How to Make Basketball Shoes STICKY: Improve and Maintain Traction

Strong and consistent traction is arguably the most important element in a basketball shoe. If the contact between the shoe’s sole and the court isn’t tacky enough at all times – the rest of the shoe’s aspects are lost in the midst of you slipping all over the place. Today, I’ll be talking about methods on how to make basketball shoes sticky.

We’ll be breaking down as to why basketball shoes lose traction over time, how to understand the difference between deteriorating traction and a shoe with just bad traction in general, ways to maintain and improve grip on the court and I’ll also be throwing some extra tips.

Let’s get rolling!

HOW A SHOE GRADUALLY LOSES GRIP

So let’s start off with breaking down the exact reasons as to how and why you experience progressively worse traction on the court in a basketball shoe.

Some of this will sound quite obvious for some of you, however, I feel like it’s still being overlooked and in result, mostly blamed on the shoe when you start slipping all of a sudden.

Sure, there are shoes with straight-up bad traction, to begin with, but you have to know the difference.

Let’s say you bought a pair of kd 15 that you’re planning on playing for a long period of time.

The first few months in, they feel fantastic, the shoe is great overall and the outsole bites the floor like crazy, you have zero complaints.

8-10 months in, and you all of a sudden start feeling not as confident while playing in the shoes, the bite of the outsole is not as strong and you’re starting to slip on more aggressive movements occasionally.

The traction is not as consistent and not as strong, and it’s getting worse until the point when you’re sliding all over the place, not having a clue what’s going on.

This is a very common scenario actually, and deteriorating traction performance is mainly a result of 3 factors: unreliable rubber compound of the shoe’s outsole, not optimal traction pattern of the shoe’s outsole, and a poor condition court that’s being played on.

THE RUBBER COMPOUND: MAKE OR BREAK

The very first thing you should pay attention to when it comes to assessing a basketball shoe’s traction is the rubber used on the outsole.

The rubber compound used on the shoe can oftentimes be a make or break factor in terms of grip and its longevity.

Shallow, thin rubber that’s pliable will break down quickly and you’ll start slipping with a blink of an eye.

It’s usually best to inspect a shoe live or at least read a quality shoe review, so you’d be able to find out if the shoe’s rubber on the outsole is durable.

Thicker, less pliable rubber will come a long way in serving you for longer, no matter the court condition.

You can apply as many tricks as you want, if a shoe’s rubber is burned due to it being unreliable, there’s nothing to be done there – a new pair of kicks will be unavoidable.

To combat this at least somewhat, stay away from outdoor courts if a shoe seems to have shallow, soft rubber. Stick with indoor courts which should help preserve the rubber and increase longevity.

Aside from the thickness and shallowness of the rubber, the actual type of rubber compound used is just as important.

You can mainly notice four types of rubber being used on shoes’ outsoles: solid/traditional, multi-colored, translucent, and XDR (for outdoor use).

The most common types today are solid and translucent rubber compounds, with certain shoes coming in multicolor variants.

Even though it’s commonly known that the standard or solid one-color rubber is generally the most reliable and effective on most courts, translucent outsoles are becoming more and more common and with that – gradually better.

Translucent outsoles literally used to be throwaway type traction, mainly due to the fact that it wasn’t as advanced and would break down much quicker than solid rubber would, not to mention it wouldn’t bite the floor as hard.

Well, times are changing and you no longer should be as concerned when looking at shoes with translucent outsoles. I’ve had plenty of shoes with translucent or semi-translucent outsoles that performed and lasted a long time, so what used to be a fact has pretty much turned into a misconception.

Still though, if I had to choose between solid rubber, multicolor and translucent rubber to put on the same shoe, I’d still go with the good old solid rubber compound. It’s still technically the most reliable option with the least amount of poor performing models released throughout the years.

THE TRACTION PATTERN: DIRECT EFFECT ON TRACTION

It all starts with the rubber being used but the rubber has to be used efficiently to provide multi-directional coverage for the player, no matter the court, movement, or any factor that can come into play.

With that comes the design of the traction pattern. The lines, blades, lines, and all sorts of shapes you see on a shoe’s outsole is called the traction pattern and usually, every single groove has its purpose.

The design of that pattern has a direct effect on how well the shoe bites the floor, how consistent the bite is, and how prone the outsole is to collecting dust on the court.

This means that the denser the pattern is, meaning more tightly spaced, the more trouble you’ll generally have with dust and other particles picked up from the court by the outsole.

On the other hand, make the pattern too spaced out and you risk of losing traction, as well as consistency. It’s a very fine line shoe designers have to achieve to make high-quality traction.

So, if you notice that you’re experiencing worse traction overtime but the rubber compound seems to still be in good condition, chances are, the traction pattern picked up a lot of dust or other particles inside the grooves, resulting in slipping and decreased performance.

A quick wipe or two of the outsole with a sweaty or wet hand will fix this for a while but if it’s kinda going out of control – it’s likely the traction pattern to blame. You’ll want to make sure to stick with a pattern that’s not too dense and all over the place – this usually leads to high sensitivity to dust.

