Puma Magnify Nitro Performance Review

 The Puma Magnify Nitro is all cushion and comfort. It’s a winning combo and exactly what most people need out of an everyday running shoe. Is it perfect? No. But it’s so well-rounded and durable that we consider it a great buy.

Cushion

The thinking behind the nike freak 3 is lots of cushion for lots of miles. The stack height of 29mm in the forefoot and 38mm in the heel packs two layers of cushion. A top layer of the most Nitro cushion Puma has ever used in one shoe with a bottom layer of Profoam Lite. The combo works extremely well.

I sang the praises of the Puma’s Nitro in the Puma Deviate Nitro and Puma Deviate Nitro Elite reviews. The stuff is bouncy and feels great on the legs and knees. ProFoam Lite was featured in the Puma UltraRide. It’s an EVA-based foam that’s less bouncy, more durable, and more stable while still being fairly lightweight.

The stability, plushness, and bounce are a direct result of combining the two foams. It feels great on foot and takes a beating while staying pretty fresh for the next run. I have no complaints on the cushion decision here and think it will serve the majority of runners well for everyday running.

Traction

Just like I mentioned in previous Puma running reviews, Puma Grip is the truth. It’s currently my favorite rubber compound for running. It’s basically no slip in all conditions and super durable. You’ll get 300-500 miles out of this outsole with zero slippage.

Fit

The Puma last fits me extremely well. The Magnify Nitro fits similar to the previous Nitro running shoes. The length is true to size. The width opens up nicely in the toebox and narrows through the midfoot for sculpted fit. And the heel’s got a ton of padding that lets you sink in like you’re sitting on a nice couch. It’s a plush fit. That may cause faster runners to balk a bit but the majority of us will appreciate the added comfort. It’s worth the trade off of a few ounces.

Support

The voluminous heel packs a sizeable heel counter that prevents you from twisting and turning. In addition, the foot sits inside the midsole up to the midfoot. The wide base at the forefoot also kicks in some stability. For its stack height, the jordan 36 is extremely stable. You don’t have to worry about stability around even the tightest of turns.

Materials

The Puma Magnify Nitro has a dual layer engineered mesh upper. Some colorways, including the Spectra version I tested, also have vinyl overlays that are more for aesthetics. Puma uses typical performance running shoe materials throughout but inputs a bit more padding than usual to amp up the comfort level. Objective achieved because this is one of the most comfortable running shoes of the year.

Overall

The Puma Magnify Nitro is one of my favorite daily trainers of 2021. It’s so plush and comfortable. It grips any stretch of road and includes ample cushion. It’s the type of shoe I can recommend to everyone, no matter their running pedigree. More experienced runners may want something a little lighter and more svelt for daily work but that’s a small percentage of the population. The majority of runners will really enjoy the Magnify Nitro experience.

Nike Giannis Immortality Performance Review

 The Nike Giannis Immortality falls under the category of signature athlete budget model. But, the funny thing is, this isn’t like any other take down. It’s one of the best of its kind. With Giannis just winning a championship, getting a good-performing, more budget-friendly shoe from him is simply a win for both his fans and hoopers all over.

Traction

The traction pattern is herringbone everywhere. No exceptions. It is sectioned, though. But, I didn’t find that to be an issue for the outsole’s overall performance.

It was solid. Nothing to write home about, but it was good nonetheless. It’s not noisy so you might not notice it biting the floor really well until you’re done playing and realize you barely slipped. Wipes aren’t really necessary because the grooves are deep. I did play in the solid rubber option, so keep that in mind. Overall, the Immortality provides solid performance without the gimmicks.

Cushion

Phylon. Period. I wish there was more to say about the cushion technology on this, but there simply isn’t. Instead they use the cushion for some cool Giannis details. “Lagos,” his parents’ hometown, is on the right heel and “Athens,” his hometown, is on the left heel. When I saw this, that’s when I thought that they made this shoe for nostalgic purposes, and not really performance per se.

But, the cushion wasn’t terrible. When I first tried them on, they felt like bricks. Just no compression whatsoever. Some of the phylon is caged with the outsole coming up on the lateral heel and a bit on the medial forefoot. After the first half hour of playing, though, I was surprised that I was getting some compression and comfort. The inevitable happened and it just got softer and softer and softer with every wear. Compression creases were very apparent and I love that because that lets me know that the foam is doing its job. Biggest surprise of this sb dunk by far. And yes, just Phylon can do the job.

