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i love this gameadidas DON Issue 3 Review: 5-Month Indoor/Outdoor Analysis
Want a no-B.S. budget hoop shoe that’ll get you through a few seasons? Adidas always has some stuff up their sleeve in that regard. After Donovan Michell’s 2nd signature shoe’s mixed reception, I finally racked up enough playing time through this half of the year to bring you my comprehensive DON Issue 3 review.
You can get these for as low as 100 bucks (or maybe even LESS) right now, so if this one turns out to be a solid overall basketball sneaker, you might looking at a contender among the best basketball shoes under $100.
I. SPEC SHEET
II. 1-MIN REVIEW
Here’s the quick DON Issue 3 review: the adidas DON Issue #3 brought what I expected it to bring, more or less. It’s a solid shoe but not without a few culprits some people might find unattractive.
The sizing is the biggest area of question. Most guys should be alright with their usual size but you can expect a bit of space length-wise and a lot of hoopers, including myself, have heel slippage.
The toebox is pretty wide here, so while a great option for wide footers, it might not be the shoe for someone with a more narrow foot.
The rest of the shoe worked just fine for me: decent traction (should last a while outdoors), decent cushion, great support (apart from slight heel slippage of course), and a basic but comfortable & lightweight textile build.
You can snatch these for cheap these days as adidas’s shoes tend to go on sales and show up in outlet stores very quickly.
Your alternatives for a similar but more refined experienced would be the Kyrie 8, the Dame 7, and the Trae Young 1.
III. FIT & COMFORT
Do they fit TTS or should you adjust? How comfy are they? Anything else to know fit or comfort-wise?
SIZING GUIDE
Following adidas’s classic sizing weirdness, the DON Issue #3’s construction doesn’t seem to know the size of a person’s foot.
Okay, I’m exaggerating but it seems like there’s always SOMETHING slightly wrong every time we get a new adidas shoe and opt for our usual size, as all normal mortals do.
Let me give you the short version first. MOST people (incl. wide footers) should stick with their usual size. If you think you’ve got a narrow foot, you might just get away with a half size down to fix the shoe’s length and end up with a very secure, yet extremely snug fit.
Since these are still on the shelves (during the time of writing this review), I would still encourage you to try these on in-store if possible. Or, you could always online a pair in your typical size and also grab a half size down option, later returning the one you won’t need.
Now, here’s the longer version.
I’m a pretty prominent wide footer myself and going true to size was probably the best decision I could’ve made. Things are still not perfect though.
While the wide toebox helped me out a ton and the fit there is just fine, the midfoot portion is pretty damn suffocating. It was fairly terrible at first but a couple of sessions stretched out the fabric and turned things from awful to acceptable.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen a couple of hoopers report that this unusually wide forefoot caused a bunch of problems for feet that aren’t particularly on the wider side.
There could be some unwanted movement inside the toebox and this is why I’d recommend trying these on or ordering a couple of different sizes online just to be sure. So yeah, this is one’s a wide footer’s friend – a rare treat for us, and a rare issue (potentially) for the rest of you.
Length-wise, there’s about 0.8-1.2ish centimeters of room up at the front for me. Not something I consider a major flaw since I’m used to wearing my sneakers with a tad bit of wiggle room.
HEEL SLIPPAGE – WATCH OUT
Lastly, I was almost positive I wouldn’t have this issue due to my thick a** feet unlike many people did as per several reports. Yes, the dreaded heel slippage. I was wrong.
Now, it’s nothing crazy to where I’d risk having the shoe completely popping off my foot but still an annoyance I kept thinking about. Especially the first few days until I kind of got used to it and learned to just play with it.
Both feet (though more slippage happens on my left foot since it’s smaller than my right) slightly shift up and down upon certain movements. Not ALL the time but it still happens.
I’m not completely sure of the culprit here as I normally don’t experience slippage even when I have some space at the front.
The lining around the ankle doesn’t seem too slippery, I even pulled down on the laces as much as I could, got a grippier pair of socks and the issue still tends to happen fairly frequently.
If you’ll be getting these – I highly recommend checking out my heel slippage guide to arm yourself with a few ways to prevent or at least decrease the chances of it happening.
COMFORT
The midfoot section of the shoe is still a little too tight for me, even after a few weeks. I couldn’t experience the DON Issue #3 in its full potential comfort-wise because of this but despite that, I still found the overall experience fairly enjoyable.
There’s a good amount of foam padding around the ankle and on the tongue which nicely hugs the foot, and the upper conformed to my foot shape very nicely despite looking pretty cheap and plasticky at first.
These aren’t among the lightest shoes but we all know adidas is never really going for that crown anyway. The shoe doesn’t feel particularly bottom-heavy, overly clunky, or anything like that.
I think the days when adidas is struggling to keep up with air jordan 1 in this regard are coming to an end. Not saying this one’s a super feathery, formula-like shoe (it isn’t) but I had fun in these, and I don’t have many complaints when it comes to comfort.
If the sizing situation with these wouldn’t have been so weird which introduced the extra length and likely heel slippage, the overall experience probably could’ve gone from okay to awesome.
IV. TRACTION
Does it grip a multitude of surfaces consistently? Is dust/debris a factor? How long will the outsoles last?
INDOOR PERFORMANCE
The third shoe from Donovan Michell features a semi-translucent and a solid rubber combo throughout the outsoles, and the coloring will depend on the colorway. The traction pattern is very similar to the DON Issue #2, and so is the rubber used, it seems.
Much like the DON Issue #2, I didn’t have the BEST time in terms of traction, nor was it terrible. It was mostly fine with some hiccups here and there but since I don’t usually play indoors much, I’m not very worried about this one.
If you are playing a lot on your classic hardwoods and rubberized surfaces indoors, pay attention.
I was able to play on two surfaces indoors: classic hardwood (moderate condition, not too dusty) and a rubber surface that mimicks hardwood but it’s much more forgiving in comparison.
Traction was mostly the same on both floors. I did wipe the outsoles down periodically to keep things consistent, although slight slip-ups did happen occasionally despite me doing so.
However, taking off, stopping on a pull-up, cutting, and doing anything that I do normally at full pace was fine, as the outsoles were able to hold their own.
Would I like the bite to be more aggressive and those slips taken care of? Of course, but if you would ask me if these are playable and not necessarily ideal, I would say yes.
Hoopers who play on poor condition floors that aren’t cleaned often might need to prepare themselves for some serious wiping every few minutes.
At least that’s what I saw people report who regularly hoop indoors on dustier courts.
OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE
When the action’s outside, I mostly hoop on a rubber court surface and sometimes on the blacktop.
As one might expect, I was getting stronger bite outdoors, purely because there’s more friction created between the shoe and the surface which is more abrasive than an indoor floor. Happens with most shoes.
From what I noticed after playing outdoors in both the 2nd and 3rd DON Issue one right after another, the differences in the overall strength of the traction are pretty marginal.
I’d give the nod to the DON Issue #3 in terms of the base level of traction but I also feel like the 2nd sneaker required less hassle to preserve optimal bite throughout a longer session.
Not saying I was sliding all over the place if I hadn’t wiped for a few minutes in the Issue #3, but with the 2nd shoe, I could forget about that whole business, and those moments can definitely occur.
If we got a bigger group of guys and play a full 5 on 5 match, hoopers can get so locked in during a more intense/important stretch and the idea of wiping down your outsole doesn’t always come up at that time.
That’s when it’s great to have your shoes ready to handle the load (which is what they’re supposed to do) even after you catch some debris in the outsoles.
I don’t think I had such moments with the DON Issue #3 if I remember correctly but if I had to compare the two shoes in this aspect, I’d give the nod to the Issue #2.
But then again, just if we had to compare. Practically speaking, I don’t think the 3rd model is completely terrible at this and I’m fine with a few swipes occasionally.
So, DON Issue #2: better job at performing with dust accumulation. DON Issue #3: slightly grippier overall.
Could be just the paint coating differences between the two shoes (yes, coating color can have an effect), could be quality control, or could simply be true. Might be worth keeping in mind.
image source: adidas.com. Sonic Ink Colorway outsole
OUTDOOR DURABILITY
There isn’t a huge perceivable difference in the rubber compound used across the 2nd and the 3rd sneaker, so my prediction for outsole longevity outdoors is similar to the previous model.
The grooves of the pattern are pretty deep which is good but it’s definitely not the strongest rubber.
Though it’s worth knowing that Adidas generally offers decent durability for abrasive surfaces, even if we’re talking about a weaker outsole among their catalog of shoes released.
I hooped in these more than I did in the DON Issue #2 (~5 months vs. ~3 months) and my current level of grip seems to be fine, much like it was within a 3 month period with the Issue #2.
Hard to compare the two if I had to pick a winner in terms of outdoor reliability. Don’t think about this one too much – either shoe should definitely get you through at least a full season.
V. CUSHION
How’s the shock absorption? What about step comfort and energy return of the cushion? Is it stable?
A full-length Lighstrike midsole replaces the previous shoe’s Bounce setup for cushion. The lateral section of the midsole is caged with a TPU plate for stability purposes, while the medial side is fully exposed to offer more compression there.
Not a huge change when put into action but it doesn’t look like adidas is planning to use Bounce on future basketball models in the future so Lightstrike could be regarded as the replacement. We’ll see.
From what we’ve experienced with both cushion compounds, Lightstrike is in fact lighter and can be in a lower profile while still retaining the properties of good cushion.
The setup implemented in the DON Issue #3 didn’t overly impress me but I’m satisfied. The ride I got with these felt a bit quicker and lower to the ground when compared to last year’s shoe.
Much like the Dame 7’s Lightstrike – a denser & thicker slab of foam is used in the heel for more impact absorption, while the things gradually get firmer and thinner going to the front.
The contrast between the heel and the forefoot isn’t as huge as I experienced on the Dame 7 though. I prefer the DON Issue #3’s heel-to-toe stride.
But if we’re talking about how comfortable they feel and how much bounceback is felt underfoot, the DON Issue #2’s Bounce iteration felt plusher. Neither shoe will give you tons of cushion though.
With this shoe, I’m able to stay quick, I’m slapped fairly low to the ground (it’s not as low-profile as a Curry or a Kyrie shoe though) and there’s also a bit of cushion to retain adequate comfort. I ideally prefer just a bit more pop but not to take anything away from the Issue #3, I still had a good time in ’em.
It’s just that, man, I love me some Bounce. I’ve been playing in it for years and the classic Dame 3 is still one of my favorite hoop shoes EVER.
It’s hard to give the nod to the newer Lightstrike when adidas doesn’t always seem to know what it wants to be.
I absolutely LOVED the explosive ride the recent Trae Young 1 provided with that version of Lightstrike. I also really liked the Harden Vol. 4’s super well-balanced approach.
But take the D Rose 11, or the Harden Vol. 5, and the cushion I experienced there almost felt unrecognizable.
I think adidas should be more consistent with it or if they want to use Lightstrike in a vastly different implementation across many shoes, they should do a better job in detailing such differences in their product pages because it can get deceiving.
Just my two cents.
VI. SUPPORT
How much overall security does it offer? What about stability and foot containment? Any restrictions as a result?
Your sense of security with the DON Issue #3 will greatly depend on the way these fit you. Remember the sizing situation I was talking about earlier?
I doubt you’ll be feeling optimal with a good amount of room width-wise. Pair that with heel slippage and things can get questionable. Now, for us wide footers, things are the opposite.
I can’t say I had major issues with overall support here. My wide foot sits very nicely in there, besides the tight midfoot section. The extra width at the toebox is awesome for me, as I can fill that space in without feeling overly cradled.
Yes, I had some heel slips but none of those really meant any danger as they were mostly just an annoyance that would cross my mind sometimes. Of course, I don’t want any heel slippage in my shoes but I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t play in the Issue #3.
For support components that handle the rest of the load, we have a pretty standard setup for adidas.
Internal TPU heel counters provide ankle & heel lockdown (not enough I suppose) and extend in both the midfoot as plates for torsional rigidity, as well as up to the lateral portion of the midsole, acting as sidewalls.
The forefoot portion of the shoe sits on a wide platform which promotes stability and is a usual component for adidas basketball sneakers.
That little strap that’s right in the middle of the lacing system is completely useless as it doesn’t add any extra tension, nor is it attached to anything else that would contribute to lockdown.
The overall chassis of the shoe is damn near rock-solid and they’ve done a killer job in building a supportive, structured shoe that doesn’t feel overly excessive like it used to a few years back. But at the end of the day, none of these features will save you if you’ve got too much unwanted room for your feet.
Wide footers, you should be good to go. For the rest – get the size right. Or order a couple of pairs just to be certain you won’t miss. Or skip the shoe entirely if you don’t feel like doing all that.
VII. THE BUILD
What are the materials used? How do they perform on-court? How’s the quality & reliability of the build?
