Air Jordan VI (6) Retro Performance Review

 Hit the jump for full review and scores…

Traction – The Air Jordan 5 doesn’t exactly boast a specific traction pattern or surface & they don’t look to be overly impressive either, however, if kept clean they are actually very good at keeping your foot planted on the floor no matter what you were doing.

This was noted on a previous Performance Teaser but if you can keep the clear sections free of debris then your experience will be a pleasant one. I personally use a traction mat but you can easily bring a lint roller or a roll of duct tape with you to quickly remove debris from the sole… a good old f Jordan 1 Low SE Toggle Silver hand wipe is also adequate so long as you are consistent with it.

 

Cushion – This is just as it has been with the Air Jordan 3 & 4, AJ5 is a bit better, so prepare yourself for minimal cushion underfoot. The Polyurethane is dense and the Air Units are embedded within so you won’t receive a comfortable ride but the impact is being absorbed a little.

An easy solution to any cushion issue is an insole swap. There are plenty to choose from and can be catered to your specific needs. I opted to use the SofSole insole – not for cushion – and I will explain more a bit further down.

Material – With this particular shoe there are a variety of material options available depending on the colorway chosen. The reason I went with the Carmine colorway is due to the dual material layers placed along the upper which provided me with proper fit & support where I needed – leather sections – and maintained flexibility where I needed – mostly at the forefoot with the nubuck sections. Overall durability is pretty nice as well given that these are a newer Retro product and they were able to withstand heavy beatings on-court.

Fit – The overall fit is decent as is… nothing too spectacular. This was mostly due to the dead space inside the shoe since they have very little padding with the exception of the collar & heel. Going down to a size 8.5 versus my usual size 9 would have helped a bit but the length could have been an issue and caused toe jamming… which hurts like hell if you’ve never experienced it before.

In the Nike Air Force 1 Shadow section I mentioned the insole swap… the fit was the reason why I chose to replace the insole with a thicker one. The added height was able to lift my foot up enough to allow the materials to properly function which then provided me with a great overall fit and lockdown once fully laced.

Ventilation – Quite possibly the most well ventilated Air Jordan model within the entire lineup. Plenty of perforations are in place and they aren’t blocked or lined with excess materials hindering the air flow.

Support – Not much support is found other than with the fit itself. Materials will help with this so you need to choose wisely if you wanted to play in a pair. Like I mentioned above, if you want some material support and flexibility along the upper then this type of setup would work as far as materials are concerned. If you need more support than I would go with leather upper and for less support a nubuck or suede upper.

Overall – Not a bad shoe – in my opinion – but not the best either. It’s a shoe that offers many great attributes while falling short on others… like most shoes. If you require adequate traction (if outsoles are kept clean), durability & ventilation then the Air Jordan VI may be a good option for you. Their lack of cushion and inferior fit can easily be remedied with a simple insole swap which then makes these a very well rounded performer on-court.

Nike KD XI 11 Performance Analysis and Review

 Is the KD XI an evolution or a step back ? (Pun intended)

For the past four or five years I’ve read and seen people yearning and pleading for real Flyknit, real Primeknit, this upper is too stiff, this mesh is just mesh, oooh this synthetic backing hurts my feet, give us a stretchy Primeknit upper etc…

Well guess what, Nike finally gave KD and the internet jockeys a super soft upper for a socklike feel and all I have to say is you got what you asked for.

Pros: traction when clean, not bad on dusty floors, a very well balanced and fun cushioning set up, stable outsole

Cons: traction bite could be better, needs some wiping on dusty floors, rides a few millimeters higher than previous KD’s, heel lockdown is acceptable after break in but could be better, support is lacking, containment feels like a broken in KD 14 or X

Sizing Advice: half size down unless you have super wide foot. Runs slightly long

Best for: lighter guards although everyone will like the cushioning. If you want a sock with a sole, look no further

Buying Advice: wait as always. KD is not MJ so just wait a month or two for price drops and coupons.

Weight

16.5 ounces so three ounces heavier than the KD IX Not a big deal to me but hey three ounces is three pounds to some #hitthegym I promise it won’t hit back. The distribution of the weight feels very off-putting at first since most of it is the midsole and below but you do get it in a few runs.

