forefoot but it allowed the shoe to lose floor contact. No such problem with the LeBron 18.

The heel reminds me of the Nike Zoom Flight 5 and Nike Zoom 2K3 with the nub pattern. Again, I had no issues at all with the heel. The large concave area in the heel works almost like a suction cup, offering an extra grab on the floor.

Outdoors? If the surface isn’t extremely rough and you can rotate with another pair you’ll probably be ok. The rubber is thick but the pattern is soft so you will burn through it fairly quick.

Stan: Solid. Unfortunately, I was only able to test the LeBron 18 outdoors due to the pandemic. And safe to say, these are completely blacktop friendly. I was able to really clamp down on the ground while in a defensive stance as well as maneuver myself out of a triple-threat position into a quick jab without worrying about sliding. No matter what type of cuts I made, the rubber traction held me down. It doesn’t stand out too much, it just works.

Drew: The guys nailed it. The LeBron 18’s traction worked well in all directions and I didn’t have any issues stopping or with lateral movements.

Cushion

Chris: Three layers of cushioning makes the Nike LeBron 18 one of the most cushioned shoes of 2020.

A Cushlon midsole surrounds a rear Air Max unit and a full length Zoom Strobel. Sometimes having this much cushion could end up being too soft which can create some lag time with your movements. However, the mix of cushioning systems worked well without much delay.

While they were comfortable indoors, outdoors is where the cushion shines. Impact protection is on another level. If you’re a player that wants to have as much cushion as possible then this is currently your best bet.

Bryan: By now you know the specs – Air Max in the heel, full length Zoom Air unit embedded in that heel Air Max and under the forefoot, and a Cushlon foam carrier. To be real, when I first played in them, it was almost too much. Seriously. How much cushion can you put in a shoe? However, after that first three game night, I was hooked. I played on a rubber “looks like wood” rec center floor and normally three games there kills my joints. The Lebron 18 got me through back to back nights of 4-5 games each and my legs still felt great.

I didn’t feel that Zoom “spring” like on the Air Jordan 35 or the Unlocked Zoom models (Air Jordan 28 being the first example). To me, the feeling was more like the LeBron 12 with the Lunar/Zoom insert, soft but not mushy and pillowy.

Court feel is an issue if you prefer Harden Vol 4 type feel. The LeBron 18 rides lower than the LeBron 17 but if you love court feel, the LeBron line is not for you. The only issue I had was on occasion when I turned on my heel into a jumper or landed off-center and the bubble compressed on the edges. That said, for straight-ahead play and defense, this is the new standard of basketball cushioning.

Stan: A good combination of speed and power. The best of both worlds. My knees appreciated the amount of impact cushioning the Nike LeBron 18 provided. No matter how heavy-footed my landings, the bounce-back was nearly as immediate as I needed so I could get out in transition. Those who aren’t as heavy-footed might not feel the compression as much, but that doesn’t mean it’s not working. The amount of feedback is ample for anyone who plays a hybrid power and speed game. No complaints here.

Drew: The LeBron 18 surpassed the LeBron 10 and LeBron 16 as my favorite cushioning on a LeBron model. I get a nice pop on every footstep. And the harder the surface of the court, the better the pop. This shoe will save ankles, knees, and back on outdoor courts while indoor courts are closed during the pandemic. The LeBron 18 made my legs feel younger and bouncier. This kind of “turn back time” type of cushioning is worth every penny.

Materials

Chris: Knitposite 2.0 is in place and feels like a thick knit, sort of like Nike’s Battleknit from the LeBron 15, but with a lot of glue sprayed onto it. The Knitposite 2.0 has a rubbery feel, but that makes it so there isn’t much stretch while also requiring little to no break-in time.

The toe areas have been fraying a bit, so the material isn’t perfect. But it’s about as durable a knit I’ve worn thus far.

Bryan: I know. It gets confusing keeping up with all of the different names for the Nike knits. If “knit” wasn’t in the name, though, you couldn’t tell. There is no stretch at all, the knit is so plasticized and glued it feels almost sticky in hand. Someone online compared it to a candle wick.

Don’t get me wrong, it flexes just fine and is comfortable on foot. Knitposite 2.0  just doesn’t feel like the Battleknit from LeBron 15 or even the forefoot Knitposite from the 17. The heel cup is a rubberized affair that wraps into and under the heel. The tongue is just…wow (not a good wow). ln my Reflections colorway it’s plastic fuse and it’s HOT. So hot, in fact, the worthless Air bubbles fogged over every time I played in them. Nothing affected the performance, but the tongue is usually a point of ventilation, except on the LeBron 18.

Stan: The updated tongue features three translucent air-like pods that mimic Nike Air. However, they have no function. In fact, the area between the airbag-like features where I tie my shoe, especially towards the top of the midfoot area, created some discomfort and pinching. It was quite uncomfortable. I had to loosen that area up just a tad on my right shoe. Luckily, I didn’t feel it as much in the left shoe.