BUILD OVERVIEW
The DON Issue #3 features a very thin textile upper along with a few synthetic nubuck-like pieces like on the lacing system, the tongue logo label, and those little flaps that go through the top eyelets.
The external lining around the top of the ankle collar seems to be neoprene, and those two pieces on both sides of the forefoot are a sturdy rubber material. The midsole sidewalls are TPU. The ankle & tongue are traditionally padded with foam inside.
The shoe utilizes a standard lace & tongue construction, meaning you won’t find an internal bootie inside the shoe, and the tongue is sewed on separately which allows for slightly easier entry inside the sneaker.
Nothing out of the ordinary for a mid-tier basketball shoe from adidas, or any other brand for that matter.
PERFORMANCE
Initially, I didn’t think this build will get as comfortable as it did. The fabric looked and felt a little paper-like and rigid at first but as little as a couple of days quickly turned things around when the build softened up, stretched out (to a point), and better conformed to my foot.
It was able to do this due to how extremely thin it is. The midfoot area still feels a little much for me but there’s not much I can do about that since the materials are already stretched out to their optimal limit.
There’s plenty of flexibility up at the front for a smooth linear stride, and the build moved nicely with my foot as a whole. Foot containment was also a-okay, with no signs of the build wanting to let my foot shift out of the footbed.
Ventilation could be better but I don’t remember when’s the last time I played in a shoe that offered exceptional ventilation, nor do I remember the last time I actually cared about that.
Synthetics are synthetics. If they’re not open-based or don’t have any perforations – your foot will get hot in there if your skin tends to start sweating in no time. I’m sure you guys will be fine though lol!
The only thing I didn’t like and the one hiccup that keeps on reoccurring with almost every adidas hoop shoe: the laces. They loosen up constantly. No matter how hard I pull down on them.
Now, things weren’t as bad as, say, with the Dame 7. Those things were torture in that regard. I’d feel the laces go almost undone a couple of MINUTES after each re-do.
Not as crazy with the Issue #3. Adjusting all of the eyelets to a more accurate fit helped, and I’d only stop to tighten ’em once or twice per hour. Doable.
image source: adidas.com
RELIABILITY
Such thin builds always show their wear & tear soon after you start hooping but that’s normal, so don’t worry about the shoe looking a little banged up or bubbled on a few areas.
This is the nature of a cheaper, thinner material but as of yet, there’s no effect on performance that I would notice. 5 months in, and things are looking pretty strong.
The laces are fine, none of the painted visuals are fading, and the only visual damage that’s clearly perceivable would be the chippy top portion of the heel due to many entries in and out of the sneaker.
The toebox didn’t fray as much as the DON Issue #2’s did but neither cases are major in any way. There are a few uneven spots on the forefoot right on the flex zone. Once again, nothing unexpected from a thin, budget fabric.
These would definitely hold for multiple seasons if I kept playing in this one pair. I don’t see a reason why they wouldn’t. The bigger question is whether the outsoles would be able to hold as long.
VIII. OVERALL
Summing up the DON Issue #3 review, who it’s best for, and is it worth the $$$
The adidas DON Issue #3 is a shoe one could come to expect if we’re talking about a long-time observer of the market adidas has created in the last few years. Nothing innovative or remarkable but it’s not that a lot of us need that. Most of us just want a good, reliable hoop shoe.
And it is a good shoe. Yes, it’s got a few things that could potentially skew some people away. However, there will definitely be people who will appreciate it as it’s pretty versatile.
Explosive guards with a style similar to that of Donovan Michell, versatile two-guards, or even wings could potentially find these a good fit, provided they got the size right.
QUICK RECAP
The sneaker should fit most people with their usual size but not everyone will get an ideal experience. Get two pairs online or try these in-store if possible.
Traction shared much of the qualities with the DON Issue #2 – adequate bite, decent rubber for outdoor play but some wiping will be needed to keep the traction optimal.
The shift to Lightstrike will no doubt result in mixed reception but not to say I hated this setup. It’s lightweight, fairly low-profile while retaining a bit of plushness. The shoe’s chassis is very supportive and well-structured but I couldn’t fully escape heel slippage.
For $110 (or less), the basic textile build won’t exactly impress you but it’ll get things done on the court. No issues there.
I don’t think the 3rd shoe is a direct upgrade from the 2nd, but nor is it the opposite way around. Both have their hiccups and their strong points, and I’d encourage you to see what the Issue #2 has to offer in comparison to make a better decision.
adidas DON Issue 3 Review: 5-Month Indoor/Outdoor Analysis
Want a no-B.S. budget hoop shoe that’ll get you through a few seasons? Adidas always has some stuff up their sleeve in that regard. After Donovan Michell’s 2nd signature shoe’s mixed reception, I finally racked up enough playing time through this half of the year to bring you my comprehensive DON Issue 3 review.
You can get these for as low as 100 bucks (or maybe even LESS) right now, so if this one turns out to be a solid overall basketball sneaker, you might looking at a contender among the best basketball shoes under $100.
I. SPEC SHEET
II. 1-MIN REVIEW
Here’s the quick DON Issue 3 review: the adidas DON Issue #3 brought what I expected it to bring, more or less. It’s a solid shoe but not without a few culprits some people might find unattractive.
The sizing is the biggest area of question. Most guys should be alright with their usual size but you can expect a bit of space length-wise and a lot of hoopers, including myself, have heel slippage.
The toebox is pretty wide here, so while a great option for wide footers, it might not be the shoe for someone with a more narrow foot.
The rest of the shoe worked just fine for me: decent traction (should last a while outdoors), decent cushion, great support (apart from slight heel slippage of course), and a basic but comfortable & lightweight textile build.
You can snatch these for cheap these days as adidas’s shoes tend to go on sales and show up in outlet stores very quickly.
Your alternatives for a similar but more refined experienced would be the Kyrie 8, the Dame 7, and the Trae Young 1.
III. FIT & COMFORT
Do they fit TTS or should you adjust? How comfy are they? Anything else to know fit or comfort-wise?
SIZING GUIDE
Following adidas’s classic sizing weirdness, the DON Issue #3’s construction doesn’t seem to know the size of a person’s foot.
Okay, I’m exaggerating but it seems like there’s always SOMETHING slightly wrong every time we get a new adidas shoe and opt for our usual size, as all normal mortals do.
Let me give you the short version first. MOST people (incl. wide footers) should stick with their usual size. If you think you’ve got a narrow foot, you might just get away with a half size down to fix the shoe’s length and end up with a very secure, yet extremely snug fit.
