Hit the jump for full written review & scores.
Traction – As with most translucent soled sneakers, these worked for a brief period but then the dust quickly became an obstacle that couldn’t be overcome… doesn’t leave me with much hope for the Air Jordan XI. Front to back they were decent at best but players often need stable traction for every direction other than front to back… especially if you are a Guard running around. If the shoe offered more flex or range of motion then maybe things would have been different but as they are… it just wasn’t ideal for indoor courts unless they are kept perfectly clean. Outdoors may prove useful if the court has a bit of texture to it… but I wouldn’t dare play in these on a smooth outdoor surface.
Cushion – Once the shoe is broken-in – I’ll get into that in a bit – then the cushion begins to soften up. Its strange having a shoe that features full length Zoom – double stacked in the heel – start out so firm. I will say that once things begin to soften up then you can appreciate how comfortable a nike air foamposite one can be… it just takes a hell of a lot longer than you’d imagine.
Material – I have a love hate relationship with the materials. The foams sturdiness and protective traits are awesome… you just can’t enjoy them for a while until it’s all broken-in. One thing that is apparent in a shoe featuring Foamposite… it’ll last… the materials will actually outlive the glue holding everything together.
Fit – Break-in time… lots of it. Be prepared for one of the most grueling break-ins you’ll ever experience. I’m not even joking either, I knew I was up for a challenge with this one but I honestly had no idea it would ever take as long as it did.
Even after switching to a pair I thought was already broken-in taught me that Foamposite’s will always need to be broken-in again and again when playing in them. After you are done perspiring inside the shoe the shell hardens up a little, contouring to your foot shape but leaving you with a stiff shoe until you warm it up again… it’s like playing with a tight muscle, it constantly needs work which is a little too much maintenance than I can a handle.
Its overall fit is great after it molds to your foot with the exception of the heel… that area needs a lot of work and I couldn’t do anything to keep my heel locked into place. Thanks to the sloppy heel lockdown, it ends up feeling like you have a brick flopping around… like a really heavy sandal or clog. This is probably the shoes Achilles heel… pun moderately intended. If there were better heel lockdown available then the shoe would have played a little smoother and less clunky, even for its weight. These are the same weight as the Air Jordan VIII and you wouldn’t ever know they weighed the same unless you threw them both on the scale… even then I thought my scale was broken because they just feel like dead weight in comparison
Ventilation – There is only minor ventilation which is featured along the tongue. This is necessary for the materials used so the rating shouldn’t be considered here… unless you absolutely need a shoe that can breathe.
Support – Carbon Fiber, Foamposite and a double last midsole… that’s a lot of support. It would have been better had the heel fit properly but we can’t have everything we want now can we.
Overall – This is not my cup of tea… I know a lot of ball players love to play in Foams but I think I’m much too small for them. If there was ever a shoe made for LeBronJames… it was the Foamposite pro island green … His Foamposite based sneaker looked much better than this one though – from a performance perspective.
Besides the heel lockdown I would have preferred the shoe to not feature a double last midsole. This made the shoe nearly impossible to flex with your foot the way a quick Guard would prefer. Front to back was fine but I’d have liked some lateral flex so I could maneuver the way I usually do.
Not a bad shoe but not a great shoe either. It’s definitely cool though… I’ll give it that kd10sale.com
2017年9月4日星期一
2017年9月3日星期日
Air Jordan 4 retro performance reviews
Traction – The Air Jordan 4 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 fashioned 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, Air Jordan 5 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 shoes 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 Cushion 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 4 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
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 fashioned 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, Air Jordan 5 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 shoes 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 Cushion 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 4 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
2017年8月29日星期二
air jordan 5 retro performance reviews
Hit the jump for more…
Traction – Front to back, the herringbone worked perfectly fine. Dust and debris will slightly hinder overall performance of the traction – due to the translucent rubber – but if you are able to keep up with consistent wiping you should be alright.
I stated this in the 1st Performance Teaser; the heel gave me some slight slippage when in transition. Mostly when curling around screens, running fast breaks & driving by the opposing player at an angle. It’s something that even I couldn’t change… couldn’t quite adapt to the issue very well so I wish there would have been less smooth surface along the heel and more herringbone to possibly prevent the issue from occurring too often.
