Nike Zoom Phenom

Something Like a Phenomenon

Ive never been a fan of hybrids.Taking parts of other things and trying to combine them into something new and better than the originals.As another update to the Nike Sharkley that combines parts of the Shake N'Destruct and the Air Max Sensation,my initial reception to the shoe was lukewarm at best.The Nike Shake N'Destruct and the Air Max Sensation on their own were never really "guard oriented" shoes,much less combined and to be seen on the feet of Brandon Roy and Deron Williams,two active guards who have worn the excellent zoom bb 1 and 2.Needless to say I was curious in the choice of shoes.In essence you have the outsole of the nike Shake N'Destruct.Initially released in 1996 and was primarily marketed as a streetball shoe and worn by Dennis Rodman.For the upper we have the nike air max sensation which initially was Chris Webber's signature shoe which was one of the first to feature visible forefoot air.To combine these two shoes and having a great guard shoe be the result is like mixing peanut butter and jelly but coming out with something that tastes like steak.

figure1
note the visible large volume zoom air unit

For as bulky the shoe looks in pictures and the thicker outsole you would figure the shoe to be on the heavier side.Surprisingly that was not the case and the shoe is not that much heavier than the Nike Hyperdunk.The lacing system is descended directly from the 90's where elastic straps combined with speed lacing provide excellent fit around the foot.The Elastic straps provide just the right amount of tension to ensure a snug fit without sacrificing flexibility.Heel support is very good with a stiff heel counter reinforced with phylon and the heel of the outsole.The collar is lined with foam padding to provide a good snug fit.The tongue is lined with mesh to provide some moisture management but with all of the patent leather/leather/nubuck I found the breath-ability to be a little bit lacking.Overall Ankle support was average with great heel support and good fit around the shoe but nothing else to add for additional ankle support.

figure2
note the phylon wedge that adds lateral support on the forefoot

Cushioning comes from a large volume visible zoom air unit in the heel.Forefoot cushioning is a bit lacking using just phylon but still does the job.While not quite as responsive in the forefoot as I would have liked for whatever reasoning I had little to no problems when playing on hardwood or concrete tile.

figure3
note the deep groves and additional patterns on the outsole

Now we get to what I feel is the true strength of this shoe.Traction.While I dont remember how the Shake Ndestructs performed indoors and where the outsole of that shoe was designed to take the abuse on blacktop,the Zoom Phenom replaced the tough DRC(durable rubber compound) used in the Shake and replaced it with a softer compound that is well phenomenal.On the outsole in addition to the deep grooves that eat up dust on the court are smaller grooves within the traction pattern that enhance the shoe's grip resulting in me nearly spraining my ankle again during a quick stop and go.The traction pattern used and with plenty of surface area on the outsole make this one of the best shoes in terms of traction I have played in.To make sure you don't come out of the shoe during hard lateral cuts is a rubber/phylon wedge wich extends up the lateral side of the shoe to provide excellent lateral support.

figure4
note the elastic straps across the tongue for additional support

I really enjoyed this shoe,and have made it a regular part of my rotation when not reviewing shoes.I am still not really sure how two shoes that were designed for either beating up on asphalt and blacktop or for a young dominant power forward who could run like a guard and finish with authority mix to become an excellent guard based shoe.Like I said earlier,its like mixing peanut butter and jelly and finding out it tastes like steak.

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-3/5
Ankle Support-3/5
Traction-4.5/5
Overall-4/5

The lack of forefoot cushioning hurt the shoe but thats just the spoiled voice inside talking.The lack of ankle support was not that big of a deal due to good fit through the heel.The forefoot provides a nice wide base to land on even without a lateral outrigger we see on many shoes today.Again we see an example of a shoe that has excellent execution with unlikely parts.Lightweight,excellent traction and good fit.Dr. Frankenstein has you good to go.