adidas Trae Young 1 Review: 4 Months INDOORS & OUTDOORS

Here’s to new beginnings! It’s been a while since I’ve been excited about an adidas hoop shoe but it seems like that time has finally come. Let me introduce you to my comprehensive Trae Young 1 review – Young’s first signature sneaker from adidas.

These are looking REALLY good based on the specs alone but we all know that’s just part of the whole story. How it plays on the court is what matters, so I’ve been playing in these (almost solely) for about 4 months since the release.

Is it a HIT or MISS? Let me give you my detailed thoughts.

I. SPEC SHEET

click to inspect the full-sized image

II. 1-MIN REVIEW

For those in a hurry: the adidas Trae Young 1 impressed me. They were so close to being a top performer and one of the potential staples when I go to play basketball.

These should fit most guys true to their size but expect just a tad bit of room length-wise. Wide footers should be okay with TTS but the putting the shoe on will be a PAIN.

Traction is what caused most concerns. It’s great outdoors where there’s more abrasion or on a clean/high-quality surface but they start losing some of the bite when dust/debris comes into play.

The Boost & Lightstrike cushion was nothing short of awesome. It felt just right – not too much but still very comfy & bouncy in the heel. Ride stability is also on point.

I had no issues in the support department either. The cheap, scratchy mesh build left some to be desired but that didn’t prevent me from having a good time on the court.

If you primarily play outdoors or you’ve got access to a clean, pristine court regularly – the Trae Young 1 is simply awesome. Otherwise, I’d encourage taking a look at one of my provided alternatives.

> The full review is below

III. FIT & COMFORT

True to size or not? What about comfort & anything else fit-wise?

SIZING GUIDE

As you might’ve noticed, the Trae Young 1 features the most advanced, alien-like lacing system that’s tailored for maximum customization for the wearer. NOOOT!

Jokes aside, the shoe only features two eyelets per side. That’s right, two. It doesn’t take a detective to know that fit customization for any foot region other than the midfoot will be severely limited.

This means that what you get is pretty much what you’re stuck with here. However, I’m pleased to say the usual adidas sizing shenanigans aren’t present here.

I went true to size and there’s just enough room length-wise to fit my personal preference (~0.6 inches/~1.5 cm), things are a-okay width-wise and I never experienced any glaring issues like heel slippage or toe bumps. Not from the start, not anytime else.

It is a wide toebox these got – so narrow foot shapes could be left with a little bit of room.

In theory, I would say this is a better choice for wide footers but, honestly, I do think there’s not THAT much more room inside the toebox than one might think just by glancing at it from the outside. Most people should be fine.

All foot shapes should go with their usual size option, if you can’t try the shoe on that is. Stepping a half size down would potentially result in over-tightness at the heel & midfoot portions, in my opinion.

Still though, if things are not right for you – it’s a bit of a delicate situation since you won’t be able to fix anything with those two eyelets and a sturdy one-bootie upper.

So, trying the shoe on is best if you think you’ve got an unusual foot shape. I’m a wide footer myself (and a huge one) and the fit’s just fine, albeit a little tight in the midfoot during the first couple of weeks.

BUT, there’s one little caveat we boat-footers will have to go through with the Trae Young 1. You guessed it, PUTTING THEM ON IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The ankle portion gives me close-to-zero stretch while trying to crush the feet inside the narrow collar. Pair that with a wide foot and things become explosive.

These are actually giving me Dunk vibes. I think those are a bit tougher to smudge my foot inside but full disclosure, I do not like putting the Trae Young 1 on. Every single time.

We’d even joke around in the gym how I literally need to slam these to the ground a few times before my foot jumps into the footbed. So yeah, takes a bit. Once you’re in though – I bet you’ll have no issues.

COMFORT

Sizing aside, the Trae Young 1 didn’t come off as particularly luxurious or anything crazy from a comfort standpoint but they were more than enough for me to play and not think about ’em. Always a good sign.

There isn’t a lot of padding around the ankle nor on the tongue area but I can’t say I missed it. My foot sat nicely inside, the one-bootie upper definitely cups it like nothing else and never lets go. Anything else becomes negligible at that point.

There’s a good amount of forefoot flex to accommodate smoother step transitions and nothing got in my way in the form of digging or pinching either.

adidas doesn’t really make the lightest hoop shoes on the market and on some of the shoes, you could really feel it. Not the case with these though. These aren’t the lightest on paper but never once did they feel bottom-heavy or clunky in general.

Solid job – no real complaints thus far!

IV. TRACTION

How’s the grip on a variety of surfaces? What about sensitivity to dust/debris? Are they good for outdoors?

The adidas Trae Young 1 features a herringbone traction pattern throughout the forefoot, a radial pattern at the heel, and some straight lines laterally & medially to accommodate quick changes of direction.

INDOOR PERFORMANCE

Yeah, I know herringbone and radial combined into one shoe should provide god-like traction. On paper that is. Anything can sound cool or promising before you actually take it for a spin and put some mileage into it.

Indoors, I play in a high school gym that features a rubber surface that mimics hardwood. Weak outsoles really do expose themselves on this particular surface. Well, that’s partly because the court isn’t cleaned that often. It’s fine but it can definitely be better.

The best way for me to describe the indoor traction performance of the Trae Young 1 is just strange. The initial few minutes are just fine in terms of bite. Then dust creeps into the pattern and I’d start feeling a decrease in responsiveness, although not to a level where it’s unplayable.

I’d then wipe the outsoles off and sometimes it would help, sometimes it wouldn’t. This of course also depends on how well I wipe them off since I can’t always afford to stop and start scrubbing the soles off for a few minutes.

But other times, I’d be able to grip the floor just fine for a long period of time before needing to wipe. I’m starting to think it’s particularly the forefoot portion that noticeably gets worse if dust creeps in there.

I guess if you’d really take the time to get used to wiping these off (literally every 1-2 minutes), you could get away with it. Not my cup of tea though.

I feel like the two biggest factors that go into messing up the traction here are floor dust and linear movement patterns.

One more thing that’s important to take into account – I’d always get slightly sharpened-up grip in about 15-30 minutes. The rubber heats up and starts to give in a bit more, giving you more bite.

This is especially noticeable on non-abrasive surfaces like hardwood since the actual rubber needs to do most of the work and not the surface.

And of course, you might be playing on a cleaner court or a more classic hardwood surface that doesn’t get dirty as fast. People report that playing on clean courts is just fine with the Young 1.

Perhaps some of you guys have tried other colorways of the shoe with a translucent outsole or a different color rubber? Let me know in the comments below!