Since these are still on the shelves (during the time of writing this review), I would still encourage you to try these on in-store if possible. Or, you could always online a pair in your typical size and also grab a half size down option, later returning the one you won’t need.
Now, here’s the longer version.
I’m a pretty prominent wide footer myself and going true to size was probably the best decision I could’ve made. Things are still not perfect though.
While the wide toebox helped me out a ton and the fit there is just fine, the midfoot portion is pretty damn suffocating. It was fairly terrible at first but a couple of sessions stretched out the fabric and turned things from awful to acceptable.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen a couple of hoopers report that this unusually wide forefoot caused a bunch of problems for feet that aren’t particularly on the wider side.
There could be some unwanted movement inside the toebox and this is why I’d recommend trying these on or ordering a couple of different sizes online just to be sure. So yeah, this is one’s a wide footer’s friend – a rare treat for us, and a rare issue (potentially) for the rest of you.
Length-wise, there’s about 0.8-1.2ish centimeters of room up at the front for me. Not something I consider a major flaw since I’m used to wearing my sneakers with a tad bit of wiggle room.
HEEL SLIPPAGE – WATCH OUT
Lastly, I was almost positive I wouldn’t have this issue due to my thick a** feet unlike many people did as per several reports. Yes, the dreaded heel slippage. I was wrong.
Now, it’s nothing crazy to where I’d risk having the shoe completely popping off my foot but still an annoyance I kept thinking about. Especially the first few days until I kind of got used to it and learned to just play with it.
Both feet (though more slippage happens on my left foot since it’s smaller than my right) slightly shift up and down upon certain movements. Not ALL the time but it still happens.
I’m not completely sure of the culprit here as I normally don’t experience slippage even when I have some space at the front.
The lining around the ankle doesn’t seem too slippery, I even pulled down on the laces as much as I could, got a grippier pair of socks and the issue still tends to happen fairly frequently.
If you’ll be getting these – I highly recommend checking out my heel slippage guide to arm yourself with a few ways to prevent or at least decrease the chances of it happening.
COMFORT
The midfoot section of the shoe is still a little too tight for me, even after a few weeks. I couldn’t experience the DON Issue #3 in its full potential comfort-wise because of this but despite that, I still found the overall experience fairly enjoyable.
There’s a good amount of foam padding around the ankle and on the tongue which nicely hugs the foot, and the upper conformed to my foot shape very nicely despite looking pretty cheap and plasticky at first.
These aren’t among the lightest shoes but we all know adidas is never really going for that crown anyway. The shoe doesn’t feel particularly bottom-heavy, overly clunky, or anything like that.
I think the days when adidas is struggling to keep up with air jordan 1 in this regard are coming to an end. Not saying this one’s a super feathery, formula-like shoe (it isn’t) but I had fun in these, and I don’t have many complaints when it comes to comfort.
If the sizing situation with these wouldn’t have been so weird which introduced the extra length and likely heel slippage, the overall experience probably could’ve gone from okay to awesome.
IV. TRACTION
Does it grip a multitude of surfaces consistently? Is dust/debris a factor? How long will the outsoles last?
INDOOR PERFORMANCE
The third shoe from Donovan Michell features a semi-translucent and a solid rubber combo throughout the outsoles, and the coloring will depend on the colorway. The traction pattern is very similar to the DON Issue #2, and so is the rubber used, it seems.
Much like the DON Issue #2, I didn’t have the BEST time in terms of traction, nor was it terrible. It was mostly fine with some hiccups here and there but since I don’t usually play indoors much, I’m not very worried about this one.
If you are playing a lot on your classic hardwoods and rubberized surfaces indoors, pay attention.
I was able to play on two surfaces indoors: classic hardwood (moderate condition, not too dusty) and a rubber surface that mimicks hardwood but it’s much more forgiving in comparison.
Traction was mostly the same on both floors. I did wipe the outsoles down periodically to keep things consistent, although slight slip-ups did happen occasionally despite me doing so.
However, taking off, stopping on a pull-up, cutting, and doing anything that I do normally at full pace was fine, as the outsoles were able to hold their own.
Would I like the bite to be more aggressive and those slips taken care of? Of course, but if you would ask me if these are playable and not necessarily ideal, I would say yes.
Hoopers who play on poor condition floors that aren’t cleaned often might need to prepare themselves for some serious wiping every few minutes.
At least that’s what I saw people report who regularly hoop indoors on dustier courts.
OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE
When the action’s outside, I mostly hoop on a rubber court surface and sometimes on the blacktop.
As one might expect, I was getting stronger bite outdoors, purely because there’s more friction created between the shoe and the surface which is more abrasive than an indoor floor. Happens with most shoes.
From what I noticed after playing outdoors in both the 2nd and 3rd DON Issue one right after another, the differences in the overall strength of the traction are pretty marginal.
I’d give the nod to the DON Issue #3 in terms of the base level of traction but I also feel like the 2nd sneaker required less hassle to preserve optimal bite throughout a longer session.
Not saying I was sliding all over the place if I hadn’t wiped for a few minutes in the Issue #3, but with the 2nd shoe, I could forget about that whole business, and those moments can definitely occur.
If we got a bigger group of guys and play a full 5 on 5 match, hoopers can get so locked in during a more intense/important stretch and the idea of wiping down your outsole doesn’t always come up at that time.
That’s when it’s great to have your shoes ready to handle the load (which is what they’re supposed to do) even after you catch some debris in the outsoles.
I don’t think I had such moments with the DON Issue #3 if I remember correctly but if I had to compare the two shoes in this aspect, I’d give the nod to the Issue #2.
But then again, just if we had to compare. Practically speaking, I don’t think the 3rd model is completely terrible at this and I’m fine with a few swipes occasionally.
So, DON Issue #2: better job at performing with dust accumulation. DON Issue #3: slightly grippier overall.
Could be just the paint coating differences between the two shoes (yes, coating color can have an effect), could be quality control, or could simply be true. Might be worth keeping in mind.
image source: adidas.com. Sonic Ink Colorway outsole
OUTDOOR DURABILITY
There isn’t a huge perceivable difference in the rubber compound used across the 2nd and the 3rd sneaker, so my prediction for outsole longevity outdoors is similar to the previous model.
The grooves of the pattern are pretty deep which is good but it’s definitely not the strongest rubber.
Though it’s worth knowing that Adidas generally offers decent durability for abrasive surfaces, even if we’re talking about a weaker outsole among their catalog of shoes released.
I hooped in these more than I did in the DON Issue #2 (~5 months vs. ~3 months) and my current level of grip seems to be fine, much like it was within a 3 month period with the Issue #2.