Over the years, several different traction patterns have become staples in lots of shoes released throughout the years.

One of them being the herringbone traction pattern. It’s easily the most common pattern you’ll see on a performance basketball sneaker and for good reason – it’s still perceived as one of the most reliable, effective, and consistent patterns today.

A good example of a recent shoe with this pattern choice is the Air Jordan 36 (a FANTASTIC basketball shoe by the way).

I would generally recommend going with this option if you can – pretty much all shoe stores/retailers will let you know if the shoe sports the classic herringbone.

THE COURT: KEEP IT CLEAN!

Now I know a lot of you don’t have 24/7 access to a pristine condition gym. Some of you probably play on a high school court, while some of you might be hooping in a dusty 24-hour fitness court or a park outside.

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The reason I’m saying this is because the court you play on also has a direct effect on the shoe’s traction and whether you experience that sticky feel or not. The cleaner the court is, the better traction you’ll experience.

Old, dirty courts will result in quicker dust buildup in the shoe’s outsole, which results in slipping. Or you might be playing outdoors on concrete, which means rocks and other debris will come into play, causing weaker traction.

Of course, most of the time – you cannot control this factor if you don’t own your own space to play in but it’s worth taking this factor into account when it comes to assessing the traction of a shoe.

Your shoe’s condition might still be great, the rubber isn’t worn out, the traction pattern used is reliable and not prone to collecting debris but you’re still sliding all over the place. Well, it’s time to take a good look at the court you’re playing on, and if possible, do something about it.

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HOW TO MAINTAIN STRONG TRACTION

Now that we broke down the meat of the factors that go into designing and assessing the shoe’s traction, let’s talk about some stuff you can do to preserve good traction for as long as possible.

Note, if your shoe’s rubber is quickly burning out, or the outsole is picking up dust like crazy – there’s hardly anything you can do about that. The first step is to make sure the shoe does its job properly – which is why you need to assess that part first, before jumping into other solutions.

A QUICK WIPE OR TWO HELPS WONDERS!

Putting your hand and swiping across the shoe’s sole is the GOAT when it comes to a quick traction fix. Ideally, you’d want to dip your hand into the water but if you can’t do that in the middle of a game, a quick wipe with your hand will still do the trick.

The most common debris that builds up inside the shoe’s traction is dust and that means you can easily take care of that residue by wiping it off. This will be your go-to weapon if your shoe and/or court causes lots of buildup over a short period of time.

RINSE AND CLEAN

Despite the fact that a quick wipe helps a lot, you’ll still want to make sure you’re cleaning and taking care of the shoe’s outsole periodically (along with cleaning the shoe itself as well). A wipe won’t take care of the dust or rocks that built up deeper into the traction pattern. The outsole will also become less sticky due to it being simply dirty.

When you notice leftover debris inside the Jordan 1 Retro Yellow Toe that’s been there for a while, it’s probably time to clean the outsole.

Get a shoe bristle brush or a toothbrush, dip it into a mix of water and laundry detergent, and rinse the outsole ’till it’s clean. For anything that doesn’t get out, get yourself a toothpick, and take care of the rest. Make sure to wipe the outsole off with a dry cloth or paper towel, don’t leave the sole wet.

This will come a long way into keeping the traction nice and sticky!

HAIR SPRAY

Yes, you read it right. If you have some hair spray lying around, apply a few squirts to a clean outsole. This will add some grip and stick to the shoe and you’ll definitely feel it. However, make sure not to overdo it or do it too often – the results can be damaging and lead to all-around poor traction.

GRIP ENHANCING PRODUCTS: DO THEY WORK?

There have been several “grip-enhancing” spray products on the market for a while now – but should that grab your attention?

This one’s a bit tricky – the spray itself does seem to work into making the surface of the sole stickier which results in better contact with the ground.

However, just as I saw a lot of positive reviews online, I’ve also seen plenty of negative feedback – way too many people claim that using the spray regularly for a long period of time causes damage to the outsole and poor traction overall.

I personally haven’t tried these sprays just for this reason – not saying that you shouldn’t either, but take the claims with a grain of salt. I would generally stay away from such stuff and stick to the basics that work.

Mizuno Wave Horizon 6 Performance Review

When Mizuno sent over a couple of stability models from their 2022 lineup earlier this year, I was hesitant because I’m not a runner who needs a stability shoe. But if you read my review on the Mizuno Wave Inspire 18, you’ll know that they sported a minimal touch of stability, and quickly became a regular in my rotation. However, the Mizuno Wave Horizon 6 didn’t result in the love-at-first-run feeling that its counterpart did.

Mizuno Wave Horizon 6

Release Date: Summer 2022

Price: $160

Weight: –

Drop: 10mm (26mm forefoot, 36mm heel)

Sizing: Go up 1/2 a size

• Rundown: An extremely comfortable stretch-woven upper on top of a heavier well-cushioned midsole that’s a bit too narrow in the forefoot for some.

