Nike Zoom Flight 5

ZOOM ZOOM

Originally released in 1996,Jason Kidd 2 years off his co-rookie of the year was given his first shoe to bear his name.That same year,he was traded to the Phoenix suns to join Kevin Johnson and a rookie from Santa Clara, Steve Nash.The Suns battled back from an 0-13 start to make the playoffs behind a "small ball" starting back court of Kidd and Johnson with Nash backing up both guard spots.The Nike Zoom Flight 5 was inspired by a track spike and Jason Kidd's ability to turn games into track meets.With a track spike inspired outsole and TPU "alien eye",the shoe was built for speed.The shoe also features the continued evolution of zoom air from the previous Zoom Flight 95 and Zoom Flight 96.

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note the track spike inspired outsole as well as the concentric circle pattern.

With the focus of the shoe on speed,the shoe needs to really grip the court just as a pair of track spikes really get into the dirt for maximum traction on the track.With speed nubs coupled with concentric circles on soft composite rubber,the shoe does just that.As seen in figure1 the traction pattern only covers the forefoot rather than both forefoot and heel.The concentric circle pattern optimizes a shoe's ability to come into contact with the playing surface at 360 degrees,maximizing the outsole's ability to really grip the playing surface.The traction ate up the dirty tile floor with minimal slippage and performed wonderfully on clean hardwood.

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note the lower profile cut on the ankles as well as the TPU "alien eye"

The shoe also features a phylon support wing on the lateral side with a TPU "alien eye" continuing the bug eye concept started with the zoom flight 95.The TPU pod actually helps the phylon wing support the mid-foot.The phylon wing is actually segmented and allows for maximum flexibility.The heel features a large heel counter that locks down the rear part of the shoe while a TPU midfoot shank keeps everything stable.A dynamic fit sleeve also adds to the fit and support.Its a good thing the shoe is stable because it offers hardly any ankle support.The collar of the shoe ends just under the ankle bone.

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a rear view of the shoe as well as Jason Kidd's logo

At the time of the shoe's release,Zoom air was still in it's relative infancy.What started out as tensile air in the Nike Air Go evolved into zoom air in the Zoom Flight 95 and continued on with the Zoom Flight 96.However the difference of 2 years made all the difference for the shoe.When I wore original zoom air based shoes it felt like there wasn't any cushioning at all.Hardly any of the responsive and low to the ground properties we are used to today.The Zoom Flight 5 was the first zoom air based shoe that I really LOVED playing in.Cushioning was responsive and low to the ground.I felt like I had total control of how I moved without sacrificing cushioning.With previous models I felt like I was lower to the ground.Unfortunately at times it felt like I was landing directly on the ground barefoot with the Zoom Flight 95 and 96.

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the front view of the shoe.Note how the phylon wing is segmented to allow flexibility.

I'm going to admit that this shoe was the shoe that made me LOVE shoes.I loved the amazing design and how it was different from anything out at the time.It isn't however without it's faults,ankle support is below average.While the shoe as a whole is very stable,the whole track spike inspiration didn't really allow for a higher cut for ankle support.While a cosmetic issue,The TPU pod scratches fairly easily.

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-4/5
Ankle Support-2.5/5
Traction-4.5/5
Overall-4/5

Although originally released in 1996,the shoe stands up well versus many shoes designed today.It does have a strange fit to it.While it is cut a bit on the wider side,it's length is a bit on the shorter side.Ankle support is about on par with a low top.But if you re looking for a shoe to run the opposition ragged with,this is your shoe.

Nike Zoom Flight 2K3

Hero in a Half Shell

PURE PERFORMANCE.When you look at the Zoom Flight 2K3 those two words are the first words that come to mind.It looks fast,light weight,new materials,aggressive traction,full length zoom air.The shoe features a revolutionary thermo-formed outer shell which provides light weight support.The material is more rigid than foamposite material but still pliable.

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note the outrigger on the forefoot for added stability as well as the beautiful profile of the shoe.