Hard to compare the two if I had to pick a winner in terms of outdoor reliability. Don’t think about this one too much – either shoe should definitely get you through at least a full season.
V. CUSHION
How’s the shock absorption? What about step comfort and energy return of the cushion? Is it stable?
A full-length Lighstrike midsole replaces the previous shoe’s Bounce setup for cushion. The lateral section of the midsole is caged with a TPU plate for stability purposes, while the medial side is fully exposed to offer more compression there.
Not a huge change when put into action but it doesn’t look like adidas is planning to use Bounce on future basketball models in the future so Lightstrike could be regarded as the replacement. We’ll see.
From what we’ve experienced with both cushion compounds, Lightstrike is in fact lighter and can be in a lower profile while still retaining the properties of good cushion.
The setup implemented in the DON Issue #3 didn’t overly impress me but I’m satisfied. The ride I got with these felt a bit quicker and lower to the ground when compared to last year’s shoe.
Much like the Dame 7’s Lightstrike – a denser & thicker slab of foam is used in the heel for more impact absorption, while the things gradually get firmer and thinner going to the front.
The contrast between the heel and the forefoot isn’t as huge as I experienced on the Dame 7 though. I prefer the DON Issue #3’s heel-to-toe stride.
But if we’re talking about how comfortable they feel and how much bounceback is felt underfoot, the DON Issue #2’s Bounce iteration felt plusher. Neither shoe will give you tons of cushion though.
With this shoe, I’m able to stay quick, I’m slapped fairly low to the ground (it’s not as low-profile as a Curry or a Kyrie shoe though) and there’s also a bit of cushion to retain adequate comfort. I ideally prefer just a bit more pop but not to take anything away from the Issue #3, I still had a good time in ’em.
It’s just that, man, I love me some Bounce. I’ve been playing in it for years and the classic Dame 3 is still one of my favorite hoop shoes EVER.
It’s hard to give the nod to the newer Lightstrike when adidas doesn’t always seem to know what it wants to be.
I absolutely LOVED the explosive ride the recent Trae Young 1 provided with that version of Lightstrike. I also really liked the Harden Vol. 4’s super well-balanced approach.
But take the D Rose 11, or the Harden Vol. 5, and the cushion I experienced there almost felt unrecognizable.
I think adidas should be more consistent with it or if they want to use Lightstrike in a vastly different implementation across many shoes, they should do a better job in detailing such differences in their product pages because it can get deceiving.
Just my two cents.
VI. SUPPORT
How much overall security does it offer? What about stability and foot containment? Any restrictions as a result?
Your sense of security with the DON Issue #3 will greatly depend on the way these fit you. Remember the sizing situation I was talking about earlier?
I doubt you’ll be feeling optimal with a good amount of room width-wise. Pair that with heel slippage and things can get questionable. Now, for us wide footers, things are the opposite.
I can’t say I had major issues with overall support here. My wide foot sits very nicely in there, besides the tight midfoot section. The extra width at the toebox is awesome for me, as I can fill that space in without feeling overly cradled.
Yes, I had some heel slips but none of those really meant any danger as they were mostly just an annoyance that would cross my mind sometimes. Of course, I don’t want any heel slippage in my shoes but I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t play in the Issue #3.
For support components that handle the rest of the load, we have a pretty standard setup for adidas.
Internal TPU heel counters provide ankle & heel lockdown (not enough I suppose) and extend in both the midfoot as plates for torsional rigidity, as well as up to the lateral portion of the midsole, acting as sidewalls.
The forefoot portion of the shoe sits on a wide platform which promotes stability and is a usual component for adidas basketball sneakers.
That little strap that’s right in the middle of the lacing system is completely useless as it doesn’t add any extra tension, nor is it attached to anything else that would contribute to lockdown.
The overall chassis of the shoe is damn near rock-solid and they’ve done a killer job in building a supportive, structured shoe that doesn’t feel overly excessive like it used to a few years back. But at the end of the day, none of these features will save you if you’ve got too much unwanted room for your feet.
Wide footers, you should be good to go. For the rest – get the size right. Or order a couple of pairs just to be certain you won’t miss. Or skip the shoe entirely if you don’t feel like doing all that.
VII. THE BUILD
What are the materials used? How do they perform on-court? How’s the quality & reliability of the build?
BUILD OVERVIEW
The DON Issue #3 features a very thin textile upper along with a few synthetic nubuck-like pieces like on the lacing system, the tongue logo label, and those little flaps that go through the top eyelets.
The external lining around the top of the ankle collar seems to be neoprene, and those two pieces on both sides of the forefoot are a sturdy rubber material. The midsole sidewalls are TPU. The ankle & tongue are traditionally padded with foam inside.
The shoe utilizes a standard lace & tongue construction, meaning you won’t find an internal bootie inside the shoe, and the tongue is sewed on separately which allows for slightly easier entry inside the sneaker.
Nothing out of the ordinary for a mid-tier basketball shoe from adidas, or any other brand for that matter.
PERFORMANCE
Initially, I didn’t think this build will get as comfortable as it did. The fabric looked and felt a little paper-like and rigid at first but as little as a couple of days quickly turned things around when the build softened up, stretched out (to a point), and better conformed to my foot.
It was able to do this due to how extremely thin it is. The midfoot area still feels a little much for me but there’s not much I can do about that since the materials are already stretched out to their optimal limit.
There’s plenty of flexibility up at the front for a smooth linear stride, and the build moved nicely with my foot as a whole. Foot containment was also a-okay, with no signs of the build wanting to let my foot shift out of the footbed.
Ventilation could be better but I don’t remember when’s the last time I played in a shoe that offered exceptional ventilation, nor do I remember the last time I actually cared about that.
Synthetics are synthetics. If they’re not open-based or don’t have any perforations – your foot will get hot in there if your skin tends to start sweating in no time. I’m sure you guys will be fine though lol!
The only thing I didn’t like and the one hiccup that keeps on reoccurring with almost every adidas hoop shoe: the laces. They loosen up constantly. No matter how hard I pull down on them.
Now, things weren’t as bad as, say, with the Dame 7. Those things were torture in that regard. I’d feel the laces go almost undone a couple of MINUTES after each re-do.
Not as crazy with the Issue #3. Adjusting all of the eyelets to a more accurate fit helped, and I’d only stop to tighten ’em once or twice per hour. Doable.
image source: adidas.com
RELIABILITY
Such thin builds always show their wear & tear soon after you start hooping but that’s normal, so don’t worry about the shoe looking a little banged up or bubbled on a few areas.
