Tarmak Elevate 900 NBA Licensed Sneaker Performance Review

 The Tarmak Elevate 900 was way better than I expected, in every way.

Decathlon is a sports store, similar to Dicks Sporting Goods, that operates all around the world with the exception of the USA. When I saw that a sports store put out its own, officially NBA-branded sneaker I was intrigued…not excited, but intrigued.

When I picked them up, I expected a goofy “Walmart” sneaker that was way more gimmick than sneaker. When I got them in my hands, I was surprised. The uppers materials weren’t amazing but they seemed to be your standard low weight, high-performance textile we are more than accustomed to seeing. The NBA branding wasn’t annoying and the midsole was plush and squishy. To be honest, they actually looked and felt like a LeBron. They passed the eye test, but how would they perform on court? I was able to play in these only outdoors, but this is how it went:

Traction

The traction was great. The shoe features a semi-translucent rubber outsole with a concentric circle traction pattern that offered great multidirectional coverage. The rubber was grippy and responsive and I had virtually zero issues with the traction. I need to test these indoors to confirm how good the traction is, but outdoors, they are good to go.

Cushion

The Cushion is a double-density foam setup.

To gauge how good they actually were, I brought along a pair of the adidas yeezy 350 to compare it to a good foam-based cushioned shoe. And I have to say…I couldn’t tell which I liked better.

I love the Dame 2 and the Tarmaks were right there with them. The foam is more responsive than it is plush, but if you like that type of setup (which I do) then you will like these.

Materials

Materials are basic. The upper consists primarily of a resilient mesh, which reminds me of the upper on the Puma Clyde All-Pro. The shoe is a bit difficult to get on, as the shoe features no tongue and has a textile booty you have to squeeze into.

The shoe requires a little break-in time, but that’s due in large part to the stiff torsional support that we will talk about a little further ahead.

Fit

When buying the Elevate 900, go true to size. They might feel a tad snug at first, but the textile upper soon molds to your foot. The lockdown was pretty good as well. The build stretched just enough to keep you comfortable. You’re secure from the ankle to the forefoot. There are several fuse overlays in high wear areas and a couple of flywire-esque cables that also help keep your foot in place as you play.

Support

The shoe features what Tarmak calls its “Dynalift“ dynamic system. This is a rather stiff Pebax plate that runs the length of the shoe in two sections. For me, it was a bit too stiff. Once you play in them for a while it begins to soften up but it still might make your foot cramp a bit. The base of the shoe is extra wide and cradles the foot nicely.

Overall

I was pleasantly surprised by the Tarmak Elevate 900. Esthetically, I expected a novelty item and performance-wise an uncomfortable dud of a shoe. What I actually got was a solid performer that was way more satisfying than a “not a dud” sneaker. Its on-court performance was comparable to some top-notch kicks. It wasn’t a perfect shoe by any means, but what shoe is? Aesthetically, I have to admit I couldn’t shake feeling a bit goofy wearing a Miami Heat branded shoe, but that’s on me. If you didn’t know it was a Decathlon shoe you might think you were looking at a LeBron or maybe one of air max 2021 top-tier models. The best thing was that I felt zero remorse about beating these things up outdoors. They matched my pace with ease.

Representation is at the Heart of the Summer Nike N7 Collection

 Lyle Thompson is less than 60 seconds into the first possession of the game, playing on his new team in Boston. On his first touch, the lacrosse forward kicks off a sequence that backs his reputation as one of the most talented lacrosse players in the world.

Cradling the ball, he sprints toward his defender behind the opposing net. Thompson spins, accepting the contact while using the defender’s momentum to pirouette toward the net, then launches a shovel shot over his right shoulder, diving to the ground. Thompson registers his first goal on his new squad so quickly that the moment could’ve been written into the game program.

Showing up right from the start — and consistently presenting the best version of himself to honor his team — is a principle Thompson stands by. That concept of representation also has layers of historical meaning for Indigenous communities across North America.

“In representation, it’s huge to continue to show up over time, otherwise you can’t expect to make significant change,” says Thompson. “This is especially true within Indigenous communities. If you show up once or only do something in the short term, you can actually hurt communities rather than help them.”

This year’s N7 collection focuses on lasting representation as a core theme. In the footwear, three silhouettes channel the backgrounds of three different athletes — Thompson, volleyball player Lauren Schad, and basketball guard Kyrie Irving — through personal design touches that are important symbols to their identities. The shoes, which include the Dunk Low, the nike air max 2021 and the Kyrie Low 4, will be available through the Nike By You builder, giving others a canvas to represent their own values.

Kyrie Irving, point guard for the Brooklyn Nets, possesses a spiritual rigor that drives him to connect his game and his being with history and social justice. In the past few years, Irving has been on a journey to reconnect with his community from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and in that process he has received his Lakota name, Hela, which means Little Mountain. During Irving's naming ceremony, he was gifted a star quilt, a brightly-colored traditional art form that inspired the colors and stitch detail graphic on his N7 Kyrie Low 4 for the summer collection.

The N7 Collection, featuring select footwear and apparel styles, releases June 21 in the U.S. and Canada at select Nike and Hibbett Sports retail locations and on nike.com.

Lauren Schad is originally from the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation and now plays professional volleyball for Nantes, France. Whether she is visiting her Lakota relatives in South Dakota, where she grew up, or traveling overseas for work, she makes a point of using her platform as an athlete to raise awareness on the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and to educate others about Indigenous people, eradicating stereotypes. The colors of the medicine wheel — a Lakota cultural symbol that represents balance and the four directions — are integrated into the N7 Air Zoom Type by Lauren, which also took inspiration from the intricate porcupine quill art that comes from her tribe.

