Puma Playmaker Pro Performance Review

 Great traction and materials for $80. Cushioning offers little in the form of impact protection, but a good basketball shoe for the price.

Release Date: 2022

Price: $80

7/10

Total Score

 

Weight and Sizing

 

The Puma Playmaker Pro is Puma Hoops’ current most-budget model and one more piece of evidence that Puma actually puts some TLC into the design of every single one of their hoop shoes.

Nowadays, you, unfortunately, can’t ask for much from an $80 basketball shoe, and there isn’t much in the Puma Playmaker Pro, to be perfectly honest. But the design team for this shoe really did get the most out of this model. The Puma Playmaker Pro is currently being worn on NBA courts by the Boston Celtics’ top defensive weapon, Marcus Smart, so keep that in mind. If it works in the NBA, it can work for you.

Spanish review

The pair I tested was provided by the good people over at Bouncewear, one of the top online basketball stores in Europe, with physical locations in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, with more locations soon to come. So with all that being said, let’s jump into the performance review

Traction

The traction would be this shoe’s top feature if it hadn’t been for the materials, but more on that later. This shoe features a solid rubber outsole, with a diamond-shaped matrix traction pattern, which personally reminds me of a basketball net.

This matrix configuration grips the court very well and has excellent multidirectional coverage. The diamonds along the sole deform depending on the section of the shoe to give you a better grip for the specific moves you make with that portion of your foot. They stretch out vertically on the lateral side of the shoe (to aid in defensive slides and such) and horizontally in the forefoot (to help with moves like stepbacks, hard plants, etc.).

Now, I would not suggest using this shoe outdoors. The rubber is too soft, and the pattern on my pair already has signs of fraying after just a couple of outdoor sessions. The pattern is somewhat deep set, so it should take some time to wear down, but again, if you are asking me, this is an indoor shoe.

Cushion

The cushioning on the Puma Playmaker Pro was the most disappointing feature of the shoe for me, but that was mainly because of my preconceptions regarding Puma’s ProFoam.

The Playmaker Pro features a full-length slab of ProFoam for cushioning. I have tested ProFoam before in one of my favorite basketball shoes of the year, the Puma TRC Blaze Court. That shoe is super bouncy underfoot and just feels great. It features a ProFoam midsole and Trinomic cushioning in the heel and forefoot.

So when I saw that this shoe had ProFoam, I figured the cushioning would be similar. But it’s definitely nothing alike.

The Playmaker Pro’s impact protection is minimal, and the ProFoam feels very neutral, almost to the point of being “dead.” The setup isn’t terrible, it’s very stable and reactive and feels agile, but again this is not a shoe for outdoors, or even a slightly hard indoor court. Parquet and mushy PVC courts only for these guys.

Materials

This is easily my favorite part of the shoe. There is nothing premium about the materials, but similar to another great Puma model from this year, the Puma Court Rider 2, the choice of materials and the implementation make the shoe feel great in hand.

We have a primarily textile upper with some synthetic leather overlays and some hits of actual suede. The “leather” overlays are placed in sections of the shoe to add durability and containment to the shoe, and just make you feel like your money is well spent. I can’t explain it any other way.

It also gives the shoe serious, early-2000s vibes, which is all I want from a shoe materials-wise.

Support

The shoe really doesn’t feature any groundbreaking tech support-wise, but everything on the shoe works together to offer a really secure feeling ride. The traction is grippy and offers a very wide and stable base to the shoe. The cushioning, though lacking in impact protection, is super stable as the materials give structure and containment to the upper. Finally, we have a couple of lace cables and a run-of-the-mill heel counter for extra lockdown.

Again nothing remarkable, but no complaints either.

Fit

The Puma Playmaker Pro fits true to size, so go with whatever size you usually use with Puma. The shoe doesn’t have that perfect performance you will find in the LeBron 20 for example, but it isn’t a sloppy fit, nor does it negatively affect performance.

On a positive note, however, the extra space should accommodate wide footers well, and the decoupled tongue should allow ankle brace users to adjust the fit easily.

