UA Anatomix Spawn Low 3 Performance Analysis and Review

Two UA guys in the dunk contest finals! Who’d have thunk it?!
My reviews aren’t beauty pageants but if they were, the Spawn 3 might get Miss Congeniality
UA is trying to bring back the Anatomix spawn “franchise”(you know all two models) with the Anatomix Spawn Low. Keep in mind that when the Spawn first came out it was basically Steph’s first shoe so it looked special and had a ton of tech marketing packed in it. Now that Steph has moved onto his 6th shoe (technically 7 with the Curry 2.5 and if want to throw in the 3zero’s, technically 9) UA might say it has similarities to the original words are just words when it comes to sneaker marketing. Here is my review for the original
The real question is, how’s the shoe play? Well minus a few unnecessary holes (that’s what she said) and bubbles, I’m pleased to say it’s great, way better than the Curry 5and 6. Sorry the Curry 2 is still the best of the bunch.
Pros: TRACTION, cushioning, overall fit, stability, containment
Cons: lots of deadspace bubbles on the top of the foot, bulbous
Sizing Advice: true to size for everyone. Half a size down if. you want an even tighter fit.
Buying Advice: wait, looks sell
Weight
15 ounces or one ounce heavier than the original low. A little heavier than average for a low
Traction
Kobe IX anyone ?
Definitely the highlight of the shoe. Coverage in all directions, soft pliable rubber with thin multi depth blades
You can see the variable depths on this pattern. This allows half the traction pattern to grab some dust while the other pattern rests. Very similar idea to the Rose 7
Coming off playing with the Tmac which was no slouch, this was a breath of fresh air. Start and stop on a dime with no need to wipe? it’s like I had coffee, kale and yogurt for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Not recommend for outdoor use. These are already getting chewed up playing indoors only. But boy does does bite.
Traction was the one aspect that I was never thrilled about with the OG spawn so I’m beyond pleased with these. Oh andno tearing or ripping of the outsole, well done UA you’re learning ! (Go on UA.com and you’ll see real reviews and experiences from actual customers, yes Curry 6 outsole splitting is real despite the UA defenders)
Well done UA!
Cushioning
Micro G is back and I have no complaints about this set up at all. Micro G firmness changes shoe to shoe but these are what I consider slightly firmer than stock Micro G. I used to love my CFD but when the Curry 2 came out I realized how soft Micro G could get. This iteration is a good blend of court feel, impact protection and bounce.
This little cut out makes transition a little bit smooth a little bit faster
This is what I expected out of HOVR with the Curry 6 but as they always say out with the old and in with the new and back in with the old which is cheaper and better feeling than the new but let’s keep trying to sell the new.
bottom: Ultra thin ortholite insole top: Micro G from the OG
Overall, these feel pretty similar to the original without the big heel to toe drop. But why the bulky looking carrier UA? Looks sell UA. I feel like the Spawn are Duplo inspired. Maybe it’s just Normcore2018 looks 🤷🏻‍♂️
Fit
That first eyelet doesn’t have to be used. It allows a little more customization but not really necessary for me. Really thought about adding more holes but decided against it..for now.
I went true to size and I think most everyone can go true to size comfortably.
No major fit issues out of the box but it did take a little time to warm up and conform to my foot. No movement side to side and almost zero heel slip out of the box which was a pleasant surprise considering my experience with the Curry 6.
If you hate deadspace bubbles, Birdbox it. If you like champagne and bubbly though enjoy.
Lacing “innovation”
UA really went all in with lacing innovation eh? The star of this show is that UA attached the first eyelet to the footstay/raised midsole to give additional customization for the player. Sure you can tie it down tighter if you want but most shoes don’t have this much deadspace in the toe.