Cushion – Pretty much the same setup as the Air Jordan 3 & 4; featuring a heel & forefoot Air unit along with a Polyurethane midsole. The midsole will start off fairly stiff but soon breaks in over time, something that I had not experienced with the Air Jordan 3 or 4 . Forefoot cushion – while available – is lower to the ground so if you aren’t used to playing in sneakers that have you sitting roughly an inch above ground then you will want to give yourself time to adjust.
Material – Materials on this colorway require practically no break-in time. However, they get softer as you play so it’s less supportive as time goes by. If you choose to play in a pair I’d recommend wearing a pair with the split grain leather uppers as they’ll offer up much more durability & support.
Fit – The fit was a hit and miss in most areas. While the midfoot fit is fine – also offers two ways to lace up your shoes for greater midfoot lock down if needed – the heel and forefoot are a bit sloppy… mainly the forefoot. Even going down ½ size you will receive a sloppy forefoot fit but the heel may improve a bit with less room from front to back. With a sloppy fit comes slight hesitation upon your movements and that can cost you a few milliseconds… which counts when you have your opponent beat yet you lose your advantage due to an interior forefoot issue such as slipping.
Ventilation – Much like the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 5 offers ventilation on both side panels & tongue. While the rubber mesh layered on top will slightly restrict air flow, it’s not horrible and shouldn’t be too big of an issue… especially seeing as how most performance models in this era lacked ventilation so in comparison the Air Jordan 5 was probably one of the most well ventilated shoes at the time.
Support – Again, just like the past Air Jordan models, there isn’t much support. There is a molded arch and a thin internal heel counter – what it’s made of I do not know – so that’s pretty much all the support you will get. If the upper features leather versus the nubuck you will receive a bit more support from a material standpoint than you would from this particular pair.
Overall – Still a great shoe from its time. Not a complete upgrade from the Air Jordan IV – in my opinion – but they were headed in the right direction going into the 90’s. If you were to play in a pair of kd 10 for sale. I’d definitely recommend going with a pair featuring leather along the upper versus the nubuck for some additional strength and support.
Traction – Front to back, the herringbone worked perfectly fine. Dust and debris will slightly hinder overall performance of the traction – due to the translucent rubber – but if you are able to keep up with consistent wiping you should be alright.
I stated this in the 1st Performance Teaser; the heel gave me some slight slippage when in transition. Mostly when curling around screens, running fast breaks & driving by the opposing player at an angle. It’s something that even I couldn’t change… couldn’t quite adapt to the issue very well so I wish there would have been less smooth surface along the heel and more herringbone to possibly prevent the issue from occurring too often.
Cushion – Pretty much the same setup as the Air Jordan 3 & 4; featuring a heel & forefoot Air unit along with a Polyurethane midsole. The midsole will start off fairly stiff but soon breaks in over time, something that I had not experienced with the Air Jordan 3 or 4 . Forefoot cushion – while available – is lower to the ground so if you aren’t used to playing in sneakers that have you sitting roughly an inch above ground then you will want to give yourself time to adjust.
Material – Materials on this colorway require practically no break-in time. However, they get softer as you play so it’s less supportive as time goes by. If you choose to play in a pair I’d recommend wearing a pair with the split grain leather uppers as they’ll offer up much more durability & support.
Fit – The fit was a hit and miss in most areas. While the midfoot fit is fine – also offers two ways to lace up your shoes for greater midfoot lock down if needed – the heel and forefoot are a bit sloppy… mainly the forefoot. Even going down ½ size you will receive a sloppy forefoot fit but the heel may improve a bit with less room from front to back. With a sloppy fit comes slight hesitation upon your movements and that can cost you a few milliseconds… which counts when you have your opponent beat yet you lose your advantage due to an interior forefoot issue such as slipping.
Ventilation – Much like the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 5 offers ventilation on both side panels & tongue. While the rubber mesh layered on top will slightly restrict air flow, it’s not horrible and shouldn’t be too big of an issue… especially seeing as how most performance models in this era lacked ventilation so in comparison the Air Jordan 5 was probably one of the most well ventilated shoes at the time.
Support – Again, just like the past Air Jordan models, there isn’t much support. There is a molded arch and a thin internal heel counter – what it’s made of I do not know – so that’s pretty much all the support you will get. If the upper features leather versus the nubuck you will receive a bit more support from a material standpoint than you would from this particular pair.
Overall – Still a great shoe from its time. Not a complete upgrade from the Air Jordan IV – in my opinion – but they were headed in the right direction going into the 90’s. If you were to play in a pair of kd 10 for sale. I’d definitely recommend going with a pair featuring leather along the upper versus the nubuck for some additional strength and support.