The additional downside of the material is directly associated with the tongue itself. The tongue seemed to be made of a hard TPU plastic that causes chafing if you wear low cut socks. The issue was lessened when wearing thicker performance-based socks such as stri. Rumor has it the design and materials team knows this is an issue so hopefully we’ll see some changes and modifications on future colorways.

Drew: The tongue in my Lakers colorway is synthetic suede. While it didn’t chafe as bad as those with the Reflections colorway, it still bugs. The built in air bubbles make the tongue flex weird and it doesn’t really settle down until you lace all the way up. Luckily, the gusseted tongue doesn’t slide side to side. The LeBron 18 is begging for a LeBron 10 style tongue that would better match the nylon heel material.

Except for the tongue, all the other materials feel like high end synthetics worthy of a high end signature shoe.

Fit

Chris: The Nike LeBron 18 fits true to size. Lockdown is solid from a linear standpoint. Laterally, however, it could use some work.

The outrigger section of the shoe is a bit tippy on hard stops and quick starts. The more force and torque put on the forefoot really shows the fault with the wearer not sitting inside the midsole a bit, and how important an outrigger is. Implement those two changes and I’d be more comfortable with the shoe on a regular basis rather than grabbing them on days I’m feeling slow.

Tightening up the laces does help a little, but that also creates another issue with the cheap plastic tongue they used. It ends up digging into the top of my foot which makes me reluctant to wear them more often.

Bryan: The fit is definitely interesting. I bought a size 11 because I got lucky in this colorway at a Nike store. I’m normally a 10.5, so it worried me a bit. The length was a little more than I normally like, but the way the toebox dips down at the tip felt great. I tried on a true to size 10.5 in the Lakers colorway and honestly, I liked the fit of the size 11 better. The width hugs my foot perfectly and the lacing system really brings in the upper around the foot. The midfoot locks in with the cord/flywire lacing system. It’s nothing fancy but it does the job.

The lacing system also does a good job of pulling the heel into the cup, where thick padding wraps around the ankle/heel and stops any heel slip. Compared to the last 3 models, the LeBron 18 is the leader in lockdown and fit.

Stan: I’m a slightly wider foot as most of you already know. The LeBron 18 started off a little snug. However, true to size is the way to go. I have almost a thumbs-width worth of room in the front, which is the way I prefer it. The achilles notches in the interior really hug the back of your heel when the shoe is laced up. Again, I had a minor issue in my right shoe, where I had to loosen the lacing along the midfoot a tad to alleviate pinching, but the rest of the fit was solid.

Drew: I went true to size and it was the right decision. My foot had the right amount of room at the toe and I didn’t experience any sliding despite the knit upper. The huge achilles pillow enveloped my heel and kept it planted in the back of the shoe. And I didn’t experience any hotspots when lacing up tight. The LeBron 18 fits my foot almost perfectly.

Support

Chris: Heel support and containment are awesome. The forefoot, as stated in the fit section, could be tweaked. Sitting within the midsole will help a lot with ensuring you remain on the footbed while making lateral movements. An outrigger will also help avoid the roll over that you can experience as well.

Bryan: What would a LeBron model be without great support (minus the 15)? When your namesake is 6’9”  and 275, support is super important. The support is based on the shoe construction. Lowering the midsole by a couple millimeters gives the forefoot a more stable feel. The knit around the forefoot and midfoot has almost zero stretch and really locks the foot in. The wide base under the foot and the siderails is a little bit higher than the midsole to keep your foot on the footbed without feeling completely restrictive. The LeBron 18 also has a more pronounced arch than the previous three models. If you’re a flatfooter, you definitely want to try them on first.

The rubberized heel cup feels like it would be too soft to really help but the internal construction layered within the cup keeps your ankles straight and your feet happy. The LeBron 18 is a solid, stable shoe that doesn’t feel like it.

Stan: The Nike LeBron 18 started off a little snug, however, due to the materials itself, after a little break in time, the shoe really contoured to my slightly wide-feet and felt fine. I felt locked in when running full steam forward and backwards on the court. I was slightly concerned about lateral movements as I felt the knitposite really stretching and the flywire reinforcement getting put to the test. If the outsole had an outrigger, it would probably lesson the issue. Overall, not great, but not bad at all bad.

Drew: I felt like I sat inside the midsole at the ball of the foot and the toe. It kept me in place. I’m not particularly fast these days, but I was able to execute all my go to moves on court. Lateral movements while playing defense also felt secure. I didn’t experience tipping or instability.

The big pliable heel counter does a great job of assisting in lockdown. I got a nice one to one fit that made the shoe feel like an extension of my foot. An extension of my foot with otherworldly cushioning that is.

Overall

Chris: Overall, the Nike LeBron 18 is almost a beast. Are they bad boys? Yes, the cushion is simply amazing. Traction was solid too. Again, the days I’m not feeling at my best physically are the days I go for the LeBron 18. However, the lateral instability stops me from dubbing them a complete performance beast. They’re very close to being back to that LeBron 8 level of performance so I’m excited to see what the LeBron 19 will offer.