Pros

• Upper
• Outsole

Cons

• Weight
• Fit

Pros

Upper

I’ve got to hand it to Mizuno, their uppers have been extremely dialed in and the Wave Horizon 18 might be the best of the bunch that we’ve tested. The Smooth Stretch Woven Mesh upper not only looks great, it just works. The stretch that it provides allows natural movement throughout the footstrike while not feeling overly tight or needing any time to break in. Drew had a similar good experience with the Mizuno Wave Sky 5 which uses a similar upper.

Outsole

While not as tacky and grippy as the blown rubber on the Wave Inspire 18, the Wave Horizon 6 still gives runners a durable outsole with a ton of coverage. It’s nice putting miles into a shoe and not seeing any wear and tear. But all that rubber means extra weight…

Cons

Weight

This is a maximum cushioned stability shoe, so it comes as no surprise that it’s on the heavier side, but unlike a lot of shoes today that seem to drop weight once you get them on and running, the Jordan 1 Yellow Toe felt heavier to me on foot than it did in hand.

Fit

I don’t know if it was the narrower toe box or the fact that I generally reach for neutral running shoes (or the combination of both), but the fit around the forefoot was unbearable. I felt my big toe and pinky toe constantly feeling compressed from the fit of the shoe. I think the pinching was more due to the midsole feeling narrow than the upper (hence listing the upper as a pro). The Wave Horizon 6 will most likely come in wide so you can grab the wide version if you’re worried about the forefoot fit.

Mizuno Wave Horizon 6 Summary

While the recent Mizunos coming through our doors have been fantastic, this is a model that I can’t get behind. If you’re a Mizuno fan and want some stability, I’d highly recommend the Wave Inspire 18 – a much more versatile offering. If you are intrigued by the Mizuno Wave Horizon 6, try it on and let me know what you think, I’d love to hear some other opinions on this shoe.

The Mizuno Wave Horizon 6 will be available soon at Running Warehouse and Air Jordan.

Nike Adapt BB 2.0 Review: Self-Lacing Ball Shoe Put to the Test

I’ve got something special for you today. Presenting you my comprehensive Nike Adapt BB 2.0 review! Next-gen basketball tech is here in its full glory. Or is it?

Before getting into the performance review on the basketball court, I want to show you what you get upon ordering the shoe.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

You get a nice box with a pair of self-lacing sneakers, a pair of dope looking colorful insoles, and a USB cable.

That’s right, a damn USB cable. That’s to power the shoe’s automatic lacing motor which is Nikey’s now second attempt to revolutionize basketball technology.

There are two little culprits though. First, this bad boy comes at $350-$400 (depending on the colorway). Second, it’s literally only the second ever Adapt basketball shoe that uses the self-lacing system.

Say what you want about Nike, there’s no denying that it takes a lot of time, and trial & error for a company to nail such a product that attempts to do so much for the future of sports tech.

THE REVIEW BREAKDOWN

With those things in mind, I had the chance to pick up the shoe and after about 3-4 months of playing (mostly indoors), I think I’ve finally nailed down my final opinion on how I feel about this “new era” of shoe tech and the shoe’s general practicality for a basketball player.

Or someone who’s simply looking for a new pair of hoop sneakers.

I’ve had these for a bit now but due to quarantine, I’m not able to find a way to play in a gym consistently, which is why the review comes now rather than sooner. Here’s what I’ll be breaking down:

• The shoe’s fit & comfort aspects
• My take on the Adapt technology & implementation on the Adapt BB 2.0
• The shoe’s performance on the court
• Build quality & value for the price
• Versatility & who it’s best for

Let’s go!

Model: Nike Adapt BB 2.0 “Tie-Dye”

Build: Mid-Top

Weight: 20.1 oz / 570 g. (size 10 US)

Retail Price: $350

Cushion: Forefoot Zoom Air Turbo & Cushlon midsole

I. COMFORT & FIT

ADAPT SYSTEM: WORKS BUT NOT WITHOUT ITS FLAWS

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Let’s first quickly break down how the automatic lacing system works. You get the shoe, download the Nike Adapt app on your phone, put on the shoe, and use the two buttons (+ and -) on the side of the midsole to adjust the lacing system.

Once you set up a desired fit profile with the app, the next time you put the shoe on, it’ll automatically apply the chosen fit.

You can then further adjust the tightness with the buttons but there are only a handful of preset choices that automatically apply when you put on the shoe.

It will not perfectly fit all foot shapes, so you’ll have to adjust the fit pretty much each time you put the shoe on if those presets don’t fit you perfectly. Chances are – they won’t.

I think this partly defeats the purpose of a self-lacing shoe. Why should we need to further tinker with the shoe every time if it’s supposed to do that for us?

Sure, the presets might work for some but for certain guys, this will feel like just another shoe that you need to lace up before getting into the action.

This could surely be fixed with a software update by adding more presets or allowing us to save a custom fit as a profile and then use it automatically. I mean that’s the definition of a self-lacing shoe right?

I don’t hate the idea – I dig innovations and ways to further advance sports tech to make it more convenient for the player but at the moment, I think this idea needs some work to feel worth it for $350.

