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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

Nike Hyperfuse

All Together Now

Another addition to the Nike hyper line we now look at the Nike zoom Hyperfuse. Where most shoes within the hyper line ie Hyperdunk,Hypermax and Hyperize emphasize being the lightest shoes in it's class the Hyperfuse takes a slightly different approach.Rather than flywire, the Hyperfuse uses a different method of construction.Similar to the foamposite idea of a one piece upper, that is then fused (get it) with additional layers to allow a pliable material like mesh to be the primary material used as the upper without losing the support.The result is a breathable and flexible upper that does not warp or lose support over time.Let's see if the Hyperfuse holds up or splits at the seams

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note the heel and forefoot outriggers as well as the different levels of the upper

Normally when you see "hyper" in front of the name of a shoe you kind of expect it to be really light..The Hyperfuse bucks that trend and while not heavy,just not what I expected after seeing most of the shoe is covered with mesh.The shoe fits nice and snug.Those with wider feet may want to be wary and try the shoe on and go up half a size if needed.Since the shoe is "fused" together there is minimal stitching and hardly any seams to be felt inside the shoe.The collar is nice and padded and fairly stiff for added support.The tongue is interesting where not completely padded but very thin,it features padding on certain pressure points where the shoe flexes and laces really dig into the foot.When I first picked up the shoe and inspected the tongue I was wary about the lack of padding on the tongue,but the designers did a great job incorporating that and their attention to detail.With the mesh upper the shoe breathes extremely well.I had some concerns about the durability of the upper during play with people stepping on the shoes as I move through traffic.While I didn't experience any rips on the mesh,I did feel it a little more when steps on my foot through the mesh.

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note the mesh covered windows for maximum breathability

The Hyperfuse features a full length cushlon midsole with a zoom air forefoot unit.While I had no problems with the setup heavier and players wanting more cushioning in the heel may not be satisfied with the cushioning.The forefoot zoom air was responsive on cuts but again those looking for additional cushioning in the heel may want to look elsewhere

figure3
note the full herringbone pattern on the forefoot

Traction is primarily a herringbone based pattern in the forefoot.The grooves are nice and deep to really eat up the dust on the ground.On most surfaces played on I had no problems.On one of my runs the court was unswept and it was like ice skating.I ended up switching to the zoom Phenom to finish the run.The next week I brought the Hyperfuse again and didn't have quite as much slippage on the swept floor.A welcome addition however is the heel outrigger.In addition to the forefoot outrigger to provide great lateral stability,the heel outrigger helps when planting on the heel to keep the foot stable especially when pushing outward.I loved the strategic stiffness of the shoe with the different materials used.The heel support is great and really keeps the foot locked into place resulting in very good ankle support.

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After over 3 weeks worth of playing exclusively in the Hyperfuse I enjoyed my time in them.I really liked the overall fit of the shoe especially after I broke in the shoe.The cushioning was good enough but when is good enough ever that.Traction was pretty good on most surfaces but that one instance when I had to swap out to the Nike Zoom Phenom on the unswept floor was tough.

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

Overall definitely a solid shoe.Its no surprise the shoe was on the feet of so many players in the NBA as well as during the world basketball championships this past summer.Despite heavy use,after every session I always inspected the mesh to see if there were any durability issues and happy to say the Hyperfuse held up extremely well.Time will tell how long the mesh will hold up after continuous use.A great first step and definitely excited to see what comes next.