Overall

To keep it short and sweet, I don’t think there is a better shoe that retails for $80. Is it the best shoe I have ever tested? No. But I did like the shoe, and if you are looking for a reactive shoe with great traction for indoor use that won’t break the bank, this is a good option. 

Now, I will say that if you can get a good deal on a better performance model, that would be the best move.

Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 Performance Review

 The Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 is a much-anticipated basketball shoe because of the first edition’s awesomeness. We think it will do well as a successor.

Colorway: Summit White/Metallic Summit White/White

Release Date: 2022

Price: $150

8.5/10

Total Score

The Nike GT Cut was a hit for everyone as far as performance went and made our Best Basketball Shoes list. It was so much of a hit that people started to hoard the shoe, and resell prices skyrocketed. Some pairs now go upwards of $1000. Its successor, the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2, keeps many features people loved about the previous iteration and upgrades others. Stay tuned for the upcoming performance review.

Traction

Stan: The Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 is an upgrade over its predecessor. That ‘Smear’ traction wrapped around the forefoot area really grips the ground well along with the heel and toe nubs. However, don’t expect it to last long on outdoor courts because it’ll wear down quickly.

Cushion

Stan: Full-length React midsole cushion with a small embedded hex heel zoom air pod and full-length Zoom strobel – what a combo. Slightly different from the 1st gen model, but the amount of impact protection the shoe provided allows me to ball for a good period of time without the knee pain after. Solid implementation and upgrade even while the React felt a little firmer. I felt low to the ground, had control of my movements, and never had really to second guess my movements, minus one caveat I’ll get to later.

Materials

Stan: Um.. wish I could skip this, but I wouldn’t mind that if Nike added more neoprene padded material to the upper along the tongue and toe box again. Because of the change to a more breathable textile mesh, you want to subtract the weight. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I’d expect better materials for the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2’s high price point.

Fit

Stan: I went true to size with the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2, and lengthwise it fits great. I do prefer a thumbs length worth of room, and that’s what I got. I’d say the fit would be great, minus the lack of wrap-around material on the tongue. The lack of material allowed my foot around the ankle area to shift too much, not providing ample lockdown until I wore ankle braces to fill in the dead space. Not only was it dangerous on the initial play, but it also made me second-guess my lateral movements and foot pressure on pivots while being afraid of a potential ankle sprain. If the tongue material were wrapped around more like the original GT Cut, the problem would be solved.

Support

Stan: The support comes mainly from the fit, which, again, if you’ve read above, the lack of material /dead space really threw me off my game until I wore braces to fill in the space. The traction and the cushion of the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 were all fantastic, so there are no questions or doubts about those parts.

Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 Overall

Stan: Is the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 a possible successor? I’d say yes with a huge asterisk. Again, the issue I have may not affect everyone, however, when I start to second guess my moves, it’s a red flag for sure. And for those suggesting double socks, that would affect the length of the shoe with additional material as well as adding more heat retention.

Nike had a good thing going for them, if they only stuck with that wider tongue wrap-around from the first version to fill in the gap around the ankle, I’d say we’d have an absolute top 2 or 3 performance shoe of the year. It takes a lot for me to give such high praise for a shoe (I mean, take a look at the 6 pairs of the Nike GT Cut 1 that I own, that says something). Here’s to hoping Swoosh pays attention to those little details that make a world of a difference. I’m anxious to see the next iteration of the GT Cut (with proper modifications) don’t make me wait too long… I’m ready.

Nike Air Max Impact 4 Performance Review

 The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is the best budget basketball shoe on the market today, a great outdoor option, and just a great performance basketball shoe.

Release Date: 2022

Price: $90

 

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is like that dorky-looking kid on the local courts that you think you can clown but who ends up dunking on you and sends you home packing. This budget model is an unassuming banger, and it gets extra points precisely because of this. I’m a sucker for a hoop shoe that looks like a plain jane and then comes in and knocks it out of the park.