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE

I’m a big advocate of hooping outdoors when it’s summer/spring time, so you could imagine how happy I was when the Trae Young gripped the floor well outside.

Yeah, abrasive surfaces can save a shoe’s traction and this was the case for me. Rubber or concrete – I barely had any issues outdoors. A few occasional wipes kept the bite healthy but I wouldn’t be sliding all over the place even if I wouldn’t be wiping them at all.

Debris still does get inside the pattern and the outsoles look pretty damn nasty after a blacktop session but that didn’t stop them from providing consistent traction. Not the best in the world but still solid.

OUTDOOR DURABILITY

Solid rubber + thick herringbone & radial = outdoor hoops for months. That’s right – you shouldn’t have any issues with taking the Trae Young 1 outdoors regularly. Probably even for multiple seasons. This rubber doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere.

Just make sure to clean out your outsoles, ideally after every session in the park but occasionally will also provide some longevity and tackiness for those outsoles.

V. CUSHION

How are the impact absorption and energy return properties? What about ride height, comfort, and stability?

A large Boost puck sits in the heel of the Trae Young 1, while a lightweight Lightstrike midsole accompanies the rest of the foot. It’s a really nice cushion setup, no other way to put it.

It took me a couple of sessions to really start feeling the full potential of the foam used but since then, things are just awesome.

adidas really does make super well-balanced setups that are fantastic for guards but can also work for just about anyone.

The heel offers stellar impact protection thanks to a generous slab of Boost but I didn’t feel mushy or overly slow due to it.

The forefoot and midfoot portions feel lower to the ground and faster but there’s still some pop underfoot and the overall heel-to-toe stride just feels ultra-smooth.

Visually, it might seem there’s going to be a huge difference in how the heel feels vs. the forefoot but that was not the case. It was nicely balanced, stable, quick, and to the point. Not a Dame 7 scenario where the heel would feel a little too mushy while the forefoot felt firm.

Could the heel feel too much for you? I don’t think so. It’s got good compression but Boost rebounds back into shape extremely quickly. The same idea goes for the forefoot – could it be too firm for you there? Hardly a scenario.

I was also surprised about the uncommonly drastic heel-to-toe offset compared to an average modern basketball shoe. Sitting at 15 millimeters, once again, I did not notice this taking into practical effect.

There was nothing strange about my stride. No slappy step transitions, no unnatural difference that would feel like one while performing movements.

This is the Lightstrike adidas actually advertised and not the rock-solid stuff we got on a Harden Vol. 5.

I’d say this is a mix of the Harden Vol. 4 and adidas’s laceless project, the N3XT L3V3L. Minus the bouncy Boost puck in the heel – that one is its own beast here.

One of the more comfortable adidas shoes in a while. Any position could rock these. Literally. 1-up for this cushioning system that’s for sure!

VI. SUPPORT

How much all-around support does it provide? What about lateral stability and foot containment? Any trade-offs?

If any of you have experience with one of the successful Harden releases, like the 3rd or 4th shoe, you already know a good, supportive sneaker doesn’t have to be a high top or even a mid top design.

In fact, I actually prefer my hoop shoes to be in low-top fashion IF the support features are in place, the upper holds my foot in place nicely and there are no apparent restrictions as a result.

The Trae Young 1 ticked all these boxes for me.

The shoe features S-shaped internal heel counters for ankle & heel lockdown, foam sidewalls medially and laterally to keep the foot in place, a plastic midfoot shank to stabilize you torsionally, and a kick-ass fit that locks down the foot like there’s no tomorrow.

The shoe also feels like it’s lower to the ground than it actually is. The cushion offered here is nice and plush but that usually comes at a cost of extra elevation from the ground.

Not the case here – Lightstrike is an amazing compound when done right. It’s lightweight and minimal, yet comfy and gives everything you need performance-wise. Pair that with a platform that almost looks outrageously wide in the forefoot portion and you’ve got yourself a quick, comfortable, and well-thought-out machine.

No unnecessary features or gimmicks – just what you need to keep things secure but still mobile. I really like that. Although no surprise there – adidas rarely fails to satisfy hoopers in this category.

VII. THE BUILD

What are the build’s materials and how do they perform? What about build quality & long-term reliability?

BUILD OVERVIEW

The Trae Young 1 utilizes a mesh build that looks like textile visually and also genuine suede pieces all over the upper such as on the midfoot, toebox, and heel.

This mesh is quite cheap-looking and it’s very scratchy to the touch. There’s barely any stretch either but that can be a good thing security-wise. Nothing unexpected for a debut signature model here.

The midsole coming up laterally and medially is all foam encased in TPU, while the bottom portion is all rubber. The shoe features a one-bootie construction which means the whole upper feels like one single piece of continuous material, even the tongue.

Each pair also comes with an extra set of laces. The laces on the shoe are flat while the included set offers the same color but they’re rounded design. A nice touch if your first set breaks down.

PERFORMANCE

Based on what I’m seeing, looks like most of the budget making the shoe was spent on the cushion tech, while the upper was kind of just an afterthought.

Brands usually do cut costs in the material department, so, again, no surprises here since they need to play it safe with the 1st release.

However, don’t get too worried: there’s really nothing wrong with the build if we’re talking performance on the court. The synthetic-based upper doesn’t take long to start moving better with the foot, it’s lightweight and does just about what you expect it to do.

Maybe I would’ve liked a bit more forefoot flex during a forward motion. I feel like that could’ve improved mobility in the forefoot upon quick accelerations or linear/vertical jumps when you need to do it quickly and the material moves up to par with your foot.

But that’s only if I’m nitpicking – I was not at a loss of my game all of a sudden. Just something I noticed but not something that clearly affected me.

Foot containment is solid since the upper’s got some structure and doesn’t stretch at all.

My feet were a little crowded in there during the first few days but that shortly changed after the mesh started heating up and breaking in.

One little downside is that there’s no ventilation here. Zero. No perforations, no open design, or anything like that – it’s all structured mesh. If you play in the park when it’s 80+ degrees (25 C°+) outside and the sun’s right in your face, your feet WILL get hot in these.

I don’t personally have a big sweating problem so I don’t really care but if your skin sweats fast, you’ll probably feel it a bit with these.

RELIABILITY

4 months in, I’m not seeing anything terrible happening to the build but there are a few details I’m a bit concerned about.

I don’t like how the midfoot suede piece is sewed to the upper. It looks nice from afar but I already started seeing some fraying along the area where it connects to the upper. Also, the laces look like they won’t last too long as a few of them are already looking pretty banged up.