SIZING ADVICE: VERY SNUG

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Due to the shoe’s stiff nature and narrow construction, the Adapt BB 2.0 fits snug, tight, and condensed. Not KD 14-like narrow but still pretty compact.

Regular/narrow footers can go true to size if they prefer this type of fit.

Wide footers like me, go up half a size (which is what I did) – after a few days of playing, these fit pretty well. Definitely not a top 10-level fit – they’re still a little too condensed for me personally.

Perhaps going up a full size would’ve been a better idea but since the length is perfect for me now, that could’ve been jeopardized with a full size up.

For those who got wide feet and are looking for a roomier, looser fit, you can go up a full size.

The general rule of thumb for all people – give these time to break in and don’t be fooled by the first few games/hours with these. They’ve got a few rigid pieces that need breaking in and giving ’em time to soften up makes a huge difference here.

COMFORT: YOU CAN’T MAKE A MOTOR FEEL PILLOWY SOFT

I didn’t have huge expectations when it comes to how comfortable the shoe will be. It’s got a lot of tech to pack inside, they’re narrow and compact, and stiff materials are mostly used.

If that’s not enough, there’s a damn motor inside and the shoe weighs OVER 20 OUNCES. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that number for a hoop shoe lol.

I gotta say these were slightly more comfortable than what I’ve originally anticipated.

Before getting into the inevitable stuff, there a few good things worth mentioning.

They feel extremely secure and safe to play in. Tank-like containment for explosive movements, a quality ankle collar that doesn’t restrict too much yet still cups your ankle to secure it, lockdown is great and the midfoot area actually feels nice after broken in.

Now for the inevitable.

The forefoot area is very stiff, barely flexes and that doesn’t help increase comfort levels at all. I’d prefer to have at least some degree of forefoot flex for more precise movements and more natural step transitions. Not a dealbreaker but something I wasn’t a fan of.

I know a lot of people, including myself, don’t put much attention to the weight of the shoe. Say what you want but you simply cannot ignore that the shoe feels every bit of the 20 ounces. Yes, it’s heavy.

Lighter players will feel the weight more than heavier frontcourt players or generally more athletic/explosive players. I like to play explosively and I can’t help but get distracted by how heavy and sometimes stiff these feel.

There’s probably not a lot Nikey could do about the motor weight but the shoe itself – no excuses there. I truly hope they find a way to shave the weight off since it’s reached a point where I believe everyone would feel more heavy-footed than they should.

II. TRACTION

A herringbone-like traction pattern is used along with a translucent rubber outsole. Once again, it’s 2020 people – translucent doesn’t mean throw-away traction.

The shoe gripped the floor well and on a consistent basis, which is the most important part. It’s got that nice multi-directional pattern that covers pretty much any angle of movement you can think of and stopping power is acceptable enough to make me forget about the traction. A good start.

But nothing’s ever only good now is it. This translucent rubber is really sticky – that’s great for gripping the floor and sticking to it but not so good for dirtier courts.

Dust and other debris clog up the grooves of the pattern extremely quickly. Regular wiping is most definitely required here if you play on a medium/poor condition floor as dust noticeably affects the traction on the shoe.

As long as you have access to an excellent condition court – you’re good.

OUTDOOR DURABILITY: SKIP!

You wouldn’t have thought Nikey will put an outdoor-ready outsole on their $350 flagship shoe with next-gen tech, have you? Neither have I.

The grooves of the pattern are laughably thin, the rubber is relatively pliable too, so good luck taking out a pair of $350’s outside on a consistent basis.

The pattern will likely burn off sooner than you think, so it’s best to stick with indoor gyms with the Adapt BB 2.0. Not that it was intended for anything else.

III. CUSHION

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A Zoom Air Turbo unit (debuted on the Kyrie 8) along with a Cushlon midsole is the shoe’s cushion setup and even though it’s nothing truly special, it absolutely gets the job done – hassle-free. Something that can’t be said about several other parts of the shoe.

I think it would’ve been suicidal for Nike to implement a specific player-orientated cushion setup on a $350-$400 model. So what we get is a nice, versatile ride that most guys would enjoy or at least feel efficient while playing.

There’s plenty of impact protection thanks to the soft midsole and the Zoom Air Turbo unit in the forefoot gives an ample amount of energy return.

One of those setups where it might not feel super bouncy of fun to hop around but it works very efficiently performance-wise. The forefoot reminds me of the Zoom Rize. And that’s a very good thing.

A small drawback would be the lack of any real court feel if you’re one of those light, shifty guards who prefer maximum response and zero loss in speed.

Not to say the cushion here is unresponsive, it’s just that the Cushlon midsole + Zoom Air Turbo makes you sit pretty high off the ground. Not a lot that can be done about it.

Overall though, a great setup. Gets the job done – nothing else required in my book.

IV. SUPPORT

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Since the shoe fits like a mini tank, you already know it’ll be supportive at that moment. To add to that, there’s a beefy heel counter to lock your heel & ankle down, there are these TPU side panels that look like wings which greatly enhance lateral protection and containment.

