Peak Kidd1

Climbing to the Peak

Recently there have been a number of NBA players signing endorsement contracts with various shoe brands based in china.It all started with Damon Jones signing with Li Ning and a number of other players most notably Shane Battier.PEAK is one of the top domestic shoe companies in China along with Li Ning and Anta.After the 2008 Olympics,Peak went out and signed future hall of famer Jason Kidd.Being Jason Kidd's first signature shoe baring his name with PEAK,it forces people to take a step back and notice the companies in China and their step into the mainstream.Lets see if the shoe makes a step towards the top or stuck at the bottom.

figure1
note the asymmetrical collar for maximum coverage on the lateral side of the ankle

At first inspection,the shoe is well made.No random glue stains or undone stitching,and what felt like quality materials to construct the shoe.The shoe was a bit on the heavy side,with a lot of the weight more towards the heel.The Kidd1 features an internal heel counter as well as a tpu support for added stability on the heel.The collar is well padded making for an excellent locked down feel with very little heel slip.The collar is also asymmetrical allowing excellent range of motion without sacrificing ankle support.One major problem the shoe has is the lack of breathability.While the tongue does feature some mesh lining,there is no where for the heat or moisture to escape.The perforations on the lateral side of the shoe do not help the shoe breathe at all.The moisture management problem got to the point where the moisture had accumulated in the shoe and turned my sock blue from the blue material inside the shoe.

figure2
note the beautiful Chinese art inspired details on the upper

The Kidd1 features PK Rocket cushioning.PK Rocket works by using a phylon midsole in combination with a lighter responsive foam and a dense impact absorbing core .I found the cushioning to be very soft.However I had some problems with the sockliner being too soft.It felt like I was fighting through the sockliner at times because it was excessively soft.Another problem the shoe has is the lack of responsiveness and being a little bit too high off the court surface during active play.Impact protection is excellent and I think would do very well on outdoor courts where cushioning is paramount due to the unforgiving concrete.I would like to see designers continue to progress PK Rocket by finding ways to make it lighter and more responsive all while lowering the profile of the shoe putting the foot closer to the ground allowing for greater court responsiveness.

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note the triangular window giving us a view of the dual density driven PK Rocket cushioning system

Traction on the shoe Kidd1 was very good on all of the surfaces that I played on.The rubber compound used for the outsole is very soft and features a herringbone and concentric triangle pattern.One slight problem I encountered was I felt my forefoot slip at times on hard cuts due to losing some of the surface area with the PEAK logo on the forefoot in a key pivot point.A TPU midfoot shank adds midfoot lightweight midfoot support.The shoe also has a bit of support on the lateral side with the rubber outsole overlapping to the upper adding support and preventing the wearer's foot from sliding off the footbed on lateral cuts.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Peak Kidd1.I ran into a few issues but overall a solid shoe that was nearly on par with some of the shoes the bigger mainstream companies put out.Obviously the shoe is not perfect,with it's fairly heavy weight,excessively soft cushioning and lack of breathability.One other slight problem I ran into was a little bit of inconsistency in the materials.The lacehole on the tongue on one of my shoes nearly tore completely off.

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

Overall the shoe is solid for a first time experience.The heavy weight,lack of breathability and excessive cushioning need to be tweaked a bit but a solid start.The use of the asymmetrical collar for maximum ankle coverage was great and made for excellent support.It is always exciting to try something new and from a completely different angle from which we are used to seeing.If the designers can resolve some of the issues with the Peak Kidd1 I'm sure we will be hearing more from this company in the near future.