Bryan: When you buy a LeBron shoe, you know what to expect – max cushioning, stability, and weight/bulk. Come on, it’s LeBron. He’s a beast on court that deserves a beast on foot. If you’re a bigger player who needs cushioning, or enjoy the feel of max cushion and don’t care about court feel, or are older like me and with little quickness left you but your knees are still willing and able, you definitely need to check out the LeBron 18. There’s no hurry to spend your $200 (plenty of the colorways will hit sale racks), but if you do, you’re getting the best cushioning on the market.

Stan: The LeBron 18 is heavy but plays light. Nike’s weartesters overlooked or really missed some basic stuff. And I say that as a former Nike weartester. I know what I’m talking about). We’re on the 18th LeBron model and some of these things shouldn’t be overlooked. However, with the change in the upper’s materials and the new cushion setup, we’ve really come a long way since the Air Zoom Generation and even the LeBron 7. I’m absolutely stoked about where Jason Petrie, Tim Day, and the rest of the team at Nike Basketball will take the line. Here’s to the next one.

Drew: The Nike LeBron 18 is my favorite basketball shoe of 2020. The cushioning is amazing, the comfort and lockdown were great, and I’m not fast enough to notice any support issues. The only issue for me was the stiff, annoying tongue. Fix that in a future colorway and I’ll buy another pair. The shoe’s bounce makes me feel younger and justifies the $200 price tag. Dropping $200 is never easy, but with something this comfortable, your ankle, knees, and back will thank you later.

Freetrain V1 Vest Performance Review

Hate running with your phone in your pocket, in your hand, or in an arm band? I do. I usually run with just a watch and forgo music for comfort. The Freetrain V1 Vest is a potential solution. It puts your phone at the center of your chest in a secure position and features a clasp mechanism for easy access. Sounds intriguing right? Definitely. Now let’s test it in real world conditions.
To test the jordan debut Vest I used it across multiple sports and activities. I also used it in various weather conditions and with different clothing. My tests were designed to approximate what daily use would look like for most people. Throughout the testing process, I noted the positives and negatives of the vest. I’ve organized them here to help you determine if the V1 Vest will work for you.

Pros

• Phone access. The ingenious chest-mounted flip-down phone case is the star. It’s easy to get a quick look at your phone whether you want to see your route, music, or a text message from Mom (Hi Mom!). I can’t express how much of an upgrade this is from traditional arm bands and waist bands. It’s the number one reason to buy a V1 Vest.
• Weight. Because of how you wear the vest, your phone and the vest itself are easily carried by your shoulders. The vest, at 6 ounces, is very lightweight. For reference, that’s lighter than any iPhone 11 model. I’ve never carried my phone in a better location. I hardly even noticed it was there while running or playing sports. And that’s the best compliment I can give to any phone holder.
• Great for sports. This is the only phone holder that I can basically forget about while shooting a basketball. Whether it’s basketball, soccer, rowing, disc golf, or any other sport that involves using your arms and legs at the same time, the V1 Vest just gets out of the way and lets you get to work.
• 3M. The V1 Vest’s 3M hits on the front and back are great for visibility during night running. Freetrain also offers the VR Vest with full Nike Kobe 6 Protro . It’s sold out now but I’m hoping to try it soon. It looks perfect for multiday relay races like Ragnar and Hood to Coast.
• Zip pocket. The pocket on the left shoulder is a vertical zipper pocket that can fit keys or an energy gel. It looks small but once you get your stuff in there it’s not moving.
• Quick dry. The neoprene-like material that makes up the entire vest dries quickly. This is absolutely necessary if you run or train daily.
• Cable management. While I don’t recommend running with cabled headphones (bluetooth earbuds will make your life 100x better) the Freetrain V1 Vest does have some hidden slots added to keep your cables out of the way. I have no idea how well they work (I’m 100% bluetooth now) but it’s a nice touch.

Cons

• Accidental button presses. After I removed my phone mid run to take some pictures and videos (my job requires it lol), I had to endure random pauses of my podcast and my phone getting locked due to too many login attempts. I’m 98% sure this was because I took out the phone and let water get inside the sleeve. I imagine there’s a lot of people who will do the same at some point during their training. If it’s cold, you probably won’t have a problem. But if you do it during sweaty summer runs, be prepared.
• Phone pics and video. Removing the phone midrun has consequences. And based on some of the V1 reviews, it’s hard to remove your phone if you have a bulky case. End result, taking pictures and videos during a run or training session is difficult. If you don’t take a lot of pictures/videos while training, it won’t bug you. But for those who do, I hope Freetrain’s next vest allows the smartphone camera to take pics while still ensconced in the protective sleeve. It seems like something that will be necessary when selling to today’s photo-posting, social media savvy athletes.
• Chest..ahem…accentuation. Depending on your body type and the shirts you use, the design of the vest can make your chest look weird. For some men, it results in manboobs. For some women, not wearing a super tight or supportive sports bra underneath causes some weird cleavage situations. A lot of this depends on your height and chest size. It’s difficult to predict if you’ll have an issue. Just be aware it’s a possibility.
• Sizing. Taller people (like myself) end up wishing the vest was built just a little deeper. The bottom elastic straps align more with my chest than my rib cage. I wasn’t uncomfortable, but the V1 Vest didn’t fit the optimum way. Freetrain is still a fairly new company so I would expect them to eventually offer more fit options. As it is, I think the vest will work for anyone 5’0” to 6’6” with varying degrees of comfort. That’s hard to do with one piece of equipment so I have to commend Freetrain for the versatility of their vest.
• Velcro pocket. The pocket on the right shoulder is not very functional. It’s opening is tiny due to being too far up the shoulder strap where it gets really thin. It’s hard to put anything in there. Keys, gels, and credit cards don’t fit. Freetrain needs to rethink this pocket.
• Storage. Freetrain made the V1 minimal. You get your phone pocket and one usable zip pocket. This is perfect for training on a field or court but needs more to cater to road and trail runners. Most runners need room for the phone, 2 gels, keys, a card or two, and water. I would love to see Freetrain create a deluxe vest for long distance and trail runners.
• Handwash. I put this here because I know it annoys people. The V1 Vest should be hand washed with warm water and mild detergent. Ideally, you’d be able to use a washer and then air dry the vest but that won’t work with these materials. This isn’t a huge drawback for me but your opinion may vary.