2017年8月27日星期日
Air Jordan 12 Retro Performance reviews
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.
Traction – Herringbone is featured in similar fashion to the previous Air Jordan signature – the Air Jordan 14 . 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 12 for sale 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 Retro 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 12 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 12 Bordeaux 2017 will give you what you need. It’s nice to see – and feel – evolution and the Air Jordan XII is just that. The Air Jordan line evolved quite a bit in a short amount of time… that’s pretty incredible… especially seeing as how the Air Jordan 12 can outperform some of today’s performance models.
Traction – Herringbone is featured in similar fashion to the previous Air Jordan signature – the Air Jordan 14 . 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 12 for sale 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 Retro 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 12 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 12 Bordeaux 2017 will give you what you need. It’s nice to see – and feel – evolution and the Air Jordan XII is just that. The Air Jordan line evolved quite a bit in a short amount of time… that’s pretty incredible… especially seeing as how the Air Jordan 12 can outperform some of today’s performance models.
2017年8月24日星期四
Under Armour Drive 4 Performance Reviews
Traction: Under Armour doesn’t mess around here; it has used what has been proven to work for years and that would be full-length herringbone. Not only did UA use a tried and true formula, it made the tread thick and deep so it’ll last longer (shout out to all our outdoor ballers). Also, dust has less of a chance of getting caught in between the grooves since the pattern is spaced out very nicely.
The rubber compound could’ve been a little tackier but that didn’t keep these from working on virtually every floor condition you can think of. However, since they’re not as tacky as something like the Kobe 9s I did have to wipe every now and then when the floor was in less than ideal conditions.
It’s also worth mentioning that the outsole started to separate from the midsole. If you take a look at the 4:07 mark in the video above, you’ll see the outsole separation. I didn’t notice this during use but honestly, I’m not surprised by the wear and tear since I easily put about 50 hours of playing time in these. If you’re looking for something that’ll last you an entire season, these might not be for you.
Cushion: Under Armour could’ve and should’ve used full-length MicroG, but instead it only used it in the heel — that’s the equivalent of having a really nice crossover but no jumper.
We’re assuming that the forefoot is just straight EVA foam which could be worse but when compared to the MicroG in the heel, it’s obsolete. It can feel dead at times but the silver lining is that you’re going to get a real responsive ride that is very low to the ground — those guards who don’t really get up in the air are really going to like how quick the forefoot feels. However, more explosive players are going to wish there was more impact protection and bounce, kind of like the Micro G section in the heel.
I don’t know why UA didn’t just put Micro G full-length. The good news is that I never felt sore at the end if my runs so the while the cushion could’ve been a lot better, what we do get isn’t bad at all
Materials: It looks like ClutchFit is going extinct on the hardwood because Under Armour decided to replace it in the Drive line with what it calls a lightweight and breathable textile upper. It’s basically a woven mesh material that doesn’t really stretch but at the same time isn’t very stiff or uncomfortable, it’s kind of just there. The materials aren’t terrible but they aren’t amazing either. However, the neoprene-like padding in the medial forefoot and collar area was very comfortable.
The downside of the materials is that they don’t really conform to your foot for a snug one-to-one fit. There’s quite a bit of dead space in the toebox area and no matter how tight I laced them up, the materials just did not snap to my foot the way they should. Under Armour curry 4 black gold also says that the upper is breathable but trust me, it isn’t. It isn’t really a big deal, they’re not a hot box by any means, but they will start to smell pretty bad after just a couple of uses
Fit: Wide-footers listen up, you should seriously consider putting these on your radar because a wide fit like this doesn’t come around very often.
Like I said in the materials section, there was a ton of dead space towards the front of the shoe and while the length and overall fit of the Drive 4 was true to size, I just couldn’t get the materials to snap to the front of my foot the way I wanted them to. The midfoot area was snug and responsive just as long as I tied the laces up nice and tight. Moreover, the back end of the shoe, towards the heel area, also provided a less than ideal fit. It isn’t as bad as the forefoot but there was definitely some wiggle room that couldn’t be eliminated.
There was also some stabbing in this area on hard cuts and drives where the heel cup would go under my ankle and pinch against my foot. When this happened, it was not comfortable whatsoever and one night in particular, there was nothing I could do to avoid it. Oddly enough, after that one night, the problem didn’t really come back to me so i’m not sure if I broke these in or I just got used to it, but when it did happen, it was pretty annoying. If you’re a side to side mover who does a lot of v-cuts and goes from baseline to baseline, you might also experience this issue, but the problem did eventually go away.