1. Elements of full-grain leather: “I loved the idea of creating a shoe that has longevity. It’s a material that's intended to last.”
2. Purple colorway: The color represents the wampum shell, a natural oceanic shell from Thompson’s Onondaga nation used for crafting objects like bowls. “Our people used one-dish, one-spoon wampum to make treaties with our allies, but we also used them to make treaties with the Earth.”
3. The braided leather Swoosh: “Our people have been stripped of many parts of their identity throughout history, and one of those ways is through their hair. I wanted the braid to reflect a sense of pride about who we are.”

Learning how to represent comes from keen observation, Thompson says, and happens subtly. A vivid example occurs when kids watch how their mentors show up in the world. He remembers paying close attention to one of his biggest mentors, his older brother Jeremy. He studied Jeremy’s smallest patterns and habits, eager to act more like him in the ways he trained for lacrosse — the way he ran, the way he flicked his wrist on a shovel shot. “All of that knowledge is recycled; I can never take credit for learning it on my own,” Lyle says. “What I can do is pass it to the next generation.”

That’s exactly what Thompson’s 4 the Future Foundation does, using lacrosse to teach Indigenous youth about the values of persistence, respect and joy in sport. This commitment to mentorship is also core to the grantee partnerships made through the N7 Fund, which support Indigenous youth throughout North America with mentorship programs that help kids lead healthier and happier lives. In addition, the grants help deliver services that support education, guide career development and provide essential healthcare needs.

The close observation that takes place through mentorship is a priority across Nike. It’s reflected in programs like Women In jordan 1, which brings former WNBA players into the company to share an expertise and value system from their playing careers in a corporate environment. In the field of design, the Serena Design Crew and Nike x Design programs match diverse product and apparel talents with Nike designers, working together to lead seasonal capsules.

“My hope for anyone wearing the Dunk is to sense the Indigenous trait of resiliency. We represent a mindset, full of knowledge, that we can give to the world as the first people of North America."

Lyle Thompson

As corporate models, each program relies on listening to the voices of underrepresented groups to help Nike develop a more complete perspective on the world of sport. The silhouettes and apparel in N7 give Nike a similar opportunity to listen — and it's just as true now as it was in 2007, when the first N7 product was released. Through collaborations like Thompson’s Dunk, values can be transposed onto a wearable object.

“My hope for anyone wearing the Dunk is to sense the Indigenous trait of resiliency. We’re a resilient people,” says Thompson. “We represent a mindset, full of knowledge, that we can give to the world as the first people of North America. We represent a strong legacy that insists on showing up again and again despite the history of colonization. We’re proudly Indigenous, and we have a lot to give to the world.”

Meet the LeBron James Innovation Center

With its cantilevered top floor, the LeBron James Innovation Center is an attention grabber; its boldness is a spectacle of Nike’s sport-research capabilities. On that floor, the Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) is reborn, housing the world’s largest motion-capture installation (400 cameras), 97 force plates, body-mapping equipment and so much more. In the words of Matthew Nurse, PhD, VP of the Nike Explore Team Sport Research Lab, “The NSRL is the epicenter of where we work with athletes of all abilities, all backgrounds, all skills and all sports.”

Some 40 years after its establishment in Exeter, New Hampshire, the NSRL continues to set the tone for performance breakthroughs. Within the LeBron James Innovation Center, the NSRL positions Nike for future decades of game-changing products and experiences for all athletes.

“Athletes can move here at full speed, full motion — they can just play,” says Dr Nurse.

By the Numbers

84,000

square feet dedicated to sport research

400

motion-capture cameras in the NSRL

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97

force plates in the NSRL Fieldhouse

825

pieces of testing equipment in the NSRL

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4

environmental chambers

80+

new prototyping machines

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The LeBron James Innovation Center is where listening to the voice of the athlete is made tangible. While athletes are observed, other people are at play too: prototyping, testing and, yes, creating the future. The goal is to understand unique needs and opportunities, contextualize challenges, and generate breakthroughs across the spectrum of play and movement in a variety of environments.

The new scope of the NSRL is fivefold the footprint of its predecessor. Facilities include a full-size basketball court, a 200-meter endurance track, a 100-meter straightaway, and an artificial-turf training pitch — all in service of capturing athletes in motion at full speed. Along with the force plates and motion-capture equipment mentioned above, a series of four advanced climate chambers mimic a variety of conditions. These advancements support an expansion of research and development that encompasses both mental and physical well-being.

“Our goal every single day is to make athletes better and to make the world better for athletes,” says Kathy Gomez, VP of Footwear Innovation. “Understanding more types of bodies, more genders, more backgrounds and different ability levels helps us create better and more specific max 2021.”

LeBron on the LeBron James Innovation Center

Asked what it means to have Nike’s Innovation Center named after him, LeBron James stated, “Over the course of my career and my time here at Nike, for all of this to come together is surreal. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to me, but I’m definitely honored. Having my name on the Innovation building feels very fitting because I’m always trying to figure out ways I can continue to innovate and continue to break the timeline of what they say is your prime.”

 

An inside look at Nike’s new LeBron James Innovation Center

The insatiably curious community that works in the space allows for an intersecting mix of talent, from biomechanics researchers and robotics experts to computational designers and patent pros. In fact, the LeBron James Innovation Center is designed to facilitate collaboration and expeditious prototyping (created in under an hour).

“In the innovation space, we take information from the NSRL, and we are able to look at different ways to solve an athlete’s problem. It gets extremely interesting,” says Janett Nichol, VP of Apparel Innovation. “In a conventional way of building a product, we would just go straight to a material, get a pattern, sew it, and then that would be it. Here, we can go to anything from biology or chemistry to pushing the limits of a machine to create a very different experience with material.”

