Nike Hyperdunk 2011

Cleared for takeoff

When we first got our hands on the Nike hyperdunk in 2008,it was a giant step as it introduced us to lunar foam and flywire.Both technologies have naturally evolved however after the Nike hyperize,lunar foam was abandoned and zoom air was used in the forefoot.The hyperdunk 2010 featured a zoom air met unit that covered the ball of the foot under the big toe.While an improvement for responsiveness on pivots,it left a bit to be desired for overall forefoot cushioning.The hyperdunk 2011 uses a full forefoot zoom air unit as well as different sized air units for different levels of cushioning.The other change has been the uses of flywire.Originally woven into synthetic panels then changed to skinwire that was molded into the upper.Both had some breathability issues and skinwire was a little unforgiving for those with wider feet.The hyperdunk 2011 now uses a combination of skinwire as well as panels of flywire woven into a more breathable synthetic upper.With these improvements let's see if the Nike hyperdunk 2011 takes off or gets grounded.

A staple of the hyperdunk series is the light weight and that characteristic continues with the hyperdunk 2011.The materials used in the 2011 feel lighter compared to the full synthetic upper used in the 2010.The breathability of the 2011 is excellent taking lessons learned from the hyperfuse without sacrificing the overall structure of the shoe.One issue I had with the 2011 was that the upper is relatively flimsy.The flywire does a pretty good job of keeping my foot from exceeding the limits of the upper but it makes for a bit of a looser fit rather than locking my foot in place and experiencing some movement in the shoe.Inside the shoe are two padded lobes that fill the gaps from the natural space created by the ankle bone.With hardly any interior padding,these padded lobes help keep the heel in place when the shoe is tightened.

Cushioning in the 2011 is full forefoot and heel zoom air units.The heel unit is a 12mm bag that provides maximum cushioning.The forefoot features a 4mm bag that provides a low profile forefoot feel.The simple addition of the full forefoot zoom air would have been enough to make the cushioning great,but the addition of the larger zoom unit in the heel pushes the 2011 over the top for cushioning.

The hyperdunk 2011 features full herringbone traction for excellent grip.the rubber used in the outsole is a soft compound enhancing the shoe's traction.no problems with traction on any surfaces the shoe was reviewed on.A carbon fiber midfoot shank provides excellent midfoot support as well as a wedge of denser foam to keep the shoe from caving in at the midfoot on hard cuts.A forefoot outrigger also adds lateral stability.Ankle support is marginal with the upper being a thin synthetic material with fly wire
woven in.The heel counter and support is better than the 2010 but the way the molded heel is shaped left some room for the heel to move a little. I would have preferred my heel to be completely locked down.

Overall the hyperdunk 2011 steps up from the previous year and then goes even further.The combination of traction,cushioning and light weight with just enough support make for a great shoe.The different zoom air units make for a great responsive ride and the improved breathability were major pluses.The fit wasn't as snug as I would have liked even with a widish foot I still had some movement in the shoe.

Comfort and Fit-3.25/5
Cushioning-4.5/5
Ankle Support-2.75/5
Traction-4.25/5
Overall-4.5/5

If you're looking for light weight,responsive,well cushioned,great traction and breathable shoe,the Hyperdunk 2011 is tough to beat.Ankle support is a bit marginal and the fit isn't as snug in certain spots but the pluses certainly outweigh the negatives and in an overwhelming fashion.Definitely a part of the rotation on non review days.

Adizero rose 2 impressions

As I said before,what is the point of a high performance sports car if you're going to cheap out on the wheels.Traction on a shoe that's marketed to make you go fast and cut is a priority.How can you cut hard when you plant your foot on a cut and once force is applied the foot slides because it's not anchored.It's frustrating because I want to love the shoe for how it performs.But how can I love it if I can't wear it to every run???How can you be the best if I gotta change shoes on Sunday??The traction issue also amplifies other things that are overlooked when the shoe does what it's supposed to.The stiffness of the midsole and lack of soft cushioning make for a very firm ride.Those looking for or need a softer shoe,cut the other way.....I'm sure after I play in these Monday night on another clean court I'll be raving about them once again...