This is the nature of a cheaper, thinner material but as of yet, there’s no effect on performance that I would notice. 5 months in, and things are looking pretty strong.
The laces are fine, none of the painted visuals are fading, and the only visual damage that’s clearly perceivable would be the chippy top portion of the heel due to many entries in and out of the sneaker.
The toebox didn’t fray as much as the DON Issue #2’s did but neither cases are major in any way. There are a few uneven spots on the forefoot right on the flex zone. Once again, nothing unexpected from a thin, budget fabric.
These would definitely hold for multiple seasons if I kept playing in this one pair. I don’t see a reason why they wouldn’t. The bigger question is whether the outsoles would be able to hold as long.
VIII. OVERALL
Summing up the DON Issue #3 review, who it’s best for, and is it worth the $$$
The adidas DON Issue #3 is a shoe one could come to expect if we’re talking about a long-time observer of the market adidas has created in the last few years. Nothing innovative or remarkable but it’s not that a lot of us need that. Most of us just want a good, reliable hoop shoe.
And it is a good shoe. Yes, it’s got a few things that could potentially skew some people away. However, there will definitely be people who will appreciate it as it’s pretty versatile.
Explosive guards with a style similar to that of Donovan Michell, versatile two-guards, or even wings could potentially find these a good fit, provided they got the size right.
QUICK RECAP
The sneaker should fit most people with their usual size but not everyone will get an ideal experience. Get two pairs online or try these in-store if possible.
Traction shared much of the qualities with the DON Issue #2 – adequate bite, decent rubber for outdoor play but some wiping will be needed to keep the traction optimal.
The shift to Lightstrike will no doubt result in mixed reception but not to say I hated this setup. It’s lightweight, fairly low-profile while retaining a bit of plushness. The shoe’s chassis is very supportive and well-structured but I couldn’t fully escape heel slippage.
For $110 (or less), the basic textile build won’t exactly impress you but it’ll get things done on the court. No issues there.
I don’t think the 3rd shoe is a direct upgrade from the 2nd, but nor is it the opposite way around. Both have their hiccups and their strong points, and I’d encourage you to see what the Issue #2 has to offer in comparison to make a better decision.
Adidas’s #1 BUDGET Choice: DON Issue 2 Review
For everyone that missed this shoe or the fact that Donovan Mitchell has two of his own shoes now, let’s knock two birds with one stone! In this DON Issue 2 review, I’ll break down what I think is the best budget basketball shoe to get in 2020 or early 2021.
So, for those who are looking to spend the least amount of $$$ to get the best possible shoe to wreck around – the D.O.N. Issue #2 is a great choice. Not saying it’s the best shoe in the world but I thought I’d bring it up since I was recently playing in it a lot and this might help those who are on a less forgiving budget.
After 3+ months of outdoor play, we’ll be breaking down the shoe’s fit & comfort aspects, on-court performance, value for the price, and versatility.
Let’s go!
SPEC SHEET
Model: adidas D.O.N. Issue #2
Build: Mid-Top
Weight: 15.89 oz / 450 g. (size 10.5 US)
Retail Price: $100
Cushion: full-length Bounce
I. COMFORT & FIT
SIZING ADVICE: WIDE FOOTERS PAY ATTENTION!
Let’s start with the need-to-know first.
Even though the shoe’s got a wide platform externally, things are much more compact inside. The shoe is pretty narrow width-wise and about average length-wise. So no adidas fit quirks you’d so commonly see on popular lines such as Dame’s or D Rose’s.
Regular/narrow footers will want to go true to their regular size but don’t get it twisted – you should still expect a snug & compact type of fit. For those who prefer a bit more room for your foot inside the shoe and generally feel more comfortable with slightly looser fits – you can also go up 1/2 size.
Being a prominent wide footer, I of course went half a size up without second thoughts, and the fit’s pretty good. They’re right on the limit for me length-wise, so guys with regular/narrow feet shouldn’t worry too much about length getting messed up if you’re going up from your usual size.
They’re still snug and feel condensed even after a few weeks – nothing terrible or deal-breaking though. I generally prefer just a bit more room for my feet but this was just fine.
So bottom line: most people will generally be cool with their regular size (unless you particularly require a bit more room) and wide footers should surely go up 1/2 size.
If you’ve gone up half from your size and feel like the shoe is just too small even after a while (3-4 weeks TOPS), the shoe might just be out of the picture for you, unfortunately. I’d bet my money these would clearly fit too long with a full size up.
That’s why I’d generally, especially now dealing with the quarantine stuff, recommend ordering a few different options of the shoe online just to be sure if you’re not completely sure on the size to go with.
COMFORT: $100 CERTIFIED
In terms of comfort – nothing special, yet nothing straight-up bad either. There’s just about the same amount of internal padding you’d see on an average adidas sneaker.
The shoe doesn’t overly flex due to a midfoot shank being present, though they aren’t overly stiff either – step motions are pretty natural, and the ride is one you’d quickly forget about while playing.
Absolutely not a bad thing though – even though there’s no $200 experience here, there are no annoying distractions or things that might get into the way when your mind’s on the court.
A secure fit, solid containment, they’re light and offer a distraction-free experience to play and forget you’ve got a shoe on. This is pretty much enough to get a pass for a basketball shoe and lay a foundation for other areas to work well performance-wise.
And these are $100 – I’m satisfied.
II. TRACTION
Now, I haven’t played in the first D.O.N. Issue and I was only able to test these outdoors, so for anyone who’s looking to know how these stack up indoors – I’d suggest checking out older reviews by other people before quarantine hit us all.
I wasn’t impressed by the shoe’s traction but I wasn’t super disappointed either. The pattern isn’t your typical trusty herringbone and the use of multiple colors (meaning multiple paints) throughout the pattern can sometimes result in inconsistencies. Luckily, I haven’t experienced anything along those lines with the harden vol 6.
The traction, in general, was fine – no crazy bite or stopping power, I wasn’t sticking to the floor like glue either.
On paper – these won’t make the list of the best tractions. From a practical standpoint – the shoe grips the floor fine I felt like there’s nothing to really complain about here.
Shifty or not – these should supplement and provide sufficient grip at all times – there’s enough bite to keep your mind solely on the game and not on the shoe.
I’ve experienced only a handful of slips on a rubber surface throughout the course of a few months. I’d imagine things might be different indoors. Oh, if only…
The pattern is spaced out really well and the rubber compound isn’t the stickiest – what does this mean? This means that you can almost completely forget about wiping your outsoles.