The rest is just fine though – no apparent damage to the upper, all pull tabs are in place (in spite of me literally killing myself to put the shoe on every time) and the foam doesn’t feel like it’s deteriorating.

You should definitely be able to rock these for a few seasons. If your laces start breaking down – I recommend getting a new set of performance flat laces because rounded ones don’t usually like to stay tight for long.

At least that’s my experience with adidas’s hoop shoes when they feature rounded laces.

VIII. OVERALL

Rounding the Trae Young 1 review up: is it a good buy for the money? Who it’s best for?

The adidas Trae Young 1 is a surprising package that won’t likely get that much attention but really does deliver in everything I needed from a performance basketball model for my preferences.

Yes, you can make the argument that Dame’s and Donovan Michell’s signature lines are just over $100 and this one’s $140 but you are getting a generous puck of Boost along with an awesome Lightstrike midsole that was well worth it for me.

None of the mentioned signature lines have super high-quality materials anyway, so you’d be paying that extra $20-$30 for the upgraded cushioning system.

QUICK RECAP

The sneaker surprisingly fit me very well while sticking with my usual size (I’m a wide footer!) and I think most people should stick with TTS.

Traction was the main letdown if we’re talking our usual indoor courts that aren’t always clean or don’t feature high-quality hardwood. Outdoors, you’ll be a-okay.

The Boost & Lightstrike setup was nothing short of fantastic and I had no issues with security either.

For $140, the upper could’ve been more premium but I’m not too mad since they work well on the court. And you are getting a few genuine suede touches if you value that sorta thing.

Damn, I really like the Trae Young 1. I’m lucky though since I primarily play outdoors when I’m not testing a shoe for indoor performance. For those of you that play in good-to-excellent condition gyms or outside, chances are you’ll dig this one a lot too!

adidas Trae Young 1 Review: 4 Months INDOORS & OUTDOORS

Here’s to new beginnings! It’s been a while since I’ve been excited about an adidas hoop shoe but it seems like that time has finally come. Let me introduce you to my comprehensive Trae Young 1 review – Young’s first signature sneaker from adidas.

These are looking REALLY good based on the specs alone but we all know that’s just part of the whole story. How it plays on the court is what matters, so I’ve been playing in these (almost solely) for about 4 months since the release.

Is it a HIT or MISS? Let me give you my detailed thoughts.

I. SPEC SHEET

click to inspect the full-sized image

II. 1-MIN REVIEW

For those in a hurry: the adidas Trae Young 1 impressed me. They were so close to being a top performer and one of the potential staples when I go to play basketball.

These should fit most guys true to their size but expect just a tad bit of room length-wise. Wide footers should be okay with TTS but the putting the shoe on will be a PAIN.

Traction is what caused most concerns. It’s great outdoors where there’s more abrasion or on a clean/high-quality surface but they start losing some of the bite when dust/debris comes into play.

The Boost & Lightstrike cushion was nothing short of awesome. It felt just right – not too much but still very comfy & bouncy in the heel. Ride stability is also on point.

I had no issues in the support department either. The cheap, scratchy mesh build left some to be desired but that didn’t prevent me from having a good time on the court.

If you primarily play outdoors or you’ve got access to a clean, pristine court regularly – the Trae Young 1 is simply awesome. Otherwise, I’d encourage taking a look at one of my provided alternatives.

> The full review is below

III. FIT & COMFORT

True to size or not? What about comfort & anything else fit-wise?

SIZING GUIDE

As you might’ve noticed, the Trae Young 1 features the most advanced, alien-like lacing system that’s tailored for maximum customization for the wearer. NOOOT!

Jokes aside, the shoe only features two eyelets per side. That’s right, two. It doesn’t take a detective to know that fit customization for any foot region other than the midfoot will be severely limited.

This means that what you get is pretty much what you’re stuck with here. However, I’m pleased to say the usual adidas sizing shenanigans aren’t present here.

I went true to size and there’s just enough room length-wise to fit my personal preference (~0.6 inches/~1.5 cm), things are a-okay width-wise and I never experienced any glaring issues like heel slippage or toe bumps. Not from the start, not anytime else.

It is a wide toebox these got – so narrow foot shapes could be left with a little bit of room.

In theory, I would say this is a better choice for wide footers but, honestly, I do think there’s not THAT much more room inside the toebox than one might think just by glancing at it from the outside. Most people should be fine.

All foot shapes should go with their usual size option, if you can’t try the shoe on that is. Stepping a half size down would potentially result in over-tightness at the heel & midfoot portions, in my opinion.

Still though, if things are not right for you – it’s a bit of a delicate situation since you won’t be able to fix anything with those two eyelets and a sturdy one-bootie upper.

So, trying the shoe on is best if you think you’ve got an unusual foot shape. I’m a wide footer myself (and a huge one) and the fit’s just fine, albeit a little tight in the midfoot during the first couple of weeks.

BUT, there’s one little caveat we boat-footers will have to go through with the Trae Young 1. You guessed it, PUTTING THEM ON IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The ankle portion gives me close-to-zero stretch while trying to crush the feet inside the narrow collar. Pair that with a wide foot and things become explosive.

These are actually giving me Dunk vibes. I think those are a bit tougher to smudge my foot inside but full disclosure, I do not like putting the Trae Young 1 on. Every single time.

We’d even joke around in the gym how I literally need to slam these to the ground a few times before my foot jumps into the footbed. So yeah, takes a bit. Once you’re in though – I bet you’ll have no issues.

COMFORT

Sizing aside, the Trae Young 1 didn’t come off as particularly luxurious or anything crazy from a comfort standpoint but they were more than enough for me to play and not think about ’em. Always a good sign.

There isn’t a lot of padding around the ankle nor on the tongue area but I can’t say I missed it. My foot sat nicely inside, the one-bootie upper definitely cups it like nothing else and never lets go. Anything else becomes negligible at that point.

There’s a good amount of forefoot flex to accommodate smoother step transitions and nothing got in my way in the form of digging or pinching either.

adidas doesn’t really make the lightest hoop shoes on the market and on some of the shoes, you could really feel it. Not the case with these though. These aren’t the lightest on paper but never once did they feel bottom-heavy or clunky in general.

Solid job – no real complaints thus far!

IV. TRACTION

How’s the grip on a variety of surfaces? What about sensitivity to dust/debris? Are they good for outdoors?

The adidas Trae Young 1 features a herringbone traction pattern throughout the forefoot, a radial pattern at the heel, and some straight lines laterally & medially to accommodate quick changes of direction.