Nike Hyperize

Don't Criticize

Last summer we were introduced to the Nike Hyperdunk.Lighter,faster,better the culmination of Nike's obsession with making the ultimate lightweight performance shoe.While not perfect,the Hyperdunk did push the brand closer to that ultimate goal.This year,armed with what was learned with the Hyperdunk and even the zoom Kobe 4,The Hyperize was supposed to be the next step...Ah yes the kicker..supposed to..

figure1
note the heel tpu heel cup and the height of the collar and slope to the Achilles

Nike once again pushed the envelope and gave us yet another shoe even lighter than the Hyperdunk(I wont count the Zoom Kobe IV because of it being a low top and obviously less material needed).The Hyperize takes a couple ques from the Hyperdunk.Y notch on the heel,keyhole notch above the ankle for added flexibility.What they Hyperize failed to carry over was the stiff heel counter that was on the Hyperdunk as well as two speed lace loops just behind the keyhole notch that really helped the Hyperdunk secure the wearer's foot.Unfortunately the exclusion of these among other things hurt the shoe in terms of having any kind of support.As we learned in playing in the Kobe IV,even without a higher cut shoe,support did not have to be sacrificed as long as the heel was well supported.Unfortunately except for a flimsy plastic heel cap,there is absolutely no heel support which marginalizes any kind of support the shoe can give anywhere else.The shoe seems to be higher cut than the Hyperdunk because the slope from the top of the collar down to the Achilles is at a higher angle which allows for more freedom without sacrificing height.The collar is padded but anything less than a crew sock might cause some rubbing from the shoe to the skin.Moisture management is good with the mesh tongue and mesh cutouts on the Flywire panels that take off that micro fraction of weight while still being functional.

figure2
note the large lateral outrigger and mesh vent cutouts on the flywire panel

There have been alot of knocks about lunar foam.I currently at the time of this writing own four different shoes that have lunar foam as the primary cushioning setup.From the Hyperdunk to the Lunar Racer to the Lunarglide and Hyperize I have felt a small difference from each application of the lunar foam.I ran through my normal test runs of the shoe and the lunar foam in the Hyperize seemed to be holding up a little bit better than the lunar foam of the Hyperdunks.Not saying that this should would probably survive a season of practice and games,but it seems like there have been some improvements to the durability of lunar foam.Once again the lunar foam does not give the "springy" feeling that zoom air gives but the impact absorption of the foam is excellent.I am a little curious to see what a setup of lunar foam in the heel and zoom air in the forefoot would feel like but I think with the constant pounding on the heel would flatten out the lunar foam rather quickly.

figure3
note the "t-notch" and herringbone pattern

Traction is greatly improved from the Hyperdunk.A more traditional herringbone pattern with what felt like a softer rubber compound improved on what was decent traction of the Hyperdunk.A large lateral outrigger allows the wearer to make hard cuts without the fear of tipping over,and the "y-notch"(in this case t-notch) on the heel gives the shoe good flexibility without sacrificing alot of support on lateral heel strikes.A carbon fiber midfoot shank makes for a rigid mid foot without adding too much weight.Unfortunately another thing missing from the Hyperize from the Hyperdunk was how the Hyperdunk cradled the wearer's foot with phylon support on both the lateral and medial sides of the mid foot.I constantly found my foot sliding back and forth on the footbed during hard cuts.Issues with the heel support amplify this problem.where the shoe lacks almost any support.

figure4

I really did not want to make this a Hyperdunk versus Hyperize type of review.Unfortunately it works both ways in terms of improving each shoe,you would simply have the other one.Improve support you might as well buy the Hyperdunk.Better cushioning and traction thats lighter get the Hyperize.Unfortunately the complete lack of support really killed the shoe for me.For some reason unlike the Hyperdunk when I wore the Hyperize,the shoe seemed to fight my foot when running and seemed like it did not flex naturally.

Comfort and Fit-2/5
Cushioning-4/5
Ankle Support-2.5/5
Traction-4/5
Overall-2.5/5

The total lack of any support with my foot sliding on hard cuts completely turned me off to the shoe.In hindsight,when I give the Hypedunk a 4.5/5 and the Hyperize a 4/5 in terms of cushioning and claim the cushioning is better in the Hyperize,this was before we realized the lack of durability of the lunar foam.I saw it as a potential problem for the foam but at the time of the Hyperdunk review did not experience a significant loss of cushioning the Hyperdunk would eventually have with regular use.That being said,given some of the durability issues lunar foam has had in the past,in this shoe it performed very well.It seems just like in movies where sequels rarely are better than the original,the Hyperize fails to surpass the Hyperdunk.