Once prototypes are made, capacity to test — and to adjust, test and repeat until an idea is solidified — is right there. It’s an undertaking informed by the scientific process.

“In the very beginning, we were a company for elite runners. We expanded to recreational runners, and then we got into other sports,” says Tom Clarke, President of Innovation. “At every step along the way, it’s been necessary to provide the research, and the scientific proof, that we’re making our products better.”

The Zoom Freak 3 is About Stretching Space to the Rim

 The Zoom Freak 3 is built for creating space through radical downhill angles. The shoe’s tech supports the dominant physicality that defines Giannis Antetokounmpo’s style of play and helps to progress his Euro step, which the power forward uses to warp the distance between his body and the basket.

“One of the hallmarks of his athleticism is transferring energy quickly from leg to leg to maneuver his body through gaps,” says Ross Klein, Sr. Creative Director for Men’s Performance Footwear at Nike. “Giannis works his foot like a gas and brake. He also works all different angles of his foot as he’s driving to the basket, so we wanted to contour the design to fit the way he transitions from step to step.”

To that end, two Zoom Air max units under the ball of the foot help absorb energy and provide responsiveness. The set-up is low to the ground, which means the foot is in closer contact with the floor, leading to tight control for searing downhill attacks. The engineered upper helps keep Antetokounmpo’s foot contained, while the strap helps lock down the forefoot, making sure his center of gravity won’t slide over the footbed. The outsole takes inspiration from one of Nike basketball’s most recognizable traction patterns.

The black and purple Project 34 colorway and the orange Freak colorway of the Zoom Freak 3 releases globally July 1 and in North America in August.

Meet the Team Behind the Air Jordan XXXVI

  Learnings from the Air Jordan XXXIV and the Air Jordan XXXV led to the proposition behind the Air Jordan XXXVI, which combines the excellence of Jordan Brand product teams to achieve the many definitions of “light” and their effects on performance.[/caption]

With the Air Jordan XXXVI, Jordan Brand decided to shed materials — taking the learnings from doing just that in the Air Jordan XXXIV and XXXV — and see how far they could go. “Light” was the muse.

That muse unified teams of design specialists across the brand as they perfected the many definitions of the word. The Air Jordan XXXVI’s new features — a jacquard leno-weave upper, a full-length Zoom Air Strobel unit that’s double-stacked with a forefoot unit, a refined plate system — come from experts at Jordan Brand combining their specialties to make the best basketball shoe in the world.

“We want those who love the brand to see something that’s always been a part of our design legacy: the power of teamwork that goes on between a core group of folks to create product excellence,” says Martin Lotti, VP, Jordan Brand Design. “Jordan Brand is inspired by one man, but it’s carried into the future by many, many people who are experts in their field.”

By exploring three aspects of light, the Air Jordan XXXVI highlights the kind of

The Air Jordan XXXVI features a jacquard leno-weave material that composes the upper. Lightweight but also strong, the material bends and contours to provide support where it’s needed most.

Not only does the material help make a lightweight shoe for playing, the breathable leno-weave presents a see-through aesthetic that allows light and colors to shine through.

“Within the basketball landscape, we wanted to create a new language for light,” says Jacqueline Lefferts, Jordan Brand Lead Materials Designer. “We asked ourselves, What does light look like? It’s a product of the upper’s weight, but it’s also a trait of the upper itself in that light is a defining quality.”

What is Leno-Weave?

Leno-weave is a pattern of weaving that twists two warp yarns (“warp” is the lengthwise yarn) around the weft yarn (“weft” is the perpendicular yarn that move under-and-over the pattern). The resulting fabric is strong, lightweight, and adaptable to all kinds of shapes.

In basketball, lightweight on its own isn’t enough to create game-separating movement. Lightweight has to combine with a feeling or a sound — a pop that returns the force a player puts into the court.

[caption id="attachment_90075" align="alignnone" width="1202"] A familiar sight, the multidirectional herringbone outsole pattern provides best-in-class traction to help players’ quickness, change of direction and control. What’s new underfoot is a full-length Zoom Strobel unit (you can see it through the heel window) with an additional forefoot zoom unit for an extra pop of responsiveness.[/caption]

The Air Jordan XXXVI cushioning set-up is the most Zoom Air coverage that Jordan Brand has put into a signature shoe. A full-length Zoom Air Strobel unit is stitched directly to the upper, sitting above another forefoot Zoom Air unit for an extra burst of responsiveness. The multi-directional traction pattern is the ideal base to initiate that quickness, change of direction and control.

“One trend we noticed in the nike air max 2021 is how lightweight is typically described as a performance feature, which has been heavily marketed as ball handling and foot-to-court movement. All that is a fundamental part of the game, but the origins of the Jordan Brand were about tapping into the time off the floor, the hangtime, the flight,” says Chad Troyer, Jordan Brand Senior PLM. “In bringing in the Zoom Strobel and adding another Zoom unit beneath that, we were working toward that ‘pop’ for players so they can get of the floor quickly.”

The definition of “light” also relates to designing for the athleticism of Jordan Brand’s young roster. Players like Satou Sabally, Jayson Tatum, Kia Nurse, Luka Dončić and Zion Williamson are impossibly powerful and graceful at once, so they need game shoes that fit their athleticism, using every subtracted ounce of weight to their advantage. Even the sockliner of the Air Jordan XXXVI is perforated to remove weight and help the foot be in closer contact with the Zoom Air Strobel.