INDOOR PERFORMANCE

Yeah, I know herringbone and radial combined into one shoe should provide god-like traction. On paper that is. Anything can sound cool or promising before you actually take it for a spin and put some mileage into it.

Indoors, I play in a high school gym that features a rubber surface that mimics hardwood. Weak outsoles really do expose themselves on this particular surface. Well, that’s partly because the court isn’t cleaned that often. It’s fine but it can definitely be better.

The best way for me to describe the indoor traction performance of the Trae Young 1 is just strange. The initial few minutes are just fine in terms of bite. Then dust creeps into the pattern and I’d start feeling a decrease in responsiveness, although not to a level where it’s unplayable.

I’d then wipe the outsoles off and sometimes it would help, sometimes it wouldn’t. This of course also depends on how well I wipe them off since I can’t always afford to stop and start scrubbing the soles off for a few minutes.

But other times, I’d be able to grip the floor just fine for a long period of time before needing to wipe. I’m starting to think it’s particularly the forefoot portion that noticeably gets worse if dust creeps in there.

I guess if you’d really take the time to get used to wiping these off (literally every 1-2 minutes), you could get away with it. Not my cup of tea though.

I feel like the two biggest factors that go into messing up the traction here are floor dust and linear movement patterns.

One more thing that’s important to take into account – I’d always get slightly sharpened-up grip in about 15-30 minutes. The rubber heats up and starts to give in a bit more, giving you more bite.

This is especially noticeable on non-abrasive surfaces like hardwood since the actual rubber needs to do most of the work and not the surface.

And of course, you might be playing on a cleaner court or a more classic hardwood surface that doesn’t get dirty as fast. People report that playing on clean courts is just fine with the Young 1.

Perhaps some of you guys have tried other colorways of the shoe with a translucent outsole or a different color rubber? Let me know in the comments below!

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE

I’m a big advocate of hooping outdoors when it’s summer/spring time, so you could imagine how happy I was when the Trae Young gripped the floor well outside.

Yeah, abrasive surfaces can save a shoe’s traction and this was the case for me. Rubber or concrete – I barely had any issues outdoors. A few occasional wipes kept the bite healthy but I wouldn’t be sliding all over the place even if I wouldn’t be wiping them at all.

Debris still does get inside the pattern and the outsoles look pretty damn nasty after a blacktop session but that didn’t stop them from providing consistent traction. Not the best in the world but still solid.

OUTDOOR DURABILITY

Solid rubber + thick herringbone & radial = outdoor hoops for months. That’s right – you shouldn’t have any issues with taking the Trae Young 1 outdoors regularly. Probably even for multiple seasons. This rubber doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere.

Just make sure to clean out your outsoles, ideally after every session in the park but occasionally will also provide some longevity and tackiness for those outsoles.

V. CUSHION

How are the impact absorption and energy return properties? What about ride height, comfort, and stability?

A large Boost puck sits in the heel of the Trae Young 1, while a lightweight Lightstrike midsole accompanies the rest of the foot. It’s a really nice cushion setup, no other way to put it.

It took me a couple of sessions to really start feeling the full potential of the foam used but since then, things are just awesome.

adidas really does make super well-balanced setups that are fantastic for guards but can also work for just about anyone.

The heel offers stellar impact protection thanks to a generous slab of Boost but I didn’t feel mushy or overly slow due to it.

The forefoot and midfoot portions feel lower to the ground and faster but there’s still some pop underfoot and the overall heel-to-toe stride just feels ultra-smooth.

Visually, it might seem there’s going to be a huge difference in how the heel feels vs. the forefoot but that was not the case. It was nicely balanced, stable, quick, and to the point. Not a Dame 7 scenario where the heel would feel a little too mushy while the forefoot felt firm.

Could the heel feel too much for you? I don’t think so. It’s got good compression but Boost rebounds back into shape extremely quickly. The same idea goes for the forefoot – could it be too firm for you there? Hardly a scenario.

I was also surprised about the uncommonly drastic heel-to-toe offset compared to an average modern basketball shoe. Sitting at 15 millimeters, once again, I did not notice this taking into practical effect.

There was nothing strange about my stride. No slappy step transitions, no unnatural difference that would feel like one while performing movements.

This is the Lightstrike adidas actually advertised and not the rock-solid stuff we got on a Harden Vol. 5.

I’d say this is a mix of the Harden Vol. 4 and adidas’s laceless project, the N3XT L3V3L. Minus the bouncy Boost puck in the heel – that one is its own beast here.

One of the more comfortable adidas shoes in a while. Any position could rock these. Literally. 1-up for this cushioning system that’s for sure!

VI. SUPPORT

How much all-around support does it provide? What about lateral stability and foot containment? Any trade-offs?

If any of you have experience with one of the successful Harden releases, like the 3rd or 4th shoe, you already know a good, supportive sneaker doesn’t have to be a high top or even a mid top design.

In fact, I actually prefer my hoop shoes to be in low-top fashion IF the support features are in place, the upper holds my foot in place nicely and there are no apparent restrictions as a result.

The Trae Young 1 ticked all these boxes for me.

The shoe features S-shaped internal heel counters for ankle & heel lockdown, foam sidewalls medially and laterally to keep the foot in place, a plastic midfoot shank to stabilize you torsionally, and a kick-ass fit that locks down the foot like there’s no tomorrow.

The shoe also feels like it’s lower to the ground than it actually is. The cushion offered here is nice and plush but that usually comes at a cost of extra elevation from the ground.

Not the case here – Lightstrike is an amazing compound when done right. It’s lightweight and minimal, yet comfy and gives everything you need performance-wise. Pair that with a platform that almost looks outrageously wide in the forefoot portion and you’ve got yourself a quick, comfortable, and well-thought-out machine.

No unnecessary features or gimmicks – just what you need to keep things secure but still mobile. I really like that. Although no surprise there – adidas rarely fails to satisfy hoopers in this category.

VII. THE BUILD

What are the build’s materials and how do they perform? What about build quality & long-term reliability?

BUILD OVERVIEW

The Trae Young 1 utilizes a mesh build that looks like textile visually and also genuine suede pieces all over the upper such as on the midfoot, toebox, and heel.

This mesh is quite cheap-looking and it’s very scratchy to the touch. There’s barely any stretch either but that can be a good thing security-wise. Nothing unexpected for a debut signature model here.

The midsole coming up laterally and medially is all foam encased in TPU, while the bottom portion is all rubber. The shoe features a one-bootie construction which means the whole upper feels like one single piece of continuous material, even the tongue.

Each pair also comes with an extra set of laces. The laces on the shoe are flat while the included set offers the same color but they’re rounded design. A nice touch if your first set breaks down.