With the use of the thermo-formed outer shell,weight is greatly diminished.The shoe from top to bottom is extremely stable.Outriggers on the lateral side of the forefoot gives the wearer a wide and stable base on while slashing to the basket.The shell provides great ankle support.It is less pliable than foamposite material.But still rigid enough to offer excellent support.The cut of the shoe is also fairly high extending above the ankle bone.This however manages to create another problem where the edges of the top of the shoe has only thin strips of thinly cushioned material covering the edges of the shell.When wearing no show socks,chafing will occur and will cause discomfort.Quarter socks will give you enough coverage to prevent the material from rubbing on the skin.Another problem I encountered was that my heel was slipping a bit.Even after wearing two pairs of socks to try to remedy the problem to fill in the open spaces,the heel area just wasn't fitting right.The shoe features a dynamic fit sleeve with extra coverage in the Achilles area to prevent chafing that takes place around the rest of the ankle area.Unfortunately when putting on the shoe,your heel will push the sleeve down even after loosening the laces and you end up fishing for the pull tab and due to the rigidness of the shell,it becomes an index finger dexterity and strength exercise.

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a look at the wide heel as well as the troublesome heel pull tab

Cushioning is provided via full length zoom air.However,it felt to be a little bit higher than I am used to in terms the application of zoom air.It was still responsive and managed to absorb the shock I put on my feet during active play but just felt like I was sitting higher than similar shoes in it's class.The shoe breathes very well with the shell being perforated for breathablity.The dynamic fit sleeve is lined with mesh as well adding to the already excellent moisture management.

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note the 5 dots on the lateral side of the forefoot meaning the shoe is in the "Alpha Project" family of shoes.

Traction is excellent.With plenty of surface area and herringbone traction for the forefoot area,the heel features what feels to be a rubber compound that feels a bit softer than the herringbone traction and small speed nubs for maximum traction.I had absolutely no problems with traction on both well and poorly maintained courts.

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If I was to grade a shoe simply by how or whether it performed,the Nike Zoom 2K3 would receive top scores.However,the shoe isn't without it's flaws.The outer shell felt like it restricted my movement and did not really allow my foot to get the angles I normally get on other shoes in it's class.

Comfort and Fit-2.5/5
Cushioning-3.5/5
Ankle Support-4/5
Traction-5/5
Overall-3/5

Comfort and fit was the biggest sore spot on the shoe.Cushioning lost points for the the shoe feeling like it sit higher than what was expected.

Jordan XV

SUPERSONIC

With the lasting final image of greatness of Jordan being him at the top of the key in the Delta Center having just hit the game winning shot against the Utah Jazz in the excellent Jordan XIV's.Our next look at the legacy that is Jordan was the Jordan XV.Not quite as pretty.The XV was inspired by the X-15 supersonic jet.The X-15 was revolutionary in it's design and performance.It made several speed and altitude records by a manned aircraft.The shoe also features a tongue that is said to be inspired by Jordan and his habit of sticking out his tongue while making the impossible look pedestrian.Heel and forefoot zoom air,herringbone traction,full length dynamic fit sleeve..what isn't there to love?Lets find out...

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Note the tongue sticking out as well as the woven panels.

The XV is perhaps the least favorite of all Jordans due to it's aggressive design and other issues we will be going over during the course of the review.I am also in the belief that out of %100 of people who don't like it,MAYBE %40 wouldn't dislike this shoe as much if they had an opportunity to see Jordan win another championship wearing the XV's.But then again that's strictly my opinion.The shoe features a dynamic fit internal bootie system that offers a seamless and supportive fit.When you first put on the shoe...actually when you first manage to struggle getting your foot into the shoe,it is fairly comfortable.Part of the problem of getting into the shoe is the large Pebax heel wrap.The wrap isn't very flexible..which is a good thing when it's main purpose is to support the wearer's heel,but again makes it difficult when trying to put your foot into the shoe.With a full length internal bootie,you would assume that fit and support would be excellent.Unfortunately while all the ingredients were there,the execution wasn't.The design of the shoe has a "V" shaped channel with speed lacing loops as well as Lycra loops that go up the channel which the laces run through to guide the laces when tightening the shoe.While the lacing system does a decent job of securing one's foot around the forefoot/midfoot area,there is hardly any support for the heel area.The lacing system and design of the shoe doesn't support or lockdown the heel area at all.I'm under the impression that the Pebax heel wrap was supposed to support the wearer's heel independent of the shoe's lacing system.Perhaps another lace loop or two would have done the trick to really pull the wearer's foot back into the heel wrap.