“The Jordan Brand Design team really did their thing,” says Satou Sabally, forward for the Dallas Wings. “The 36 is amazing. It’s super light. When you pick it up, you don’t just feel it — you see it. I knew from the minute I put it on that it’s going to be fun to play in.”

Filtered throughout the shoe’s design is Michael Jordan’s transcendent influence on basketball culture. The team shifted away from exposing the Zoom bags, a repeated trait from the Air Jordan XXXIV and XXXV, and enclosed them to connect a foam ribbon design through the midsole. The change was also meant to resemble an infinity symbol — you can trace the pattern across the midsole and never pick up your finger. The design still creates a functional kinetic system in the same way that Jordan Brand’s Flight Plate and Eclipse Plate did. That is, the heel helps protect against impact, while the force is loaded through the plate and launched into the forefoot. But the design was also meant to symbolize Michael Jordan’s infinite influence across the sport and beyond.

“We weren’t focused on exposing the bags anymore. We wanted to connect the ribbon and cover up the plate system,” says Tate Keurbis, Jordan Brand Footwear Designer. “In doing so, we brought in subtle details from the Air Jordan VI and created a tooling that conveys Michael’s lasting influence in worldwide culture.”

[caption id="attachment_90076" align="alignnone" width="1600"] The Eclipse Plate from the previous two Air Jordan models is hollowed out between the outsole and midsole in the Air Jordan XXXVI to help reduce weight and expose the shoe’s stabilizing shank.[/caption]

Other details are inspired by the silhouette’s muse in the line, the Air Jordan VI. A lace cover, cutouts on the outsole, and embellishments on the heel are tributes to the shoe in which Michael Jordan won his first title.

adidas D Rose 5 Boost Performance Review

 Boost in a premium hoops shoe ? Yes please!

How’d the D Rose 5 compare to other top tier shoes ?

King of the Court shootout

PROS: traction, support, stability, containment, fit, price

CONS: a little deadspace in the toe box (cured with replacing insole, could use a little more Boost in forefoot if  wanted to nitpick

I know I’m late to the party as I’ve read all the reviews ranging from “trash” to “awesome” so wanted to help those who are on the fence and clarify that these are definitely AWESOME especially after you swap the insole. With the nba x nike air force 1 coming down as the season wears on, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better shoe for under $100. Currently Eastbay has them for $109 plus 15 to 20% off which makes it about $88. Full size runs are still available which means they will be discounted further and most hit outlets for even bigger discounts.  Just because a shoe sits on a shelf and hits outlets doesn’t mean it isn’t a great performer, it just means the average consumer isn’t buying them.  I’d expect them to hit the outlet for about $79.99 soon with additional discounts like buy 2 get 1 free etc ..anyways onto the review.

Traction

Traction is fantastic on all surfaces which is what I’ve come to expect from the DRose line.   The rubber is soft and pliable and does a great job pushing away dirt and gripping the floor.The pattern in the forefoot reminds a lot of the nike kyrie 8 which had excellent traction as well. I’d say it is almost as good as the Kobe ix and Clutchfit Drive just a touch less grabby thanks to a wider thicker herringbone pattern but just as consistent. I even played in these over my Clutchfits during a tourney this weekend bc they were just that good.

Fit

Fit in the Rose 5 is great as well except for a little deadspace in the toe box. I had the “Brenda/Ltrain” and that colorway had a but more space than my alternate away colorway due to the materials used. This colorway is a mix of leather and mesh which I believe tightens up the toe box. The inflexibility of the Brenda colorway made it tougher to tighten up the toe box imo thus the extra deadspace. I did not have a problem with the deadspace but I decided to swap out the insole with the Rose 4 and it really cleaned up the fit and eliminated all the dead space.  If you compare the insoles, you can see the stock insole is half the thickness of the Rose 4s. The idea was probably to put your foot as close to the Boost as possible and was probably an afterthought when they measured and designed the shoe. Does a few millimeters make a difference in performance ? No it doesn’t, but it does affect how you perceive the fit.

Cushioning

Boost is awesome plain and simple. Bouncy and responsive yet plush and durable. I’ve had these shoes for two months or so and the Boost hasn’t lost any of the bounce. I wore them for a tourney this weekend and I didn’t have the normal aches and pains I usually have after a bunch of games. Adidas calls it full length but it is more like 3/4 length as it seems to end around where the toe and foot meet.  It is definitely thinner as you move from heel to toe (and as you can see)

Adidas thinned out the Jordan 1 in the forefoot to give more court feel and make the shoe more stable. I wish they put a touch more in the forefoot but these aren’t my sig shoe. Swapping the insoles also beefed up the forefoot cushioning a little. Every time I put these on every other brand’s cushioning feels second rate compared to these.

SUPPORT

Fantastic support plain and simple . I really don’t know anyone would need to wear ankle braces when you have these on. Most of the support comes from the supports seen below which are made of a stiffer plastic compound that breaks in the more you wear the shoe.

Additional support comes from the plastic heel counter and keeps your heel in place.

Since my foot was already securely in place I didn’t have to worry at all about my foot sliding or moving. The support and stability on these are my favorite feature.

STABILITY

These passed my heel test easily and have a torsion bar to keep the foot from twisting. It really helped stabilize the Boost which was a genius move by Adidas. They were able maintain the Boost feel while providing additional support. I never felt out of balance or felt like the shoe was going to tip even I landed off balance .