Overall

I said it in the intro and I’ll say it again. If you don’t like carrying a phone, wearing it on your arm, in a waist band, or in your pocket, the Freetrain V1 Vest is going to be the best solution for you. The V1 Vest has some flaws but it’s lightweight, easy to forget you’re wearing it, and provides the best phone access of any solution. At $40, it’s priced about the same as most armbands and waistbands. If you’re still looking for the perfect phone holder for training and running, the Freetrain V1 Vest deserves strong consideration.

adidas 4D Run 1.0 Performance Review

The adidas 4D Run 1.0 takes the elastomeric polyurethane 3D-printed midsole that adidas created with Carbon, a Silicon Valley based tech company, and applies it to an everyday running shoe. Since its initial introduction in 2017, adidas’ 4D midsole technology has decreased in price. The 4D Run 1.0 is priced at $200. It’s still pricey, but much better than the $300-400 price tag of earlier 4D models. Now that it’s affordable, let’s find out how it performs.

Cushion

The main draw of the adidas 4D Run 1.0 is the 3D-printed lattice pattern midsole. It looks amazing and feels soft to the touch. But it doesn’t compress enough on foot strikes. The adidas 4D midsole feels a lot like standard EVA. For impact protection, I prefer adidas’ Lightstrike, Boost, or Bounce.
So while the 4D concept is super cool, the base material isn’t soft enough or elastic enough to compete with today’s top of the line cushioning. I’d recommend using the 4D Run 1.0 for running shorter distances, working out, and cross training. Adidas needs to make the 4D midsole softer before I’m comfortable recommending it for running longer distances.

Traction

The traction is lattice-patterned to match the look of the midsole. I didn’t get any rainy days while training in the 4D Run 1.0 but the traction bit the pavement and asphalt well. The outsole rubber is on the softer side but I’m not seeing much wear on my pair. I’d expect average durability if you’re running in these regularly.

Support

The support starts at the heel where adidas gives us both an internal heel counter and external heel clip. The heel area feels secure with no side to side movement. It’s not necessary, but the heel also features a fuse overlay. The toes also have fuse overlays and a foam sidewall built-in to the upper. The fuse and the foam sidewall serve two purposes, helping the toe of the shoe retain its shape and preventing the foot from sliding off the footbed.
Honestly, it’s already more support than a running shoe needs. But kd 13 isn’t done yet. The midsole flares outward to act as an outrigger all the way around the foot. On top of a 360° outrigger, the midsole material doesn’t compress too much so you stay in place. It’s a really stable platform that won’t roll over. It all adds up to one of the most supportive running shoes on the market.

Materials

The upper is made of a dual layer mesh with average breathability. Comfort is added with tons of padding at the heel and a squishy tongue that’s not too thick or too thin. As I previously mentioned, there are fuse overlays for structure, the logo, and the lace loops. There’s also 3M touches (depending on your colorway). Adidas also threw in some high quality laces. At $200, I expected more high end materials. But the materials adidas did use are comfortable so I can’t complain too much.

Fit

The 4D Run 1.0 fits like a traditional running shoe. Lengthwise, it feels just a touch shorter than the adidas Ultraboost 19 or adidas Ultraboost 20. I went true to size. Go with your preferred adidas size. Preferred adidas sizing will also work for wide footers as there’s plenty of width. The upper’s fit provides all day comfort for casual wear while working or walking around. It’s very comfortable for a non-knit sneaker.

Overall

The adidas 4D Run 1.0 is a little too heavy and the cushion too stiff to use as your daily running shoe. But it’s a very comfortable and supportive shoe. You can use it for light running, lifting weights, and cross training. And the 4D Run 1.0 is an awesome, attention-getting casual shoe that gets people talking about the 3D-printed midsole. It’s value will depend on how you plan to use it. If your intended usage mirrors my recommendations, you’ll enjoy the 4D Run 1.0.