PERFORMANCE

Based on what I’m seeing, looks like most of the budget making the shoe was spent on the cushion tech, while the upper was kind of just an afterthought.

Brands usually do cut costs in the material department, so, again, no surprises here since they need to play it safe with the 1st release.

However, don’t get too worried: there’s really nothing wrong with the build if we’re talking performance on the court. The synthetic-based upper doesn’t take long to start moving better with the foot, it’s lightweight and does just about what you expect it to do.

Maybe I would’ve liked a bit more forefoot flex during a forward motion. I feel like that could’ve improved mobility in the forefoot upon quick accelerations or linear/vertical jumps when you need to do it quickly and the material moves up to par with your foot.

But that’s only if I’m nitpicking – I was not at a loss of my game all of a sudden. Just something I noticed but not something that clearly affected me.

Foot containment is solid since the upper’s got some structure and doesn’t stretch at all.

My feet were a little crowded in there during the first few days but that shortly changed after the mesh started heating up and breaking in.

One little downside is that there’s no ventilation here. Zero. No perforations, no open design, or anything like that – it’s all structured mesh. If you play in the park when it’s 80+ degrees (25 C°+) outside and the sun’s right in your face, your feet WILL get hot in these.

I don’t personally have a big sweating problem so I don’t really care but if your skin sweats fast, you’ll probably feel it a bit with these.

RELIABILITY

4 months in, I’m not seeing anything terrible happening to the build but there are a few details I’m a bit concerned about.

I don’t like how the midfoot suede piece is sewed to the upper. It looks nice from afar but I already started seeing some fraying along the area where it connects to the upper. Also, the laces look like they won’t last too long as a few of them are already looking pretty banged up.

The rest is just fine though – no apparent damage to the upper, all pull tabs are in place (in spite of me literally killing myself to put the shoe on every time) and the foam doesn’t feel like it’s deteriorating.

You should definitely be able to rock these for a few seasons. If your laces start breaking down – I recommend getting a new set of performance flat laces because rounded ones don’t usually like to stay tight for long.

At least that’s my experience with adidas’s hoop shoes when they feature rounded laces.

VIII. OVERALL

Rounding the Trae Young 1 review up: is it a good buy for the money? Who it’s best for?

The adidas Trae Young 1 is a surprising package that won’t likely get that much attention but really does deliver in everything I needed from a performance basketball model for my preferences.

Yes, you can make the argument that Dame’s and Donovan Michell’s signature lines are just over $100 and this one’s $140 but you are getting a generous puck of Boost along with an awesome Lightstrike midsole that was well worth it for me.

None of the mentioned signature lines have super high-quality materials anyway, so you’d be paying that extra $20-$30 for the upgraded cushioning system.

QUICK RECAP

The sneaker surprisingly fit me very well while sticking with my usual size (I’m a wide footer!) and I think most people should stick with TTS.

Traction was the main letdown if we’re talking our usual indoor courts that aren’t always clean or don’t feature high-quality hardwood. Outdoors, you’ll be a-okay.

The Boost & Lightstrike setup was nothing short of fantastic and I had no issues with security either.

For $140, the upper could’ve been more premium but I’m not too mad since they work well on the court. And you are getting a few genuine suede touches if you value that sorta thing.

Damn, I really like the Trae Young 1. I’m lucky though since I primarily play outdoors when I’m not testing a shoe for indoor performance. For those of you that play in good-to-excellent condition gyms or outside, chances are you’ll dig this one a lot too!

Nike Air Max 270 G (Golf) Performance Review

The Nike Air Max 270 G is money.

One of the most popular lifestyle shoes of this era, the Nike Air Max 270 has made its way to the golf course, and it’s glorious. It’s got the tooling we’ve come to love about the AM 270 with some useful upgrades that make this a compelling golf option; but how will it perform?

With that being said, here’s my detailed performance review of the Nike Air Max 270 G.

First Impressions:

Right away I knew I had to have these. Admittedly, I never bought into the Air Max 270 hype, but I’ve always loved how they look.

A clean upper, a big air bubble, and a multitude of eye-catching colorways were all that was needed to convince me to take the plunge and try these out.

Right away, the traction stood out as the biggest difference between these and their lifestyle brother, but a deeper dive into these bad boys shed light on a few more changes that make these course ready.

Materials

Nothing crazy here. According to Nike, the Nike Air Max 270 G is pretty much a “stitch-for-stitch reconstruction” of the OG AM 270. The upper is made of mesh just like the OG’s, with the addition of a flexible, neoprene-like layer to make these more water-resistant. The added layer also makes these much easier to clean, something I love since I picked up a lighter-colored pair.

These did their job. My feet stayed dry, and the upper was plenty breathable. Plus, they stayed remarkably clean, something I didn’t expect. Big win.

Traction

My favorite part of the shoe was the traction. The spikeless traction pattern is very similar to the one found on the Nike Air Max 1 G, and it performed flawlessly. The raised spikes and added perimeter traction make for completely slip-free rounds.

I was in Flagstaff my first time playing in these, at a course that’s always a little wet. The added moisture would surely give some shoes trouble, but not these. They performed exactly as I needed them to and provided plenty of rotational grip.

Cushion

Air Max reigns supreme. The foam midsole is nicely complemented by a massive heel air max unit, making these quite comfortable. I’m of the opinion that you don’t want too much cushion in a golf shoe because you need to be able to feel the ground and remain stable through the swing.

This setup was a win for me. The heel unit made walking around awesome, all while maintaining enough ground feel and underfoot stability.

Speaking of stability…

Stability

The Nike Air Max 270 G is outfitted with a plastic external heel counter to keep you stable. It does its job, and I didn’t once feel shaky or slick. Unless you’re confident in the stability of your shoe, you aren’t going to feel confident swinging at your max.

One thing I did notice, however (and this is really personal preference) that due to the large volume Air Max unit in the heel, the heel-to-toe drop feels rather exaggerated. For me, this was no issue as I try to keep pressure more forward in my swing anyways, but it’s something to keep in mind. Regardless, the drop isn’t drastic enough that I’d call it a problem, just know that it’s there.

It might sound weird, but I almost forgot I was wearing these. I guess that’s the sign of a solid performer, I wasn’t the least bit worried about them causing any mishap.

Fit

My biggest (and really only) gripe about these shoes is the fit. These things were tight, almost too tight. Hard to get on, hard to take off, these things didn’t have nearly as much flex as I thought they should, especially being made primarily of mesh.