CONTAINMENT

Some reviewers said they wished try used PrimeKnit or a woven upper on the Rose 5 but my guess is that Rose’s herky jerky movements would have resulted in a blownout in the shoes upper.  Plus Adidas wanted to keep the price under $150 so using a woven upper wouldn’t have allowed that.  The containment is wonderful on these thanks to the foam ” rails ” that run along the entire side of both sides of the foot.  I believe Adidas calls them FitFrame. These sit up about 4 of 5mm  around the foot and keep the foot in place even on the hardest cuts. The thicker upper also keeps the foot from coming out of the footbed which I really love .

PRICE

As mentioned earlier, the Jordans 2021 has been seeing price cuts and will continue to fall in price as the season wears on. For under $100 you can get a fantastic shoe with excellent lock down , traction, cushioning , fit and containment. I forgot to mention they are durable too . My still look like bew after a few months.

CONCLUSION

I think the Rose 5 got lower than expected reviews due to high expectations and hype. If you break down each component of the shoe , it is an exceptional shoe, especially for the price .  Once these start hitting outlets I will be picking up several more pairs as they have crept into my elusive top 5 rotation of all time.

King of the Court: Lebron XIII vs Rose 6 vs Curry Two

 I started writing a performance review on the Lebron XIII and frankly I got bored. Dunk and Nightwing really hit it on the head so I decided to do a comparison review between these three great performers. Here are my original reviews for the Rose 6 and Curry Two

Sizing Advice

I bought an 11 in all pairs

Curry Two: True to size, a little shorter in the toe box vs Curry One. Can go up half size if you want more space in the toe box

Rose 6: True to size or half size down depending on preference. Slightly longer in the toe box so I could fit true to size and half size down

Lebron XIII: True to size although it looks longer then normal ( same sizing as XII). I can see some people going down half size but not up.

Weight

1. Curry Two: 14 oz
2. Lebron XIII: 16 oz
3. Rose 6: 17 oz

No surprises here. The Curry Two features Speedform and is sparsely padded, thus the light weight. If you want some extra plush padding go Rose 6 or Lebron XIII for a decent amount.

Traction

1. Curry Two
2. Lebron XIII
3. Rose 6

The Curry Two traction is just plain awesome. No need to wipe, just sticks to the floor. In almost any other year, the Lebron and Rose would probably be tops but the Curry Two traction is just perfect.

I was as surprised by the Jordans 2021 traction as everyone else. I found the previous four (9-12) very average/meh except for the X. I hope that from here on out Nike makes Lebron’s traction work for us average joes that slum it on dusty floors. It worked surprisingly well even on dusty floors thanks to a soft rubber compound. Translucent outsoles aren’t bad like everyone believes.

The Rose 6 traction didn’t surprise me despite its looks because almost every Rose shoe has had excellent traction.. Although the splatter design of the Rose 2 wasn’t that great.

Cushioning

1. Rose 6
2. Lebron XIII
3. Curry Two

The ranking above also coincides with how firm they play with the Rose 6 being the softest.

From heel to toe, the Rose 6 is buttery smooth and pushes back on each step while absorbing all the impact. I love Boost and when it is done right like this, it is amazing.

The Lebron XIII is what I expected the XII to feel like. Big 13mm Zoom at the forefoot and heel really made a difference. Of course there is only one that big in the forefoot but beggars can’t be choosers.

Below: comparison of XII and XIII. I think there is a Zoom Air limit; increase forefoot to 13 mm but take away two Zoom units (top two units aren’t Zoom) to make up for the increase. Oh and shrink the heel’s coverage too.

I could feel the bounce from the get go even if it was only one pod. I didn’t  really enjoy the segmentation of the Hex Zoom. They are spaced further apart this time so they don’t feel as seamless as last year. I do not like the Zoom protrusion either but during a game it isn’t really noticeable unless you’re actually thinking about it. It does wobble a bit at the heel if you’re just standing though. I’m pleased to say the overall clunkiness I felt with the XII is gone though.

The Curry Two set up is full length Charged and feels good overall, much better than the Curry One. This set up is firmer than the Lebron and Rose with less bounce and feedback. I still prefer Micro G but this Charged set up is a great too.

In terms of ride height, the Curry Two easily sits the lowest while the Lebron and Rose sit about the same height.

Fit

1. Curry Two
2. Rose 6 with my mod
3. Lebron XIII
4. Rose 6 stock set up

The Curry Two just fit like a sock for me.  I usually don’t like minimal uppers but the Speedform/synthetic upper just worked for me. Some break in time is needed for the synthetic to loosen up but that’s about it. I’ve read some about some Achilles rubbing but I never had that issue.

The Rose 6 was good from the get go for me. I did make an extra eyelet because I felt lockdown could be better though.

Some people may not feel it’s necessary but that’s why our ankles and feet aren’t all the same size and shape. I found my mod effective and really improved lockdown.

The Lebron XIII fit like a sock as well and it should considering it only has one seam and the tongue is stitched in as well (medial side)

If you break a lace please let me know how you relaced. The laces that go through the Posite are  covered underneath. The Posite piece sort of helps with midfoot lock down but I think it’s really the extra thick Fuse that it is on top of that holds the midfoot down.
It looks a little long on foot but I still had my ideal finger width at the toe box. The extra height of the ankle collar didn’t bother me either but I did manage to loosen the laces with my lower calves due to the high cut of the shoe.

Stability 

1. Curry Two
2. Rose 6
3. Lebron XIII

I decided to separate “Support and Stability” because I think they are two different things and deserve to be ranked separately. Normally I put them together since they are working in tandem. If a shoe is stable, it usually doesn’t need much support. And if a shoe has a lot of support, you hope the shoe is at least decently stable so you don’t need all that help.