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note the "V" shaped lacing channel and the dress shoe inspired woven material and outrigger on the lateral side of the midfoot.

So with the lack of fit and support in the heel area,performance on the rest of the shoe suffers.Ankle support is average at best.A large phylon wrap at the midfoot that extends up the sides on the lateral and medial sides of the shoe to help support the foot and prevent the foot from rolling over.Coupled with the Pebax heel wrap,again the ingredients were there,the chef just didn't look at the recipe.The poor fit in the heel rendered any support given virtually null.While the shoe had a decent fit on my wide feet,those with narrow to moderately narrow feet should stay away.The lacing system just does not pull the shoe together enough to compensate for a more locked down fit.Due to an outrigger on the lateral side of the forefoot and heel,coupled with a fairly wide base,the shoe is a fairly stable ride.Cushioning is provided by heel and forefoot zoom air units.The zoom air is aided by heel and forefoot phylon inserts under the insole for additional impact protection.While I have not had any issues with cushioning I have heard other reports of shin splints and the cushioning system not working as well as it should be.

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2.17 is Jordan's birthday

Traction is provided by solid rubber and herringbone pattern.I will say that the XV's are some of the most resilient Jordans made.The traction seems to last even during heavy use while playing outdoor basketball and were even used to skateboard.Traction was great on clean hardwood and I didn't notice much slipping when testing on dirty concrete tile.There is plenty of surface area for the shoe to come into contact with the ground.

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a look at the Pebax heel wrap and the numbers down the heel meaning 15-Air Jordan #15,6-championships and 23-Jordan's jersey number

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A profile shot of the XV with it's X-15 jet,dress shoe and tongue hanging out inspirations

The Jordan XV in many ways had the potential to be great.Unfortunately it's execution left a bit to be desired.Actually the failure to really lockdown the heel hurt performance in nearly every aspect in the shoe.While I didn't hate the shoe and wasn't a fan of it's lack of ankle support, and poor fit in the heel.

Comfort and Fit-3/5
Cushioning-4/5
Ankle Support-2.5/5
Traction-4.5/5
Overall-3/5

Overall it's poor fit hurt the shoe.If comfort and fit were separate scores the comfort would have been 3 and fit would have been zero.The poor fit is simply inexcusable with the great history of fit with previous models.

Nike Foamposite Pro

Once Again Back is the Incredible

The Nike Foamposite One was released in 1997.It's revolutionary design and materials revolutionized the way basketball shoes are made.The upper is made of a single piece of molded polyurethane that does not stretch or lose shape like traditional leather or other materials used as upper's for shoes.While sacrificing weight the material offers a custom "molded" fit after the material conforms to the wearer's foot.But all the fancy tech speak aside,and besides looking pretty and the $180 price tag,lets find out if it really is revolutionary or just another Y2k dud.

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The Foamposite Pro is similar to the Foamposite One minus the swoosh and Penny logo on the heel as well as a translucent rubber outsole.

With the shoe being constructed of a single piece of foamposite material it eliminates any seams that may rub on the wearer's foot.It was constructed and designed to be an extension of the wearers foot acting like a sock.The shoe is lined with a full length dynamic fit sleeve for comfort and support.While the material does not stretch,it does mold to the wearer's foot.This is definitely a pair that you pull out of the box and immediately play in.There is a break in period which at times it feels like your foot is literally breaking to fit into the shoe.But the the results are perhaps the best fitting shoes you will ever wear.the lacing system aids the foamposite upper in locking down your foot and offering excellent support.Heat and moisture management is also good with the lycra/mesh dynamic fit sleeve.