I went true to size here, and without a doubt should have gone up at least half a size. Besides the upper feeling restrictive, these things are pretty narrow too. Those of you with wider feet are definitely going to benefit from a bigger size.

Summary

Outside of how they fit, the Nike Air Max 270 G was a solid performer that benefits from great tooling and an easy-to-love silhouette.

If you can grab a pair in a half-size up, you’re looking at a great performer that looks great too.

As with most golf shoes Air Jordan produces these days, it seems the best quality of a good golf shoe is availability; you can still pick these up now in multiple colorways – something that can’t be said for some of the other popular models.

Nike ZoomX Streakfly Performance Review

he Nike ZoomX Streakfly has shown up for the better part of two years in the surreptitious and blurry photos often found on Instagram’s many running shoe fan accounts. The running shoe geek community was in a tizzy waiting for what was often called the Vaporfly Light or Vaporfly 2%. And there’s some truth to those fan-created titles. The Streakfly does share DNA with its older sibling, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%. But the Streakfly is also something completely different with echoes of both old racing flats and a fan favorite Nike trainer.

With this much anticipation for a shoe, the review needed some extra viewpoints. So I invited two accomplished running shoe geeks to join me in figuring out what the Nike ZoomX Streakfly does best.

This review is cowritten by Tyler Herrin and Scott Boatwright.

Tyler Herrin is an Atlanta native who primarily runs (mid-pack) for an excuse to buy shoes. He’s a sneakerhead when the silhouette is right and an eBay fanatic since 2004. Follow his running shoe centric Instagram account @chimpnamedenid.

Scott Boatwright is a lover of all things running, competitive at his core and obsessed with innovation. He owns Elite Running Company, a running lifestyle brand focused on supporting runners by connecting them with the gear they need, as well as through product reviews and run coaching. He loves being a part of the running community by spreading good vibes and info via social platforms (like his Instagram account) and giving qualitative and unbiased reviews on running shoes.

Scott: I’ll kick us off. The perfect running shoe doesn’t exi…. Well, maybe “perfect” is a bit of a stretch, but I’m placing my bets on the Nike ZoomX Streakfly being the best running shoe available upon the release of this review.

Tyler: Firmly in the grasp of the Nike marketing machine, here I am with another review of a shoe that I probably don’t need, but am eager to try. (Insert Renee Zellweger saying, “You had me at ZoomX!“) The Streakfly takes all of the ingredients that many of us have come to love and cooks up something extremely lightweight and aesthetically pleasing. But will they last?

Drew: As a bigger runner, I started out skeptical of Nike removing a bunch of ZoomX for their new racing shoe. The Vaporfly and Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% perform just fine in the 5k and 10k while packing more cushion. Do we really need another shoe for this niche category? Especially one with much less impact protection? We’re about to find out.

Nike ZoomX Streakfly

Release Date: February 10, 2022

Price: $160

Weight: 6.0oz

Drop: 6mm (26mm forefoot, 32mm heel)

Sizing: Fits true to size

Buy at Running WarehouseBuy at Nike

• Rundown: Highly-anticipated, high performing lightweight speedy shoe with flaws that can be easily overlooked by running shoe enthusiasts.

Pros

• Lightweight
• ZoomX Midsole
• Sizing
• Design
• Versatility

Cons

• Support
• Durability
• Laces
• Price

Pros

Lightweight

Scott: The Nike ZoomX Streakfly is light, very light. Lighter than any road shoe, especially one with this much softness and cushion. The Streakfly is the closest you can get to the feeling of wearing a track spike on the road.

Tyler: By far the lightest shoe in my rotation and a shoe that truly disappears on your foot. If I were in the middle of a training block, these would be a godsend for those days when your legs feel like they already have weights on them.

Drew: The lightweight build of the Streakfly makes it perfect for interval workouts on the local track. They just don’t get in the way of going fast because they feel like they’re barely there.

ZoomX Midsole

Scott: The midsole has a very familiar feel. It’s reminiscent of the jordan why not.5. Not as much “boing” due to the reduced foam stack (and lack of full-length carbon plate), but the softness and some bounce do remain intact.

Tyler: This is a double edged sword because I love my fat, cushy ZoomX midsoles (Nike ZoomX Invincible Run, Alphafly, etc.). While that magic is there, it’s a thinner slab of foam AND one of the first Nike shoes in a few years to really get minimal with the application of ZoomX. That’s not a bad thing, but this is a sea change in a lineup that has been pumping out high-stack, high-cushion ZoomX for the past few years.

Drew: The Nike ZoomX Streakfly midsole is plush while still offering ground feel. That’s why it shines when doing track work or other speed-focused efforts. You feel the ground better than on higher stack racers and have more toe control when pushing off. But even with that ground feel, the ZoomX is still plush and keeps your legs from feeling horrible after a hard workout. Think of the midsole as a slight upgrade from the midsole of the beloved Nike Pegasus ZoomX Turbo 2.

Sizing

Scott: The fit is as perfectly true to size as you’d expect any running shoe to fit. Although, for those wanting a super tight racing shoe fit, going down a half size will be necessary.

Tyler: Unlike a few early reviewers, I found the sizing to be spot-on to my normal Nike running shoe size.

Drew: The Nike ZoomX Streakfly is true to size. It’s got a little excess material in the toebox that can flex weird but going down a half size won’t fix it as the excess material is above the toes, not in front of them.

Design

Scott: The Nike ZoomX Streakfly Proto and Fast Pack colorways are the only colors out so far, but both are spot-on. I have high hopes for tons of well executed color combos and designs.

Tyler: So far, we’ve seen the Proto colorway and the Crimson colorway and while they’re extremely similar in execution, Nike did a fine job of giving us some eye candy.

Drew: The Nike ZoomX Streakfly looks sleek and fast. Putting it on your foot is a confidence booster. And while I don’t love the mostly white colorways released so far, they’re pretty nice as far as white shoes go. That said, I’ve seen some leaked photos of future colorways and I think Nike has some fun options in the pipeline.

Versatility

Scott: Absolutely! The Streakfly is one of the most versatile running shoes ever made. Sure, there are others that can be used for all sorts of running tasks, but none that can do all of that and perform at a high level alongside the other super shoes on the market

Tyler: While I’m not sure I’d go anywhere over 10-15K in these shoes, the benefit of the ZoomX and how fresh it keeps my legs would drive me to pick these up for more types of runs than I had initially assumed.