Adidas SL20 Performance Review

The adidas SL20 is one of the first running shoes to feature adidas’ new Lightstrike cushioning. We’ve been waiting for Lightstrike to come to running shoes since it’s debut last year in the adidas N3XT L3V3L basketball shoe. Lightstrike is lightweight while also providing a nice well-balanced ride. Does it work for running? Let’s find out…

Cushion

Drew: I really like Lightstrike for running. I like it enough that I wore the adidas Ultra in a recent 10k race. At around 8 ounces, it’s just light enough to use as a race day shoe (though probably not if you’re an elite runner).
The Lightstrike is actually light enough that the majority of the SL20’s weight comes from the upper. Most shoes are bottom heavy so having this one be reversed feels great. It makes your brain believe you don’t have much on your feet. Mentally, that’s great during speed workouts and on race days. I constantly found myself reaching for the SL20 before speed workouts.
The impact protection is also top notch. There’s only 14mm of Lightstrike in the forefoot but I never felt too much ground impact. Because there’s so little foam, I also expected the foam to bottom out on long runs or after I put a bunch of miles on the shoes. But here I am with 65+ miles in the shoes, having done a couple 10+ mile runs in them, and they still feel great.
Again, Lightstrike is great for running. I’m convinced adidas is just scratching the surface of what’s possible with a Lightstrike-based running shoe. The fact that the first iteration is so good is a great sign of things to come.
Jodi: Being married to Chris, I’ve heard tons of great things about Lightstrike in the basketball world, so I was pretty excited to see what it was all about. I’m actually surprised it didn’t hit the running world first since in a lot of ways, us runners are guinea pigs. I have to say, the cushion system lives up to the hype. It’s flexible, bouncy, and light. And has great impact protection. Every time I ran in these I felt like a sprinter, super quick. And my mile splits for those days reflected the feeling. Placebo effect? Maybe. But I’m not complaining about it.

Traction

Drew: Continental rubber is adidas’ go-to rubber compound and they’ve used it to great effect on the SL20. It rained the night before my recent 10k and the entire course was still wet when we toed the line at 7am. After the race, I heard several people complain that the roads felt slippery and that they couldn’t get great traction. I had to think about why they would have problems because I didn’t even notice the moisture. The SL20’s outsole gripped just like a normal day despite the wet conditions.
It wasn’t a surprise because while training in the SL20 I ran in rainstorms and several other iffy conditions and never had a problem with the traction. It’s one of those shoes where you don’t even have to think about your footing because every footfall is secure.
Jodi: Continental rubber is my jam, so I’m always happy when adidas uses it on its runners. I think the way they incorporate it with the stretch web pattern not only helps for great grip on the roads but also helps with whatever cushion system is being used. It’s just another great flexible layer to keep all your joints happy.

Support

Drew: The support is solid enough to compete with most everyday trainers. Adidas included their standard Y-shaped Torsional plate at the midfoot, went with a fairly beefy heel counter that extends beyond the heel on both the medial and lateral sides of the foot. The SL20 uses a fuse overlay along the bottom third of the shoe that starts at the heel and extends all the way to the forefoot on both sides of the upper. It does the job of really keeping you on the footbed. Then the ball of the foot also sits ever so slightly inside the Lightstrike midsole to help prevent rollovers. Finally, the midsole flares out a bit on both sides of the forefoot to provide a wider base for pushing off.
It’s a full package of support despite the lightweight nature of the shoe. I feel adidas went above and beyond what it’s expected from an everyday trainer in this weight class.
Jodi: As Drew has already stated, adidas really went all out making sure it would be next to impossible to not feel supported by the SL20. The heel cup is super rigid and extended along both sides of your foot. Then up top they gave you plenty of padding that wraps all the way around to the where the collar meets your ankle. And you can see your midsole peeking way out when you’re standing in them. You would have to land pretty awkwardly for your ankle to roll in these guys.

Materials

Drew: The SL20 features a typical mesh upper with fuse overlays. The tongue is a thin, stretchier mesh that is sewn to the upper. The laces are fairly typical and the insole is extremely thin and doesn’t really help the step-in comfort at all. So while the materials are pretty blah, they do the job, and allow adidas to keep the SL20 at the $120 price point. I like the trade offs they made because the price is a huge selling point of this shoe.
Jodi: There is absolutely no stretch in the materials, not even anywhere on the tongue, which is also attached to the upper. And because of those two things, I really gotta talk about the fit.

Fit

Drew: The adidas SL20 fits true to size. Some narrow footers may notice some puffiness in the toe box when they lace the shoe up tight. This is a result of the way adidas sewed the tongue to the upper. The tongue/upper combo could have been executed better but in practice the excess toe box material didn’t annoy me or get in the way. This is where using a flexible mesh helps hide the issue. The thin tongue could also fold up a little while putting the shoe on but the pull tab helps sort that out.
It’s not a perfect upper but it gets the job done and let’s the real star of the shoe, the Lightstrike cushioning, shine.
Jodi: Just in case anyone is new to my running reviews, I’m a wide footer. So if you are also a wide footer you’re going to want to stay tuned. As fantastic as this shoe was in the cushion department I struggled greatly with how the shoe fit. I feel like the length was half a size too long, but I could not have gone down a half size because there was no stretch in the upper and the shoe fit me really snug. Also, the tongue that was attached to the upper would somehow fold on itself always on my left foot and it would run between the bones on top of my foot. So I’d have to work at getting that shoe on just right almost every time I’d be getting ready to get out the door. It’s still a great shoe despite those things, definitely not a deal breaker for me. But they are used now for runs that I know will be under 45 minutes. Anything over that and I know I’m going to be feeling uncomfortable pretty quickly.

