Air Jordan I (1) Retro High Performance Review

 The Air Jordan Project has started out nicely so far, to my surprise, and the Air Jordan I is 100% playable 27 years after their release.

Hit the jump for more…

Traction – As you already know from the Performance Teasers, the Air Jordan 1 mid has great traction. I still won’t give it a full 10 out of 10 but a solid 9.5 will do.

From a front to back standpoint, the traction is incredible. Medial and lateral movements are just as impressive due to the multidirectional circles along with the soft and flexible rubber. This traction surface worked very well on clean indoor courts as well as dusty indoor courts and would probably work well outdoors as well.

Cushion – Again, this is something I went over previously and it’s pretty much a no brainer… cushion wasn’t great. In the video review I show an insole that could help but you can use any insole you feel would work best for you and it would be a huge improvement.

 

Material – Full leather uppers and a rubber midsole and outsole add some sturdiness as well as weight. They aren’t heavy per say but it is something you do notice while transitioning. The main thing is that the type of leather used allows for added strength and durability which can be a nice feature to have.

Fit – The heel offered excellent lockdown as did the midfoot. With more time spent on-court you will start to notice the fit loosening up due to the moisture and heat buildup so with that I did have to readjust the lacing after every game or so.

Ventilation – Not much of any but there are perforations featured on the toe as well as a nylon tongue for some ventilation, even if just a little.

Support – None… you can purchase an insole with arch support if needed but other than that they are pretty much a flat based sneaker.

Overall – These were playable, which is the main thing. If you wanted the look or styling of an Air Jordan I with modern tech you can either swap the insoles out for cushion or opt to purchase the nike kd 14 which offers many upgrades in every category, most notably the cushion with its Phylon midsole and full length bottom loaded Zoom Air.

Now… onto the Air Jordan II!

Traction – 9.5/10
Cushion – 1/10 (there is an Air unit in the heel so that deserves at least a 1)
Material – 7/10
Fit – 7.5/10
Ventilation – 3/10
Support – 0/10

Overall – 4.6/10

Air Jordan XII Retro Performance Review

 A whole bunch of new performance models came out between December-February… now that they’re out of the way. Lets get back to the Air Jordan Project.

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Traction – Herringbone is featured in similar fashion to the previous Air Jordan signature – the Air Jordan 12 “Utility”. The phrase, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” comes to mind as they haven’t changed much so it works relatively the same. I only had one issue where I slipped and that was within the first few hours at the medial ball of the foot… make sure you plant your feet and push off from the base of the shoe – if you are light on your feet – as I was at the time – then the rounded edges of the outsole will serve you no purpose and you will likely slip or lose balance. After I figured out what I was doing wrong, I never had an issue with the traction again.

Cushion – Full length Zoom Air… from heel to toe. The Zoom unit is one continuous air bag and feels amazing! They are comfortable enough wearing casually but you won’t experience what these can truly do until you play in them. I say this all the time but I really do mean it… you gain more appreciation for a shoe after you’ve played in them – when they perform well that is. I already loved the Air Jordan XII based on its looks but that fact that they can handle practically anything you can throw at them made me love them even more.

If you are looking for a hoop shoe that has low profile, responsive cushion then look no further as the Air Jordan XII will meet and possibly exceed your expectations. You will get over their initial clunky feeling after you give yourself some time to adjust but after that you will fall in love with them all over again.

Material – The originals used premium full grain leather and these newer Retro models use a split grain. It’s not as nice as they used to be but when directly comparing the leather here to a split grain that was used on say, the Air Jordan IV White/ Cement Retro… these are leaps and bounds better. Just like the midsole, you will need to break these in a bit in order to start enjoying them. It doesn’t take too long since there is practically zero ventilation so your body’s heat and moisture will speed up the process.

Fit – I felt this Retro fits true to size but the newer ones released in 2012 feel a ½ size big after being broken in. If you double sock or use an additional insole you will be able to solve the sizing issue if you choose not to go down ½ on Jordan Brand’s latest nike pg 5 run. If you are looking at something that was released prior to 2012 then I would say go with your regular size.