I’m not a stickler for deadspace but if you were wondering whats up with the bulbous look, well there you go. UA also utilized the double eyelet to lock the lace tension while it works, I found it unnecessary and chose to lace it traditionally with the few eyelet available. I got a more comfortable fit and a much less bunched up look.
I am a flat footer and when laced to my foot, this shoe is extra sloppy looking on the top. Once again UA is going for that lacing minimalist look when it didn’t have to. At least the laces don’t slip loose like the Curry 6 and they eliminated almost all lace pressure thanks to more padding in the shoe especially the tongue.
Fit and precision was a big selling point in the original Spawn and while the fit on the Spawn 3 is good and adaptable for different types of feet, it really isn’t the same as the OG. Even after a whopping five years the fit on the og low is far more precise than the Spawn 3; no heel slip out of the box, zero deadspace. This version is very bloated with padding and deadspace and uses the laces to lock the foot down. I don’t think my shoe should look like bubble wrap when I lace it it up but at least it fits well. Precise fit, the Spawn 3 is not but it is adaptive enough to fit different feet unlike the Curry 6.
Materials
Top right: Fuse has started to separate slightly no biggie though
The language on the Spawn is the same as the original but like the jump from the one to the two, UA materials don’t look so hot..but they do get hot since it envelopes 3/4 of the shoe. This version of the Spawn is far more plush and layered. The only place for heat to escape is the toe box.
Materials are whatever to me but the original looks and feels far more premium. UA thinned and thickened the original for support and strength where needed. There was a lot of ripping of the thin mesh areas on the OG thus UA went with that full TPU coat on the Spawn 2.
This version is pretty much the same thickness but with TPU/fuse on 2/3 of the shoe. It sounds fancy based on UA’s description but it’s really just fuse and mesh. This feels and looks like a budget shoe.
Support and stability
These are lows so support comes from good heel fit and heel counter
Midfoot support is solid since it has a hidden midfoot shank a bunch of Micro G underfoot
What happened to the anatomically design shank that was part of the shoes namesake ?
Stability is great with a nice flat outsole and wide forefoot. I wish the Kobe IX has been this wide and flat.
I always wished the og was a little more stable in the heel so I’m very pleased with support and stability.
Containment
No issues at all. Nice big footstay and a raised albeit ugly midsole. You don’t need to lace that front eyelet unless you want to.
Conclusion
Overall, I think this was a goodish effort by UA to try and revitalize the Anatomix Spawn name five years later. The Spawn name doesn’t mean anything especially when you can’t see the lineage in the shoe; this shoe has nothing on common with the original other than the name. Gone is the precise fit, the “anatomical design”, the strategic placement of thinner out mesh and fuse of the original. This is just a generic shoe with some TPU layering. However, marketing BS aside, it performs very wellall around with excellent traction and a pretty good fit if you ignore the bubbles. I would take this over the Curry 6 to actually play but this is not what I’d call a good looking shoe. Looks and brand sell more than performance, simple as that. A dunk contestant or two will help as long as the viewers didn’t fall asleep. Juno over Shaq, Elbow in the Rim dunk was great btw.
Some will try and sell you in the fact that is $110 and a bargain but guess what, everything from 2018 is under or way under that price point already including a bunch of my top performers from 2018. Hell you can even get MVP sigs for under that price. Is twenty bucks a big enough price difference to sway a consumer to buy the Spawn versus the Curry 5 ? I can almost guarantee that the Lebron Soldier selling for under $90 would be enough to dissuade someone buying the Spawn. Or an MVP candidate named Paul George sporting a shoe with his name and a swoosh for the exact same price. Think UA, think!
Aside from marketing and pricing, I think the Spawn is great on the court and will be really budget friendly when they hit sales racks.
Well done UA, first team rating!