I found the Curry Two to be outstanding in terms of overall stability. I had a hard time trying to tip them with my heel test. I also think the firmer cushioning set up and outrigger help the shoe become very stable while not being restrictive.

The Rose 6 is also very stable due to a side flat outsole, X torsion bar  and umm, errr, well, a Stable Frame.

Had the 6 not had all these parts in place, all that Boost would have been too plush and unstable.

The Kyrie 8 is also stable overall thanks to outriggers everywhere and would feel even more stable if the Zoom wasn’t sticking out.

It’s also much wider at the forefoot than the XII

Support 

1. Lebron XIII
2. Rose 6
3. Curry 2

None of these three shoes have extensive support. That higher cut of the Lebron XIII looks like it would help but the cut itself doesn’t do much since it is so flexible. The Hyperposite does add a little stiffness and structure but it isn’t going to save anyone’s ankles either.

The Rose 6 looks supportive as well due to the cage but in reality this straps are there for lacing purpose and aren’t stiff enough or oriented in a way to prevent or limit an ankle injury.
The best support feature in my opinion is the asymmetrical collar
I loved this on the AJ XIV and I love this on the Rose 6 now as well. When you turn you’re able the higher cut will slow down the inversion so hopefully the sprain won’t be as severe.

The Curry Two is ultra stable so no real support system outside of fit and the external heel counter is needed.

All three have midfoot shanks of some sort as well as heel counters to control the heel.
Containment 

1. Curry Two
2. Lebron XIII
3. Rose 6

Changing directions and sudden starts/stops laterally (i.e. Crossovers, defensive slides) is where I feel containment matters most. All three shoes do an excellent job with this so you can’t go wrong with any of these. I felt the Curry Two did a minutely better job than the other two due to the extended midsole rails and less elastic synthetic toe box. The Lebron XIII has extra fuse layers as well as an extended higher midsole to hell keep the foot contained.

You can see how much thicker the fuse is around the forefoot. It has to be 2-3 times thicker than the rest of the upper.

The foot actually sits right at the tip of that peak so that the midsole forms a nice little bucket just like the Rose 5.

Imagine the force a shoe takes with a 260 lb freight train like Lebron. I still think he did not like the XI because of the drop in insole pinching between the upper on cuts and slides (contrary to the foot pain excuse )

The Rose 6 went with a lower midsole bucket than last year but still kept the great containment due to a non stretchy upper.
Price

Before coupon codes

1. Curry Two: $130
2. Rose 6: $140
3. Lebron XIII: $200

After

1. Rose 6: $98 to $112
2. Curry Two: $130 (not allowed yet)
3. Lebron XIII $160

*adidas.com 30% code HOOSIERS was working for me yesterday, 11/5*

If you leave out price out of the equation, you must have a lot of money. Don’t know about you but I try to maximize the bang for my buck, especially on a depreciable item like shoes. Regardless of discounts, the Lebron XIII is easily the most expensive. All performance aspects being fairly equal, I’d go with the cheaper ones options unless you’re a huge LBJ fan or need a swoosh to validate yourself  (I’m not a fan of the XIII’s looks at all)

Conclusion

The big three shoe companies (I guess ? Owning less than 5% isn’t really equal footing) really came out strong this year with their top sig shoes.  As you may have read my earlier reviews, both the Curry Two and Rose 6 made it into my ongoing top 3 rotation because they just do everything well and they also excel in traction and cushioning respectively. Personally, if a shoe doesn’t have great traction, it stands no chance in making my rotation because I hate wasting energy trying to stop and change directions while sliding on dusty floors. The Curry Two traction just sticks on anything and I love it. If traction is what’s most important to you as well,get the Curry Two.

The Rose 6 just feels great thanks to a boost in Boost. I can’t say enough about how good it feels from heel to toe. If you love an exceptional cushioning set up, get the Rose 6.

As for the Lebron XIII, I feel it is an excellent shoe but it doesn’t do anything any better than the Curry Two or Rose 6 and nothing stands out to me other than the Hyperposite Clover and the price tag. I will say it is a far better, more natural feeling shoe than the XII and like Lebron, it does everything well. I’d still take my Soldier VI or Soldier IX over these though. Might have less tech, but they are much cheaper in price and perform better.

I hope this comparison helps in deciding which shoe to go with. Feel free to ask questions as always in the comments section

Thanks for reading !

Nike LeBron 17 Low Review Better Once Again?

 A $40 decrease in price will get you the most changes in the entire history of the LeBron low iterations. But are all of those changes worth it?

This is the Nike LeBron 17 Low performance review. Let’s get it!

 

WEIGHT: 386.9 g. / 13.65 oz

TECH: MAX AIR, REACT

TYPE: LOW-TOP

COLORWAYS: 2+

FIT: TRUE TO SIZE

RETAIL PRICE: $160

BD RATING: 8.8/10

MATERIALS

KnitPosite out. The mesh/synthetic leather combo in.

The new generation knit setup on the original Dunk had to be one of the best feeling & performing uppers in the entire existence. That’s just my opinion.

Nonetheless, this main mesh bootie with synthetic leather side panels is something you wouldn’t call “a budget tear” setup at any rate. The build quality is still there, matching the price point, exactly how a signature sneaker should be. Same goes for the performance as you won’t be missing any of the main features.

The break-in process was fairly quick & unpainful too. However, that supreme one-to-one fit and overall ability to accommodate your foot in no time were definitely missed in the lows. But if you’re upgrading from the LeBron 16 or lower, or if you’re a new guy to the line, you shouldn’t be missing any of that.