Materials

The materials are where we get the $80 price tag. We have a full on thin jacquard upper with fuse overlays on high-wear areas. The back section is a micro-molded mesh which feels like neoprene. The tongue is mostly a more open-celled mesh, with the upper section being a very synthetic leather. I don’t know if I have ever felt a more synthetic leather than this one. The reverse Swoosh is on both medial sides of the sneaker – a little call back to the Nike Zoom Freak 1.

The materials are comfortable enough, but you can definitely feel how thin it is. It still contains the foot well, though, so there’s nothing too much to complain about. They do break in more over time, even for a knit. With that price, what more could we really expect? You get what you pay for.

Fit

I’d say true to size, but narrow-footers could probably go down half a size. At first, it’s a good, snug fit. After the break-in period, which is a few hours of playing, the shoe does get a bit looser. Also, don’t use thin socks with these. It’ll compromise the fit. As always, try them on in store if you can.

Support

Support is a bit tricky here. The heel feels like the forefoot of a Kyrie shoe. While the heel portion of the midsole does curve so one can roll into their stride easier, that same curved shape gives a wobbly experience at times on lateral movements. And be careful on heel strikes because you will have to catch yourself in these a bit more than others. The forefoot, though, has an outrigger that outdoes most Nike basketball shoes right now. I almost rolled my ankle on these twice, maybe because of that heel, but the outrigger saved me. It’s kind of counterintuitive, but it still works. The small synthetic lateral midfoot piece on the inside helped with containing the foot and keeping it on the foot bed. So, support is solid, but takes some getting used to.

Overall

If you’re on a budget, (I don’t blame you for not wanting to spend $150+ on a shoe) but want a solid option on-court, get the Nike Giannis Immortality. Sure, there’s no Air or Zoom, yet it still provides the performance that even signature models sometimes can’t achieve. (I’m looking at you Harden Vol. 5) Everything is good enough for me to consider this a good performer, and not just a barely-made-the-team one. Bang for your buck? I’d say so.

Air Jordan XX9 VS XX8 Performance review

 

I’ve read all the great reviews about the XX9 so I picked these up during the Nike clearance sale for $124 to see  what all the hype was about.  I will also compare the XX9 to the XX8 SE

King of the Court Shootout
Before I get into the comparison let me give you a sale pitch on a new 2015 Mercedes.

Introducing the newest, lightest and most technology advances Mercedes, the MB 2015. Here are some features we added:

• A new material for the frame 

Here is what we took away

• Replaced the rear air suspension with standard coil overs made for an Accord. You don’t need that anymore
• Made the air suspension feel more like coil overs but rest assured it is air.
• Replaced all carbon fiber parts with plastic. Who needs carbon fiber anyways.

Oh and we made the price 50% more than last years model.

and the material is not as durable and susceptible to abrasions and will degrade faster than last years materials. 

Now would anyone in their right mind go for the newer model and not feel like they have been duped ?  You can argue that the new frame is where the increase in cost is coming from but if you believe that I have some ocean front property in Arizona for you.

PROS: Traction, comfortable sock like upper, breathable, forefoot cushioning , fit

CONS: No Zoom in heel? These are called jordan 11 cool grey, not forefoot Air Jordans, containment, tipsy at the heel, upper not durable

BEST FOR:  lightweight guards, straight runners/non cutters, swag champs

TRACTION

Traction is great on both the XX8 and XX9 but I think the fatter pattern took away some of the bite. The XX8 has much sharper peaks and deeper grooves made from a slightly more pliable rubber than the XX9.

Verdict: XX8

CUSHIONING

When I read that Jordan Brand decided to take away the heel Zoom Air because it wasn’t really necessary, I thought “is a $225 shoe without Zoom Air necessary? What about cavier and sushi rather than Mac and cheese ? ” This isn’t about necessity, it’s about the luxury of owning the premier basketball shoe.

Anyways, the new unlocked Zoom set up is more recessed into the sole and turned a quarter turn. This 1) lowers the ride compared to the XX9 2) allows the Zoom to flex more naturally since the  segmentation runs sideways vs lengthwise 3) makes the unlocked Zoom less prone to popping and costing Jb less money for returns. I had a friend of mine bust his XX9 and Superfly 2 air in the span of two weeks and he isn’t even a high flyer (sorry Ben, the truth hurts lol). Luckily, they were both under warranty so he got replacement vouchers.

Above: The transition is better thanks to the additional rubber between the forefoot and heel.