The Air Jordan 3 was already an awesome performance basketball shoe, and the Air Max Impact 4 brings back everything that was great from that shoe and incorporates a couple of improvements. And it does all of that at a cheaper price than its predecessor! I live in Spain, and the Air Max Impact 4 is 6 bucks cheaper than the Air Max Impact 3. In the US, they’re the same price, but still…

In any case, let’s dive into the performance review to see why I’m so hyped about this shoe.

Traction

The traction makes you wonder why Nike ever uses a different pattern and rubber compound. We have an aggressive and deeply set full-length herringbone traction pattern that gives you really great multi-directional coverage. It’s the same exact setup as on the Impact 3, so if you had that shoe you know exactly what I am talking about. The rubber compound is grippy and tough and worked great indoors and outdoors.

This combo also makes the Air Max Impact 4 a really wonderful outdoor option as well as far as traction goes (spoiler alert, everything else on the shoe also makes it a great outdoor option). The rubber gripped very well when I played outdoors, and that strong rubber and the thickness of the pattern all added durability while playing on the blacktop.

Cushion

The cushioning setup is, again, the same as on the Impact 3, which is great news. The cushioning on that model was amazing for a budget model, and the same is true on the Air Max Impact 4.

You get a full-length phylon foam midsole, and a large Air Max Unit in the heel. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill phylon. It feels much closer to Cushlon than in other setups. It feels bouncy and reactive underfoot, which is great for forefoot heavy moves like sprints or changes of direction.

The Air Max Unit in the heel feels great if you make it work, but I personally don’t use my heel much when I play, so I really didn’t feel it too much. But I’m happy that it’s there just in case I need that extra bit of cushion I might not be 100% aware of most of the time.

Materials

In my reviews, I’m normally negative when brands overuse cheaper synthetic materials. I always try to be fair and say that performance wise it worked well yada, yada, yada…but in this case, I’m not even going to do that.

The Air Max Impact 4 is a budget model, so it has budget-appropriate materials that worked very well. Nike even improved the materials from the Impact 3 to the Impact 4. They used a tighter weaved textile along the upper that improves lockdown and added some fuse overlays on the lateral side of the forefoot to boost lateral containment.

Support

Support on the Air Max Impact 4 is also on point. You have 4 rubber lateral containment pieces: 2 in the heel and 2 in the forefoot. Also, you have an internal web (that is visible through the outer mesh of the shoe on the more colorful colorways) that keeps your foot securely on the footbed. For a little added support and containment there are two lace cables, as well as two outriggers.

Everything about the support is enhanced by the use and placement of the materials as well as the fit.

Fit

This is one of the better-fitting shoes I have tested recently. The Nike Air Max Impact 4 offers a great 1-to-1 fit and requires little to no break-in time.

Overall

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is just a great performance basketball shoe, and it improves on an already great shoe, the Nike Air Max 3. It’s definitely my favorite budget basketball shoe so far this season as well as my go-to outdoor option. I’m having a hard time at the moment keeping it out of my current top 5.

I personally enjoy the fact that the shoe is so plain and “under the radar” and packs such a performance punch, and it does have the “what are those?” factor.

If you are looking for a great performance basketball shoe that won’t break the bank, there’s no better option.

 

Asics Superblast Performance Review

The new max stack running shoe category is growing like crazy, and with the Asics Superblast, Asics enters the category like the Kool-Aid man busting through a wall. At WearTesters, we love both the Asics Metaspeed Sky+ and the Asics Novablast 3. So when Asics told us the Superblast is a hybrid forged from both those high-performance (and highly-rated) running shoes, we were all in.

Of course, that also upped our expectations to possibly unreachable levels. Can the Asics Superblast deliver performance that matches or exceeds its high-performing parents? That, my friends, is what we’re here to find out.

Asics Superblast

Release Date: December 1, 2022

Price: $220

Weight: Men’s 8.4 oz., Women’s 7.5 oz.

Drop: 8mm (37.5mm forefoot, 45.5mm heel)

Sizing: True to size

• Rundown: The Asics Superblast is a fun, versatile, and lightweight shoe with a price that will make you hesitate even though it’s a great shoe.

Pros

Drew: When I first saw this shoe in August at Asics America HQ, my jaw dropped. The Asics Superblast is a fast (and cool) looking shoe. And all that stack looked heavenly.