CUSHION

The heel section is what makes us – cushion lovers – scream like little girls in Ed Sheeran’s concert. In other words, the Max Air craziness stayed untouched in the off-white x jordan 2. On the other end, how it should be for a low-top version, the forefoot cushion tooling went more guard-oriented. Well, it tried to…

Taking away the spot from Zoom Air, React is something I didn’t mind getting in exchange. It’s that true React experience, similar to what we can find in running shoes, which is exciting news for our cushion lovers.

The forefoot still remains heavily packed with impact protection. And if the amount of plushness in the forefoot on the original version wasn’t enough – the lows should leave you completely satisfied. Yet, for that, you will sacrifice a bit of responsiveness, which made the front end play a tad slower. That’s why I would prefer sticking with the Zoom Air setup on the original pair.

But, hey, how about guard-focused performance?? Well, maybe next time, folks.

 

TRACTION

Following the same situation found in the cushion department, the traction pattern only receives pattern changes in the forefoot. Due to the appearance of React foam, the platform went from being articulated to completely flat in the low version.

Bigger surface coverage, means better grip? Theoretically, yes, but I couldn’t feel any tangible difference comparing both of the versions once hitting the court. But it’s all right, though. The traction was already beastly.

Dust was never a problem since the dust collection was rather minimal, therefore wiping is something that can be neglected to still have that beastly performance.

 

FIT

Following the same situation found in the cushion department, the traction pattern only receives pattern changes in the forefoot. Due to the appearance of React foam, the platform went from being articulated to completely flat in the low version.

Bigger surface coverage, means better grip? Theoretically, yes, but I couldn’t feel any tangible difference comparing both of the versions once hitting the court. But it’s all right, though. The traction was already beastly.

Dust was never a problem since the dust collection was rather minimal, therefore wiping is something that can be neglected to still have that beastly performance.

 

SUPPORT

Nothing was taken or added in this category. All of the main support components featured on the Kyrie 8 can be found on the Lows as well. That also transfers onto the hardwood as I didn’t find any area of the shoe to be lacking stability or containment.

For lateral support you do have leather panels on top and two outriggers down below. So even though you sit quite high off the ground, busting of the footbed was not a concern. While the internal heel counter in conjunction with that fancy lacing system does ensure your foot is completely locked in place.

 

OVERALL

The Jordans 2021 with its $30 lower price tag will not take away any of the main features found in the original version. A few small changes like updated cushion setup or different material choices, although, make the difference in the specification sheet, the performance outcome was kept somewhat identical.

One thing for sure, this is way far from a guard-focused on-court performer. Unless you’re one of those retired dudes who are trying their best to keep their knees and the rest of their bones alive.

Other than that, this is a shoe for those who want an all-around performance, and that crazy amount of cushion in a smaller, lighter form factor.

adidas Pro N3XT 2021 Performance Review

 The adidas Pro N3XT 2021 is a new budget model from the brand with the three stripes. It’s hit or miss right now over at adidas, and we continue to hope that they’ll put out some beastly performing sneakers. These may look similar to the adidas Exhibit A, but let’s not confuse aesthetics with performance. In my opinion, these fit right into the category of budget basketball shoes.

Find out if the kyrie 8 is the next shoe for you in the article below.

Traction

One word: beastly. The traction pattern is two-sectioned. From the midfoot to the forefoot, we have an aggressive wave-bone pattern which has flex grooves in all the right places. In the heel, we have good old cilia traction. All throughout the outsole, there are arrow-shaped reinforcements just to make sure you don’t slip. And I never did. These things gripped the floor well whenever I played, which was usually on a very dusty floor. Not a lot of noise, though, if that’s what you’re looking for. What makes things even better is that these are really durable. I’ve played multiple hours in them outside and there’s not any noticeable wear, major scratches or fraying on the outsole. These just work. Period.

Cushion

Here’s where things go south. This is, without question, my least favorite aspect of this shoe. Usually, when I hear “full-length Bounce,” I shout for joy because of my previous experiences with shoes like the off-white x air jordan 2 . But these are nothing like that. They are too low to the ground. You sit well within the midsole, and the midsole already looks thin as is. You’re not even half an inch above the ground at the forefoot, and the heel isn’t any thicker. I actually had to give these a shorter testing time because my legs and back couldn’t take the impact I was experiencing. When I jump as high as I can, and I don’t jump very high, my body begs for more cushion upon landing. It just wasn’t a great experience for me.

It gets marginally better (and I mean really marginally) over time, but reaches its max potential rather quickly. Though I’d recommend the outsole for outdoors, I would not recommend the cushion for outdoor play, unless you prefer a REALLY low-to-the-ground set up with no bounce or impact protection.

Materials

Nothing truly unusual here. Three-fourths of the shoe is made up of a tightly-knit textile, while the heel portion is some cheap felt material. What’s interesting, though, is that both lateral sides are covered by two layers. The first one is an airy mesh, then on top of that is a very thick fuse. Then on the medial sides, there are fuse pieces, but they’re more for aesthetics and branding. Breathability is almost non-existent because of how tight the knit is, plus all the overlays. They do, however, move well with the foot. I also do not see any durability issues in the long term because of the structure of the whole shoe. Overall though, I’m not surprised with the material choice considering the price point.

Fit

I can’t believe I’m going to say this about an adidas shoe, but the fit is the best part. It’s 100% true to size. Everything is snug and the materials lay nicely over the foot without a single millimeter of dead space. And what makes these better is that these are the easiest shoes to put on. Ever. The tongue is only really connected to the bottom and, unless you put the laces under the nylon piece on top, it’s very free to move around, so getting in is smooth. This might concern you thinking about possible in-game issues, but there’s none of that because of the snug fit. Easily one of the best fitting shoes of the year.