I’m personally not a huge wiping person on the court and I love a shoe that doesn’t force me to think about the traction, as I’d need to halt and wipe it down to preserve 100% traction. Not the case with the DON Issue 2 – even outdoors.
OUTDOOR DURABILITY
As for outdoor durability – this isn’t an outdoor model so don’t expect years of reliability with these on concrete. I’m over 3 months in with the shoe and despite having some slips here and there, the outsole is still looking good.
I did notice I was sliding out just a bit more often lately but still, not to a point where it’s deal-breaking.
I’ll also clean my outsole thoroughly soon which will likely restore a bit of that bite since there’s still some dust buildup that has stuck to the rubber. Happens all the time, regardless of the pattern.
III. CUSHION
Bounce cushion is used for the D.O.N. Issue #2 which is typical for a budget adidas shoe. I gotta say I felt similar about the cushion just as I did with the traction.
It’s nothing crazy but nothing terrible either. Bounce is usually a very well-balanced compound that doesn’t stick out due to its lack of FUN factor or crazy bounce. It’s there to provide a little bit of everything to supplement just about every player properly from a performance standpoint.
But it’s a little more low-key in this shoe. Yes, there’s still a little bit of softness felt underfoot but you’d feel more cushion on something such as the Dame 5 or even the Dame 3. From what I experienced, this setup felt closest to 2019’s Pro Bounce for me.
So, a little more focus towards responsiveness, court feel, and speed this time. Don’t get it twisted though – you won’t be blowing your knees out either, Bounce still provides a layer of impact protection so even though you might not feel like you’re jumping on clouds, it’ll get the job done safely and efficiently.
So bottom line – lighter, low to the ground type of guards or spot-up shooters will love this setup the most. For anyone else – I think this is still a solid setup, though it will depend on what you prefer.
If you absolutely require tons of cushion underfoot, I’d skip this one and look for an option in this list.
IV. SUPPORT
Support and overall foot security is something adidas so rarely fails on. I feel like I’m repeating myself each time an adidas shoe review comes up but I’m always impressed by it. I can’t help it.
These guys love to use modern materials on their shoes these days – textiles, lightweight synthetics, and various types of mesh.
With that comes the responsibility to make the shoe supportive since the upper won’t really do that for you due to the nature of the materials.
There’s an internal heel counter for heel & ankle lockdown, a midfoot shank for torsional support, there are upper overlays on key areas for more structure and better containment as well.
The foot also sits within the midsole which promotes stability and as mentioned earlier, the shoe’s platform is flat & wide. All this makes up for a very secure package that never makes you worry about your foot sliding out of the footbed or lack of confident lateral coverage.
It’s all there, it works well and works for just about everybody. There are no apparent restrictions or things that might hinder your experience – the shoe is a safe haven to play in. No complaints here, especially for a hundred bucks.
V. BUILD & MATERIALS
The shoe uses a few different textiles along with a few synthetic pieces of overlays for more structure. Once again, nothing spectacular that might give that premium feel but it ain’t bad either.
For those who are looking for pure performance and just need a shoe to play basketball in comfortably – I think you’ll appreciate the air jordans upper just as I did.
For those who are looking for a luxury experience, raw materials, or extreme durability – you won’t find that stuff here.
So the main advantages of this upper are mobility, ventilation, a very short break-in period, and lesser weight. Durability will take a hit but it’s not horrible in this case.
I’m seeing some frayings around the toebox area but it’s mainly just cosmetic damage. This is one of those uppers where you’ll quickly see these are actively being played in.
I’m not saying these will break down on you a couple of months in but it might be a good idea to keep these as your “occasional” outdoor choice.
I’d imagine the outsole and the upper will start deteriorating a couple of seasons in. But then again, there’s no way to know that – only time will tell. For $100, this is a solid build though.
VI. OVERALL
The adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 is the most cost-effective basketball shoe of 2020 in my book. Sure, there are some other great picks if you’d throw an extra $15-$50 but if we’re talking about pure performance per every dollar, I think this is the one.
The shoe has solid traction and you won’t be needing to wipe these every two seconds, the cushion setup is low-key but still good enough for most people to play, support is just as awesome as you’d see on most adidas hoop shoes, and the upper’s nothing short of the modern material trend.
The outsole and the overall build aren’t the most durable in the world but enough to keep you going for a while. All we got is outdoor parks at the moment and the shoe did the trick for me for at least 3+ months.
Nothing revolutionary or that stood out but everything worked. Money well spent, job well done adidas!
Under Armour Embiid 1: OUTDOOR Review 2021
Let’s take a look at Joel’s first signature – the Under Armour Embiid 1. Launched back in 2020, it shaped up to be among the best overall basketball shoes and it’s also a great fit for bigger guys like Embiid himself (obviously).
So, for anyone who’s hunting for a new pair of basketball shoes – I’ll break down the Embiid 1’s fit & comfort aspects, on-court performance, value for the price and evaluate if it’s ready to be banged up outdoors. That’s pretty much all we have available due to quarantine anyway.
SPEC SHEET
Model: Under Armour Embiid One
Build: Mid-Top
Weight: 14.77 / 419 g. (size 10 US)
Retail Price: $120
Cushion: full-length Micro G & HOVR heel unit
I. COMFORT & FIT
SIZING: TRUE TO SIZE FOR EVERYBODY
Let’s tip-off with the must-know stuff first. These will fit most of you true to size. I went true to my size being a prominent wide footer and I have zero complaints about a week in.
The materials are very forgiving and thin, so most foot shapes will be compatible with this one since it’ll quickly mold to your foot accordingly. Plus, the base of the is fairly wide, so wide footer-friendly it is.
If you’d like to have some room for your toes or laterally and don’t like a snug, one-to-one type of fit, going up 1/2 a size is an option but do that at your own risk.
Remember that this type of shoe tends to stretch out to conform to a larger foot but if we’re talking the opposite – you might run into containment & overall security issues.
COMFORT: NOTHING SPECIAL, YET IT DELIVERS
The Embiid One resembles how Under Armour’s shoe fit, just in a slightly larger frame this time as opposed to Curry’s compact silhouettes. There’s enough internal padding around the ankle and achilles to softly cup you which is nice, we’ve got a traditional lace-and-loop system with a separate tongue which is also very nice and pillowy.
I’m not a huge fan of one-bootie constructions (with some exceptions like the Dame 3) so I’ve appreciated this one. The shoe is pretty easy to put on and the upper’s absolutely not a chore to wear.