Drew: I too initially assumed the Nike ZoomX Streakfly wouldn’t be enough shoe for runs above six miles. However, my testing proved otherwise. I wore them for a 14 mile long run that had planned marathon pace sections in the middle and the Streakfly performed admirably. There was enough ZoomX to get through the half marathon distance. The cushion did lose some plushness around the 11 mile mark but the lightweight build really helped my legs not feel as heavy. That allowed me to close the run at a nice pace. I think most runners can race the mile to the half marathon in the Streakfly without any issues.

Cons

Support

Scott: Not much there for support and naturally with ZoomX there is an inherent under-foot wobble. But compared to all of the other high stack racers, the Nike ZoomX Streakfly is more neutral in this area.

Tyler: The ground feel is great, but it creeps up on you in those later miles. You’re not going to find long-lasting support in these.

Drew: This is where the Dunk midsole suffers from the lack of a full length carbon plate. ZoomX is very plush so a midfoot shank just can’t keep your foot from unnecessary motion. If your foot pronates in a way that requires extra support, this may not be the shoe for you. Alternatively, if you prefer letting your foot move more naturally than it does in racing shoes featuring full length carbon fiber plates, the Streakfly is going to be exactly what you want.

Durability

Scott: ZoomX will never last long. I think this shoe will last decently long, for a super soft new-age shoe, maybe 150 perfect miles, and up to 300 while still feeling “good”. This is definitely not a “best miles per dollar shoe” though.

Tyler: This is my biggest concern. After a 5K, they were already showing wear. I’m about 200 pounds, so that’s to be expected, but from my history of ZoomX midsoles, I would venture to say that these won’t last as long as I would hope.

Drew: After my very first run in the Nike ZoomX Streakfly, the exposed ZoomX on the outsole ripped where I stepped on a rock. Thankfully, that rip didn’t expand with future running but it highlighted my durability concerns. The Alphafly-like traction pattern is also wearing down faster than I expected. Because of that, I think it’s a touch softer than the Alphafly’s rubber. So yeah, the Streakfly won’t last long if you use it as an everyday running shoe.

Laces

Scott: I give Nike credit. Probably the lightest lace possible. They work. But, I want and would expect for Nike’s new scalloped edge laces as seen on the Alphafly and Vaporfly Next% 2.

Tyler: Thin. Really thin. Annoyingly thin.

Drew: The Nike ZoomX Streakfly laces are the worst part of the shoe. Super thin, impossible to handle in cold weather with frozen fingers or gloves and they came untied if not double knotted. If the Streakfly gets a v2, it needs nicer laces.

Price

Scott: Not a cheap shoe in the grand scheme of running shoes. But, for what you get, I actually found the price to be below my expectations. Considering the Vaporfly is $250 and the Pegasus Turbo 2 was $180, I would highly expect and be ok with paying $180 maybe even $200 for the Streakfly.

Tyler: Is it even worth saying that I wish these were at a lower price point? I will, but I know it won’t be heard. For the durability and longevity that I’m anticipating out of these, I’d love to see a lower price point (~$140), but if it says ZoomX, you know it’s not going to be as budget-friendly as it could be.

Drew: Will they last long enough to be worth $160? Only for running shoe geeks who change shoes often. Is $160 too high? Yes. But that’s the premium you pay to live that swoosh life.

Nike ZoomX Streakfly Summary

Scott: Blending design aspects from the Pegasus Turbo and Vaporfly NEXT%, Nike has taken the concept of the Pegasus Turbo, a do-it-all shoe, and perfected it with the Nike ZoomX Streakfly.

Tyler: All in all, this is a fun shoe, but I don’t think it’s something I’ll have in my rotation in a few months. Not because there’s not a place for them, but because I expect the bottoms to be shredded and the ZoomX to have bottomed out by then. I hope I’m wrong, but for my money, I think there are comparable (and more versatile) shoes on the market that could scratch this itch.

Drew: The Nike ZoomX Streakfly is a highly-anticipated high performing shoe. It’s got some flaws but early adopters of running shoe tech won’t mind these particular flaws. If you’re not an early adopter, I’d only recommend buying these if you’ve been hoping for a less stiff, lower profile Vaporfly. If that’s what you’ve been waiting for, it’s go time.

Nike Zoom Rize Review: Breakdown of a Superb Versatile Shoe

Today, we’ll be taking a look at 2019’s team model by Nikey. But not just any team model – I’m sure this one’s worth your attention, even in 2021. I present you my Nike Zoom Rize review!

YOU’RE IN FOR A GOOD ONE

Just to give you a little hint, the Zoom Rize is shaping up to be among the best basketball shoes of 2019. Pair that with a competitive price (it’s even cheaper today), versatility, and a ton of FUN – you get yourself a serious candidate for your shoe rotation.

Let me break it down to you all you need to know about the shoe: how it fits, how’s the performance, build quality, any possible drawbacks, and the best places to grab it. Let’s go!

I. SPEC SHEET

click to inspect the full-sized sheet

II. 1-MIN REVIEW

For those looking to save time: the Nike Zoom Rize is a fantastic all-around performer, and in my eyes, it should suit just about any player/style
It’s a good option for long-term outdoor play, it has one of the best cushion setups EVER, security is on-point without overly restricting you, and shoving a wide foot in here shouldn’t be a huge issue either.

Don’t expect fancy materials though: the shoe sports an engineered mesh build and while it’s not as soft and comfy as a premium knit/woven would be, it got the job done without making me feel uncomforable or making me think about it when it’s game time.

> The full review is below

III. FIT & COMFORT

Will your usual size work? How comfy are they? Anything else to know fit-wise?

SIZING GUIDE

I kid you not – the shoe is definitely a sleeper, especially once you break it and get used to it.

I’m a very prominent wide footer so I was a bit hesitant to go true to size but I’m glad I did.

The shoe didn’t quite feel right the first 1-2 weeks (regular/narrow footers will likely experience a shorter break-in period) but after the materials stretched out a bit, I didn’t have any complaints since then.

The fit of the shoe is tight and snug, even after breaking them in, so if you like tighter, more secure fits that leave little to no extra space for your foot – the Zoom Rize is an example of that type of fit done right.

But if you still prefer leaving some breathing room wearing your kicks – I’d then suggest going up half a size. However, as a rule of thumb – you usually don’t want to deviate from your regular size if you don’t have to.

Especially with more forgiving builds that have less structure.

COMFORT

Often times a more structured build that fits snug can seriously bang my feet up due to all the pressure applied upon movements.

Not the case with the Zoom Rize – even though I’ve got really wide feet and the material sits close to them at all times – its properties allow it to move well with my feet and a thin layer of mesh isn’t going to cause any pains or pinches.

And there’s no catch either – containment was fine, there was minimal-to-no movement inside the shoe and I felt secure at all times.