I have yet to pop mine but I know it’s just a matter of time.  The thing that irks me is why did JB bother to set up the XX8 the way they did ? Didn’t they weartest the shoes beforehand? What if my shoe pops outside the 2 year window? It isn’t a defect but rather a design flaw imo

Above: almost perfectly flush with the outsole

Below: at least 1 or 2mm more protrusion on the XX8

The new setup feels less unlocked than the XX8 since it is recessed and you’re contacting the floor with the Zoom and outsole all at the same time versus just touching the floor with Zoom only . You can still feel it though but you have to know what to look for. It isn’t worlds away better feeling than regular Zoom like the XX9 but it does feel great nonetheless.

The foam in the heel feels like Phylon and does its job but to skimp out doesn’t seem like Jordan’s style. I am a heavy heel striker especially when I’m running down the court so I really like to feel that extra bounce on the XX8.

VERDICT: XX8 easily especially in the heel

FIT

The XX9 fits great plain and simple. They eliminated all the deadspace on the shoe to make it as sock like as possible. Look how much smaller the XX9 looks vs the XX8

I went with my normal sz 11 and they fit perfectly, leaving me a finger width between my big toe and the end of the toe box. The heel fit is is fantastic too thanks to the dog bone inside the heel that prevents any slipping.

 

One thing to note with the flexible upper is that the laces come loose more quickly than normal. When you see a movie and a guy is tied up in rope, how does he get out ? He wiggles and shimmies to loosen the rope and that’s precisely what happened when the upper flexes and moves around the ankle. I’d start the game perfectly tied but it kept loosening up as the game went on.  Not a big deal but just something I noticed.

The XX9 fit very well albeit it had more of a normal shoe fit since the upper isn’t Performance Woven upper and Flightweb or whatever they call it. I had perfect lockdown in the XX9 as well and did not need to size down like some other reviewers stated as I stuck with my size 11. No deadspace or side to side movement to speak up either but the XX9 just fits better.

VERDICT: XX9

SUPPORT and STABILITY

Some shoes have great support and marginals stability while others have exceptional stability but mediocre support.  In my opinion I’d rather have the latter so I don’t have to worry about the support since the stability of the shoe will keep me firmly planted.

The XX9 support comes from its fit and have heel counter.  I am an over pronator and you can see it just by looking at how my laces lean toward the inside of my ankle.

There is a plastic shank but it does little in keeping my ankle from rolling in whereas the XX8 has a carbon fiber shank plate or flightplate as they call it.

Above: carbon fiber over plastic any day

As I said earlier I don’t mind a shoe that is stable while sacrificing some support but the jordans 2021 failed my heel test. Sure, upon a perfect landing I won’t sprain my ankle but I’m more concerned with imperfect landings when I have to land on my heel or when I’m pushed mid air.

See how narrow the XX9 is vs the XX8

In addition the heel counter is a lot more flexible than the XX8
Good ol carbon fiber. Why change a good thing ?

VERDICT: XX8

CONTAINMENT

Every carbon fiber piece on the XX8 was replaced with plastic on the XX9 including the footstay at the forefoot. Couple the woven upper with a more flexible plastic and the net result is below average containment. I could feel my foot coming out of the footbed and feeling the plastic flex on hard cuts. The woven upper is fine but there needs to be either 1) a stiffer footstay 2) higher footstay 3) more coverage along the lateral side , maybe even midfoot to forefoot.

I did not have this problem with the XX8 although I have had better containment on shoes such as the Rose 5 or Lebron Solder VI. I think if you are lightweight or don’t cut a lot or very hard you wouldn’t notice the containment issue but I definitely do.

VERDICT: XX8

DURABILITY:

This happened after fifteen minutes of shooting around. I thought it was dirtIt is hard to see in the pic but the woven upper already started fraying from a little toe drag…. After fifteen minutes of shooting around. I’ve seen and read about ripped uppers/Lace loops so it doesn’t surprise me but it is still disappointing.  Maybe some kind of reinforcement at the toe box like they make for most hoop shoes ? The golf shoe cousin of the XX9, the TW 15 has reinforcements at high wear/ high stress areas such as the laces and toe box( review coming)

I know JB wanted to showcase the upper but come on..

PRICE: 

AJ XX9 retail: $225

Sale price: $125

AJ XX8 SE retail: $150

Sale price : $79 although I got a steal on Eastbay for $60 after coupon

In free shoe reviewer world you can just a shoe without taking price into account but I’m buying these myself so I want the most value I can get.