I’m glad to report that it just doesn’t look heavenly. It feels awesome underfoot. Asics took two great foams, FF Blast+ and FF Blast Turbo, and created a soft midsole that’s not too squishy nor unstable. It’s got a nice bounce and speeds up nicely. The rocker shape, looking very similar to the Metaspeed Sky+, feels smooth from the moment you touch down to when you toe off the ground.

I know some people are bemoaning the lack of a carbon fiber plate, but honestly, it’s nice to have a non-plated option in the market. The running shoe industry is plate crazy these days, but sometimes the stiffness of a plate is just too much. A shoe packing a mountain of soft foam and no plate fills a need for runners who just don’t need or love carbon fiber plates.

Above that glorious midsole is an upper that looks like a Metaspeed but is better. It’s still light and plenty breathable, but it’s more comfortable. The gusseted and well-padded, almost neoprene tongue has a lot to do with it. It’s luxurious compared to the tongues on the Novablast 3 and Metaspeed Sky+. It’s a small tweak that pays dividends on long runs. The upper also has plenty of room for feet to expand…making it pretty wide-foot-friendly. It’s always nice when a shoe accommodates lots of foot types without the upper flexing weirdly when the shoe is laced up tight. It’s just great upper construction all around.

Even with the great midsole and upper, the Nike Lebron 20 feels really light. It’s light enough, protective enough, and bouncy enough that I can see people using it as their marathon racing shoe. I even think friend of WearTesters and running shoe reviewer, Kofuzi, is planning to use the Asics Superblast when he runs the California International Marathon (CIM) in December. If someone who has all the super shoes chooses the Asics Superblast as his marathon shoe, that’s a huge endorsement of its abilities.

Tyler: Over the last few months, one of my favorite running shoes has been the Asics Novablast 3, and before that, it was the Asics Glideride 3, so I’ve been a big fan of what the brand has been churning out, and aside from a few small hiccups with the sizing of the Glideride 3, I’ve put a ton of miles in Asics shoes this year. So when the Asics Superblast came in, I was optimistic. My closet is full of plated shoes and this seemed to be just what I would gravitate toward to even out my rotation.

Out of the box, the shoe is extremely light, even in my size 13, and that weight shows (or doesn’t show?) on foot. At no point in any of my runs did I ever feel like the shoe was bulky, even though, in hand, it was quite chunky. But, I was more impressed with the ride than anything and assume it’s the combination of the foams and slight rocker, as Drew alluded to. Even more enjoyable was the toe-off – while the plush cushioning in the forefoot resulted in a nice ride, it is one of the smoothest and most stable experiences when transitioning off your toes.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the upper. Oh, this fantastic upper. It’s almost like something NASA designed. It’s soft, yet structured. It’s comfortably rigid, yet pliable and giving. It’s breathable. Most of all, it’s forgiving and simple. From a design standpoint, I can’t wait to see upcoming colorways, but from a functionality standpoint, this upper may be one of the best on any running shoes I’ve slipped into over the last 2-3 years.

It’s also worth mentioning the flair that accompanied the Asics Superblast. In the box, the paper mimics a newspaper, reading “SUPERBLAST HAS ARRIVED!” with a few “stories” about the shoe. Also included were three pins. It’s the small details like this that make an unboxing experience fun and shows the Asics team knows how to surprise and delight.

Cons

Drew: There are a few things to mention here though not everyone will view each of them as true negatives. I know I don’t.

First, the laces are a bit too long. Seeing as how this shoe can be a race-day option, I’d have liked a little less length. No one likes laces flopping around like crazy when they’re trying to go fast.

Second, I know people had issues with the traction of the Asics Novablast 3, so Asics worked to improve that experience by using AHAR+ rubber on the Asics Superblast. For me, it made a difference in terms of gripping the ground. I experienced only minor slippage with the Novablast 3, likely due to my size, and none, even in wet, rainy conditions in the Superblast. However, the traction pattern itself is still the same. If you had trouble with the Novablast 3 traction, this may not be the shoe for you.