Nike Kobe 4 Protro Performance Review

Just a Retro. Not a protro.
Not much has changed in ten years. The Kobe 4 Protro offers the same pattern and the same soft bite as the original Kobe 4. Traction does start off a little slick, but most Nike’s have been having the same issue as of late. A little bit of break-in time may be required to rub off whatever residue is leftover from the manufacturing process, but once that’s done then it’s pretty much smooth sailing from there.
The rubber seems to be slightly softer than what I remember, so there has been some peeling in a few of my personal high-wear areas of the outsole. Not sure if this will be a common occurrence for everyone, but this has been my experience thus far.
Outdoor hoopers will receive great traction, but due to the softer rubber compound I’m not sure if it’ll be quite as durable as the OG. However, most should be more than happy with the traction no matter if you’re indoors or outdoors.
Full length Zoom Air… just kidding.
The Protro edition of the Kobe 4 is nearly identical to the original. Both use a Phylon midsole and a large volume Zoom Air unit in the heel. However, one minor change between the two is the density of the Phylon itself. It’s a bit softer in the brand-new iteration thus giving a slightly softer feel under-foot. Don’t expect anything drastically different from the OG, if you’ve played in them, and definitely don’t expect a bouncy forefoot ride, but despite the cushion-less forefoot — they’re still pretty comfortable.
This Protro setup offers a lot of rear impact absorption, should you need it, while offering a very stable and low profile ride up front.
If you enjoyed the original setup then you’ll enjoy this version just as much. If you’ve never had the chance to play in the original then you’re in for a treat as these are as close as it gets. If you were looking forward to full length Zoom Air then you’ll be a little disappointed.
Materials look damn near identical to what we saw on the original Kobe 4 back in 2009.
First Gen Flywire midfoot panels are in place and work well. I’m not a huge fan of plastic and thread, but I can’t complain at all about the performance. It works and it’s durable. Not much else you can ask for.
The leather throughout is still synthetic, but like the rubber and Phylon midsole, it feels a bit softer than the OG. I don’t know if it’s actually softer than it once was or if my OG pair were getting old and stiff/dried out. All I know is that this synthetic setup feels and acts like leather really well. So, like the first generation Flywire panels, nothing to complain about. It works. It’s durable. It breaks in nicely.
They fit true to size then and they fit true to size now.
There was a little bit of dead space or volume above the toe area to start but that went away once they materials broke-in — which was very quick. Everything from the lacing to the last to the sculpt of the padding in the heel works just as good as it had. The fit is awesome. However, my favorite fitting shoe of all-time was the Jordan Release Date 2019. Yes, I’m already looking forward to those re-releasing next.
Nothing has changed in this aspect. The heel counter is the same — and it works great. The midfoot glass-based carbon fiber shank is still there — and it works. The tooling is wide in the front while offering a small outrigger — and it works.
The Nike Kobe 4 is one of the greatest basketball shoes of all-time for a reason. Only one thing could have taken these from great to greater and that would have been the inclusion of forefoot cushion. Nike had ten years to think about what they’d do to upgrade these babies and they could have done any number of things to make them slightly improved. React, Cushlon, forefoot Zoom Air, full length Zoom Air… yet, they did nothing. Not a swing and a miss, but a head scratcher for sure.
Didn’t Kobe specifically say he did not want his shoes to be Retroed unless they updated them to today’s standards? Maybe he wanted them to be on that Kyrie wave — having no cushion at all. Maybe he didn’t know the Kobe 4 was a Retro and not a Protro. Who knows.
For $175 they could have, and should have, given us more. If not more then charge less. Are they cheaper than OG pairs found on the after market? Yes. Of course they are. But what does that have to do with anything? The fact is that we were told one thing while Nike did something else. Again.
The shoe is still great, but if we want things to change then we’re going to have to start voting with our wallets. We can’t use after market pricing, or the Kobe Bryant name, as an excuse as to why Nike is justified in ripping us off. That’s what Jordan Brand has been doing and people are starting to understand that it’s simply not worth it.
I love the shoe, but I won’t let that blind me from the truth. This is not a Protro. It’s a Retro. Just like other all-time great performers, they still perform as great as the day they originally released. Just don’t play us for fools. Be honest from the jump and people will decide for themselves whether or not the $175 is worth a purchase. And please, Nike, notify your retail partners of the typo. They’re still selling these things with the description “Full-length Zoom Air unit means long-lasting responsiveness.” Mamba Face.