VERDICT: AJ XX8

CONCLUSION

Although I enjoyed the slightly lower ride, ultra comfortable upper and lightweight,the XX9 just didn’t do it for me. It lost some of that bounce, traction, as well as stability  while adding a hefty $75 to the retail price. Is it worth $225? Hell no.Is it worth $125? Maybe depending on what your individual needs are but they aren’t going to make my rotation. Is it better than the XX8? No, but don’t get me wrong, it is a good shoe overall but I can get more value, more Zoom, and more support from the XX8 for a lot less money.

Brandblack J Crossover II 2 Performance Review and Air Jordan XX9 Comparison

 Brandblack or Brandblah?

It’s not often a that small shoe company makes a splash with big time performance at a reasonable price so after reading raving reviews I decided to see for myself how these performed.

Here is my Aj XX9 Review for reference

Aj XX9 review

UNBOXING 

I usually don’t write about unboxing a pair of shoes but damn, BB knows its target customer.

Sneakerheads love a nice box and BB doesn’t disappoint.  The box really makes you feel like you’re getting something special just like those little blue Tiffany’s boxes.

One other note, I wonder if BB can bottle they new shoe smell? I put the shoes in my shoe closet and it gave my whole closet that new shoe smell. Thanks BB!

TRACTION

BB uses a unique pattern that they call traction blades which works very well when there isn’t dust clinging to them.  The rubber compound is very soft and pliable so it picks up everything.

I shot around for three minutes and picked up so much dust I was ice skating but after a spit and wipe they resumed their grippy ways.  They required constant wiping at first but got better as they broke in during the game (or they just picked up all the dust on the court and there was no more to slip on

However, I thought I was being paranoid but after multiple runs traction isn’t as good moving side to side as it is front to back due to the blade set up. Since the blades run mostly left to right rather than a zig zag pattern like herringbone set ups, the dirt can’t be pushed away as effectively on side to side movements; the inside forefoot is slightly angled which helps on push of for cuts but the outside forefoot needs that same pattern for stopping and change of direction. Maybe the next model will feature multi directional blades to fix this small problem.

COMPARED TO AJ XX9 

Traction performance is excellent especially moving forward and backward but I feel the jordan 11 cool grey works better overall especially in regard to stopping power during side to side movement.

CUSHIONING

Jetlon, BB’s proprietary cushioning, runs the full length of the shoe and feels great heel to toe.  I tried on my Clutchfits, Rose 5, and Lillards to try to find a close match to what Jetlon feels like and I came to this conclusion: thick Adiprene with more bounce. It has a more muted feel than Boost and Micro G but does have some bounce back.    Although the overall set up feels good, I still like Boost and Micro G a lot more. Here is how I’d rank Jetlon compared to other foam setups:

1. Boost
2. Micro G
3. Jetlon
4. Charged Micro G
5. Lunarlon
6. Adiprene
7. The junk in the Hyperchase

Jetlon is low profile so the shoe sits low to the ground, very similar ride as the Lillard 1 height.  I did not list Zoom Air bc it varies shoe to shoe unfortunately but when it is done correctly, it’s awesome.

Compared to the XX9

Although I enjoyed the great transition of full length Jetlon, it’s tough to beat unlocked Zoom even if I preferred the XX8 setup more. Unlocked Zoom is just plain fun.

FIT
I went true to size and these fit perfectly. Fit is fantastic thanks to the woven upper and this

Before

After

The synthetic leather straps wrap around the ankle and totally locked my foot into place at the heel.  No side to side movement in the toe box or mid foot either since you can really tighten the laces as much as you want without feeling lace pressure.

Above:  i thought the JC would’ve been a nice place to put the laces through. Would help hold the tongue in place and let the JC show a little better.

The upper is made almost entirely of a woven upper like the AJ XX9 and required zero break in time. It is is a little thicker than the air force 1  upper thanks to glue but it remains perfectly flexible with no stiffness, hotspots or weird flex points.

Here are some shots of the upper 

Mid foot w nice perforations for ventilation

Not often you see quality double stitching like this on a mid priced shoe.

Here is a pic of the synthetic leather that wraps the heel. 

Inside collar . Looks Lebron Elite /pro combat esque.

Compared to the XX9

This is really a tough call because we are talking sock like fit with both.  I’m going to puss out and say it’s a tie.