The genuine leather ankle collar won’t be loosy goosy on you either. Lastly, torsional rigidity & support is solid as well. For a flat footer, this is a solid option since you’ll get that torsional coverage needed to feel comfortable.

Overall, I’ve got no complaints on the support here – the shoe is stable, foot containment is great and you won’t roll your ankle in a 20-ounce tank anyway.

This kind of coverage comes at a cost as I’ve stated earlier – bulkiness, forefoot stiffness, and the general feel of wearing a pair of 20-ounce shoes doesn’t help you feel quick & mobile.

V. BUILD & MATERIALS

The shoe’s upper is mostly made of synthetic TPU yarn. If you’re not familiar with the concept – think of a knit material backed with a lot of glue to make it more structured.

The ankle collar area along with a piece of midfoot & tongue pull tab is all genuine leather which I think is very cool. Full-on leather would’ve likely been overkill to an already heavy shoe.

Lastly, the plastic wing looking panels on the sides are, you guessed it, plastic. Same thing for the exaggerated external heel counter that barely adds anything performance-wise.

So, is that a $350-level material setup? I don’t think so.

Sure, I know some compromises had to be made to pack the motor inside and the intent to make the shoe very durable because of it comes at a cost of extra weight & stiff materials.

But I can’t help but think the TPU yarn setup could’ve been one-upped to something like nylon backed knit or high-quality mesh. I won’t say this doesn’t feel $350 since you don’t normally see $350 basketball shoes.

What I am going to say is the materials just don’t feel premium enough to validate the price tag. I know a large portion of that price comes from the Adapt system but if you’re spending that much on a shoe, some touches could’ve been made to really push the boundaries of what we call a “premium” shoe.

Sure, it plays nicely, it’s relatively comfortable but several $100+ uppers feel nicer than this one. Take the $100 CP3.12 for example – those things have pure Flyknit that feels buttery smooth and it’s almost a quarter of the Adapt BB 2.0’s price.

The shoe is built well and it looks like it’ll last a while as long as you keep it indoors.

The materials aren’t a dealbreaker either – they play nicely and don’t feel terrible. But something more than that could’ve been done. I usually don’t say that but for this type of price, I’ll make an exception.

VI. OVERALL

The Nike Adapt BB 2.0 is a step in a somewhat right direction. I think the concept needs a lot of work to experience what’s being claimed by Nikey. And that price tag isn’t nice at all. I wouldn’t call you crazy if you’d say this is a collector’s shoe more than an actual performance hoop shoe.

Not taking anything away from it though – the sneaker has its strong points. Traction is solid, it’s got a great cushion setup, it’s extremely supportive and the upper plays nicely.

The self-lacing concept is cool and it does work but you’ll need to do some tinkering to nail that fit down for your foot shape.

If you can get past the bulkiness that comes from the weight of the shoe and a lack of forefoot flex (especially during the break-in process) – I think it’s worth a shot. If you can afford it that is.

Nike Kobe AD NXT Review: In-Depth LACELESS Shoe Breakdown

Another day, another laceless shoe. Welcome to my Kobe AD NXT review: a one-strap-is-all-you-need sneaker by Nikey, for better or worse. Clocked at $200, our expectations are naturally high for that price, so I snatched these from eBay and really tried to push them for about 2 months. Mostly outdoors.

Is the shoe a solid performer? Is the laceless FastFit system a gimmick or actually provides value to the player? Are these worth it or you’re merely paying for the Kobe logo and is it a reliable option for outdoors?

Let’s find it all out.

I. SPEC SHEET

II. 1-MIN REVIEW 

In a hurry? Here’s the gist of the Kobe AD NXT review: I liked the shoe as a whole but it’s not perfect. Traction was fine and they should withstand occassional outdoor play. The drop-in midsole doesn’t do much for feel-under-the-foot but gets the job done in providing a responsive ride that doesn’t tire my legs out.

For such a minimal mesh-based build, support was excellent. The FastFit system is the selling point of the sneaker but it’s definitely not perfect. Is it a wise investment? Depends on your budget.

I’d say there are better shoes at the 200 dollar range but if you like trying out new things and can afford it, you shouldn’t be disappointed with the overall on-court performance of the Kobe AD NXT FastFit.

III. COMFORT & FIT

Do they fit true to size or should you go up/down? How comfy are they? Anything else to know?

Wide footers – this is for you! If you’ve read some of my reviews, you know I’m a huge wide footer and lots of shoes give me headaches whether to go up 1/2 a size or just wing it and see what happens.Well, the Kobe AD NXT is the definition of winging it successfully – these things stretch out beautifully if your foot needs it. I’d recommend pretty much all foot shapes to go true to their size.

The shoe doesn’t seem to be having a crazy wide platform but thanks to the way the upper is built, these gave me zero problems in terms of fitting a wide foot in there and feeling comfortable.

COMFORT: MINIMALISM AT ITS BEST

Now, for comfort. If you’re speaking minimalism – you’re speaking Kobe AD NXT. They don’t look like they’re very minimal but put the shoe on and you realize it almost feels like a sock. In a good, performance-friendly way.