Li-Ning Way of Wade 7 Performance Review

The Li-Ning Way of Wade 7 Performance Review is finally here.
The Wade models have always been a hit or miss in regards to traction, but the Way of Wade 7 was a major miss. I’m not sure why the Wade Brand is able to deliver quality traction on the takedown models, but when it comes to the main signature it’s always a guessing game as to whether or not you’ll get something good.
For the Wade 7 I slipped. Often. Actually, nearly every time I played in them. The only time I wasn’t slipping and sliding around the hardwood was when I wasn’t on the hardwood. I was on the blacktop. For whatever reason the shoes end up gripping well outdoors but I had no luck with them indoors.
It could be the rubber compound. It could be the pattern. It could be a bit of both. All I know is that they were unwearable for me due to the traction alone. Even constant wiping couldn’t save them.
Supposedly the cushion setup is nearly the same as the Wade 6, which I loved, but the Wade 7 doesn’t feel the same. They don’t feel bad or anything, step-in comfort is amazing, but they feel pretty dead under-foot.
It’s unfortunate because I loved the way the Wade 6 felt so much that it really set the bar pretty high for the Wade 7. Much like the traction, I’m not sure what went wrong here.
If you like a lot of stability then these aren’t bad, but you can get stability from other shoes that don’t ride nearly as high off the floor as these do.
Casual wearers will be fine, but if you wanted some plush or bouncy cushion then you’ll want to stick with the Way of Wade 6.
Materials are nice overall. They’re actually different with each release as well. Some feel much more premium than others, but they all have one thing in common — they’re all built really well.
In terms of modern basketball shoes, these are one of the more well built models on the market. They’re durable and show little signs of wear. For those that have those two items high on their priority list then this might be a reason to consider the shoe.
I personally hold traction and fit much higher, so while this area of the shoe is very good, it’s not quite enough to sway me to lace them up again.
Go down 1/2 size. Even for wide footers. The shoe just runs super long.
Once I received a pair in the length I prefer, I still had some volume around the toe area where the toe cap portion is. The laces only go so far down as well so I couldn’t really remedy that with tightening.
Lockdown is decent, but the laces (I assume) were causing some sort of foot fatigue. I don’t know if it’s because they’re thin or because the shoe overall is stiff/rigid, but they just weren’t ideal. I’d tighten to get the security I want and wound up with my feet feeling like they were going numb, and when I’d loosen then a little then they’d be too loose and flexed awkwardly.
Support is good, but the shoes if very stiff because of it. At least I think that’s why. The carbon fiber plate isn’t very large and looks to only reside at the arch, making torsional support very good, but the forefoot just doesn’t flex well for me. However, tooling is flat and wide, with and extended base acting as an outrigger, so stability was on point. Materials and overlays helped with containment and making sure your foot doesn’t shift over the footbed. But, they just didn’t move well for me.
Overall, I like the Way of Wade 7… off-court. I definitely don’t want to play in them again. Traction was less than desirable while cushion wasn’t anywhere near as awesome as it was last year with the Wade 6. Materials and build quality are great, but the overall function… they’re just stiff. Maybe it’s just me. But this was my experience in the Way of Wade 7 so this is how they played for me.
I’m glad I kept a pair of Wade 6s in the stash because those I feel are the best they’ve done thus far.
If you’ve played in the Nike Air VaporMax  feel free to share your thoughts on them down below in the comment section. You can also check out AnotherPair’s performance review on the Wade 7 for a different perspective.

Better Kanye West Air Yeezy 2: “Solar Red” or “Red October”

The Nike Air Yeezy 2 is considered to be one of the most hyped and sought-after sneakers from Kanye West. Debuted in three color options, both the “Solar Red” and “Red October” were head-to-head on which was the better release.

Designed by Nathan VanHook, the Nike Air Yeezy 2 took inspiration from classic Nike silhouettes such as: Air Trainer 1, Air Foamposite One, and the Air Tech Challenge 2.
Nike Air Yeezy 2 “Solar Red” release featured a Black-based upper with Solar Red accents atop glow-in-the-dark outsoles.
“Red October” Nike Air Yeezy 2 :Five years ago today, Kanye West made jaws drop and eyes light up with his debut of new music and new sneakers on Saturday Night Live. That sneaker as we now know, would be the infamous “Red October” Nike Air Yeezy 2 — West’s last shoe with the Swoosh.