Third, the price. The Asics Superblast is $220. AJ has the unfortunate luck of being one of the first to launch a high-end shoe with post-inflation-driven cost increases. I expect a lot of shoes in 2023 to feel expensive. Is the Superblast actually expensive, though? After a lot of thought, I don’t think so. The only thing that’s missing from what would otherwise be a $250 super shoe is the carbon fiber plate. Everything else is included. Paying $30 extra for a carbon fiber plate feels about right. But I’ve always thought of the super foams being the main source of extra cost, not the plate. It may be difficult for others to reframe their thinking with that in mind.

Tyler: The elephant in the room (and across Instagram comments) is my only con: the price. $220 is STEEP. When Nike released the ZoomX Invincible Run, that $180 price point was a lot to stomach, and while I do think the Superblast is a superior shoe to the Invincible, another $40 is borderline ridiculous. I don’t care that it’s not plated, but it’s just downright expensive. I’ve wracked my brain on the pricing strategy here and still come up short.

Asics Superblast Summary

Drew: The Asics Superblast is a fun, versatile shoe that I can use for anything from easy miles to workouts to races. It’s so light it feels like a race day shoe, it’s soft but stable, and even without the plate, it has a nice pop. While you may do a double take at the price, I think it’s worth it. You’re getting a really good shoe for the money. And what’s more, you’re getting a shoe with a ride that will make you want to run more often.

Tyler: I think Drew hits on every single point that you should take into consideration here. The Superblast is such a solid, versatile, and light shoe, and continues to create a lot of enjoyment during each run, but I can’t get on board with recommending it at its price point. If you’re in the Novablast 3 (or have thought about the Novablast 3), I think that’s the route to go (I also think they underpriced the Novablast 3, so maybe that’s their pricing strategy, now that I think about it). So, while you won’t capture all of the magic of the Asics Superblast, you’ll get damn close and have one of the best shoes of 2022.

Nike Infinity Pro 2 Performance Review

 Golf shoes are steadily becoming less traditional looking. The Nike Infinity Pro 2 is Nike’s response to consumer demand for a golf shoe that looks and performs like a running shoe. On the surface, the Nike Infinity Pro 2 does share some characteristics to Nike’s lineup of running shoes, but that’s only half the battle. A golf shoe is effectively worthless if it can’t pull its weight in the on-course performance test.

Can a golf shoe that looks and performs like a running shoe possibly be the shoe you’ve been looking for? Or is the idea of blending both running and golf into one shoe just a marketing gimmick? Let’s find out.

Nike Infinity Pro 2

Price: $110

Sizing: Runs small; go up 1/2 size.

• Rundown: This budget-friendly shoe is jam-packed with cushion, but it’s the traction that really shines. Be wary of the narrow and short fit.

Pros

• Cushion
• Traction
• Price

Cons

• Fit

Pros

Cushion

Nike designed the Infinity Pro 2 with the idea that it should look and perform like a modern running shoe. This really shows up in the traction department. Nike packed the Infinity Pro 2 with a beefy React Foam midsole that’s both bouncy and responsive.

Both on and off the course, React is one of my favorite foams, but I did find this particular setup to be more firm than I’m used to. If you’re a fan of firm and supportive cushioning, the Nike Infinity Pro 2 is absolutely a champion in this regard. You should have no problem walking 18 holes in this shoe!

Traction

I don’t really know how to describe the traction on the Nike Infinity Pro 2, but it flat-out works. It’s a very low-profile pattern made of flexible rubber and some funky-looking grooves. Even still, I found it to be perfectly grippy on both dry and wet surfaces.

Nike made it a point to keep the spikeless traction on the Infinity Pro 2 versatile so that you can wear these “casually” after your round. I found this to be true. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to change shoes after your round before you head to the restaurant or bar, the Lebron 20 makes the transition from the course to the concrete pretty seamless.

Price

Price is often overlooked, especially in the game of golf. It’s expensive to start the game, and I’m all for any shoe that lowers that barrier to entry. The retail price of the Nike Infinity Pro 2 is $110, which by golf shoe industry standards is pretty darn low.