While I found the shoe to be average in terms of weight, these feel really light while playing. I think that’s important for this type of shoe and what Nikey was going for – feeling super light, quick, and free no matter the movement.

If you’ve ever played in a bulky, heavy-footed type shoe before (The Zoom Heritage N7 for example), this is the EXACT opposite. Not the lightest in terms of pure weight numbers but just feels so feathery and quick right after you put ’em on.

There aren’t crazy amounts of padding, just the usual areas are lightly padded, including the ankle collar, which is also super flexible and barely does anything for ankle lockdown honestly.

Not that I need ankle restriction, but for those people who require extra ankle protection for one reason or another – this ankle collar is just a synthetic sock-like piece that can be bent just as the whole shoe.

Due to certain things such as a drop-in midsole, a layered upper, and the FastFit system, the shoe is also super damn flexible. You can literally bend it in half with your hands. At times shoes like this get trashed on because flexible screams flimsy and unsupportive.

However, that’s not the whole story – we’ll talk about that more in the support section.

FASTFIT: YET TO BE PERFECT

Let’s talk a bit about the FastFit system. That’s supposed to be the biggest selling point of the shoe right? Well, even though it didn’t make me go “wow” and more of a mixed bag, let’s address the positives first.

The Nike website says “pull on on one band and you’re ready to go” and I feel like that’s definitely true. If one thing’s a nice bonus, that would be the ability to put these on and be ready to play in a couple of seconds. Literally.

Now, of course, traditional lace & loop shoes aren’t terrible in comparison – unless you’re not able to tie the laces of a shoe lol.

Pulling onto the band at the midfoot pulls the whole shoe down, as the FastFit cables are interconnected with each other inside the shoe. It’s very quick and easy, sure, but barely adds anything in terms of performance or the quality of the fit.

What about the negatives, you say? Well, one slight issue I see with FastFit is the lack of any real customization to finetune your preferred fit.

It lets you pull the cables to a point and there’s nothing you can do if you’d like and an even tighter fit, or perhaps you’d like to tighten up one specific area such as the forefoot or heel.

This is where a standard lacing system would let you do that while the supposed-to-be innovative FastFit does not.

You can only condense the Air Jordan altogether, so if you’re feeling some room in the forefoot while the rest of the shoe’s fine – sorry nothing you can do about it.

So, I feel like this idea is somewhat of a good idea but barely adds anything to make our game on the court better. All it does is improves convenience, so if you’re willing to pay more for that – be my guest.

Despite all that, I did like the shoe’s fit overall though.

It feels light and minimal, it’s comfy at all times, and I had no issues with foot containment. It’s just that I can’t get over the fact that I’m paying more than I could’ve for the FastFit system that could’ve been scrapped and my experience would’ve likely been similar if not better.

IV. TRACTION

TRACTION PERFORMANCE

There’s a solid rubber and a translucent outsole version available – I got the solid one and the traction was fine.

Mind you, I’ve heard that the translucent option on the “Off Noir” colorway performs just as well, so no worries there!

A pretty cool-looking scale pattern is used on the outsole and even by looking at those sharp knobs, you can tell the bite will be good. And it was. Not the best traction ever but sufficient to play effectively.

I felt like there were enough stopping power and consistency to make me forget about the traction while playing. The pattern doesn’t extend up the midsole laterally (something herringbone usually brings to the table) but that’s merely a nitpick as I didn’t find myself missing that component.

If you’re not Kemba Walker who’s operating at ridiculous angles, you should be more than satisfied.

The pattern is also spaced out just enough for dust not to be an issue. The gaps between the knobs result in quick piling up of dust but it escapes quickly too since it has room for it to do so. Most courts shouldn’t give you trouble.

Especially outdoors as we’re talking about a much more abrasive surface than regular hardwood.

OUTDOOR DURABILITY

Speaking of outdoors – this setup is kind of a mixed bag for outdoor play. Firstly, there’s the $200 price tag – I know a lot of you can’t just throw away 200 dollars for a shoe that could possibly be wrecked in a single season.

Secondly, even though the pattern grips the floor well, it’s properly spaced out and it’s using good quality rubber, these scale-looking knobs are really thin.

All the magic in the world can’t prevent the fact that these types of patterns burn through fairly quickly. I’m a couple of months in with the shoe (mostly outdoor play) and I can already see my high-usage areas (such as the ball of my foot) noticeably worn.

While that’s not affecting the actual bite just yet, I can only imagine it will soon enough. If you’ll constantly be playing on a rough surface such as the blacktop, I’d advise going for something else.

V. CUSHION

How’s the impact absorption? What about ride comfort and energy return? Is it stable?

The Kobe AD NXT sports a drop-in midsole for its cushion setup. It’s a dual-density midsole that takes advantage of Nikey’s React foam and a little bit of Cushlon for extra stepping comfort.

Does it sound good? Yes. Does it play well? Yes, but probably not as good as it might sound.

React is known for being very responsive, low to the ground, and also provides excellent impact protection while staying extremely lightweight as a foam compound.