SUPPORT AND STABILITY 

I personally think this is the shoe’s strongest attribute. The shoe’s super stability virtually eliminates the need for any extra support because it is just plain difficult to make the shoe tip over. I did my heel test and it always wanted  to stay flat and refused to turn over. It’s like that from heel to toe thanks to an outrigger at the forefoot as well. Throw in the excellent fit, low to the ground cushioning and you have an extremely stable shoe that still feels natural underfoot.

Below: forefoot outrigger 
Lateral stability “Vector wings” at the heel (also a smallish internal heel counter) give the shoe excellent stability and support.

Shank you very much  

COMPARED TO THE XX9

The J Crossover 2 crushes the XX9 in this department. The XX9 only support came from a small internal heel counter and its fit but was very tipsy at the heel in my opinion. The J Crossover  provides stability and support everywhere without being clunky.

CONTAINMENT

As expected containment was the shoe’s weakest aspect due to the woven upper. I could feel my foot slide out of the footbed on hard cuts since there wasn’t any extra layering or a footstay at the forefoot.

See how how foot is coming out from a static position (just pushing with my right foot).

Here is my foot trying to come out of a shoe with excellent containment, the D Rose 5 (I’m pushing with my other foot as well) and it doesn’t budge

The forefoot “wall or bucket” is the same height as the insole so nothing is there to stop my foot from sliding out.

Despite how good the upper feels and fits and how stable the shoe plays,  I do not enjoy feeling of my foot sliding out of the footbed. Synthetic, leather, and fuse uppers all have pushback whenever it’s deformed but with a woven cloth upper, you don’t get that since it is meant to be pliable and comfortable. A little footstay or higher wall would easily remedy the containment issues I had.

COMPARED TO THE XX9

I could feel the XX9 plastic footstay flex on hard cuts but at least it had one. A more rigid material like carbon fiber (ala XX8) would have helped a lot more . The XX9 takes this category even though containment is not really a strength of the XX9 either.

PRICE

Although pricing isn’t a factor in performance it is a factor we all face when we go out to purchase shoes.

AJ XX9: retails for $225 on sale for $125 to $179

J Crossover 2: retails for $140 on sale for $98 to $120

Now that’s a huge $85, 60% gap in the retail price between the two shoes and it boils down to Brand Equity. Jordan Brand has the strongest BE while Brandblack, being an upstart, has almost none.  It doesn’t cost JB any more to produce a woven upper (probably a lot less due to economies  of scale ie making a lot more shoes costs less per shoe) but their BE is so strong they can charge a lot more for a similar product. This is why consumers have to pay more for the big brands versus generics (think Coke vs Sams choice) even if there isn’t a concrete difference.

Anyway, off my soap box.

CONCLUSION 

Brandblack created a fantastic shoe at a great price point and depending on your wants and needs, could easily supplant the AJ XX9 as the best woven upper hoops shoe.  Superb quality and details, great traction, good cushioning, excellent fit, support and stability for under $150 ? If these had better containment these would easily  make my rotation but I’m so anal about what I’m looking for that I wont compromise. Regardless of the price, I’d pick the J Crossover over the XX9 even though the XX9 eeked out more categories because it’s so much more stable and supportive than the jordans 2021.  I never felt safe wearing the XX9 so that’s why I got rid of them.  We all love big brands but it is fun watching new companies show that they can hang with the Swoosh with a budget a fraction of a fraction the size of the big boys. Can’t wait to see what Brandblack does next.

Nike Hyperdunk 2015 Performance Review

 Totally tubular performance ?Almost but not quite.

Pros: Fit, traction, excellent containment, support and stability

Cons: Very low profile Zoom not very responsive, painful break in time around outer ankle

I just put this comparison up between the low and mids in case you were wondering about the lows.Nike really is trying to win an ugly contest with the Lebron Soldier IX and these.

If you want to see how the jordan 11 cool grey 2021 faired in the ugly performance contest:

Hyperdunk 2015 vs Soldier IX

I also reviewed the Super.Fly 4 after I reviewed HD15 and I can say that the Sf4 is as good or better than the HD15 in every way. No brainier really.

Sometimes I feel like Nike pushes the aesthetics of shoes to just do it (pun intended). Look how lows took off after the launch of the Kobe IV. Rather than follow the trend, Nike sets it and starting with the ultra high Kobe IX Elite , the Swoosh is making shoes ankle collars higher or more tubular  than ever. The Hyperdunk 2015 didn’t have to be this high or not have a coffee cup as heel counter.

Before I get into the review, the ankle collar isn’t as high as it looks, it just has more meat in the rear so it is more tubular looking like the Kobe X Elite.