Traction

Works fine on clean courts, needs some wiping on dirty courts. On clean courts, the bite isn’t the best because it isn’t the super sticky translucent of the past but on the flip side, it doesn’t pick up as much dust as the sticky translucent. I have no major complaints about the traction since it is above average for a translucent and works adequately well on all surfaces. (At the same time I’m not excited about it either)

Cushioning

React plus Zoom. Yes please

I felt the KD IX and X were a little too squishy for me especially along the lateral side but this set up is a great combo. Imagine if the HD 17 cushioning had a love child with the KD8 full length Zoom set up and this is what you’d get.

Although Nike says they are both caged, the HD17 ribs feel softer to the touch than the KD 11. There is no give when you touch the cage of the Jordan 12 Low Easter

If you’re expecting Ultraboost softness you will be disappointed but if you want a set up that feels great underfoot with a nice bounce and without any lag, this is your set up. A thin 6-8 mm Zoom unit with no foam is not enough cushioning by itself so adding React to it just gives it just the right amount of ooomph. I do want to note that these sit about 25-26mm at the forefoot which is about 3 mm higher than the X but it only takes a little time to get used to it.

I think balance is the key to everything, including shoes and this set up is balanced just right.

Fit

Want a sock with a sole? Well KD did/does and that’s essentially what you get with the KD 11

I went half a size down with the KD XI not by choice but because I accidentally hit 10.5 on check out. Since it was limited to one pair I stuck with it and I think it’s the right choice for everyone except the widest footers. I had a finger width of space at the toe with a 10.5 and almost a thumbs width with an 11 that I bought a week later to double check sizing. You’d be surprised but you can actually fit more than one size and it isn’t life or death. Hell KD WEARS A FULL SIZE OVER HIS REGULAR SIZE DURING GAMES.

Anyways, comparing the size 11 and size 10.5, I just a had a better, more secure fit with 10.5 than 11 and didn’t experience width discomfort due to my wide feet. If you can’t try on in store, decide if you want comfort or a tighter fit and you can decide from there.

There is a good amount of heel slip to start with the XI mainly due to the placement of the top eyelets and the stiff outsole/cage.

You can clearly see a different in the top eyelet placement. If the XI moved it back a little more lockdown would be better.

Using such a soft upper with a stiff midsole just makes the shoe feel confused. However, if you’re patient, break in the shoe a few hours and allow the midsole to soften and bend, the heel slip dramatically goes down. I prefer more lockdown myself but I didn’t feel my heel moving all over the place like it did initially.

Materials

This upper is for the most part very soft with some overlays for strength. It is stretchy around the ankle collar and down the “tongue” but with less stretch around the outer portions.

However, it is not just pure Flyknit as you can see above. There is a thick nylon lining that runs throughout the shoe to give it more strength and support. It’s comfortable and slightly stretchy like a sock just like KD asked. Feels nice and comfortable and premium but does nothing performance wise in my opinion. Well it does but…

Support and Stability

Support comes solely from the fit and too flexible heel counter so support is only kind of there.

Err y’all forget to put piece of plastic in the heel counter Nike?

A typical heel counter, particularly Nike’s usually has a firmer internal heel counter that doesn’t have the flexibility this one has. I tried doing this with KD 7-10 but to no avail. I know a lot of people believe that support comes from the fit but if that were the case you could wear a sock on top of a sole or wear Nike frees and be okay. I believe it’s a combination of fit and firmness around the ankle but every person’s proprioception is different. Had the heel counter been firmer I think containment (see below) would have been better.

Stability is fine even though there isn’t an outrigger. It is the same width as the KD X at the heel and forefoot. No tippiness in the heel and the cage TPU is firm to keep things upright.

Containment

 

I’ve noted or mention before that the KD IX containment got worse over time due to break in and stretching. With the XI, the upper is already stretchy and broken in so you get that same feeling especially on hard cuts or changes of direction. As most of you know I don’t like the feeling with any brand including Brandblack’s JC2, 3, Jordan M12, Lebron XIV XV etc,l…the list goes on and on.

Why is the containment poor in the XI? KD wanted a sock like feel and that’s what he got, simple as that. Nike could have raised the outsole to created a physical barrier but they didn’t. Does that feeling affect my play? No not really but why settle for something I don’t like when I have hundreds of pairs of other shoes.