Taking to the SNL stage, West appeared a man possessed or at least enraged, playing for the first time the single that would set off his upcoming solo effort. Scarier than “Monster” or “Hell of a Life” before, the Marilyn Manson-resembling “Black Skinhead” opened up to images of dogs barking and the sound of Kanye screaming, revealing a rage never before displayed on record by the multi-faceted artist.
The loud and aggressive new sound was matched by his shoes of the same volume. Triple-red, the dark tone of both the lighting and the music would cast a shadow over the sneakers, allowing just enough of a glimpse to prove they did in fact exist. Fortunately for fans still in the dark, his partner Kim Kardashian posted a shot of both the shoe and the original album artwork that night prior to the performance.
Later in the show, West would perform “New Slaves” with a more stoic but equally serious disposition. He would remain in the shoes while the internet would erupt and bloggers in both the sneaker and music space would rush to get their coverage live.

Never before seen on Kanye, the shoe was subject of rumors for months leading up to its on-foot debut which served as an appetizer for the West’s most abrasive sonic effort yet, Yeezus.

The “Solar Red” released in June 2012, while the “Red October” launched in February 2014, which was revealed by Kanye West during a live performance on “Saturday Night Live” almost a year before the shoe originally become available.
Looking back at both pairs, which would you guys say was the better release? Cast your vote below, and leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Q4 Sports 495 Lo SP Performance Review

The Q4 Sports 495 Lo gets an update and a performance review.
Traction on the Q4 Sports 495 Lo SP is just as it was on the Q4 Sports NForcer: herringbone, a pivot point and an outrigger. No frills, no gimmicks; just a simple pattern that works on an outsole that will last both indoor and outdoor.
Just like the Q4 Sports Nforcer, the 495 Lo SP was tested indoors and outdoors. Indoors, the traction worked well as long as there wasn’t too much dust. When dust became an issue, a quick wipe was in order and I was ready to keep playing. Outdoors, on the other hand, bites and it bites hard. Unlike outsoles from plenty of other brands that we test, there are no signs of rubber fraying or wear. For a shoe that retails for just $100, your dollar will go a long way.
Cushion, much like the traction, is the same found on air jordan 33 . However, unlike the NForcer, it wasn’t as plush or bouncy. I’m not sure what the reason for this is. Maybe I bought a bad pair or maybe there are inconsistencies in the foam compound. I honestly couldn’t tell you as it could be anything. All I know is that when I’ve played in this same exact tooling on multiple other Q4 models, including some wear-test samples, it has always been a great mixture of plush, bouncy cushion with enough court feel to keep you feeling fast. This time around, it was just firm. I’m pretty disappointed because I love the colorway, but they’re just not like the other models I’ve tried.
Just for those wanting additional information, Q4 Sports uses a foam that it calls KOMpress for the midsole. It’s an open-celled foam in certain areas for rebound and tightly-celled foam in others for court feel. The bounce I’ve received from this setup in past models has been awesome. I’d say it’s the brand’s most comfortable tooling setup other than what’s featured on the Millennium Hi model, though just not this time around.
Q4’s models don’t all fit the same and for the 495 Lo SP, I’d recommend going down 1/2 size. Wide footers will likely be able to get away with going true to size.
Lockdown in the shoe is pretty standard. They fit nicely from the midfoot to the collar and when laced up tight, you don’t feel any slippage or dead space. Much like the outsole, there’s nothing fancy to see here — nothing special or extraordinary, just something that works and works well.
I felt support on the Q4 Sports NForcer was a bit lackluster. The 495 Lo SP, however, feels more in line with other Basketball shoes I’ve played in.
The heel counter was much stronger than the NForcer thus I never had an issue in the rear section of the shoe. I never felt like I was going to roll over the footbed at any time. The torsional plate could have been a bit more rigid. However, Q4’s product description reads “T.S.S./26 midfoot shank technology that ‘moves when you move’ for optimal motion and fit” — which it does. When you’re locked into the shoe and onto the footbed, you never feel like the midfoot torsion is lacking. It’s noticeable in-hand but not on-foot.
The 495 Lo SP is my favorite model from Q4 Sports. This just wasn’t my favorite experience in the model.
Everything was on point except for the cushion. I don’t mind it when cushion is a bit firm, especially when it’s been advertised that way, but I’ve used too many Q4 Sports models with this same exact tooling to know what I was supposed to get versus what I felt. I’m hoping that anyone else with this colorway received the plush and bouncy cushion that I’m used to with this tooling setup, but I will never know unless someone that owns a pair happens to read WearTesters — which is possible but unlikely.
I still recommend trying out Q4 Sports if you’re into trying something new. If you aren’t the adventurous type then just stick with what you’re comfortable with.