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.

Nike Foamposite Lite

Dark Knight

While this certainly not the first Foamposite shoe Ive reviewed,there are a number of factors that will make or break the shoe.Just like Batman movies,it's all been done before.Its the execution that makes the shoe or movie good or bad.With the Foamposite lite we have a Foamposite upper with zoom air in the heel and forefoot.What makes each shoe different is how each shoe wraps the Foamposite around the foot.Zippers,laces,elastic straps,magnetic buttons,you name it they've tried it.Foamposite based shoes rely heavily on how the shoe secures the foot so it provides a snug fit so the Foamposite material can move with the wearer's foot after the initial break in period.So with that said lets see if the shoe is more Christian Bale or Val Kilmer.

figure1
note the tpu heel counter

The Foamposite lite is no lightweight regardless of wht the name implies.Not that the shoe is overly heavy,just dont expect it to weigh like the Hyperdunk.The shoe features an internal fitsleeve that is again fairly standard in most Foamposite based shoes.Having the internal fit sleeve is especially more important in a Foamposite based shoe because the upper does not breath at all.Any moisture that builds up on the wearer's foot is wicked away by the fit sleeve so the airflow that occurs when playing can manage the moisture.Another reason why the fit sleeve is important in a Foamposite shoe is similar to the idea of chain mail that is worn under plate armor back in the day of medieval knights.A form fitting fit sleeve allows for a better fit for the Foamposite material to support.Rather than have just the stiff Foamposite material against the wearer's foot with nothing in between would be fairly uncomfortable.Simple speed lacing tightens the shoe around the foot but can be at times uncomfortable when the laces are really sinched in and there isn't enough padding in the fit sleeve to keep the laces from putting excessive pressure on the foot.However another problem comes up when laces are not tied tight enough.For whatever reason when the shoe is not tied tight enough to the point where circulation in the foot is being cut off,the heel of the fit sleeve bunches up and ends up under the heel.While not painful or detrimental to the support of the shoe,it is very annoying.Batman and Robin annoying.Ankle support is good with plenty of padding throughout the collar of the shoe.The Foamposite upper works as one to provide good overall support of the foot.A large TPU heel counter extends to lateral side of the wearer's foot adding extra support on lateral cuts.

figure2
note the large lateral outrigger

I spent half of my time in the shoe trying to figure out if the "lite" in Foamposite Lite was Lunarlite foam.While the difference in weight between a zoom air based shoe and a Lunarlite based shoe is still yet to be determined,I doubt even with the inclusion of Lunarlite foam,that this should would have appealed to those who prefer lighter shoes.That being said the zoom air in the heel and forefoot provides very good impact protection.Unfortunately,for whatever reason,the zoom air did not feel as responsive.I took this shoe through a 10 wear test run rather than my normal 5 and the cushioning did not change.Where you would expect the zoom air to be a bit more responsive,there was not that sensation of the zoom air unit pushing your foot back after a change of direction.

figure3
note the wide forefoot base and surface area that provides excellent traction

Traction was very good.No problems at all on hardwood or concrete tile.Herringbone traction all the way through with plenty of surface area.One problem however is the midsole is extremely stiff.I found myself running a little stiff-legged in the shoe.Heel toe transition was nonexistent.A large lateral outrigger provides extra support during lateral cuts.

figure4
note the heel pull loop for the internal fit sleeve

All of the parts to make the shoe really stand out were present but execution just wasn't right.Cushioning was good but not quite as responsive as other shoes with similar setups.Support was decent but problems with the internal fit sleeve hurt the overall feel of the shoe.Traction is excellent but the shoe is extremely stiff and heel toe transition really suffered.