Conclusion

I wasn’t sure how to approach this review because there are a few things I really like and dislike about the KD XI which are all preferences and aren’t measurable at all. But there is also quantifiable data (ie stats) that show me that feel isn’t real and I’ve been wasting my time reviewing shoes. In other words, I got buckets and played great in these. But at the same time, based on my methodology and “scoring” of these, I really shouldn’t like them all that much. Hell, maybe I all the practice I put in actually paid off? #itainttheshoes

If containment isn’t something that bothers you, you’ll probably love the shoe. If it is something that you weight heavily in your shoe decisions, you will hate the shoe. If it affects how you play in your mind, you’re going to hate the shoe. If you have enough confidence in your ability to play the game itself, the shoe won’t affect anything at all. It won’t affect your shot, your passing or ability to think. If the 2nd best player in the world is playing in this shoe for millions of dollars a full size up from his normal size, you’ll be ok making buckets at a dirty 24 hour fitness. One of my teammates got the exact same pair as mine and he loves loves them so don’t let any review from an influencer actual well..influence your decision. Buy what you want not what someone else says is the “best”.

Overall, I find the KD XI a very attractive shoe that does a nice job bridging the gap between off court style and on court functionality. It has decent traction, excellent balanced cushioning, a pretty good fit after break in and a sock like feel (and support for that matter).

*I mentioned the off court appeal because 90% of consumers don’t buy shoes for their intended use*

Is the KD shoe for me? The KD XI works adequately for me but as you all know I want my shoes to excel at everything and while the jordans 2021 has its strengths, I have plenty of other shoes that far outperform its weaknesses such as containment and support. If you wanted a sock like shoe with great cushioning this is your shoe but if you want a little more of everything like I do, there are better shoes at a lower price point.

Overall rating : third team

PUMA RS Dreamer Performance Review

 We now live in a world where a very respected and influential rapper has a legit high performing signature basketball shoe. The PUMA RS Dreamer, J. Cole‘s signature basketball shoe, is the real deal. As you’ll see in the performance review, this is a shoe you can trust on court.

Traction

PUMA’s rubber compound for its performance basketball footwear has been consistently good and the RS Dreamer is no exception.

The pattern, inspired by a feather, looks a bit sketchy in terms of performance, especially on the lateral side, but they proved to be really good on court. Every surface I took them to had the same results, which is a great sign in terms of consistency.

If you’ve played in previous KD 14 For Sale offerings then you should know what to expect by now. Solid traction both indoors and outdoors.

Cushion

Like it’s traction, PUMA’s cushioning has been pretty consistent too. Only, this time around, it’s not exactly a compliment.

While the ProFoam gets the job done, it’s firmer than almost any other EVA setup used by other brands. When the midsole is thinner, as it was on the PUMA Clyde Hardwood, then it’s tolerable. However, when it’s implemented in a slightly thicker midsole, you can end up with something that feels a little dead underfoot. There is no real rebound or bounce back with the foam. It’s just there. Swapping the insole out for something more comfortable underfoot will help a lot, but if PUMA wants to be a true contender in the performance category, it needs better cushion tech.

Materials

This is another consistent category for PUMA Hoops as the materials are quite nice. Not as premium as the Clyde Hardwood, but still nice.

Textile mesh is used as the primary build while smaller patches of suedes are used. This gives the RS Dreamer a moderate blend of both old and new. The raw materials give you a 90s feel while the textile gives the current generation a modern fit and feel. No break-in required — other than the ankle collar — as the shoes feel game day ready fresh out the box.

Fit

The PUMA RS Dreamer fits true to size. If you want a super snug fit you could go down 1/2 size, but I feel true to size will be the best option for most players.

Lockdown is solid from heel to forefoot. The only thing to be aware of is that the textiles will start to stretch out a little once you begin to play in them. You may need to go back and readjust the laces after a game or two to get them to your preferred amount of snug. Otherwise, I had a great time playing in them.

Support

Support is similar to the Clyde Hardwood. You sit within the midsole a bit so that helps keep your heel and forefoot on the footbed. The rest of the support comes from standard features, a midfoot torsion shank and the fit. Nothing to really complain about or highly praise. They get the job done and that’s exactly what most of us want from support.

Overall

The PUMA RS Dreamer is for sure one of the best looking basketball shoes of 2020. The cushion is the only thing that needs tweaking. Once PUMA gets better cushioning, I think more players will be willing to try them out on court over industry heavy hitters like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Fingers crossed it doesn’t take too long. Time is of the essence when it comes to footwear. The sooner PUMA gets some real cushioning, the better.

In the meantime, if you buy a pair of the Off-White X Nike Dunk Low, then you should be fairly satisfied. They check all the other boxes. Again, an insole can help with the cushion until PUMA can get a better blend of foam or ETPU.

You can also watch the full performance review on YouTube to see on court footage.

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.