  
Even the heel counter is as high as the HD 2013

Onto the review

Traction

Good ol plain vanilla herringbone, thank  you Nike.

Tried and true it is still one of the best traction patterns. Nike used a nice pliable rubber that really grips the floor. Reminds me a lot of the 2011 traction pattern.  I was worried about the smooth portion on the lateral forefoot bc it is made out of foam but I didn’t have any issues with it although I do question long term durability bc it is a separate piece from the actual sole and looks like it could be pulled away from frequent use. This goes for the entire “midsole bucket”.

I thought these stuck to the floor better than the Soldier IX and similarly to the Clutchfit Drive. Great squeak and stop traction.

Cushioning

Zoom Air ? Yes please… Can I have more actually ?

Zoom hasn’t been in the HD since 2011 so I really had high hopes for this set up.  However, I was disappointed that the set up felt less Zoom like than the 2011 version. I didn’t feel much bounce at all initially but after a few runs I could feel a little. A little in the heel and an ok amount in the forefoot. The overall set up is very firm and doesn’t provide much of the bounce we all love. It actually feels a lot like the Rose 4 targeted Adiprene set up. The Soldier IX and KD 8 cushioning set ups feel light years better.
The HD15 insole (top) compared the the Curry Low insole (bottom)

One theory I have is that there isn’t any midsole foam cushioning. All that “midsole bucket” I mentioned earlier is glued onto the sole and the orange portion is rubber so the only additional cushioning to absorb impact is the rubber on the sole and the little foam surrounding the Zoom.

You can see the rectangular Zoom unit in the heel. I couldn’t take a pic of the rectangular Zoom in the forefoot but I could feel it with my hands.

This is where the foot sits without the insole. Take into account the rubber thickness and there isn’t much foam. When I say I miss the feel of Lunarlon, that’s not a good thing.  It does play low to the ground though.

Fit

I went true to size with my normal 11 and these fit me perfectly All the way around. If you have narrow feet you may want to size down. No deadspace in the toe box. The materials are stiff to start especially the ankle collar. Total lockdown in the heel although up to the lower calf which is a weird sensation. Unlike the Kobe X Elite, It doesn’t feel very natural when moving forward because of the stiff materials but it does loosen up after a few games but not to the point that is is an afterthought . If you like that natural unrestricted motion, I’d look elsewhere because you’ll know that collar is there. Also worth noting is what a pain in the ass they are to get on. Point toes down, pull ankle collar taught, push foot in as start to point toes up, slide foot into footbed..

The HD15 material is Hyperfuse and it looks like it would be pliable like the Kobe 8 engineered mesh but it isn’t near as soft and flexible although it doesn’t pop or flex weirdly either. This fuse iteration is as thin as I’ve ever seen but doesn’t feel any better than mesh /fuse combo uppers in the past.  I enjoyed the 2012 and  2013 upper far more ( 2013 was my fav upper). If the Aj XX9 upper is a warm comfy sweater, the HD15 upper is a freshly starched dress shirt.  If Nike hadn’t given us better uppers in the past, I probably wouldn’t have any problems with the upper bc it works fine.

Above: Kobe 8 and HD15

Below: you can see the plasticky insides of the fuse.

See how thin it is ?
Half the tongue is stitched into the upper for a more sock like fit.

Heel lockdown is excellent when the laces stay tight. Having the super high heel collar in the back allowed my calves to flex leverage itself when running and loosen up the laces. With a regular ankle collar my calves can’t do that since it isn’t as high up. It doesn’t loosen up as much after the collar breaks in though just something to note.

The inside of the collar is beautiful, looks beastly and performs its duties wonderfully.  It is the only portion of the shoe aside from the tongue that has any plushness or cushioning inside the shoe.

 

Flywire provides lace loops  and color

According to marketing literature it says molded channels to allow Flywire to move but they are glued in tight. Just an observation .

Support and Stability

I didn’t like the accordion on the back of the jordans 2021 and I don’t really like the looks of these either. Not only is it an eyesore but it is an ankle sore as well Whenever I would cut hard to the left or right  I could feel it dig into my ankle on the lateral side in the direction I was moving. Very annoying and irritating, literally. Didn’t go away for me as I could always feel it but the pain lessened or I just got used to it.  I had a similar issue with the Crazy Quick 2 .

**quick note I’ve been working the plastic that dug into my ankle by working it with my hands and pain almost gone completely.

The orange portion is an extension of the sole and is made of the same rubber. And then there is an small hidden internal counter too (this was the actual culprit) .