However, for actual step comfort, springy energy return, and actual bounce feel underfoot, React would have to be among the weakest. Unless you’d put triple the amount of foam that’s used right now – but that’s not going to happen.

Cushlon also adds a bit of compression to the midsole but I doubt it adds much to the actual feel. So by now, you’re likely getting the picture – if you’re looking for bounce and softness underfoot, this won’t be it.

Performance-wise though, this is a very solid setup. No gimmicks, no extra weight, I felt lighting quick but also protected at all times – while the shoe doesn’t feel bouncy at all, all the movements are well-supplemented and absorbed by React’s awesome capabilities as a foam compound.

Normally, I’d say this isn’t a versatile setup but when you think about it – it really is. If you can live without a prominent spring back feel Boost or full-length Zoom would give you, the Kobe AD NXT should be fine for most players, even bigger guys.

VI. SUPPORT

So as I’ve mentioned earlier, a very flexible shoe doesn’t always mean unsupportive.

While the minimal upper of the AD NXT doesn’t bring a lot in terms of support & containment – clever use of support features implemented makes up for it and results in a supportive AND comfortable experience. The common strong point of Kobe’s shoes.

We’ve got a heel counter for ankle & heel lockdown, excellent outriggers for lateral stability, and also the midsole itself has sidewalls that rise up quite a bit, cradling your foot inside the footbed and providing a sense of security.

All this works well with one another and even though it might not offer the most tank-like support available in the market, it should be viable for most players.

If you do happen to find yourself in a scenario where you need the absolute maximum support and protection, you might be concerned. It’s still a shoe that’s super flexible, and light.

Not a lot of torsional structure either, so not the best option for a flat footer. If you’re one – check THIS out instead.

But it does use what it’s got very well. I’m myself an explosive player that slashes to the rim a lot, plays above the rim when possible and I happened to find this setup sufficient. So at the end of the day, it is all about preference.

In order to hate it, you gotta try it first. Duh.

VII. THE BUILD

The shoe uses a somewhat untraditional material setup. It’s some kind of elastic synthetic material as an outer layer and mesh underneath it. Nike calls it Dunk Low but it feels like layered mesh.

I do like the materials of the Kobe AD NXT. The upper stretches and adjusts to your feet very quickly, so forget about a lengthy, grueling break-in period.

Ventilation is also a strong suit since this mesh is an open design and the synthetic on the outside allows for some breathability. And of course, these materials are light and play that way, so that’s nice too.

But if we’re talking value for your $$$ materials, I wouldn’t put this in the “premium” category. You can name mesh whatever you want, it’s still just mesh. Nothing wrong with that but if $200-level materials are what you’re looking for, you’re not really getting that here.

I don’t see these breaking down soon though, I’ll give ’em that. The stretchy outer layer holds the upper together as a reinforcing piece in key areas and when’s the last time you’ve seen mesh break down quickly? Exactly.

For those who like their sneakers to always look new, I don’t think you’ll like this one. The upper is very flexible and flimsy by nature, so all that flex will affect the visual aesthetic sooner than later.The shoe already looks a bit worn after a couple of months for me but I really don’t care since they perform the same.One thing I’m slightly concerned with is the FastFit cables. Sure, they’re probably strong as hell but every time I pull onto the band, I get paranoid the cables will break. It might just be me though, as I haven’t seen people report on FastFit going all AWOL on them.So overall, the shoe is built well, the material choices aren’t the most luxurious ones but work performance-wise. I don’t see anything wrong with them and hey, if you can afford it – that’s great.

For me, it just hurts to think we’re basically paying the price of two pairs of shoes for a single pair just because it’s a Kobe signature and the “innovative” FastFit system.

Nikey’s marketing campaigns are like a sharp fighter in the ring –  every little opportunity they get, they’ll do their best to take advantage of it and strike the consumer with the “this is THE new thing” claim.

VIII. OVERALL

The Nike Kobe AD NXT is a great choice but not without its caveats. Well, more like it’ll depend on the person whether they’ll be caveats or just things to know for you. Nikey always tries to put out new things, I can give ’em that.

QUICK RECAP

The traction’s great and you could take it outdoors if you had to (occasionally), cushion doesn’t feel that amazing but offers all you need for a fairly comfortable, safe game.

It’s also supportive of how minimal and thin the build is, so you really get the best of both worlds here. The material combo is fine, I see nothing wrong with it besides the price.

FastFit is a good idea but I think it still needs some work to justify the $200 price point. It’s comfortable and very convenient but what about more freedom to separately adjust each area? Perhaps several bands in different areas instead of only one band would’ve been better?

I think this will mostly come down to people’s budgets. It’s a good shoe and I do recommend it for most players but hey, not everyone can lash out this much on one pair of basketball shoes. Plus, you’re not really getting those “premium” components a $200 shoe should bring to the table.

But let’s face it, the era of raw materials is over and while we still see some of it from time to time, it’s all about performance now. Get ready for synthetics to take over. In case they haven’t already.