Support: Despite the loose fit, the Drive 4 does a solid job keeping you on your feet thanks to its wide fit that in turn provides a wide base. That wide platform in the forefoot, coupled with the low to the ground cushioning, made for a very responsive and stable ride that is going to favor quick guards or anyone who doesn’t really get off of the ground.
The heel cup also did a pretty good job with lateral stability but like I said, it did cut into my ankle a few times so perhaps it does too good of a job. The lacing system is another star feature in the Drive 4’s support system because it does a very good job at keeping your foot in place — it just doesn’t do a good job snapping the materials to your foot but this is more of a weird feel than a knock on its actual performance.
You’re not going to get top tier performance in this category for the Drive 4 but you will get everything you need to keep you on your feet during play. (You’re going to get a different experience depending on how it fits.) If you can fill in a lot of the dead space that these have, the support will be above average; if you can’t fill in those dead spaces, internal slipping may be an issue.
Overall: Look, as much as we want a sneaker shoes that costs $115 and provides top tier performance, it just isn’t that common. The Drive 4 is about what you would expect from a sneaker at this price. There are some good things it does (traction) and then there are some things that need work (fit and materials).
Sure, the outsole separation is pretty bad but the good news is that it didn’t affect my play on the court. Also, the wide fit could be viewed as a positive since wide-footers are always saying that shoe companies don’t provide enough wide-footer friendly models. For better or worse, Under Armour gave you guys what you wanted — even if it may have been by accident.
Overall, if you’re someone who plays low to the ground, prefers a stable ride and has a wide foot, these are going to be great for you, just be aware of the lackluster impact protection — and watch out for that heel cup. http://www.kd10sale.com
2017年8月23日星期三
Nike Zoom Venomenon 5 Performance Review
Improved upon since the last model, which is always a good thing.
Traction – These have excellent traction. Surprising too since the pattern is pretty random. The Kobe Venomenon 5 series is an outdoor specific shoe overseas, but I’m not sure if that’s the case with the U.S. version. There was nothing stating that these feature XDR outsoles, and Nike will always let you know when they use a certain type of material as it’ll usually be labeled somewhere on the product or come with a hang tag with the material labeled. So while the traction was pretty awesome – indoors & outdoors – the rubber is softer than you’d expect with an outdoor shoe so I wouldn’t recommend them to someone that plays on a rough outdoor surface, but if you play on a court with a smooth blacktop finish like a tennis court then you’ll be good.
Cushion – Bottom loaded Zoom Air located in the heel and forefoot… not my favorite setup. It works well for what it is, but you don’t really feel anything since there is a midsole between your foot and the cushion. The good news is that it absorbs impact upon impact, and you’ll have a slightly more ‘responsive’ ride in terms of reaction speed, but the downside is that a bottom loaded setup is best when utilized full length in order to absorb as much impact as possible. Even when using tiny Hex-Zoom units like in the LeBron 12, they’re placed from heel to toe so you have a decent amount of protection. Same when it comes to something like the Air Jordan 2010 which opted for the full length option. So while they get the job done, the cushion is nothing to gawk at. It would have been awesome if the Zoom was bottom loaded and the midsole was Lunar, but I didn’t make the shoe so that obviously didn’t happen. I will say that this is definitely an improvement over the Venomenon 4, so in that sense… its a plus.
Materials – I absolutely love the materials. Mesh and wovens are the new thing, and they’re something I thoroughly enjoy when utilized properly. If you you’ve played in the HyperRev 2015 and enjoyed their upper then you’ll likely enjoy these as well. They’re soft, flexible, require no break-in time, breathable and contain the foot well enough. It is a mesh though, so durability won’t be their strongest attribute. But if you prioritize the attributes I just mentioned above durability then you’ll be happy with them.
Fit – They fit true to size, and wide footers will want to try them on. They have that ‘perfect’ fit for my foot, so you might think they’re too snug if you have a wider footwear shoes . Forefoot and midfoot lockdown was really solid. Dynamic Flywire is located at the forefoot for some additional coverage so you don’t put too much strain on the mesh material, and the external heel counter offers great heel lockdown. Transition is a bit clunky due to the heel counter, but if you stay on your toes for the most part then you might not notice it too much. If you heel strike then you’ll feel the chunkiness that I’m talking about.