Stanley T. With Under Armour Curry 6 Performance Review

After having trouble through the years to find a Curry shoe that fits my wide feet, the Under Armour gods have finally answered. Here is my performance review on the UA Curry 6.
Of the Under Armour shoes that I’ve tested out, Under Armour has always had (at least for me) kick a** traction. What I find funny is the Curry 6 is one of the few that does not use traditional herringbone. Hell, the pattern implemented doesn’t even look like it would work. Luckily, looks can be deceiving as the Curry 6 traction held its own and then some. The rounded traction played well on clean courts and, of course, the necessary habit of the occasional wipe helps when dust is present. With the traction pattern being as tightly spaced as it is, you’ll be wiping a lot more when playing on dirtier floors. If you were curious on if I’d recommend playing with these outdoors, the answer is… don’t. The soft rubber will be eaten up rather quickly.

For anyone curious, I have not had any outsole issues in terms of ripping or peeling — luckily. Overall, the traction has been pretty consistent for me and a pleasant surprise on the court.
Full-length HOVR cushioning. Say what? We finally have a Curry shoe that has cushion again!
While the HOVR foam isn’t overly soft or overly firm, it felt just right for me — even for being on the bigger side. If you’ve tried the HOVR Phantom (a personal favorite of mine) and Sonic (2nd only to the Phantom), it’s definitely not the same feeling under-foot as the foam on the Curry 6 is dense in comparison. However, it does warm up once you begin to break them in. Being a big man, I do prefer something that compresses a little bit more upon impact. On the bright side, the HOVR used here was able to provide me with moderate protection with a lot of responsiveness — something that tends to not interact well when it comes to plusher cushion setups.
Despite having HOVR, the Curry 6 is still made for those who play fast and low to the ground but UA has come a long way in terms of cushion and the Curry line.
A full knit upper is used on the Curry 6. Elastic areas on the top of the foot and fused placed on high-wear areas — pretty standard for basketball shoes in this era.
There were some areas of minor discomfort upon the first try on; the eyelet area did cause some unwanted lace pressure. Luckily, after numerous hours, I was able to adjust and find a fit that worked well for me.

I have a slightly wider foot than most but I was able to go true to size. I’ve heard that some people had been experiencing some minor heel slippage, which I did initially, but it was nothing a double-sock didn’t fix.
Lockdown started out a bit strange due to the lace pressure, but again, once I found my groove I was ready to go, locked-in if you will, every time I stepped back onto the hardwood. I will say that a separate tongue would be my preferred option as I’d be able to lace the shoe, hopefully without additional pressure on top of my foot, while being able to customize the fit a bit more than I was able to here.
Stability of the shoe is one of its best support features, and has been in a Curry since its inception. The slightly wider base of the shoe kept me grounded when I needed while the TPU speed plate helps reinforce the HOVR when I was a bit more mobile.
Overall, Under Armour really surprised me. The Curry line has had its fair share of highs and lows (I couldn’t wear the 5 at all meanwhile the 1 is still my personal favorite). However, this is easily the most well-rounded Curry we’ve had since the 1.
If you’ve been playing in the Under Armour Curry 6, let me know your thoughts and if you have your own review, I’d love to hear it.

adidas Pro Vision Performance Review

The most affordable model in the recent trio of basketball shoes, the adidas Pro Vision performance review is here.
Once again, we have herringbone but this time around, a slightly different implementation gave different results. As expected, these played well on clean courts, but the difference came around dust. Though it wasn’t great on bad floors, the shoe was able to maintain adequate bite for quite a few plays between wipes.