Most “budget” shoes I’ve tested hover around the $130 price range. At the time of writing this, you can find a few colorways of the Infinity Pro 2 for less than $100. At that price point, these are extremely easy to recommend.

Cons

Fit

The issues with the fit of the Nike Infinity Pro 2 are partially my fault; Nike did mention that the shoe runs small on their website, and I just skipped over that part. The Infinity Pro 2 fits at least 1/2 size small, and is pretty narrow, too.

If you can try this on, I’d highly recommend it. If trying on isn’t an option, I’d suggest going up at least 1/2 size or buying the wide version (only one colorway available) for those of you with wide feet.

I will also mention that most modern golf shoes have gone to a one-piece construction, whereas the Infinity Pro 2 features a detached, more traditional tongue. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but I did find the tongue caused some irritation to my ankles.

Nike Infinity Pro 2 Summary

Can a shoe that looks and feels like a running shoe hold its own on the golf course? Absolutely. The Nike Infinity Pro 2 is proof that golf doesn’t have to look or feel traditional.

Don’t let the marketing lingo scare you; the Nike Infinity Pro 2 is a very solid golf shoe at an amazing price point. You’re going to want to grab a pair of these, especially if you can catch them on sale!

Nike MC Trainer 2 Performance Review

 Rundown: The Nike MC Trainer 2 is a good shoe with weaknesses that might deter some people from purchasing.

Release Date: 2022

Price: $75

Weight: 11.1 oz (size 10)

Fit Guide: True to size

 

7/10

Total Score

Pros

• Flexible Outsole
• Free Tongue

Cons

• Thin Materials
• Tapered Heel

The Nike MC Trainer 2 is another budget Nike cross training shoe that aims to give gym-goers and stay-at-home athletes alike an affordable option. While it is more affordable, some critical strengths and weaknesses will significantly determine your choice to purchase these. It’s not oddly specific, but there are deal breakers and makers for others. Don’t compare these to the Nike Lebron 20 or Under Armour HOVR Rise 4. You won’t be doing it any favors.

Pros

Flexible Outsole

The outsole is full rubber with triangles and lines as its traction pattern. From the forefoot to the midfoot are flex zones. They’re cored-out sections that ensure those areas are not stiff, and you can flex your feet as naturally as possible. I found this especially helpful during lunges. The Phylon midsole isn’t too fluffy, so the midsole doesn’t over-compress and cause instability. The grooves are thick, and the rubber compound is tough, so these should last you a good while, too.

Free Tongue

The tongue is made of a breathable mesh that is only connected at the end. This allows you to easily manipulate it and get the right fit. Entry and exit are easy and don’t take too much effort. If you feel like the tongue will move around while you work out, think again. There’s a big loop where the laces go through to make sure it stays put. If you do need to tug your tongue and adjust the fit for whatever reason, it’s simple, and nothing gets in the way.

Cons

Thin Materials

The upper is full mesh with fuse overlays and an elastic band at the forefoot. The band is useless in my opinion. The mesh that Nike used here is thin and doesn’t look like it will last too long especially if you’re putting these through continued intense and strenuous exercises. The only upsides to this are weight reduction and breathability. While the materials last, they’ll be okay performance-wise. But you may find yourself replacing this shoe a bit faster than you’d prefer.

Tapered Heel

This was one of the most off-putting things about the shoe. The forefoot is nice and wide, but it gets thinner as you approach the heel. Because of its tapered nature and design, I was wobbly if I accidentally caught myself on my heels. There are no outriggers, too, so it doesn’t help its case. My advice would be to do your best to stay on your forefoot as much as possible. The heel won’t do you any good.

While we’re on the topic of the heel, there’s some pretty consistent heel slip. It didn’t interfere with most of my workouts, but I don’t like feeling any part of my feet pulling out of the shoe. So anyone who’s a stickler for lockdown will want to avoid this shoe.