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a look at the lacing system as well as the beautiful profile of the shoe.

Cushioning is provided by heel and forefoot zoom air.You get a low profile feeling when you wear the shoe but nothing like the Flightposite series. Impact protection was good when landing on concrete tile.I didn't feel too much foot or leg fatigue when playing in the Foamposite Pro.Traction was above average.The outsole is segmented to provide flexibility.with the herringbone pattern split into 6 different pods optimized for motion.Unfortunately the large swoosh on the outsole also hurts the shoe's traction by taking away surface area for the shoe to come into contact with the floor in the heel area.

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here you can see the segmented outsole as well as the carbon fiber midfoot support.

Overall ankle support is excellent.My only gripe is that at times it felt like it was fairly easy to roll your foot over.While the support was excellent it just felt like my foot could roll over at any time.Unlike the Flightposites that are actually the same height when put side to side,the Flightposites just felt like they sit lower to the ground.There is also a large carbon fiber midfoot support that works in conjunction with the Foamposite upper ensuring the shoe was tops in it's class in support.Unfortunately this feature also manages to create the biggest chink in the super armor that is the Foamposite Pro/One...The Carbon Fiber cracks.On my third wearing of the shoe,it started developing small cracks in the carbon fiber shank towards the heel area similar to the problems I had with the Jordan XXI.I'm not sure if the problem has to do with the amount of torque I put on the shoe when changing directions but for a shoe to fail so quickly and to pay a premium price for a performance shoe is inexcusable.

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Here is a picture of the carbon fiber cracking towards the heel area.

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Overall the shoe performed reasonably well.While the design and material used were revolutionary,it was also the first.The Flightposite series expanded on the original idea and pushed design and performance limits into excellence.That being said I was deeply disappointed with the carbon fiber cracking on the midfoot shank.The way the carbon fiber cradles the foot without much more support was certainly a design flaw that was later corrected in other designs.

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-4/5
Ankle Support-4.5/5
Traction-3.5/5
Overall-4/5

Comfort and Fit would have been a 5 had it not been for the painful break in period and I seriously thought about docking points from the overall score due to the carbon fiber cracking in a $180 shoe.

Jordan XIII

Black Cat

When looking for words to describe Michael Jordan's game,the words quick,agile and relentless come to mind.Hence his nickname "Black Cat".Like the large jungle cat it seemed as if Jordan would play games teasing his opponent before he would go in for the kill.The design of the Jordan XIII was inspired by the Black Panther,with the outsole mimicking the paws of a panther and the holograms on the heels being the piercing eyes in the jungle darkness.The Jordan 13's have always been a favorite of mine.I always just loved the design and simply just loved looking at them.Even before I knew what inspired the design there was an organic feel to them.The heel and forefoot zoom air coupled with a carbon fiber midsole gave me even more reason to love them.That being said lets see if this shoe performs like it's jungle counterpart or Garfield.

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Note the beautiful profile of the shoe,you can really see the Panther inspired aspects of the shoe.As well as the rubber "pods" that add to the stability of the shoe.

Like the Black Panther,the shoe was designed for agility and speed.The midsole has strategically placed pods to aid the shoe when moving laterally and drives to the basket.Heel to toe transition is excellent with the outsole being segmented much like the big cat's paws.Traction was good on hardwood but only performed above average when put onto the dusty tile surface.I believe due to a lack of overall surface area of the outsole's herringbone pattern coming into contact with the floor.Stability is premium with this shoe with it's fairly wide base and rubber pods.The shoe is also cut fairly high.With the collar being asymmetrical.The medial side is higher than the lateral side to offer better support from the foot rolling over.Lacing the shoe to the top provides a secure fit.There is plenty of padding on the tongue so cinching in the laces wasn't a problem.The ankle area has plenty of padding and didn't experience any discomfort in the Achilles area.

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note the segmented outsole which is meant to mimic the paw of a Black Panther.