Midfoot and heel lockdown were great. I never once had an issue after they broke in. As expected with leather based sneakers, the leather will stretch a bit after they’ve been broken in. All you have to do to fix the additional space you’ll receive is tie them tighter – what I call adjusting the laces – and you will be good to go.

Ventilation – There really isn’t any. Some mesh was used on the tongue but it isn’t anything that provides you with air flow. The lack of ventilation will aid you in breaking the shoe in so not all is lost. If you feel that ventilation isn’t an attribute that you look for in a shoe then ignore this section, simple as that. No need to whine about it affecting a shoes score in a negative way as ALL of the shoes tested are graded in ventilation which makes things perfectly fair.

Support – Tanks… the Air Jordan XII are on-court tanks. Arch support is great while the overall fit and lockdown take care of the rest. These can – and have been – be worn by a wide variety of players and positions so the Air Jordan XII has something for everyone.

Overall – These are one of my favorite performers out of the Retro line so far… these and the Air Jordan VIII. Both of which comes as a surprise to me since they are both probably the two models I would look at and think that they aren’t too Guard friendly.

If you need a shoe with Retro style, great traction, awesome cushion, good materials, nice fit and plenty of support then the Air Jordan XII will give you what you need. It’s nice to see – and feel – evolution and the Air Jordan XII is just that. The jordans 2021 line evolved quite a bit in a short amount of time… that’s pretty incredible… especially seeing as how the Air Jordan XII can outperform some of today’s performance models.

Air Jordan IV (4) Retro Performance Review

 Hit the jump for full review…

Traction – The traction is pretty solid. Whether you are moving from front to back or side to side, the traction can keep up. I do think the newer style of herringbone is much more functional but overall you can’t complain. I will say this though… the Air Jordan 4 has had the best overall traction – in my opinion – at this point in the line.

Cushion – Pretty much the same thing as the Jordan 11 Low Legend Blue… encapsulated Air in the forefoot with a heel Air unit along with a Polyurethane midsole. It’s still dense with some minor compression… exactly what you’d come to expect. I am getting used to the setup though as I have had less pain while playing in this type of construction as time goes on, however, after long periods of play and the following day are painful for my knees and ankles… this could be due to my age.

Material – I’ve said this before in a previous teaser; the PU coated leather is very durable. While I personally preferred the softer leather featured on the Air Jordan III Retro, the leather used here will last you for a greater length of time. I guess you can consider that one of those ‘more bang for your buck’ attributes. Again, I’d personally prefer something softer but as for what was given they will hold up just fine.

Keep in mind, break-in time is needed so if you plan on playing in a pair you may want to wear them around the house for a while until they loosen up a bit or opt for a pair with a nubuck upper.

Fit – I absolutely loved the fit. The Air Jordan III had a surprisingly good midfoot to heel lockdown and these are even better. Those forefoot lace wings hug and tightly hold your forefoot into place while the rear wings will provide you with a lockdown fit once you adjust the laces. There was not one moment where my foot slipped inside the shoe so the fit was much improved.

Ventilation – A much appreciated change in ventilation took place going from the Air Jordan 1-3 into the Air Jordan IV. I had gone over this in detail in my last Performance Teaser if you wanted to take a look. Basically, the side panels offer a very good amount of ventilation while the tongue is slightly restricted yet still encompasses much more air flow than the previous models

Support – Not much support is in place as far as today’s standards but the molded arch and superior lockdown provide you with enough support throughout to make these enjoyable to play in at positions 1-4.

 

Overall – There is something very nostalgic about playing in these nike pg 5 classics. While they may not be the most comfortable at times, they have all been pretty darn performance worthy. Of course there are better options available but realistically… who wouldn’t want to play in a pair of classic Air Jordan’s?

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Performance Review

 I recently reviewed the Puma Deviate Nitro, Puma’s top-of-the-line flagship everyday running shoe and it was a great shoe. Now, I get a chance to review the lighter, better fitting, carbon plated, race day focused Puma Deviate Nitro Elite. Puma’s new star long distance athlete, Molly Seidel, already set several PRs in the Elite. Can the Elite unseat the Nike Vaporfly Next% at the top of the road racing shoe pyramid? Let’s find out.