I’m usually not a huge fan of these types of high, in-your-face ankle collars but this one, in particular, didn’t seem to bother me despite the looks. The internal ankle area is well padded which makes the collar more of a cozy pillow for your ankle rather than an annoying distraction.

Overall, I have no complaints man – the shoe is comfortable, it’s secure, and feels like a light tank. In a good way.

Would I prefer just a tab bit more room width-wise and height-wise? Yes, but that one’s on me since I’ve got a pair of gigantic feet.

No gimmicks, nothing revolutionary or top 3 comfortable but enough to achieve a distraction-free experience on the court and that’s good enough for me.

IV. TRACTION

Does it grip various surfaces well? How about dust? Will it last outdoors?

TRACTION PERFORMANCE

A modern take of the classic herringbone traction pattern is used here, or should I say modified herringbone. All colorways of the Zoom Rize come in a half solid, half translucent rubber fashion, and it works pretty well.

I find the traction to be sustainable for my drives, cuts, stops, and accelerations. It’s really tough to mess herringbone up and adding a slightly refreshed take on it doesn’t ruin it, and the Zoom Rize is a clear example of this.

I didn’t find the outsole to be bothered by dust or other debris by any means and on any court I’ve played on, which is quite interesting.

I could’ve sworn I saw lots of dust creeping up inside the traction pattern but it seems that the rubber used is very tacky, the grooves are properly spaced out and they’re tall enough to erase the issue of dust buildup. I still wiped down the outsoles occasionally but more out of habit rather than necessity.

That is traction engineering at its best folks – the bite on the floor is nice and strong at all times, you barely have to wipe them (if ever on some courts) AND they seem durable for outdoor play.

OUTDOOR DURABILITY

I gotta say I’m super happy to see a Nikey model with reliable traction and quality rubber that’s sustainable for outdoors.

We’ve seen plenty of their budget models offer durable outsoles but not many mid-tier team models or signature sneakers have offered reliable rubber.

It’s a rare sight to see brands put some focus on hoopers who want to take their game outside these days, so props to Nikey for breaking the pattern! I just don’t why exactly they can’t stay consistent with it.

Does it really cost that much more to slap on tackier rubber and use a herringbone pattern that you’ve been using for YEARS anyway? We’ll never know.

V. CUSHION

How much impact protection? Is the ride comfy & responsive? What about ride height?

You might not expect anything awesome from a conventional team model in terms of cushion but the Zoom Rize is no conventional shoe in that regard.

Along with a very soft and springy midsole being used, a large forefoot Zoom Air unit is also there to accommodate movements coming from the forefoot, such as stops, drags, and accelerations.

The setup overall works SUPER great. In fact, I’m not even making this up, I’ve never felt anything quite like this before.

I’ve felt amazing cushion setups that are very bouncy, I’ve played in hella firm setups too, and there are a lot of setups that are properly balanced for just about anyone as well.

But the Zoom Rize seems to have carved out their own balance in things. It’s one of the bounciest and most fun rides I’ve ever had but it’s also one of the most responsive and provides SUPER fast spring back that truly makes it seem like you’re on boost mode while running and jumping.

That’s a rare treat these days – whether you like this kind of combination or not, I think everyone should try it just to see how much fun this feels. Court feel is sacrificed somewhat, so you won’t be riding as close to the ground as you would on, say, a Kyrie 8.

But I’d be lying if I said this slightly elevated ride bothered me. There are much taller builds out there and such a well-balanced cushion setup makes up for any compromises.

I personally had tons of fun playing in these, I feel like they supplement my playstyle extremely well and I also feel like they’d do the same for a lot of different players.

Since the setup is bouncy and springy, you’ll get a ton of impact protection. But you’re not slowed down or sunken in too deep into the shoe to make you less mobile. The foam springs back so quickly and strongly, you’re still on top of your game in terms of quickness.

It’s quite tough to put it in words but I’d highly suggest giving it a shot – I feel like lots of players would benefit from it or would have heaps of fun at least. That one you can quote me on.

VI. SUPPORT

How secure is the shoe? What about foot containment & stability? Any restrictions?

For support, we got most of the essential features in place

There’s an internal heel counter for heel & ankle lockdown, a very contained and supportive fit, a lightweight, yet structured upper, large outriggers on both sides for lateral stability, and also a cable system that’s attached with the regular laces, pulling your ankle down for extra lockdown once pressure is applied.

As I’ve said earlier – the shoe feels like a mini-tank. Enough for most people to feel nice and secure, who play the game fast and with athleticism.

But it should also have the smaller, lighter, and quicker guards covered as well – I didn’t feel like there were any restrictions that would potentially hinder my mobility or my foot’s ability to move with the build.

Most of the shoe’s support and overall containment is coming from the fit itself – if you get the fit right for you, break them in and mess with the laces ’till you find your sweet spot, I think you’ll be in for a very supportive ride.

Nothing more to be said here, well done!

VII. BUILD & MATERIALS

What materials are used & how do they perform? Is it a reliable build?

This is the category that I probably liked the least but don’t get me wrong – I didn’t hate the materials. I loved the shoe in all areas, I just liked the upper the least.

Sure, it’s a team model and not a signature, so don’t expect anything ultra-premium. The shoe’s upper is mostly engineered mesh along with some Fuse and synthetic overlays in the heel area.

The shoe did take a while to break in due to the materials being quite stiff by nature (and because of my wide a** feet) and breathability isn’t the best. Those would be the only two negatives I could find. The rest – solid. Nothing extraordinary solid but solid nonetheless.

Engineered mesh is already pretty durable but thanks to some Fuse and synthetics in key areas, even more structure is added.

I think these will last for a long time and even if you plan on playing outdoors a lot – the combo of the materials + the durable rubber of the outsoles should do the trick for at least a few seasons.

This mesh build can’t move with one’s feet as well as a Primeknit or a Performance Woven would so you’re not essentially getting that “second skin” sensation but I always held that as a bonus and not an essential.

This is not an extremely premium upper but it’s comfortable enough to make you forget you’re wearing a shoe during a game. And they’re built well from what’s being used, so I have no major complaints.

VIII. OVERALL

Rounding it up: is the shoe versatile? Who’s best suited for it? Is it a good deal for the $$$?

It’s time to round the Nike Zoom Rize review up.

The Nikey Zoom Rize is one of the best basketball models released in 2019 and in the last few years in general. It’s a nifty package that does a lot for what it has. I think this shoe really shows it comes down to masterful engineering and design on air jordan.

No gimmicks or a $200 price tag needed.