Comfort and fit-2/5
Cushioning-3/5
Ankle Support-3.5/5
Traction-4/5
Overall-2.75/5


Ultimately the poor fit and lacing problems doomed the shoe.From the fit sleeve not doing what it was designed to do to the lacing failing the shoe.One positive however is that the shoe would make for a decent "big man" shoe.The overall support that the Fomaposite material gives and while not as responsive as previous Foamposite shoes,the cushioning performed well enough to absorb heavy poundings.The wide forefoot base and lateral outrigger makes for a pretty good platform for those who roam the paint.While not terrible like Ahnold as Mr. Freeze,the shoe performs a little bit like Jim Carrey as the Riddler...they capture the essence but it's still a character in a bad movie.

Nike Zoom Lebron VI

Return of the King

Over the years we have seen Nike try to harness the unusual combination of power and speed that comes in a 6'8 260 plus pound package that is Lebron James.Unfortunately one of the sacrifices designers have made in the name of performance was off-court appeal.Normally a little bit heavier and bulkier than many other signature shoes,a long time complaint has been "it doesn't look good with jeans.".Obviously the last thing I'm concerned about when it comes to a shoe is how it looks with jeans.A big focus in the Zoom Lebron 6 was to make it more "casual friendly" without losing performance.Full Length zoom air with an extra zoom air unit on top offers excellent impact protection.Heel cupsole to provide excellent heel support.Otherwise fairly simple.No foamposite or phyposite or support straps bells or whistles.Just simple go to work and come home in them shoes.Lets see if the Lebron 6 performs like a king or did making it look great with jeans make it perform more like a pauper.

figure1
note the laces on the top two laceholes and the padding underneath that sometimes create fit issues.

The shoe by no means is on a hyperdunk level in terms of weight.However,compared to previous Lebron signature shoes,the 6 is fairly light.The tongue and interior of the shoe is well padded.The problem is when lacing up the shoe and tightening the laces,the upper and padding are separate and does not really provide a snug fit around the ankle when laced up.A partial remedy is skipping the lace holes in the upper and only lacing through the padding on the top lace holes.While it helps the padding fit better,this method sacrificed some of the support that the upper provided especially on the upper part of the shoe where many people want a lock down feel in the ankle area.Thus making ankle support decent but not great.Something not characteristic of a Lebron signature shoe.The tongue is lined with mesh and provided decent breath ability but I still found some condensation in the foam.A large heel counter coupled with cupsole construction really locks down the heel during sharp cuts preventing the heel from rolling over.An extra fabric wrap in the forefoot gives extra support for the forefoot and keeps the foot on the foot bed.Unfortunately the fabric wrap in the forefoot is not adjustable so those with narrowish feet may still experience some forefoot movement.Again a full length fitsleeve would have helped here.

figure2
note the tpu wrap for extra heel support

Cushioning is top notch in the Lebron 6.A full length zoom air unit with an extra unit stacked in the heel for additional impact protection.Heavier players who need extra cushioning will really appreciate these shoes.Court feel was moderate at best.While not terrible,those used to having a bit more court feel might have a gripe with the 6.

figure3
note the large surface area for the outsole

Traction was strange for me.I had to bring the shoes out numerous times because traction seemed to be inconsistent for me.On clean hardwood at times I found the traction spotty.It could have been that the floor may have been dirty those days.On the concrete tile,Traction seemed to be a bit better than on hardwood.Again it may have been due to the condition of the court that day.While in both instances I was never ice skating or finding myself sliding on cuts,I just did not have the confidence in the traction.Again it could have been the condition of the court the days I brought out the Lebron 6 but if I had to average out my feelings on the traction based on the number of times and experience wearing the shoes I would have to call the traction mediocre.

figure 4
note the reflective material that wraps along the midsole

I really wanted to love the shoe.Not that I hate it.Possibly my biggest gripe was locking down the ankle with the lacing.The foam is soft and forms nicely around the ankle but getting a tight secure fit was a chore.Cushioning as usual was excellent and traction seemed to be a little inconstant.