Rubber pushing on plastic = no flexibility. My malleoli (ankle bone) sits right on top of it. No wonder it dug into my ankle.

The heel counter is made of foam as well as the rest of the midsole

As stated earlier the “midsole bucket” is glued on to the shoe.

I will say that the HD15 sits low to the ground and feels lower than the HD12 and 13. Very stable and supportive thanks to the big heel counter, high ankle collar, stiff upper and firm Zoom Air. These passed my heel test easily as they were not tippy at all.

Containment

The best aspect of the Hd15 is the containment. Nike raised the midsole around the entire shoe to keep the foot contained . Very similar idea as the Rose 5. Also they added another layer of glue/fuse to high pressure areas to keep the foot in on hard cuts.

 Above: foot sits about 2-3 mm below the top of the midsole. The giant orange part is all rubber which helps keep the foot contained but also makes the shoe pretty stiff especially to start.

Above: triangular reinforcement for hard cuts

Conclusion 

The jordan 11 was so bland and more of the same that Nike really changed it up this year. Fit, containment, support and stability, and traction are great on the 2015 while the cushioning set up is lackluster and the upper material leaves a bit to be desired.  If there was more of a mix of mesh and Fuse the upper would have great like the 2013 upper I would have liked these more. And if the Zoom felt like Zoom.. And if my ankle didn’t get dug into .. And.. You get the point.  I’m just used to the step in comfort and soft blend of materials of the last few Hyperdunks I guess. The HD15 isn’t bad at all it just could have been better.  For the $140 price point go get the Lebron Solider IX or Supet.Fly 4 if you want a more minimal and lower feel.  Both shoes actually feel good to wear from the get go and excellent cushioning for a similar price point.

My Top 5: Air Jordan XIV Original 1998 Performance Review

 Since the Oxy XIV retro just came out I thought I’d finally write about my love for the air jordan 35. These would still be in my top 5 if they were wearable but being 18 years old (yikes!!), I can’t trust them to hold up. Please note that this is a review of the original 1998 release not the crappy retros.  I tried the 2006 retros out and could tell they weren’t the same so I gave up on them and stuck to collecting and playing in only the originals. I have not tried any of the newer retros.   I’ve probably trashed about 10 pair.  I do not recommend buying them to play in due to the risk of watching them fall apart. I’ve had to Shoe Goo my current pair a few times. Shoo goo is awesome if you’ve never tried it.

This is the shoe that made me realize all shoes are not made equal. I actually fell in love with the looks of the shoe because of how it performed on court and all the great memories I had playing in them. Just simple and clean. Of course everyone else’s memory is MJ’s last shot. Photo courtesy of Solecollector

Pros: traction, perfect cushioning, fit, support and stability, containment

Cons: durability: forefoot midsole “teeth”‘come apart after heavy wear, sole and upper at toe box separate over time, metal bar in tongue can be painful, tongue likes to slide off to the side, Ferrari shield needs break in on some pairs.

Sizing: true to size

Best for: guards

Weight:

I never weighed these before and it weighs a whopping half ounce more than the Crazylight 2016. It doesn’t matter how much a shoe weighs if it feels like an extension of your foot.

Traction: 

The late 90’s, early 2000’s were simpler times. Full length herringbone made out a soft pliable rubber that sticks to the floor like glue. Dirty floor ? No problem. If you like to hear squeaky traction, these are for you. They could extend the herringbone up and around the forefoot like they do nowadays but not need really.

So simple yet effective. Just plain awesome.

Cushioning

Want to feel what Zoom is supposed to feel like and why it is so addictive ? Try the OG XIV. Low to the ground yet springy and responsive.

These actually have articulated forefoot Zoom like the Super Fly 4 and covers almost the full width of the forefoot. No tiny Met Bag like the Lebron 18 Picture courtesy of WeartestersThe heel features Zoom as well and back then, Zoom bags were big, not the quarter size things we see today. Notice the heel cut out? Very similar idea to the Kobe IV V VI “Y heel”. Insoles these days are usually just a piece of Ortholite or thin cheap foam but these XIV (2006 retros included) feature these heel and forefoot inserts that feel almost like Adiprene. This gives the wearer a little more cushioning and step in comfort.

The end result is cushioning perfection. Responsive yet protective. If cushioning is a drug, this is the crack that got me hooked on Zoom.
Fit:

 

Back then, I wore a 10.5 but my feet have flattened out and lengthened in the past eighteen years so now I need an 11. However I can still wear the 10.5 but don’t have the toe box space I like.