Support

A lot of the support comes from the perfect fit, but it still isn’t perfect. The base isn’t as wide as I would’ve liked, and an outrigger could’ve easily fixed that. I almost rolled over the footbed once in my hours of testing, which isn’t a terrible statistic. Just know that it can happen with jordans 2021. The materials do a good job of containing the foot on hard lateral movements, but sometimes that’s just not enough for a great supporting shoe. So, it isn’t a deal breaker for me personally, but I can see why one might not go with these considering the slight lack in lateral support. It does check all the other stability boxes.

Overall

I enjoyed all the aspects of the fit sporting goods, except for the cushion. It just wasn’t enough for my playing needs. And I’m only 5’8” weighing in at 158 pounds with an average vertical. I don’t feel like these offer enough impact protection. If you really do prefer a low-to-the-ground cushion, then these are a good option, especially if you mainly play outdoors. At the end of the day, I can see why people may or may not pick these up. It just all comes down to personal preference.

ASICS Sky Elite FF 2 Performance Review

 ASICS is the premier brand for volleyball specific shoes. If you watched the Olympics, you saw their top model, the Off-White x Air Jordan 2 Low. It was by far the most popular choice for both the men and the women (especially in the bright red “Tokyo” colorway). In this case, the pros know best: this sneaker improves upon its predecessor and makes a strong case for best volleyball shoe (especially for hitters).

Pros

Let’s start from the ground up. The traction on these shoes (as with most ASICS) is excellent. The rubber they use for indoor court shoes grips great and wipes easily. Wide, curving grooves ensure grip in every direction and smartly run perpendicular to the direction you plant to load into a jump. I did not experience any slipping at all while wearing these.

Next on the shoe is ASICS’ TWISTRUSS plate. Functioning similar to the Eclipse Plate on the more recent Jordan shoes (like the Air Jordan 36), this midfoot shank is very rigid and is meant to prevent torsional rotation and midfoot flexing in the shoe. This is good for your foot. Your arch should not bend in these spots. It also helps to ensure proper energy transfer through the shoe as you push through an approach. This plate also helps the shoe hold its shape, which curves for a smooth heel-toe transition. I could really feel this effect when planting my penultimate approach step. When jumping, the sometimes-awkward transition from the outside edge of my foot through the inside of the big toe felt natural and quick in these shoes.

The Sky Elite FF 2 is very stable due to a combination of the bottom and top of the shoe. The outsole has a relatively wide outrigger, which helps keep your foot flat on the ground to prevent rolling of the ankle. Whether playing back row or playing middle in the front, this shoe felt great when pushing off for fast lateral movements.

The lateral containment is helped by one more signature feature in this sneaker: the DYNAWRAP, which makes the lockdown in these shoes very solid. This is a strong ribbon just before the toebox that wraps down past the insole and tightens as you tighten your shoelaces. I didn’t think much of it until putting the shoe on. Surprisingly, it makes a huge difference. I could really feel it clamping from the sides, and it didn’t let my foot slip even the slightest when pushing off in any direction. Additionally, the Sky Elite FF 2 features a very substantial heel counter. I didn’t notice my heel slipping upwards at all. The lacing system in this shoe is pretty vanilla. The upper is made of fairly basic materials. While the DYNAWRAP and heel counter do plenty on their own to keep your foot in place

At last we get to the cushioning. This is where this shoe surprised me the most. I’ve never been impressed with ASICS’ GEL setups, or most foam-based midsoles for that matter. I was expecting too soft of a cushion, where you lose some bounce. But this was not the case at all. ASICS combined their soft GEL tech with their FLYTEFOAM midsole, and it works. Jumping to attack in this shoe feels fast and explosive. It’s still soft enough but I had no knee or joint pain at all after hours of play. It’s clear to me that ASICS designed this shoe with hitting in mind, and they hit their mark. The feel reminded me of the kyrie 8. If you read our site often, you know that’s high praise.

The fit is standard and you should buy true to size, but wide-footers should be aware of some tightness from the DYNAWRAP. I would still buy true to size, but just don’t tighten the bottom of the laces quite as much.

As a final, quick pro, the shoe’s upper is very well ventilated. This keeps your foot cool and the shoe feeling light. Neither of those factors are incredibly important to me, but they are worth mentioning.

Cons

There aren’t many cons to speak of, but we need to discuss them. For one, it isn’t the most comfortable shoe I’ve worn. The upper materials are very basic. The tongue slid around some, and the security of the DYNAWRAP comes at a cost: It feels very tight around the ball of your foot. Not painful, but when I pushed off laterally, or landed from a swing, I could feel that thin ribbon holding my foot inside the shoe. It wasn’t enough to cause pain, but it’s noticeably snug where it wraps around the forefoot.

The other con doesn’t matter to some people, but it’s a problem that has plagued volleyball specific shoes for decades. There’s almost no effort put into the aesthetics of the shoe. The upper is made of a loose knit and plastic. My pair actually has a defect in the toe where it looks like the plastic melted some in manufacturing. As far as colorways, there aren’t many options. The popular and bold “Tokyo” colorway is rarely in stock, leaving a white and silver pair as the other readily available option. I realize this might not bother some players though as they still look pretty clean.

Overall

ASICS clearly had a well-defined goal in mind when designing the Sky Elite FF 2. Make a shoe that helps attackers jump to swing. In doing so, they made a shoe that will work great whether you’re hitting, setting or staying in the back as a libero. I liked playing in this shoe significantly more than I expected to and they will definitely stay near the top of my rotation. I strongly recommend giving these a try no matter where you play on the court, but especially if you play front row.