Support – They remind me of the Kobe 8 and Kobe 9 EM in terms of support. There is just enough to where you’re not as risk of injury, but not too much to where you’ll feel restricted. The heel counter is the only area that I’d change due to the clunky transition it causes. I’d have used a heel clip like what the Kobe 8 used, I think that would’ve allowed the heel to compress a bit more upon heel strikes. Other than that they’re solid. Internal shank, solid TPU heel counter and a forefoot lateral outrigger. Everything you’ve come to expect in one of Kobe’s main signature models, but in a more affordable package.
Overall – I actually like these a little more than the Kobe X’s. I enjoyed the materials much more, and the traction, while not quite Kobe 11 for sale level, are capable of being used indoors and outdoors – even without the use of XDR. Cushion was much better in the X’s, but for $120 the Venomenon’s do just fine. Once again, I ended up enjoying the take down model a little more than the signature model… there are some things I’d change here and there, but overall they’re a great option for their price. Especially if you wanted a Kobe model for indoor and outdoor use. http://www.kd10sale.com
Traction – These have excellent traction. Surprising too since the pattern is pretty random. The Kobe Venomenon 5 series is an outdoor specific shoe overseas, but I’m not sure if that’s the case with the U.S. version. There was nothing stating that these feature XDR outsoles, and Nike will always let you know when they use a certain type of material as it’ll usually be labeled somewhere on the product or come with a hang tag with the material labeled. So while the traction was pretty awesome – indoors & outdoors – the rubber is softer than you’d expect with an outdoor shoe so I wouldn’t recommend them to someone that plays on a rough outdoor surface, but if you play on a court with a smooth blacktop finish like a tennis court then you’ll be good.
Cushion – Bottom loaded Zoom Air located in the heel and forefoot… not my favorite setup. It works well for what it is, but you don’t really feel anything since there is a midsole between your foot and the cushion. The good news is that it absorbs impact upon impact, and you’ll have a slightly more ‘responsive’ ride in terms of reaction speed, but the downside is that a bottom loaded setup is best when utilized full length in order to absorb as much impact as possible. Even when using tiny Hex-Zoom units like in the LeBron 12, they’re placed from heel to toe so you have a decent amount of protection. Same when it comes to something like the Air Jordan 2010 which opted for the full length option. So while they get the job done, the cushion is nothing to gawk at. It would have been awesome if the Zoom was bottom loaded and the midsole was Lunar, but I didn’t make the shoe so that obviously didn’t happen. I will say that this is definitely an improvement over the Venomenon 4, so in that sense… its a plus.
Materials – I absolutely love the materials. Mesh and wovens are the new thing, and they’re something I thoroughly enjoy when utilized properly. If you you’ve played in the HyperRev 2015 and enjoyed their upper then you’ll likely enjoy these as well. They’re soft, flexible, require no break-in time, breathable and contain the foot well enough. It is a mesh though, so durability won’t be their strongest attribute. But if you prioritize the attributes I just mentioned above durability then you’ll be happy with them.
Fit – They fit true to size, and wide footers will want to try them on. They have that ‘perfect’ fit for my foot, so you might think they’re too snug if you have a wider footwear shoes . Forefoot and midfoot lockdown was really solid. Dynamic Flywire is located at the forefoot for some additional coverage so you don’t put too much strain on the mesh material, and the external heel counter offers great heel lockdown. Transition is a bit clunky due to the heel counter, but if you stay on your toes for the most part then you might not notice it too much. If you heel strike then you’ll feel the chunkiness that I’m talking about.
Support – They remind me of the Kobe 8 and Kobe 9 EM in terms of support. There is just enough to where you’re not as risk of injury, but not too much to where you’ll feel restricted. The heel counter is the only area that I’d change due to the clunky transition it causes. I’d have used a heel clip like what the Kobe 8 used, I think that would’ve allowed the heel to compress a bit more upon heel strikes. Other than that they’re solid. Internal shank, solid TPU heel counter and a forefoot lateral outrigger. Everything you’ve come to expect in one of Kobe’s main signature models, but in a more affordable package.
Overall – I actually like these a little more than the Kobe X’s. I enjoyed the materials much more, and the traction, while not quite Kobe 11 for sale level, are capable of being used indoors and outdoors – even without the use of XDR. Cushion was much better in the X’s, but for $120 the Venomenon’s do just fine. Once again, I ended up enjoying the take down model a little more than the signature model… there are some things I’d change here and there, but overall they’re a great option for their price. Especially if you wanted a Kobe model for indoor and outdoor use. http://www.kd10sale.com
2017年8月22日星期二
adidas Crazy Explosive 2017 performance reviews
nbelievable. That was the word several people used when they played in the adidasCrazy Explosive 2016 last fall.