I know I sound like a broken record but back in the 90’s, Jordans were really wear tested a lot so the fit on the XIV is like a glove. No straps or gimmicks, just an effective lacing system that kept your foot in.

There is zero heel slip with a 3/4 mid cut
The memory foam in the ankle collar is the perfect amount.

Just feels like true extension of the foot. Man I miss these.  Maybe I’ll get the newer retros.
Support and stability 

The AJ XIV features an assymetrical collar which allows freedom on movement on cuts but support on ankle ankle inversions. The higher medial side “slows the roll” if you turn your ankle.

 

Tons of real carbon fiber.. So sexy

 

Of course the base of the shoe is flat and stable with no tippiness.

Once again, simple yet effective use of design and technology.

Containment 

Upon examining the XIV, Jordan Brand was way ahead of its time and is still designed better than a lot of shoes today that feature mesh or knit uppers **cough, melo m12, JC2, JC3, AJ XX9, Soldier X**

Almost the entire shoe features an extended midsole to keep the foot in place on cuts. Some of the extension was removed to allow more flexibility .I have probably reglued the forefoot “teeth” about five times on this pair.

Regardless of durability, containment is excellent.

Flaws:

No actual performance flaws with the XIV but some irritants.

1. Metal bar across the top of the tongue can jam into your ankle and be painful. Only certain pairs of mine did this.
2. Tongue doesn’t sit straight up on some pairs and usually slides to a side
3. The Ferrari Jordan shield is another hard spot but softens with time.
4. Toe box and sole can separate but that’s due to the age of the shoe and use of leather. Shoe goo to the rescue!

Conclusion 

In shoe collectors’ eyes, the jordans 2021 is not a holy grail. Sure MJ hit one of his most famous shots in them but he only wore the Last Shots in the playoffs. Sales were lackluster since MJ retired and never wore these on court the next season. However, from a performance perspective, these were and still are the BEST PERFORMING AIR JORDAN OF ALL TIME. the AJ XI, XII, and XIII a get a lot of love and rightfully so but the XIV is just flawless from top to bottom (don’t get me started on anything post XIV because they all have their flaws especially XV to XVIII).  These would still be in my top 5 rotation if they would hold up. Maybe I’ll try a newer retro pair for fun..

Air Jordan X Comparison: Orignal 1995 VS 2015 Remastered

Remastered or (re) diculously priced ? 

I used to be a huge Jordan Collector up until 2005/2006 when retro quality quickly went downhill.  Glue spots galore, cheap materials, and sudden increases in prices really turned me off  so I was intrigued by the entire “remastered” idea. Was this an admission by Jordan Brand that they were making pure shit for the past ten years ? In my eyes, yes but we all know quality was not JBs top priority. To make amends, Converse has promised better quality with an uptick in price. Let’s see how they compare.

Original 1995 Orlando Magic Jordan X DS

2015 Jordan X “Double Nickle” DS

MATERIALS

Leather quality appears almost identical to the originals. It seems more manufactured than the OG, meaning the OG pair had smooth, non textured spots whereas the retro looks exactly the same all the way around the shoe.

 Above: retro, below OG

 

Materials get a thumbs up from me but the AJ 11 never got hit by the bad quality bug as bad as other retros such as the IV V and VI. I’ll see if I can find my other X retros from 2005.

STITCHING AND GLUE

Very happy to say my pair didn’t have any excess glue spots or poor stitching

Above: retro, notice how smooth the second (bottom) layer of leather is? Almost too smooth and fake looking  but that’s just me being nitpicky (compare to below)

below OG

 

MIDSOLE AND SOLE

Spot on again

 

TONGUE

OG 

Retro

 

The stamping on the retro is actually more defined and clearer than the original.  The tongue’s material on the retro feels stiffer so maybe that’s why they were able to print it more clearly

BOXES

Nothing beats an OG box sorry lol

.

PRICING

The OG Aj X retailed for $125 20 years ago so taking inflation into account you get $192.

Although pricing is the same, Nike’s economy of scale has increased a lot so they are still making a lot more off these shoes than back in 1995.  In other words, Since they have grown so much in 20 years , production has increased , manufacturing is way more efficient and material prices have dropped since they buy so much more nowadays.

Overall though, as a big Aj collector, I can say that these remastered Aj Xs look and feel great, and are not over priced. If the rest of the remastered Jordans look like this I wouldn’t hesitate to buy them. Good job Jordan Brand !