Nike LeBron X P.S. Elite Performance Review

 Out of all three Nike Elite Series 2.0 models, these actually performed the best when directly comparing them to their original counterparts.

Traction – Traction was solid on the LeBron 18 and its the same here. Nothing has changed at all as these perform nicely under most court conditions. The pattern itself is multidirectional so no matter what you are doing, you’ll be covered.

Cushion – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… this curry flow 8 (360 Degree Visible Zoom) is incredible. Impact absorbent and responsive. Its really the best of both worlds when it comes to both of Nike’s most widely used Air cushion systems. This particular unit felt a bit more firm and to be honest, it worked in its favor. I did not run onto same issue I had with the regular LeBron X’s where the outrigger section of the Air unit collapsed under pressure. This made my ride much more balanced and stable so from a Guards perspective… this was a much better experience. I personally really enjoyed playing in these compared to the other two Elite models and when directly comparing it to the original LeBron X.

 

Material – Layers have been removed for weight but what it really offers is a better flexing upper. This version was less restrictive than the original… the regular LeBron X wasn’t crazy restrictive as it is but in comparison this was nicer. Fuse is still in place so durability isn’t an issue and there are Carbon Fiber panels in strategic areas as well for support. Overall, this was a better setup than the original but the original works perfectly fine so I still think charging an additional $80 over the regular retail price is crazy.

Fit – They fit true to size but they are on the snug side. Wide footers might want to go up 1/2 size. Lockdown is perfect. Literally flawless. The originals offered great lockdown from heel to forefoot and these lock your foot in even better with the Carbon Fiber plates in place .

Ventilation – The overall ventilation took a small hit when directly comparing them to the original model but the fit and security of lockdown really makes this a non issue in my eyes. If for some reason you feel that you need ventilation then this might not be the best option for you but if you never notice this attribute then skip it altogether on 2021.

Support – The support is increased. As stated before, the Air unit feels as if there is more air inside so the cushion is more stable this time around. In addition to that, the Carbon Fiber plates really do their job well while still allowing range of motion so your movements aren’t restricted too much.

 

Overall – I will admit, this is slightly better than the original model. Are the improvements worth an additional $80… not in my eyes but maybe it is for someone else. My advice, wait until these go on sale. $200 or less and these would be a great performance stadium fits.