Overall

Drew: The adidas SL20 proves that Lightstrike cushioning in running shoes is a great option. For $120, you get an amazing cushioning experience, top tier traction, solid support, basic materials, and a few ignorable fit issues. But even if it was just the Lightstrike experience alone, I’d recommend these shoes. It’s a cushion that’s really fun to run in and worth the money.
Jodi: I’m pretty happy with what adidas did with its first Lightstrike runner. Dare I say that the cushion could take over the almighty Boost? I can definitely see it being used in a lot of future runners. In fact, I hope they do. If you’re looking for a runner that feels fast, has solid cushion, great support, excellent traction and you have an average sized foot, I’d definitely recommend these. If you have wide feet like me or even very narrow feet, I’d go in store and try them on first. Make sure you can handle the way they fit because like Drew and I both said, due to the way the upper is constructed there’s no way to hide any flaws.

Saucony Endorphin Pro Performance Review

The Saucony Endorphin Pro was on the medal stand at the US Olympic Marathon Trials (courtesy of Molly Seidel) and we’ll probably see it on more podiums when road races start again. As we discussed in our recent Nike Alphafly Next% vs Saucony Endorphin Pro comparison, the Endorphin Pro is legit and will challenge both the Alphafly Next% and Nike Vaporfly Next% for road racing supremacy.

Cushion

Saucony’s version of pebax cushion is PWRRUN PB. It looks like adidas’ Boost but is much lighter and similar in squishiness and feel to Nike’s ZoomX. When paired with the S-curved carbon fiber plate that’s sandwiched between the two layers of PWWRUN PB, you get a snappy bounce on every toe off. The feeling is similar but stiffer than the Vaporfly Next%.
The pebax and carbon fiber plate combo is paired with a rocker shape that Saucony calls Speedroll. I enjoyed how smooth the Speedroll midsole shape made the heel to toe transition. The cushion, carbon fiber plate, and Speedroll shape combine for a smooth and efficient ride.

Traction

The Endorphin Pro features a traditional chevron pattern over the entire forefoot with plenty of cutouts for the pebax to expand. The midfoot only has rubber on the sides while the heel has some extra rubber on the lateral landing zone. While the rubber doesn’t appear thick, it’s durability is incredible. I’ve put over 50 miles on my pair and the outsole barely looks used. The traction is built to last in a way that the Vaporfly and Alphafly can’t match.
On top of that crazy durability, the rubber sticks to everything. I travelled a lot of wet ground and rainstorms in the Endorphin Pro. I never felt slippage. They even handled mildewy wooden bridges without issue. If you’re faced with bad weather on race day, reaching for the Endorphin Pro will be a great choice.

Support

There’s no internal heel counter but I felt secure at all times. There’s no tippy feeling like you get with other road racing shoes and the offset is a traditional 8mm. The forefoot widens nicely and a flared midsole provides extra support. You sit inside the midsole at both the heel and midfoot to help prevent rollovers. Finally, the gusseted tongue locks you in place. If your previous race day shoes were too wobbly, the Endorphin Pro will be a better option.

Materials

The entire upper consists of an ultra-thin engineered mesh called Formfit. There are some vinyl overlays at the lace loops, the heel, and logo but they’re mostly ornamental. The tongue is a double-layered mesh that feels like super thin neoprene.The shoe’s materials are common on traditional daily runners so there’s nothing to get used to. I didn’t experience any hotspots. It’s a minimal upper that does its job and stays out of the way.

Fit

The Endorphin Pro fits true to size without any dead space above the toes. The gusseted tongue provides a comfortable, locked down feel without feeling too tight. The tongue has a small bungie sewn on so you can tuck your laces into it. It’s perfect for people who hate the laces banging around as they run.
Some people I talked with needed a runner’s loop to get perfect heel lockdown. However, my heels stayed put from the beginning using the standard lacing configuration. In totality, the fit feels like a (very light) traditional running shoe.

Overall

The lebron 17 is a near perfect shoe. Fit, traction, and cushion are just awesome. True, it doesn’t have the extreme stack height and cushion of the Alphafly or Vaporfly, but not everyone needs that level of squish while racing.
With the Endorphin Pro’s $200 price tag being $50-75 less expensive than its closest rivals, any trade offs are worth the price. Based on my testing, I’m confident we’ll see the Saucony Endorphin Pro on a lot of podiums in the near future.