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite Performance Review

The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite is a wild-looking new Puma running shoe aimed at long-distance racing. It doesn’t replace the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite but instead complements it. It gives runners another choice depending on what sort of underfoot feel they prefer. The good news is the Puma Fast-R is just as good as the Deviate Nitro Elite. Whether you want to wear it on race day will depend on your preferences. At the end of this review, you’ll know whether the wild style of the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite is right for you. The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite also made our list of the best marathon running shoes in 2022.

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite

Release Date: July 2022

Price: $250

Weight: M 7.5oz, W 6.1oz

Drop: 8mm (27mm forefoot, 35mm heel)

Sizing: True to size

• Rundown: A light, supportive racer with amazing traction and bouncy forefoot cushioning. It’s a fun shoe that performs well and gets attention.

Pros

• Midsole Geometry
• Forefoot Nitro Elite Foam
• Puma Grip Outsole
• Upper Support

Cons

• Heel Striking
• Breathability
• Rear Fin

Pros

Midsole Geometry

A running shoe with a decoupled midsole. If you grew up playing basketball like me, you’re used to the flexibility offered by decoupling the midsole. A good example from almost a decade ago is the Air Jordan 28. Just like on the Puma Fast-R, the heel and forefoot are connected with a carbon fiber plate. But just because a decoupled midsole with a carbon fiber plate was done before doesn’t mean it’s not a good thing.

The way it’s designed and implemented in the Fast-R is different than anything we’ve seen before in running. The heel is a denser foam (it feels like Puma’s ProFoam) and the forefoot is Puma’s peba-based supercritical Nitro Elite foam. Firm and stable in the back with a forefoot that feels rocket-like. Does it feel weird on foot? Yes and no. But we’ll touch on that later. What you need to know now is that this midsole setup is FUN. And everyone else will ask you how it feels. Welcome to the center of attention.

Forefoot Nitro Elite Foam

I said earlier the forefoot is rocket-like. It might partially be the juxtaposition with the heel that makes it feel so bouncy, but speeding up and pushing off your toes feels amazing. The faster you go, the better the Kyrie 8 forefoot feels. It’s perfect for a race day shoe. The more effort and speed, the better it feels. Mentally, it’s an extra positive signal that keeps your brain primed to enter PR (personal record) territory.

Puma Grip Outsole

I’m not exactly sure how many reviews I’ve written for shoes featuring a Puma Grip outsole since it appeared in early 2021, but I’m 100% sure every review has the outsole in the pros section. Puma Grip is one of the best traction compounds in the running shoe industry. It just doesn’t slip no matter the conditions. Rain, snow, or shine, it’s dependable.

Upper Support

The upper is mostly a see-through monomesh (similar to Nike’s previously used Vaporweave) paired with a gusseted knit tongue and ample Achilles padding. The monomesh’s tight weave isn’t as breathable as open mesh shoes but there’s still some airflow. The upper trades some breathability for superior support. The monomesh and PWRTAPE overlays work extremely well at keeping the foot on top of the sole. You won’t ever feel unstable, even on the sharpest of turns.

And even with that supportive of a build, the upper is comfy. The knit tongue is thin and stretchy but still wraps the foot nicely and protects against lace pressure. Sure, the Fast-R looks wild, but it feels great on foot.

Cons

Heel Striking

My first run in the Puma Fast-R was an easy run the day after an intense speed session. My form was breaking down and I was heel striking a lot (as I do when I’m tired). Despite the three big flex grooves in the heel, landing hard on it isn’t ideal. If you’re a heavy heel striker, the Fast-R isn’t the race day shoe for you. It’s just too firm back there. If you’re a midfoot striker, it’s awesome. You get a little bit of firm support in the back and plush cushioning in the front. And if you’re a forefoot striker, you get plush Nitro Elite foam with every footstep.

The Puma Fast-R will feel a lot different depending on how your foot hits the ground. If you hit the ground with the back edge of your heel it will feel clunky. If you land a little more forward, you’ll experience a smooth landing and toe-off.

Breathability

As I mentioned in the upper section, the monomesh trades breathability for support. It’s a worthy trade. But…you may have a different opinion. If you live in a super hot, muggy climate you may be better off with a shoe that feels more convertible-esque. That said, if you’re just saving the Fast-R for race days, especially spring and fall races where temps are manageable, you’ll be fine.

Rear Fin

Ok, hear me out. The rear fin looks hella cool. And I guess it takes the place of a traditional heel counter. However, this is a performance review. And the fin, though cool, feels unnecessary on a race day-focused shoe. Puma could easily lose the fin in favor of a more streamlined overall design.

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite Summary

The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite is a rocket-like race day shoe when you’re on your toes or midfoot but a little clunky when you’re on your heels. It’s light, supportive, and has amazing traction. Oh, and it looks super cool. Some of the upcoming colorways I’ve seen are absolute fire.

Overall, I really like how Puma is pushing the envelope of what a marathon running shoe can be. This is a fun change-up in an industry that often plays it safe. I love that Puma took a chance and succeeded with a really fun and fast shoe. Whether you want the Puma Fast-R for speed work, marathons, or the neighborhood 10k/5k, it’s a shoe that makes running more fun.