Comfort and fit-3.5/5
Cushioning-4.5/5
Ankle Support-3.5/5
Traction-3/5
Overall-4/5

Overall the Lebron 6 was a good shoe.It had certain issues that prevented it from being great.The designers did a good job making it more "casual friendly" without sacrificing too much performance.Where the fit and sometimes inconsistant traction were probably the main issues with the shoe,the cushioning really shined.For the couple of minutes you do get when the shoe is tightened,the Lebron 6 feels great with all of the padding.It is just unfortunate that fit gradually loosens up during play.Active players that need a little bit more cushioning and still want a stable platform look nor further the King is here...

Nike Zoom Kobe IV

Lowrider

Faster lighter quicker.Just when you think Kobe's signature shoe cant push boundaries any further,the designers throw in another wrinkle that challenges consumers to really get out of their comfort zone and try something new.From the Zoom Kobe 1 and it's wide forefoot base and outrigger to the Zoom Kobe 2 and it's unique Free/Considered construction to the minimal sock-like construction and unsurpassed court feel of the Zoom Kobe 3.While the Hyperdunk was not a true signature shoe for Kobe,his influence is still felt with the obsession with cutting weight off the shoe.The Zoom Kobe 4 takes everything learned with the previous shoes and combines it all into one package...with yet another wrinkle...Low tops.While low tops certainly are not anything new to me or signature shoes,it wasn't surprising to see Kobe go in that direction.It was surprising to see the line go in that direction. Once again with Kobe it is a love/hate relationship,most people either love or hate low tops.The Zoom Kobe 4 continues the use of lunar foam and Flywire to keep the shoe light.Lets see if the shoe is so simple a caveman would get it or make you to take out a policy for ankle insurance.

figure1
note the padding on the collar and tpu heel counter

Having learned lessons from the Hyperdunk,once again we get a ridiculously light Kobe signature shoe.The shoe does away with the additional material and cuts the shoe into a low top.A one piece dynamic fit sleeve hugs your foot for a snug fit all around.Nike Flywire reduces weight without sacrificing the shoe's structural integrity.A large tpu heel counter adds support and when coupled with the plush padding around the collar really locks down the wearer's heel and provides excellent support which is crucial for a low top.The tongue is well padded as well to add to the support by providing a snug fit all around the wearer's foot.No problems with moisture management due to the mesh in the dynamic fit sleeve to provide airflow throughout the foot.

figure2
another look at the heel counter and medial side of the shoe

With the Hyperdunk one of my gripes was with the bounciness of the lunar foam and the durability of the material.The Zoom Kobe 4 did seem to feel a bit more responsive compared to the lunar foam used in the Hyperdunk.However there still was an issue with the durability of the lunar foam.After 10 wears on court as well as 5 wears to the gym and a couple of shifts at work,I felt the lunar foam starting to bottom out after about 40 hours of wear.While I do like the shock absorption of the Lunarlite foam,I slightly prefer the responsiveness and lower profile of Zoom air.Zoom air in the heel coupled with a phylon midsole provides great impact protection.

figure3
a look at the outsole and the excellent herringbone traction

One major improvement from the Hyperdunk to the Kobe 4 was traction.The traction on the Kobe 4 is top notch and I had no problems with any slippage.The grooves in the herringbone pattern are nice and deep with plenty of surface area for the shoe to really dig in.What is quickly becoming a requirement on a Kobe signature shoe,a forefoot outrigger provides lateral support when cutting and change of direction.A carbon fiber midfoot shank provides lightweight midfoot support.Being a low top ankle support is virtually nonexistent,however the overall support of the shoe is excellent.

figure4

The Zoom Kobe 4 will challenge most people to get over their fears/preconceived notions of wearing a low top.It certainly improves on whatever shortcomings the Hyperdunk had and continues to evolve the line.I am curious to see if the line continues the use of the low top cut in future models.As long as the shoes continue to provide the excellent overall support the Kobe 4's have then there shouldn't be any problems.