Improvements over the last shoe I tested, the adidas Nmd Boost, resulted from wider spacing between treads throughout, further coverage up the outsole edges and solid rubber – which has been on most, if not all, Pro Vision colorways if I can recollect.
A couple hours outdoors and traction still performed well. I’m still not sold on its durability, however, despite this being marketed as a shoe that transitions seamlessly from hardwood to blacktop.

Bounce cushion is used in the adidas Pro Vision and it rides low to the ground in the forefoot. The heel is a little heftier and has enough plush, comfort and protection.
Something about the court feel in the Pro Vision gave me a different kind of confidence. I’m knocking on an already cracked door of 30 years old so I haven’t feltthis quick in a while. I found myself cutting and driving to the basket the way I used to – all thanks to the response and flexibility of the tooling.
Although I said there was enough impact protection in the Pro Vision, but I still prefer a little more underfoot. However, the Pro Vision was enjoyable for a setup that typically isn’t my cup of tea.
There’s mesh on ¾ of the upper, a tailed collar, felt-like material over the toes and rubberized-ripstop overlays that integrate into the lacing system. It’s not much to expect at the Pro Vision’s price point but functional nonetheless.
The mesh has a crinkly sound and feeling that screams “cheap”, but it is reinforced with an internal heel counter and lacing wings to get the job done. The felt-like material in the toe had me worried at first, but honestly, it felt good and conformed to my foot very well. Initially, I had a slight pinch in the left shoe where the material meets the tongue but after a couple of wears, it was a non-factor.
The collar cut is odd but was never uncomfortable for me – just keep in mind I only ball in crew socks so rubbing might be an issue for some. The felt material sure gets dusty as hell but that’s from getting stepped all over. Otherwise, everything looks intact so durability shouldn’t be bad in that area.
Overall, the materials aren’t great, but there aren’t bad either. They are just kind of…there.
Fit was almost perfect for me, but I can easily tell it wouldn’t be the best for a lot of wearers. The shoe simply runs narrow all the way through — something I could tolerate, but wide and even average width-footers may be bothered by it. If you are a part of the latter, prepare to start out trying at least a half-size up or just them skip entirely.
Lockdown was okay, but kind of a nuisance. The ripstop overlays hold all the eyelets, so it was nearly impossible to keep the laces tight throughout. The overlays split into three sets of panels and the more adjustments I made going up, the more the laces just loosened up between the first and second panels. Ultimately, I just had to accept it and keep it moving.
This is kind of veering away from fit, but watch out for the Pro Vision tongue. It sits over the upper and under the overlays, so if you aren’t careful making adjustments, it can create gaps or fold underneath itself, which can cause discomfort. It’s not a good look to have those type of concerns lacing.
One of the highlights of the Pro Vision is support, and it has an abundance of it while maintaining a lightweight feel. As I mentioned, the fit was good for me personally, so the other support features put it over the top. A huge outrigger, a midsole that cups your foot and strong overlays placed for lateral containment. If the fit works for you, everything else will fall in line perfectly.
The adidas Pro Vision has some good spots at a good price, but I can understand why it doesn’t seem to garner as much interest. If you are looking for a cost-efficient sneaker that plays light enough for guards but has enough support to satisfy a big man, these will work. However, I do think there are other decently-priced sneakers out that give you more without sacrificing too much of the benefits.
Price may come first for some — and there is nothing wrong with that — so if we are talking $100 and under for retail, I can’t think of anything that has this type of versatility.
It goes without saying, but thank you for taking the time to read. I appreciated the support from my first performance review for a hoop shoe and I hope you find this helpful if the adidas Pro Vision is on your radar. Until next time folks, Leak out!