From the super-comfortable and form-fitting Primeknit upper to the full-length Boost cushioning, almost every aspect of the CE16 was beast. How do you improve on that killer performer? That’s a serious dilemma, but just a few years ago Three Stripes told us “anything is possible.” Here. We. Go.
The translucent pattern is sticky and grippy but begins wearing down quicker than most. The 2017 wears a little slower than the 2016, but after two weeks of playing (played Monday full court for five games, Tuesday 3 on 3 for four games, Wednesday full court for four games, Thursday full court for three and two games of 3 on 3, and repeat the next week) the soles are showing some rounded edges and rubber pulling off. It is only around the edges, not under the main contact areas like the balls of the forefoot and the heel, but if you are on a rough surface this traction will be gone.
On clean, indoor courts, enjoy. Seriously, for that surface, this is one of the top patterns, perhaps ever. No wiping, either, as the grooves pushed dust to the edges and off while playing. Someone used their brain on this pattern.
How does a shoe with full-length Boost not get Hall of Fame in cushioning? Boost is life. Usually, I would agree, but the forefoot just felt a little…off. No doubt, impact protection is second to none, and response is solid, but the Boost feels stiffer. After the pillowy goodness of last year, this was a definite change, but not necessarily a bad one. By making the Boost stiffer, or maybe it is the rubber lateral cage that is thicker, response time is quicker while still keeping the up and down impact protection.
If you don’t know, here is how shoes like the Explosive and Harden Vol. 1 work: the Boost is compressed upon impact, absorbing the down force, and is designed to push it back up to the foot. However, if the Boost is allowed to compress unregulated, it will eventually bottom out, leading to a slowing down of reaction time.
By caging the lateral side, the Boost can’t push out and bottom out, meaning it is forced to push back up. This is why a shoe like the Harden LS feels so cushy, but the Explosive, with the same Boost, feels stiffer and quicker. All in all, the adidas Crazy Explosive 2017 PK is quicker on-foot and on-court than the 2016 with the same great impact protection and energy return; it just wasn’t what I was expected when compared to the softness of the 2016.
If you enjoyed the soft yarn Primeknit of the CE16, well, go by another pair and keep playing on. The CE17 is built with forged Primeknit and it is way different.
The knit is still flexible and form-fitting, it just doesn’t stretch as much while playing, which is great. Stretch leads to bad fit and instability, which leads to injuries. The Forged PK is molded all around with shark gills, the raised areas you see in the pictures. These “gills” tighten the knit and provide a severely locked-in fit while still letting the upper flex and mold around the foot without too much movement and stretch.
The downside of this forged Primeknit is the texture. The CE16 had that thick yarn UltraBoost upper that felt great to the touch — plus, it was soft and ventilated. The Forged Primeknit feels more like a jacquard — smooth surface with a harder finish, not glued, just sturdier.
The only real areas of give were the ankle collar and tongue area (there is no tongue in a one-piece upper, but there is a tongue area). This is good, otherwise you would never get your foot into the shoe. Even with those areas of stretch, the CE17 is still a pain to get on. Not LeBron 13 or KD9 hard, but harder than a knit shoe should be. The tongue area is really the only part of the CE17 that fees like the 2016, so if you are nostalgic, there you go.
Perfect. Nothing else should be said, but I’m going to go ahead anyway. The reason the shoe is so hard to get into is because of the improved fit, and it starts with the padded ankle area. adidas added thick interior padding just below the knit collar line that is formed perfectly around the joint, filling any empty spaces the knit won’t form to. As mentioned in the Materials section, the knit in the forefoot and midfoot is still soft enough to form and flex but has very little stretch and give, keeping the upper in shape while playing.
The main reason the Crazy Explosive 17 PK fits so much better is the lacing. Going from four to five eyelets probably wouldn’t make much of a difference in most shoes, but it is all about the placement of these five eyelets. Instead of four eyelets placed from the toes to the ankle, the five eyelets run from just behind the toes to just before the ankle so there is more lacing in smaller spacing. That leads to better lockdown. The lacestraps are aligned wider going into the midsole as well, meaning more of the shoe gets pulled up and around the foot for even more lockdown!