Cushion

The Deviate Nitro Elite provides two layers of Nitro Elite foam sandwiching a full length carbon fiber Innoplate. Nitro Elite is a supercritical peba-based foam infused with nitrogen. It feels very similar to Jordan 11 Low Legend Blue.

The amount of cushioning is relatively high with 28mm in the forefoot and 36mm in the heel. The resulting 8mm drop feels natural. The Elite sits slightly lower to the ground than the regular Deviate Nitro and packs an even better bounce. Think Saucony Endorphin Pro but just a touch softer. Though I didn’t get to race in them, I loved doing speed workouts in this shoe. The midsole works great for picking up speed.

Traction

For the outsole, Puma uses Puma Grip-LT, which is a lighter version of their new (and fantastic) Puma Grip. Grip-LT is not as tacky as regular dunk low but it’s race ready. It’s as good or better than anything else you’ll find on race day shoes.

Support

The Deviate Nitro Elite eschews a heel counter but adds in synthetic suede midfoot straps alongside a wide base. The midfoot straps kept me on the footbed even on tight corners. It’s one of the more supportive race day options which again makes it very similar to the Endorphin Pro. If you need more security or frequent courses with lots of turns, this will be an upgrade from most of the current carbon-plated racers.

Fit

For this race day model, Puma used Men’s and Women’s specific lasts. In theory, that should help the fit feel more dialed in but is impossible for me to know.

But the fit on the men’s version is a very slim race day fit that’s tighter through the midfoot without any extra layers. The toebox features ample room for toe splay so you won’t feel cramped running the half or full marathon distances. The Deviate Nitro Elite fits true to size in both length and width.

Materials

The Deviate Nitro Elite sports an engineered mono mesh upper that’s see through — so you need fun socks to really get the best use of the upper. The mono mesh feels similar to the Vaporweave on the Vaporfly but more comfy.

I will say the Elite feels super, super light on foot. At 7.7 ounces, it’s an ounce heavier than the Vaporfly but you’d hardly know it. I’m still not really sure why this shoe feels so light but I enjoyed the feeling. I’d guess it has something to do with superior weight distribution but whatever it is, keep it up Puma.

Overall

At $200, the air jordan 1 is a lower-priced, carbon fiber plated race day shoe. It feels incredibly light on foot, has a nice bounce, solid traction, and above average support.

Getting your hands on a pair right now is hard, but if you can, try it out. Puma’s made a shoe that could very easily become your main race day shoe. It’s a shoe I think we’ll start seeing quite a lot on starting lines as races ramp back up in a post Covid world.

Nike Pegasus 38 Performance Review

 Last year’s Nike Pegasus 37 was a disappointment due to the fit of its upper. The Nike Running design team heard our (and many others) feedback and came back with a completely redesigned upper. The Nike Pegasus 38 aims to solve all the issues with its predecessor and get the Pegasus line back to its typical dependability. Read on to see if it worked.

Fit

For me, the heel slip made the Pegasus 37 feel like two different shoes. One up front and one in the back. For a midfoot striker like myself, it was an uneven ride that I never returned to once I finished testing them. But those days are long gone thanks to the Pegasus 38.

The upper is still engineered mesh but the fit is more forgiving. The Pegasus 38 is true to size lengthwise but still runs a touch narrow. Wide footers will want to try these on in store and may need to go up a half size depending on foot shape.

But as far as the fit’s comfort and feel, air jordan 1 gets an A+. The nylon laces straps go all the way down to the midsole and lock you in the way Nike’s Dynamic Fit system did in the early 2010s. And the nylon straps won’t dig into your feet because they’re protected by a gusseted tongue.

And though the upper is very traditional in terms of construction, it looks snazzy. The Peg is back!

Cushion

The cushion setup is the same as last year. Without the fit issues, it shines. The 10mm articulated forefoot Zoom Air bag is very bouncy and tuned with different PSI levels for Men and Women. It pairs nicely with the React in the rest of the midsole. The cushion setup with the better upper feels more like the Nike Vomero 14 (a beloved model) than the jordans 2021. A nice combination of plush landings and forefoot bounce. This is a solid cushion setup at the $120 price point that’s great for running tons of miles on pavement.