Comfort and Fit-4.5/5
Cushioning-3.5/5
Ankle Support-0/5
Traction-4.5/5
Overall-4/5

I loved the support of the shoe.From the dynamic fit sleeve through the fit of the collar and tongue that provides excellent fit which is necessary for a low top.Traction was excellent and one of the real highlights of the shoe.The cushioning was probably the only letdown.While not terrible,I guess I expected more after the Hyperdunk.The lunar foam did feel a bit more responsive but I think zoom air would have been a better choice for the forefoot.Overall the shoe is a great choice for active guards and forwards.The lack of ankle support may turn off some front court players who do most of their work in the paint.But for those who like to slash or are active and need a lightweight,supportive shoe that allows for maximum range of motion then look no further and get ready to hand out some of those ankle insurance cards.

Nike Garnett 3

Live Wire

I remember when I first saw the Nike Garnett 3 the first thing that grabs you is the vivid blue gradient mesh that just grabs you and radiates the energy that seemingly bleeds out of Kevin Garnett.Turning the shoe over to the outsole is an atomic atom again representing the energy that emanates from one of the all time passionate players of all time.Lets see if the shoe performs like it's nuclear powered or just a wet match.

figure1
The height from the top of the ankle where support is needed and how it slopes down to allow flexibility

The combination of mesh and leather on the upper provides excellent breathability and support where needed.I wrecked my first couple of pairs using it as an outdoor summer hoops shoe.There is plenty of soft foam in the collar that allows a secure fit around the ankle.Surprisingly for a shoe designed for a frontcourt player,the shoe is cut relatively lower than most other shoes designed for frontcourt players.Ankle support suffers very little due to the cut of the shoe being cut higher where needed while not sacrificing flexibility.

figure2
the beautiful gradient mesh adds to the depth of the shoe

Cushioning is provided by Tuned air in the heel and zoom air in the forefoot.The concept behind Tuned Air was to use polyurethane hemispheres within the air bag to add extra support where needed without sacrificing the weight or cushioning of the shoe.The hemispheres can have different densities allowing for more or less support depending on placement.The shoe provided excellent impact protection and had no problems when pounding on the court.Zoom Air in the forefoot allowed excellent court feel and bounce back when changing directions.

figure3
note the placement of the leather on the lateral side to protect the wearer when moving laterally.

The Garnett 3 features a carbon fiber midfoot shank that provides excellent midfoot stability and support.As I previously stated the upper is a combination of mesh and leather.The exact placement of the leather on the shoe further adds to the support elements of the shoe by running down the lateral and medial sides of the shoe allowing one to add tremendous pressure when cutting laterally without the fear of coming out of the shoe despite the amount of mesh used in the upper.

figure4
note the "OBF" in the center of the atom as well as the excellent herringbone traction.

Traction on hardwood is excellent.Plenty of surface area in the forefoot for the shoe to grab onto the court surface.Surprisingly the rubber compound used is durable as well having been used on outdoor blacktop surfaces.The atomic atom on the outsole features the "OBF" in the center of the atom."OBF" stands for Official Block Family,a group of people who have been with Garnett through thick and thin.

Overall the shoe is excellent.It is disappointing that this was the last of KG's shoes with Nike.Solid shoe all the way around in terms of fit,comfort,cushioning and traction.

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

One of my all time favorite shoes to play in.Not because it excelled in one area but because all the way around it was solid.We have seen shoes that do certain things better but overall this one covers all of the bases.Much like the player who once wore the shoe,while KG certainly does everything well,when all of those skills are combined into one package it truly excels.

hey everyone

Hey everyone.Sorry for the lack of updates its been a busy six months with having gotten married during the summer and I suffered an injury playing basketball in january..no I didnt do it in the kobe 4's.Anyways I'm trying to figure out how I am going to revamp the site and I have plenty of reviews waiting to upload its just a little busy right now but UNDS'ed will be back soon.