As far as length and width, unless you have a really wide foot, stay true to size. This will give you a snug,1:1 fit with very little extra length in the toes. If you like some room you can go up a half size with no issues (that’s what I did) and forefoot and heel lockdown is still great.
Let’s start at the bottom with the infinity shank plate, which made its debut last year on the CE 2016. The crazy 8 plate is a TPU shank that runs from the heel to the toe but is open in the middle, allowing for the Boost to still perform and cushion while making sure the foot doesn’t bend in ways it shouldn’t. The way the plate runs gives a solid platform for landing as well, since it ties the forefoot and heel together, stopping any twisting on off-center jumps. It also works with the Boost midsole, providing some extra spring in the energy return department.
The heel counter is really low and really soft. No chance of discomfort from sharp edges, since the edges are barely noticeable. The cup runs just around the bottom of the foot and barely past the heel to provide very little in stability.
The ankle is cut high but as anyone who has worn a knit collar will tell you, there is no extra support from yarn. It just helps with fit and it looks really cool.
With all that said, how did the Crazy Explosive rank a Starting 5 in Support? Easy: the wide base and caged Boost. The midsole sticks out well past the upper, giving you a wide, solid base for planting on defense or on jumper. No outrigger is used, at least not in a traditional sense, but the wide forefoot keeps you upright on lateral moves. The cage on the lateral side keeps the foot contained over the footbed, and the stiffer knit holds true on push-offs and plants. Sometimes, all that’s needed is good design.
The Crazy Explosive 2017 PK flaunts improvement on almost every level — but isn’t that the point? Brands should take what works, tweak and twist the knobs, and bring the beat back better than before, not start over from scratch every year. It’s good to be innovative and creative, but if a design or technology works, why run away from it?
Improved fit and killer cushioning should put the Crazy Explosive 2017 PK on everyone’s radar this year if you play basketball. Grab this shoe if you need traction for indoor courts, #Boostislife cushioning, a locked-in fit, and quick support. This is a true “every man” shoe because players at any level, skill, age, or position will be able to enjoy it. If you need a long-term, durable outdoor shoe, the Explosive may not be in your shot range, but otherwise, this is a shoe that does everything and does new yeezys well.
From the super-comfortable and form-fitting Primeknit upper to the full-length Boost cushioning, almost every aspect of the CE16 was beast. How do you improve on that killer performer? That’s a serious dilemma, but just a few years ago Three Stripes told us “anything is possible.” Here. We. Go.
YOU CAN PURCHASE THE ADIDAS CRAZY EXPLOSIVE 2017 PK AT newestyeezy.COM
It’s the same exact setup as the 2016, which if you wore last year’s model, you know this isn’t a bad thing for performance. The “brain-coral” pattern grips any and everything like a ‘roided-out octopus — as long as it lasts, and there be the adidas nmd for sale.The translucent pattern is sticky and grippy but begins wearing down quicker than most. The 2017 wears a little slower than the 2016, but after two weeks of playing (played Monday full court for five games, Tuesday 3 on 3 for four games, Wednesday full court for four games, Thursday full court for three and two games of 3 on 3, and repeat the next week) the soles are showing some rounded edges and rubber pulling off. It is only around the edges, not under the main contact areas like the balls of the forefoot and the heel, but if you are on a rough surface this traction will be gone.
On clean, indoor courts, enjoy. Seriously, for that surface, this is one of the top patterns, perhaps ever. No wiping, either, as the grooves pushed dust to the edges and off while playing. Someone used their brain on this pattern.
How does a shoe with full-length Boost not get Hall of Fame in cushioning? Boost is life. Usually, I would agree, but the forefoot just felt a little…off. No doubt, impact protection is second to none, and response is solid, but the Boost feels stiffer. After the pillowy goodness of last year, this was a definite change, but not necessarily a bad one. By making the Boost stiffer, or maybe it is the rubber lateral cage that is thicker, response time is quicker while still keeping the up and down impact protection.
If you don’t know, here is how shoes like the Explosive and Harden Vol. 1 work: the Boost is compressed upon impact, absorbing the down force, and is designed to push it back up to the foot. However, if the Boost is allowed to compress unregulated, it will eventually bottom out, leading to a slowing down of reaction time.
By caging the lateral side, the Boost can’t push out and bottom out, meaning it is forced to push back up. This is why a shoe like the Harden LS feels so cushy, but the Explosive, with the same Boost, feels stiffer and quicker. All in all, the adidas Crazy Explosive 2017 PK is quicker on-foot and on-court than the 2016 with the same great impact protection and energy return; it just wasn’t what I was expected when compared to the softness of the 2016.