Traction

Like the midsole and cushion, the outsole is the same as last year. And that’s a good thing. The rubber is thick and durable and will last a long time. I only had a few slight slips on mildewy sidewalk in rainy conditions. Otherwise, the outsole grips well and does its job in all situations.

 

Support

The Dynamic Fit-esque lacing system kept me glued to the footbed. You’ll sit inside the midsole at the heel and Nike included a very simple heel counter. The Peg is a narrower shoe in the heel but widens nicely at the forefoot for extra support. I always felt secure in them, another great improvement from last year.

Materials

Nike went simple here. Engineered mesh and some nylon. Simple but effective.

Overall

The Nike Pegasus 38 returns the Pegasus line to its usual position as a powerhouse running shoe. It’s a great everyday runner with a reasonable $120 price tag. The forefoot Zoom Air is really bouncy and the whole setup underfoot feels good. Durability will be great as well. If you’re a wide footer, try them on at your local running shoe spot. Everyone else can go true to size and enjoy a solid, workhorse (see what I did there?) of a shoe.

Puma Deviate Nitro Performance Review

 This year, Puma Running relaunched with four new running shoes. The Puma Deviate Nitro is their flagship everyday running shoe. And it’s clear from the Deviate Nitro and other models (Velocity, Liberate, and Eternity) that Puma invested a ton in research and development for the new running line.

How does all the new tech and innovation pay off in the kobe 8? Really well. Keep reading for all the details.

Cushion

The midsole is two layers of Nitro foam sandwiching a full length composite carbon plate. Nitro foam is a supercritical (nitrogen-injected) foam. It’s snappy and similar to the foam in the Brooks Hyperion Elite 2. It’s also similar to, but firmer than New Balance’s FuelCell cushion. I felt the Nitro foam and plate combo provided a really nice bounce that’s elite among everyday running shoes.

The stack height is 28mm in the forefoot and 38mm in the heel thus providing a 10mm drop. The amount of cushion is perfect for a do anything shoe. You can get easily get speedy or sit back and run some easy miles.

 

Traction

As good as Nitro foam is, the best innovation on the Deviate Nitro is the Puma Grip outsole. Puma Grip is AMAZING. It’s great in all conditions. Cold, hot, rainy, snowy…it doesn’t matter. And I’m not the only reviewer to say that. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this rubber compound. And to top it off, the outsole is extremely durable and wears evenly. Puma made the right move creating their own compound. It’s definitely my new favorite outsole rubber.

Support

The heel of the Nike Dunk Low has a fairly normal internal heel counter and big achilles pillows on both sides of the foot. You also sit slightly inside the midsole at the heel. Along with the gusseted tongue and the wide base of the forefoot, I always felt securely planted on the footbed. Quick corners often pose problems for other high cushion shoes but the Deviate Nitro has no issues handling them or any uneven ground.

Fit

The Puma Deviate Nitro fits true to size. Lengthwise Puma Running shoes feel similar to Nike and Brooks so use your size from one of those brands. While the shoe narrows at the midfoot, you’ll have plenty of room for toe splay up front.

And that brings us to the shoe’s biggest issue, the heel. The slight heel slip is evident right out of the box. I’ve seen other reviewers/runners deal with heel or achilles blisters. The synthetic suede collar and the exposed seams inside the heel can tear you up. I got some irritation on my first run but avoided blistering. It took some experimentation, but I was able to find a lace tightness level that negated the heel slippage and prevented the collar from bugging me. If you can find that happy place with the lace tightness, you shouldn’t get heel hot spots.

Materials

The engineered mesh upper is eerily similar to the Nike Pegasus Turbo 2. That shoe was awesome so I won’t complain about similarities to something so good. It’s super breathable with fuse at the eyelets and a thin but well-padded mesh tongue. And as I mentioned previously, the collar area is rimmed with synthetic suede. These are the materials I’ve come to expect at the $160 price point. They do the job well.

Overall

The Puma Deviate Nitro is a super bouncy shoe that’s great on long runs, fast runs, and everything in between. It’s right priced at $160 and provides good value versus something like the $180 Nike Invincible Run. It’s a do everything shoe that shines whether you’re running long or uptempo. If you can solve the heel fit issues, this is a really fun and versatile shoe. It’s a great first effort from Puma and I’m really excited to see what they do next.

