Nike Zoom KD 3

Be Unstoppable

Signature basketball shoes are funny things. There are times when a company slaps the player's name on the shoe and calls it a day and there are times when a company,designers and player are all on the same page and seemingly give you a piece of that person.in both the KD I and the KD II we really get a piece of Kevin Durant and what got him to where he is today.in the zoom KD 3 the new focus is on what is going to get him to the championship..his teammates.Kevin Durant and designer Leo Chang incorporated feedback from other Oklahoma city thunder players and made the shoe suitable for multiple positions.Forefoot zoom air and a tpu midfoot shank make for a good start.Let's see if the shoe performs more like the dream team or more bad news bears.

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note the flywire panel on the forefoot

Having been designed for multiple positions,the KD 3 makes a couple concessions in terms of weight coming in just a little bit heavier than the hyperfuse.The flywire insert was a cool addition and is functional but there was so little of it I highly doubt it was a factor in reducing weight.The interior of the shoe carries over from the KD 2 where just under your ankle bone sits two padded lobes that helps lock the heel in place.A new addition was an adjustable strap on the medial side for additional midfoot/arch support.Those with flat feet may want to be wary but the pain subsided after a couple of wears and the materials broke in.Despite the nylon panels on the medial and lateral sides,as well as the mesh tongue,I had some issues with heat and moisture management.

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note the rubber midsole wrap

Much like the previous shoes,the KD 3 features a full length cushlon midsole and forefoot zoom air unit.The zoom air unit is actually visible in the forefoot.While I didn't have problems with the lack of cushioning in the heel those needing the extra protection might want to go elsewhere.the forefoot cushioning is excellent and responsive.If compared to the hyperfuse,a shoe with a similar set up,I give the edge to the KD 3.

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herringbone traction goodness..also note the window for the zoom air

Traction is really where the KD 3 shines.Full on herringbone traction with a nice wide forefoot base.No problems on any of the surfaces played on.The midsole is wrapped in rubber and features a tpu midsole shank for additional midfoot support.a forefoot outrigger adds lateral stability.Like the KD 2,the KD 3 is a 5/8 cut,just a little bit higher than a true low top but with the excellent heel fit coupled with great midfoot support doesn't sacrifice the shoe's ability to really support the foot.

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note the medial strap

I really liked the KD 3's forefoot cushioning and the change in traction to a more traditional pattern.while in previous versions the shoe had been more about Kevin Durant and who and how he got to where he is today,I loved the concept of the team being the inspiration for the next step.

Comfort and fit-3.25
Cushioning-3.5/5
Ankle support-3/5
Traction-4.25/5
Overall-4.5/5

Perhaps my biggest issue with the KD 3 was the arch pain I experienced after my initial run in the shoe,which was a non factor after my first run.the comfort and fit score was based on my experience with my flat feet.I still had to address the issue and reflect it on the score.Lack of breathability hurt but upgraded traction and forefoot cushioning without raising the price point make the KD 3 tough to beat.

Jordan XI

Jumpman Jam

The Jordan 11 is quite possibly the most popular Jordans of all time.With it's cordura mesh and iconic patent leather upper,the Jordan XI was what opposing NBA teams saw during the bulls spectacular 72 win season.The Jordan XI also introduced us to a carbon fiber midfoot shank which is now a staple in basketball shoes.With a resume like that the XI should be a world beater. Let's see if it makes you believe you can fly or will send you crashing back to earth...

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note the cordura mesh and patent leather upper

Relatively speaking,aside from the Jordan VII,the Jordan line up to this point has been a little bit on the heavy side.with the Jordan XI, a cordura mesh upper provides breathability and reduced weight.Unfortunately the Jordan XI suffers from the problem of minimalizing the upper tends to sacrifice support.With only minimal padding in the ankle area and speed lacing,the amount of lock down is negligible at best.The patent leather as a material does a pretty good job of keeping the foot from coming off of the footbed because of it's stiffness but still doesn't make up for the lack of lockdown especially around the ankle area.

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note the raised phylon midsole for added heel support

The Jordan XI sits on a full length encapsulated air unit.Having played in the 2001 retro as well as the countdown pack black and red XI,this review will focus on the 2009 spacejam XI retro.Cushioning wildly fluctuated from soft full length air in the 2001 retro to what felt like cardboard in the countdown pack XI.Thankfully the 2009 XI sat right in the middle of the two.While not as soft as the 2001 retro,it provided enough cushioning to absorb some heavy pounding on concrete courts without experiencing any great discomfort.

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note the excellent herringbone traction coupled with the soft translucent rubber

Where the XI truly shines is in the traction department.Herringbone traction on the heel and forefoot coupled with super soft translucent rubber.The Jordan XI also was the first time a carbon fiber midfoot shank was used to add some lightweight midfoot support.Now standard in most signature shoes,at the time the addition was a huge step forward.

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When initially released in 1996,the Jordan XI was truly an innovator pushing for a reduction in weight as well as the introduction of new materials previously not used before.Nearly 15 years later and we are dizzy with shoes that have patent leather or have carbon fiber incorporated in them.The lack of any real lockdown really overshadows all of the advancements the Jordan XI was able to accomplish.

Comfort and fit-3/5
Cushioning-2.75/5
Ankle support-2.5/5
Traction-4.25/5
Overall-3/5

While it was definitely cool to bring this classic back on to the court,it definitely showed it's age..well not really it's age but maybe more the quality of Jordan retros.Regardless of how the shoe holds up today compared to what is currently available I'm sure the minute we get a chance to play in the Jordan XI's you'll see no shortage of people playing in them.