If you enjoyed the soft yarn Primeknit of the CE16, well, go by another pair and keep playing on. The CE17 is built with forged Primeknit and it is way different.
The knit is still flexible and form-fitting, it just doesn’t stretch as much while playing, which is great. Stretch leads to bad fit and instability, which leads to injuries. The Forged PK is molded all around with shark gills, the raised areas you see in the pictures. These “gills” tighten the knit and provide a severely locked-in fit while still letting the upper flex and mold around the foot without too much movement and stretch.
The downside of this forged Primeknit is the texture. The CE16 had that thick yarn UltraBoost upper that felt great to the touch — plus, it was soft and ventilated. The Forged Primeknit feels more like a jacquard — smooth surface with a harder finish, not glued, just sturdier.
The only real areas of give were the ankle collar and tongue area (there is no tongue in a one-piece upper, but there is a tongue area). This is good, otherwise you would never get your foot into the shoe. Even with those areas of stretch, the CE17 is still a pain to get on. Not LeBron 13 or KD9 hard, but harder than a knit shoe should be. The tongue area is really the only part of the CE17 that fees like the 2016, so if you are nostalgic, there you go.
Perfect. Nothing else should be said, but I’m going to go ahead anyway. The reason the shoe is so hard to get into is because of the improved fit, and it starts with the padded ankle area. adidas added thick interior padding just below the knit collar line that is formed perfectly around the joint, filling any empty spaces the knit won’t form to. As mentioned in the Materials section, the knit in the forefoot and midfoot is still soft enough to form and flex but has very little stretch and give, keeping the upper in shape while playing.
The main reason the Crazy Explosive 17 PK fits so much better is the lacing. Going from four to five eyelets probably wouldn’t make much of a difference in most shoes, but it is all about the placement of these five eyelets. Instead of four eyelets placed from the toes to the ankle, the five eyelets run from just behind the toes to just before the ankle so there is more lacing in smaller spacing. That leads to better lockdown. The lacestraps are aligned wider going into the midsole as well, meaning more of the shoe gets pulled up and around the foot for even more lockdown!
As far as length and width, unless you have a really wide foot, stay true to size. This will give you a snug,1:1 fit with very little extra length in the toes. If you like some room you can go up a half size with no issues (that’s what I did) and forefoot and heel lockdown is still great.
Let’s start at the bottom with the infinity shank plate, which made its debut last year on the CE 2016. The crazy 8 plate is a TPU shank that runs from the heel to the toe but is open in the middle, allowing for the Boost to still perform and cushion while making sure the foot doesn’t bend in ways it shouldn’t. The way the plate runs gives a solid platform for landing as well, since it ties the forefoot and heel together, stopping any twisting on off-center jumps. It also works with the Boost midsole, providing some extra spring in the energy return department.
The heel counter is really low and really soft. No chance of discomfort from sharp edges, since the edges are barely noticeable. The cup runs just around the bottom of the foot and barely past the heel to provide very little in stability.
The ankle is cut high but as anyone who has worn a knit collar will tell you, there is no extra support from yarn. It just helps with fit and it looks really cool.
With all that said, how did the Crazy Explosive rank a Starting 5 in Support? Easy: the wide base and caged Boost. The midsole sticks out well past the upper, giving you a wide, solid base for planting on defense or on jumper. No outrigger is used, at least not in a traditional sense, but the wide forefoot keeps you upright on lateral moves. The cage on the lateral side keeps the foot contained over the footbed, and the stiffer knit holds true on push-offs and plants. Sometimes, all that’s needed is good design.
The Crazy Explosive 2017 PK flaunts improvement on almost every level — but isn’t that the point? Brands should take what works, tweak and twist the knobs, and bring the beat back better than before, not start over from scratch every year. It’s good to be innovative and creative, but if a design or technology works, why run away from it?
Improved fit and killer cushioning should put the Crazy Explosive 2017 PK on everyone’s radar this year if you play basketball. Grab this shoe if you need traction for indoor courts, #Boostislife cushioning, a locked-in fit, and quick support. This is a true “every man” shoe because players at any level, skill, age, or position will be able to enjoy it. If you need a long-term, durable outdoor shoe, the Explosive may not be in your shot range, but otherwise, this is a shoe that does everything and does new yeezys well.
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