Allbirds Tree Dasher Performance Review

 Allbirds, founded in 2014, rose to prominence in the shoe industry by making an eco-friendly casual shoe called the Wool Runners. While they weren’t meant for running, the shoes gained popularity, especially in San Francisco tech circles. The brand’s growth exploded and now they’ve made an actual running shoe, the Allbirds Tree Dasher. Can a brand focused on merino wool, eucalyptus fibers, and casual comfort make a good running shoe? Let’s find out.

Fit

I bought my normal size, and out of the box, they felt too small lengthwise. However, after a couple runs, they broke in nicely. The Tree Dashers achilles pillows push you a little forward so I think once they mold to your foot, the sizing is perfect.

The air jordan 1 is socklike and extremely comfortable. It’s tighter through the midfoot to add support, but that’s normal for knit shoes.

As for wide footers, you’ve got plenty of room up front for toe splay and the upper breaks in so you can go true to size.

Support

The Tree Dasher’s support is really good for a knit shoe. Allbirds put outriggers at all four corners (lateral heel and forefoot, medial heel and forefoot). I felt those outriggers righting the ship on uneven pavement.

When I saw the fruit loop eyelets sewn into the knit upper, I wondered if I would be able to get good heel lockdown. I was worried for no reason. Once I found the proper lace tightness, I could slip the shoe on and off without retying or experiencing any heel slip.

Add that all up and it’s one of the more supportive knit sneakers. You can use the Tree Dasher for a HIIT workout or in the weight room. And that’s despite having no heel counter! I was impressed with how Allbirds built this shoe.

Materials

The knit upper is made from eucalyptus trees. Which sounds cool and IS nice in practice because it’s super soft. Definitely softer than the knits used by the big brands. It direct affects all day comfort in a positive way. It’s a really lux knit with the bonus of being more sustainable.

The ZQ Merino wool lining the heel collar and covering the achilles pillows is a nice premium touch. I think it also contributes to lockdown as the Merino is a bit tackier than the knit and helps hold the heel in place. Functional and comfortable? Check.

And I have to mention the big plastic eyelets sewn into the upper. Yes, they’re cartoony, but they get the job done. They don’t feel like they’d ever break off (as seen on other knit models) because they’re sewn on really well. If only some other brands would reinforce knit eyelets like Allbirds did here.

Cushion

The nike pg 5 uses a dual density SweetFoam midsole. SweetFoam is the world’s first carbon negative green EVA. So sustainability-wise it’s awesome. For running? It’s just ok. It’s not near as soft as current running shoe trends dictate and there’s not a lot of cushion under foot. The softness is similar but a slightly softer feel than the On Cloud X. The Tree Dasher features a 7mm drop with 15.5mm of foam in the forefoot and 22.5mm in the heel. Luckily, there’s a soft castor bean sockliner that feels as plush as an ortholite insole. That helps with step-in comfort and feel.

Now, even though the Tree Dasher lacks ample cushioning, that’s not to say the shoe isn’t comfortable. It’s soft enough for walking and short runs. I didn’t like taking it over 3-4 miles outdoors but loved it for evening walks with my son. It can handle a bit more mileage on a treadmill as well. It’s the type of shoe that’s perfect for mostly casual wear and the occasional run. It’s a great shoe for a vacation where you want to pack light but still get a couple runs in amidst the travel.

Traction

Easily the worst part of the shoe. Runs in rain or other wintry conditions are slip-fests. The rubber pads at the heel and forefoot cover a lot of surface area but don’t bite into the pavement at all. Allbirds needs to tweak their rubber formula on future running shoes. That said, the outsole grips fine on dry days. Just be aware of this limitation if you buy them.

Overall

The fit sporting goods is a running shoe you can run some miles in and get compliments when you wear them casually. The cushion and traction need work but this is a good first running shoe effort from Allbirds. I bet they can do something even better when they revisit this model. And $125 is a very competitive price point for a carbon neutral shoe. If sustainability is important to you, I’m not sure you’ll find another running shoe that can compete ecologically.