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a look at the asymmetrical collar for ankle support.

Cushioning is provided by heel and forefoot zoom air.It is responsive and low to the ground.It works well with the segmented outsole for excellent low profile and responsive cushioning giving great court feel.A carbon fiber midfoot shank provides support.

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another view of the outsole and overall profile of the shoe

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Another look at the 13's

Overall the shoe performed great.The high cut took me a little bit of getting used to.I would say my biggest gripe is that for a beautiful shoe it doesn't really age very well with the creasing.The midsole suede also bleeds onto the white pods and turns them a light shade of pink.A majority of the issues are strictly cosmetic.I would say a bit more traction without sacrificing the excellent flexibility of the outsole would make this shoe great.

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-4/5
Ankle Support-4.5/5
Traction-3.5/5
Overall-4/5

Minor issues with the traction but as I've said in the past the shoe still performs reasonably well when compared to shoes designed nearly 10 years later.

Jordan XII

Rising Sun

Originally released in 1996 it was Jordan's initial foray into establishing Brand Jordan as a separate entity from Nike basketball.It is the first Air Jordan that does not bear any Nike logo or Swoosh anywhere on the shoe although it still came in a Nike box.It's design was said to be inspired by the flag of the Japanese army with the sun and the rays during a sunset.The shoe was pretty basic considering all of the tech that's put into shoes now.Full grain leather,Carbon Fiber midsole wrap,heel and forefoot zoom air.

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you can see the inspiration of the shoe with the "rising sun" design with the ribbing.

As Jordan's first signature shoe for the fledgling Brand Jordan,it is fairly simple in it's design.No flashy patent leather or clear rubber outsoles.This shoe just looks like it means business.It is simple and rugged yet has a sleek performance look and feel to it.While simple,rugged and sleek are three words not normally associated together to describe one thing,this shoe delivers on all those fronts.At first glance the shoe looks like it might be on the heavy side but you will be surprised to see how relatively light the shoe is compared to it's looks.The carbon fiber wrap under the midsole takes away weight from the shoe by eliminating excess material from the outsole and midsole.When I first got the shoe,and tied the laces all the way to the top hole I felt some tightness around my ankle and feeling the laces through the tongue.After a while though I didn't notice the laces at all.The shoe is cut high enough to give you excellent ankle support but not restrict motion too much.The outsole also has ridges in the midfoot to help keep your foot stable on the footbed.There are also two plastic tabs above the ridges that promote support as well.While in no way would the tabs prevent one's ankle from rolling over it offers subtle support when going through one's natural motions during activity.The interior is great as well with padding for your ankles and Achilles tendon and mesh on the tongue for heat management.

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another look at the "rising sun" ribbing as well as the early Jordan Brand "logo"

I was surprised to find that the shoe is very stable.When I first looked at it I had my doubts with a lot of the rounded edges.The midfoot carbon fiber wrap adds midfoot support without sacrificing weight.I was also surprised that heel-toe transition was smoother than I thought it would be.The lacing system works well with the shoe locking down your foot when laced all the way to the top those with narrow feet and narrow heels might experience some slipping due to the shoe being a tad on the wide side but nothing major.Cushioning on the retros are better than the originals.Where the zoom air was fairly stiff on the original 1996 release,the 2004 retros' cushioning seems to be a bit softer and responsive.Traction was excellent with herringbone pattern on both the heel and forefoot area.Traction on the tiled floor was good as well.

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note the smooth lines of the shoe

Overall the shoe performed better than I expected.When talking to other people who have actually played in the shoe before me,the review was mixed.As with many of the shoes I have reviewed,the technology may be showing it's age a bit but it is still performs well.While the main complaint I heard about the shoe was that it was that it was on the bulky side,I really didn't find it to be too bulky.While I also wasn't a fan of the design when I first saw it,the Jordan XII has quickly become one of my favorites.

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

Overall the shoe is solid all the way down the board.If comparing it to other shoes from that era there is no doubt the Jordan XII would have been top of the line.