Nike Alphafly Next% Performance Review

The Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% is the most anticipated running shoe since, well…ever. Why? Its predecessor, the Nike Vaporfly Next% has been the top road racing shoe for over a year. Before that, the Nike Vaporfly 4% was the undisputed king of the roadways. The third shoe in the trilogy was bound to be extremely hyped. And then, Eliud Kipchoge added to the Nike Alphafly mystique by wearing it to break the freakin’ 2-hour marathon barrier.
All of the above has led to today. Thousands of runners eagerly await the July 2nd release date so they can use the Alphafly to set PRs and climb onto race podiums. Is the Alphafly worthy of all the hype? TLDR, yes! But keep reading for the full performance review.
Note: For those interested in how the Alphafly Next% stacks up against other top of the line road racing shoes, we recently published two detailed comparisons:

Cushion

Nike’s pebax cushioning, ZoomX, is the foam used in the midsole. And there’s a ton of it. The, now standard for Nike’s road racing shoes, full length carbon fiber plate is sandwiched between the two layers of ZoomX. The heel’s cushioning level and bounciness feel a lot like the Vaporfly Next%.
But the forefoot is completely different. There’s a nice slab of ZoomX in the forefoot above the carbon fiber plate. Below the plate, however, Nike changed things up from the Vaporfly. Right above the outsole, Nike placed two large volume Zoom Air bags similar to what’s in the Lebron 17. We’ve previously seen Zoom bags this size in basketball shoes but never in a running shoe.
If you’ve read WearTesters for any length of time, you know we love Zoom Air. The Zoom Air in the Alphafly Next% doesn’t disappoint. It’s bouncy and returns most of your energy. This was a solid improvement from the Vaporfly and lets the Alphafly shine in speed workouts. The more you’re on your toes, the better the Alphafly feels. The addition of the Zoom bags encourages you to get up on your toes and run faster. And that’s exactly what you want during long distance road races.

Traction

The Alphafly Next% traction is really close to perfection. The wavy-patterned rubber fully covers the forefoot (except for a small cutout in the middle to save weight) and does not slip. Ever. Nike has finally nailed secure traction on its flagship racer. On the heel, the camouflaged rubber coverage on both the lateral and medial sides is quite generous for a racing shoe. And the rubber used is nice and sticky. In terms of the outsole sticking to every surface, it’s perfect.
The imperfection comes from durability. I’ve run 50+ miles in my pair and the waves on the outsole are intensely fraying along my strike path. At this rate, the entire lateral side of my forefoot will be bald way before I hit 250 miles. I won’t be running directly on the foam or Zoom Air bags because the rubber below the wave pattern is still fairly thick. However, I’m worried it may affect the shoe’s awesome traction over the long term. This isn’t a huge issue since these are racing shoes. Durability is never the top priority on a racing shoe. But if Nike had used a slightly harder rubber, the Alphafly’s outsole setup would have received a perfect rating.

Support

Support was an issue for a lot of people with the Vaporfly Next%. The Vaporfly had a narrow base and felt tippy when turning or on uneven ground. The Alphafly Next% rectifies a lot of the support issues with a few tweaks.
Nike flared the forefoot’s midsole out wider and used the two Zoom Air bags as outriggers. This was appreciated as the Alphafly is tall. It has a forefoot stack height of 35mm vs the Vaporfly’s 32mm (they’ve got a 39mm and 40mm heel stack height respectively). The heel midsole flares wide too which is a big change from the Vaporfly. There’s also a strip of fuse around the bottom of the upper where it connects to the midsole. Fuse is Flyknit and glue melted together. It’s stronger than normal knit and adds side-to-side support to help prevent rollovers.
The Alphafly is a bit tippy around tight 90°-ish corners. Gradual corners (like you’d find on a track) are not a problem. I’m impressed that Nike was able to improve upon the previous generation without adding too much weight. Racing shoes aren’t known for their support but the Alphafly has enough to get most people through race day.

Materials

The Alphafly Next% upper is made of Atomknit. Atomknit is Flyknit that’s been steamed and stretched. It’s coarser and less stretchy than Flyknit but still fits like a knit. It doesn’t absorb much water on long runs but I’m sure it absorbs more than the Vaporweave upper on the Vaporfly Next%. That said, it doesn’t come close to absorbing as much sweat as a typical mesh running shoe.
The tongue area is a stretchier layer of Atomknit with a built-in pad to relieve lace pressure. The lace holes go through fuse overlays on both sides of the foot. The laces themselves are still small but of medium thickness with serrated edges. The serrated edges keep the laces from pulling free while wet during runs. I also liked the serrated edges because it’s easier to get a handle on them. I think we’ll start seeing these serrated laces on more models as they seem to “lock in” better than traditional, smooth-edged laces.