Nike MC Trainer 2 Summary

The Nike MC Trainer 2 is a good budget cross training shoe that will serve most people well, especially those who don’t use their heels during workouts. If you do, don’t pick these up. You will be unstable most of the time. If your workouts require using your forefoot most of the time, which is the case for many basketball-focused exercises, then these will satisfy your needs. There are a few other things to get over, like the thin materials and the useless strap, but they’re not deal breakers for everyone. The shoe does what it’s supposed to do, and that’s enough for a thumbs up from me, considering the price range.

Nike Air Max Impact 4 Performance Review

 The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is the best budget basketball shoe on the market today, a great outdoor option, and just a great performance basketball shoe.

Release Date: 2022

Price: $90

9.2/10

Total Score

 

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is like that dorky-looking kid on the local courts that you think you can clown but who ends up dunking on you and sends you home packing. This budget model is an unassuming banger, and it gets extra points precisely because of this. I’m a sucker for a hoop shoe that looks like a plain jane and then comes in and knocks it out of the park.

The Air Max Impact 3 was already an awesome performance basketball shoe, and the Air Max Impact 4 brings back everything that was great from that shoe and incorporates a couple of improvements. And it does all of that at a cheaper price than its predecessor! I live in Spain, and the Air Max Impact 4 is 6 bucks cheaper than the Dunk Low. In the US, they’re the same price, but still…

In any case, let’s dive into the performance review to see why I’m so hyped about this shoe.

Traction

The traction makes you wonder why Nike ever uses a different pattern and rubber compound. We have an aggressive and deeply set full-length herringbone traction pattern that gives you really great multi-directional coverage. It’s the same exact setup as on the Impact 3, so if you had that shoe you know exactly what I am talking about. The rubber compound is grippy and tough and worked great indoors and outdoors.

This combo also makes the Air Max Impact 4 a really wonderful outdoor option as well as far as traction goes (spoiler alert, everything else on the shoe also makes it a great outdoor option). The rubber gripped very well when I played outdoors, and that strong rubber and the thickness of the pattern all added durability while playing on the blacktop.

Cushion

The cushioning setup is, again, the same as on the Impact 3, which is great news. The cushioning on that model was amazing for a budget model, and the same is true on the Air Max Impact 4.

You get a full-length phylon foam midsole, and a large Air Max Unit in the heel. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill phylon. It feels much closer to Cushlon than in other setups. It feels bouncy and reactive underfoot, which is great for forefoot heavy moves like sprints or changes of direction.

The Air Max Unit in the heel feels great if you make it work, but I personally don’t use my heel much when I play, so I really didn’t feel it too much. But I’m happy that it’s there just in case I need that extra bit of cushion I might not be 100% aware of most of the time.

Materials

In my reviews, I’m normally negative when brands overuse cheaper synthetic materials. I always try to be fair and say that performance wise it worked well yada, yada, yada…but in this case, I’m not even going to do that.

The Air Max Impact 4 is a budget model, so it has budget-appropriate materials that worked very well. Nike even improved the materials from the Impact 3 to the Lebron 20. They used a tighter weaved textile along the upper that improves lockdown and added some fuse overlays on the lateral side of the forefoot to boost lateral containment.

Support

Support on the Air Max Impact 4 is also on point. You have 4 rubber lateral containment pieces: 2 in the heel and 2 in the forefoot. Also, you have an internal web (that is visible through the outer mesh of the shoe on the more colorful colorways) that keeps your foot securely on the footbed. For a little added support and containment there are two lace cables, as well as two outriggers.

Everything about the support is enhanced by the use and placement of the materials as well as the fit.

Fit

This is one of the better-fitting shoes I have tested recently. The Nike Air Max Impact 4 offers a great 1-to-1 fit and requires little to no break-in time.

Overall

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is just a great performance basketball shoe, and it improves on an already great shoe, the Nike Air Max 3. It’s definitely my favorite budget basketball shoe so far this season as well as my go-to outdoor option. I’m having a hard time at the moment keeping it out of my current top 5.

I personally enjoy the fact that the shoe is so plain and “under the radar” and packs such a performance punch, and it does have the “what are those?” factor.

If you are looking for a great performance basketball shoe that won’t break the bank, there’s no better option.