For a big men’s shoe, these feel quite light, nimble, and comfortable enough to get a pass for versatility. So yeah, I think most people will find these comfortable, not just dudes at the frontcourt.
The TPU lateral wings (the plastic pieces you see on the sides of the shoe) did cause some slight discomfort for my feet but that went away about 1 week in. Probably due to my wider than normal feet though.
II. TRACTION
The traction slightly reminds me of a classic herringbone pattern mixed in with a modern take by UA as it’s not running a consistent pattern throughout the outsole. Overall though, the traction was more than enough for me to grip a few different surfaces in my block where I play, so right away, I don’t have much bad to say about it.
I usually play in a park that has a synthetic rubber surface. You know, the court that looks like a basketball court but produces more bounce and generally softer for impact. It’s still an abrasive surface though and there is PLENTY of debris lying around.
Besides a few slips here and there & needing to wipe the outsoles off occasionally, I didn’t have any issues. The pattern is spaced out just right and the grooves are deep enough to leave room for dust to escape.
How will it hold up if playing solely outdoors? While that’s impossible to pin-point accurately, I’ve been playing in these for over 3 months now and the traction’s still fine. There is some cosmetic damage but I’m not feeling any effect on performance yet.
The rubber doesn’t look ultra-durable though, for those that are wondering. This isn’t your outdoor XDR stuff, just fairly good solid rubber. These should hold up better than an average modern sneaker primarily made for indoors.
How much longer? I really don’t know. I wouldn’t put these in my top 5 most durable outdoor options if that helps somewhat.
III. CUSHION
Full-length Micro G along with a HOVR heel unit is used for cushion and it’s very similar to how I’d describe the rest of the shoe – nothing mind-blowing but very solid.
Forget about the Curry 7’s Micro G & HOVR combo though – those are still much stiffer and lower to the ground compared to how the Embiid One implements its cushion tech.
Give these some time for the foam to fully soften up and you’ll have yourself a very nice performance-friendly package. This Micro G almost feels like the Micro G some of you might remember from the Clutchfit Drive or the Torch by UA.
It almost seems like UA has been attaching the Micro G name to excite people but it never truly felt like the classic Micro G for quite a while now. The Embiid One is a step in the right direction.
Excellent impact protection, smooth step motions, not super bouncy but still soft underfoot and feels pretty damn nice.
The HOVR unit adds some response at the rear and the end result is extremely well-balanced. I never felt like a sluggish 7-footer. The setup is stable, nimble, and comfy to jump around in.
If you’re looking for a low-key solid ride that fits just about any player out there, this one is an option.
IV. SUPPORT
Support has virtually never failed among UA’s basketballs product, they seem to have nailed the formula to making to a mobile, light shoe that’s still super secure to play in without the typical restrictions you’d see on a shoe that maximizes support but adds stiffness & weight in return.
The Embiid 1 sports TPU lockdown wings that hold your foot during lateral motions, the read section of the midsole rises up and cups your heel for additional stability, the base of the shoe is wide as well. Torsional rigidity is also solid due to a midfoot shank.
But all that doesn’t make the shoe excessively stiff or heavy. The upper is very light and the base of the shoe is also a bit rounded which reminds me of a classic Kyrie shoe. This helps quick players who find themselves in awkward, exaggerated foot plants or positions.
A very solid job – put the shoe on and forget you have it on. Something all shoes should strive for from a performance standpoint.
V. BUILD & MATERIALS
The shoe is completely based on open mesh which is lightweight, breathable, breaks in very quickly, stretches out when it needs to and due to the support features implemented, I never felt this upper wasn’t enough.
There are also some Fuse panels on key areas for more structure and durability. The lockdown wings are pretty much plastic and might feel a little stiff at first but it probably won’t cause issues for most of you. I’ve got some truly wide feet and after about a week, the issue was gone even for me.
The lacing system looks solid but I do have some concern for the lace loops inside the TPU wings. If we’re talking multiple years of mileage that is. The forefoot area of the mesh already looks a bit worn but that’s merely cosmetic damage – don’t expect mesh to look fresh as a leather Air Jordan 1 after banging it on the blacktop.
I think durability for this one is on the average side. I’ll gladly take it though – sure it’s a signature shoe and the use of something more “premium” could’ve been even cooler but this gets the job done if we’re talking performance.
You might expect a premium knit or touches of genuine leather for a signature but don’t forget we’re paying just $120 for it. AND, it packs Micro G & HOVR for cushion, UA’s two best foams at the moment. A solid deal in my eyes.
VI. OVERALL
The Under Armour Embiid 1 is a very solid basketball shoe for not only big guys but for just about any kind of player out there. Sure, there is perhaps something you’ll like more if you have very specific needs such as maximum court feel & responsiveness, or the opposite, maximum cushion and bounce underfoot.
But for the rest of us, this will do just fine, especially at $120. Traction is fine & good for some outdoor action, cushioning accommodates most players well, there is plenty of support packing that doesn’t restrict you and the materials are pretty basic but have all the qualities from a performance standpoint.
Well done Under Armour, well done.
The scores of the shoe are below!
CHECK THE EMBIID 1 ON FINISH LINE
Why buy on Finish Line? Click to find out!
Alright, thanks for staying with me all the way to the end! I hope you’ve found it informative! As always, the train never stops and I’ve got plenty more packing as well as plenty more to come.
The Embiid One is a solid budget option for a center, be sure to check out the complete list of the best shoes for big guys! It’s also among my favorite shoes of 2020 – check out the whole list of the year’s best releases!
And if you’ve got a question, suggestion, feel like sharing your own experience with these, or just want to chat,
Nike Kyrie Low 4 Review: 2-Month Comprehensive Analysis
Want speed, precision, and mobility? If that’s what you’re all about, you’re gonna love today’s comprehensive Kyrie Low 4 review. I’ve been playing in the shoe (along with a few other pairs) for about a couple of months. Mostly outdoors but I did jam a few sessions in the gym.
In case you’re confused, I’ll spill it for you. Kyrie Irving has 4 shoe lines as of 2022. Yeah, it can get messy.
- Kyrie: flagship/main line
- Kyrie Low: takedown version of the flagship model in a low-top variant
- Kyrie Flytrap: the cheapest line
- Kyrie Infinity: beefed-up version of the main shoe
I’ve never properly played in any of the Low shoes, so we’ll be getting going with the 4th shoe. And for a better perspective, I’ve also put some hours into the Kyrie 7 before starting out with the Kyrie Low 4 to see how these compare since they’re very similarly built. Let’s go!
I. SPEC SHEET
click to inspect the full-sized image