Fit

The Atomknit upper is one big sock. The sock like fit may start tight for people with wide feet or high insteps, but Nike’s thought of that. The designers gave us tongue and heel pull tabs to assist in sliding on the shoes. The knit quickly breaks in and stretches to provide the 1:1 fit that knit shoes are known for. The sculpted achilles pillow is a nice touch but, similar to the Vaporfly Next%, the heel is minimally cushioned. Runners with heel spurs or bony heels may dislike the direct contact with the big heel counter. However, if you didn’t have problems with the Vaporfly’s heel, you won’t have problems here.
The Alphafly Next% fits true to size but is wider than its predecessor. Grab your normal Nike shoe size or the size you purchased in the Vaporfly (assuming you didn’t go up half a size to get extra width). The heel and forefoot on the Alphafly are wider than the same areas on the Vaporfly. The midfoot and arch area are very snug but that’s needed to support the sock like fit. The Alphafly will accommodate a wide range of foot types.

Overall

I started by referencing the fact that the Nike Alphafly Next% is the most hyped running shoe ever. It lives up to the enormous hype. It’s the bounciest road racing shoe on the planet (though the Saucony Endorphin Pro gives it a run for the money).
The $275 price tag will feel extravagant for all but the most serious runners but the experience is unique. If you love running and racing, and have the cash, the Nike Alphafly Next% is a luxury that’s extremely fun to have in your closet.
The Nike Alphafly Next% will release July 2nd for $275 at Nike and hoop jordan.

Nike Kyrie 6 Performance Analysis and Review

Sorry for the delay on reviews. Apparently lockdown means more time for a lot of people but with everyone at home right now, alone time to write or do anything at all is nearly impossible. I had a review written but scraped it to write something more fitting

Pros: traction, cushioning, fit, support stability, containment
Cons: starts stiff, heavy for a guard’s shoe
Sizing advice: at least half a size up.mBest for: any position of any weight
Buying advice: picked up this pair for $67 off Nike.com. $50 should be the bottom but anything under $70 is a great deal.
Weight

#quarantine15

At 17.5 ounces, Nike apparently quarantined itself prior to this COVID19 mess as this is a hefty Harden /Adidas weight. I’m not a stickler for weight and neither should you. Ask yourself this…ifone of the quickest guards on the planet is wearing a 17.5 ounce shoe and blowing by the NBA, maybe I’m right, no?
Traction

I’ve always felt traction was the most important aspect of a shoe and the Kyrie 6 delivers.

Not exactly sure if the rubber is softer but damn these work on every surface with minimal wiping which is great since charmin is a premium quick strike nowadays #hoarders
Cushioning

Zoom turbo is back again and unlike the Kyrie 5 and Kobe 6, I could actually feel it in the Kyrie 6. It isn’t the thickest or bounciest Zoom in the forefoot but it’s nice to know the $130 (if you were dumb enough to pay that back on release day) shoe you bought has what it says. Overall cushioning is softer than the 5 and slightly firmer than the 4 which is just a near perfect balanced cushioning set up. Not too soft, not too hard, a good bit bounce and feedback make this a great shoe for any position.
Fit

Kyries have always run a little tight and small (that’s what he said?) and I’ve made due with true to size but these are are definitely half a size small and short in length. There is a lot of padding in the shoe which may contribute to the smaller size. I went half a a size up at 11.5 and tried a full size up at 12 and could wear both just fine with no excess movement but the 11.5 felt more in line with what I’m used to. No heel slip no side to side movement out the box. Really poor social distancing in the shoe which is a good thing in this case. #stayhome #6footrule
Materials

Nothing ultra fancy here but it works great. It overly stretchy, feels and looks almost premium with no pinching or hotspots like NYC #flattenthecurve
Support and Stability

The 6 plays is a mid and plays like a mid so if you want full range of motion and minimal shoe with zero support look elsewhere. These just (virtual) hug you like a good shoe should and gives the wearer a nice sense of feedback around the ankles.

Very similar widths to the Kyrie 5

Unlike the US economy, stability is excellent in the Kyrie 6. The curved outsole has flattened out a little to feel slightly more traditional but i can still feel it. Let’s keep flattening the curved and stay home though.
The stiffness of the outsole takes a little time to break in FYI
Containment

“We have it contained” POTUS
Errr, are we talking about the foot with the Kyrie 6? If so, I agree. Nice raised midsole, nice thick strap. Well done Kyrie.
Conclusion
Do you buy shoes and worry if it’s the right shoe for you and your game? Do you worry man if I’m half a size off it’s going to go up and down like the stock market (or just down). Do you buy certain shoes for certain games or styles of how you play? Well the Kyrie 6 is just one of the best all around shoes I’ve played in for a long time that can relieve you of those worries. It’s a very Hyperdunkesque , any player type shoe. Remember Kyrie was a HD guy back in the 2012-2014 so it makes sense it’s a good all around shoe. I’m happy the cushioning has come around from the brick days to a more accommodating softer set up that any player can enjoy and I’m really glad that Zoom turbo FEELS like Zoom. If you want to feel active during this crazy time, get up (or don’t) and open an app or browse to buy a great shoe at a discounted price. I’ve seen stock X and eBay prices go for under 80 so if you’re impatiently waiting for sales, you can still get a great deal now.
Most importantly, stay safe during this time, pray for others, help as much as you can within your community and family. Big prompts to New Balance 327 for stepping up and making masks. The faster we flatten this curve, the faster we can get back to normalcy.