Adidas Adizero Rose 2 impression

This has been a great fall in terms of basketball shoes...each brand is bringing it..Adidas definitely went "all in" with the adizero rose 2.my last post I couldn't even bring myself to show the shoe any love because of how disappointed with the lack of traction on a less than perfect surface..tonight I got a chance to bring them out on a clean surface...honestly all I can say is WOW...while there are some issues...I've never been in a shoe that encourages you to go fast and be drose...The sprint frame on the rose 2 perfectly cups the heel along with some additional support from rigid foam during hard cuts the heel is kept level and with the rigid midsole allows the wearer to push off on a solid platform with very little give. Allowing the wearer to come off cuts with explosiveness.Traction on the clean surface was great.Stop and go's were great with not only the midsole and upper doing their jobs but also the outsole not giving.Now those looking for alot of cushioning might not be happy in these.The overall feel is firm with little give...after such a great showing today my next scheduled run in the is Sunday on a less than stellar court...If the shoe performs even 70% of what it showed tonight I might be "all in" as well

About time...

Thank u blogger..I am still laptopless..hopefully you guys have been following me on http://www.undsed.tumblr.com

I plan on posting on both sites until I can work something out..thank you for the continued support

Goose

Reviews

Wassup everyone...sorry for the lack of updates...unfortunately I am still laptopless for the time being.But not to worry I am still writing reviews and am posting them on my tumblr site undsed.tumblr.com thanks for the support and hope you guys enjoy the reviews.

Nike Zoom Huarache Trainer

Crossing Over

Nike has been revamping it's cross training line by taking the great cross trainers of the past and updating them with today's advancements.The results from the basketball side of updating classics have been mixed at best.The cross training side has been better with the Air Trainer 1 and Air Trainer 1.5.Now the Nike Air Huarache Trainer gets an update.Zoom air and a revamped outsole while keeping the full length Lycra bootie makes for an excellent light weight training shoe.The question is so would it work on the basketball court?With the Huarache trainer popping up in the college ranks over the years and more recently on the feet of Amare Stoudamire,let's see if the Zoom Huarache trainer really has cross over appeal or should stay off the court.

figure1
note the lycra bootie

The Zoom Huarache trainer is very light due to the minimal Huarache design which cuts out excess materials without sacrificing fit and functionality.A full length Lycra bootie adds compression and a seamless fit.With all the material cut out to reduce weight,a mid foot strap locks down the foot while adding stability.No problems with breathability as the airflow through the shoe is excellent.

figure2
note the forefoot strap and slight forefoot outrigger

A zoom air unit in the heel provides excellent heel protection however with the flexible midsole forefoot cushioning is severely lacking.The feeling through the forefoot is very low profile but again after all the force absorbed by the torque generated by cutting and running makes for sore feet after extended play.

figure3
note the turf inspired outsole

Traction on the Trainer Huarache was interesting.A super flexible free inspired outsole is ideal for responsiveness when making cuts.However with a lack of mid foot rigidity,the possibility for injury skyrockets.The traction pattern is a turf inspired outsole but the raised turf pattern also works like a modified herringbone pattern and really eats up dirt on the court for better than expected traction.Ankle support was marginal which is common with Huarache based shoes.The Lycra sock and a solid heel counter holds the heel in place.The midfoot strap adds some support but not enough to cover the excessive flexibility of the outsole.

figure4

I went into the review not really knowing what to expect.I tempered my expectations on seeing NBA players and college players wearing cross trainers in games.The thing about most huarache based shoes is the similar feel from one type of shoe to the next.

Comfort and Fit-2.5/5
Cushioning-2.5/5
Ankle Support-2.5/5
Traction-3.5/5
Overall-2.75/5

As I went through the review process I constantly had to remind myself that I was playing in a shoe not designed for basketball.All ratings given are based on the shoe performing as a basketball shoe.The biggest problem with using the zoom huarache trainer is the lack of any midfoot rigidity.Especially when playing basketball,the massive amounts of torque one puts on the foot especially during quick lateral movement.Iinitially it was tough to determine what was causing some of the foot pain I endured during the review process.The soreness I experienced changed as I progressed from a result of my feet bending and twisting in ways they were not normally accustomed to the cushioning naturally breaking down and the stress from all the twisting became compounded with the lack of cushioning.Again this review was solely based on it's performance as a basketball shoe.

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.

figure1
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.

figure2
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.

figure3
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.

figure4
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...

figure1
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.

figure2

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.

figure3
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.

figure4

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.