Brooks Caldera 6 Performance Review

The Brooks Caldera 6 looks like it has a huge stack height…but looks can be deceiving. You actually sit inside that monstrous max-cushioned midsole. Which is a great move on Brooks’ part. It creates a highly stable, well-cushioned trail shoe. Can it take the championship belt from the Brooks Catamount as the number one Brooks trail shoe?

Brooks Caldera 6

Release Date: July 1, 2022

Price: $150

Weight: M 11.0oz, W 9.8oz

Drop: 6mm (20mm forefoot, 26mm heel)

Sizing: Go a half size down

• Rundown: Highly-cushioned, comfortable trail shoe that delivers high performance. Just be careful on sizing.

Pros

• DNA Loft v3 midsole
• Trailtack outsole
• High stack support
• Extras

Cons

• Sizing
• Pandemic logistics

Pros

DNA Loft v3 Midsole

I feel like our reviews of all Brooks shoe utilizing DNA Loft v3 midsoles start out this way. The most recent example is the Brooks Glycerin 20. DNA Loft v3 is just a great (supercritical) foam. This year’s DNA Loft v3 midsoles start out really good and then get better as you break them in.

Some people I talked to were worried the midsole would be too soft for the trails but I didn’t have that experience. The Brooks Caldera 6’s midsole is soft yet responsive. You don’t sink into the foam, instead, you get a nice squish and bounce. The midsole seamlessly handles both methodical hiking and adrenaline-soaked speedy trail runs. And it’ll go the distance whether you’re running or hiking. This midsole can absorb mile after mile without issue.

Rocks, roots, whatever…I could feel they were there but, no matter what I stepped on, my feet stayed protected. There’s not a rock plate, but the Dunk Low offers sufficient protection for the majority of trails.

Just one thing to remember. DNA Loft v3 performs better when it’s warm. So before that chilly morning hike, bring your shoes in from the garage. That’ll allow you to get the full benefits of the foam right at the start of your run or hike.

Trailtack Outsole

At this time of year in Georgia, pine needles are a plague. They cover everything and some trails become a pine needle-y slip fest. Perfect conditions for testing traction.

The Brooks Caldera 6’s Trailtack outsole bit into the ground whether it was covered in pine needles or not. Syrupy mud, dry dirt, loose rocks, or pine needles didn’t affect the grip. I felt confident everywhere I stepped and never worried about slippage.

High Stack Support

When you see a chunky midsole like what’s on the Brooks Caldera 6, your brain immediately wonders if the shoe will be stable enough. Especially when it’s a trail shoe and you know the type of terrain it needs to handle.

Well, good news. The Caldera 6 is impressively stable. When you slip them on, your foot sits inside the midsole foam walls. Rolling off the midsole is impossible as the foot is slightly caged. On top of that, Brook uses a honeycomb overlay on the upper for a touch more support. More significantly, Brooks widens the midsole as it descends toward the ground. That extra width effectively stabilizes the foot on even the most uneven terrain. I also think the split heel helps the shoe adapt to whatever weird incline I was attempting.

It’s not easy to achieve this sort of stability in a trail shoe, especially one that sits so high off the ground, but Brooks did it. I never felt unstable. Even after testing, I find myself reaching for the Caldera 6 whenever I know a trail will be highly technical.

Extras

Let’s tackle the tongue first. It’s a perforated foam covered in mesh (sometimes referred to as a torch material). It’s super comfy. I love when tongues use this setup. The tongue is even gusseted so it won’t slip. And the lace garage comes in handy. I’m hoping this tongue makes it onto other Brooks trail models.

The shoe features front and rear gaiter clips for those that use them to keep out the rocks. And there’s a little place to write your crew on the back medial side, a nod to the loooong Ultra trail races that require both a support team and a shoe like the Caldera 6.

Even more important to me was the quick lacing system with tendrils that connect down to the midsole. You can really lock the midfoot down exactly how you want. When combined with the cushioned heel that pushes the knob of your Achilles back into the rear of the shoe, the lockdown is fantastic.

The Brooks Caldera 6 gets all the little things right.

Cons

Sizing

I typically run in a Brooks size 11.5 for both road and trail running. But in the Brooks Caldera 6, I got my typical Brooks fit with a size 11. I have a thumbnail’s worth of space at the toe but get that “great for trail running” streamlined 1:1 fit along the sides. I recommend going a half size down from your normal Brooks shoe size.

Pandemic Logistics

This one isn’t anyone’s fault. The Brooks Caldera 6 was originally supposed to launch in February 2022 but got pushed to July 2022 due to pandemic shipping delays. It pains me that such an awesome shoe won’t get into consumers’ hands until late summer. Oh well…

Brooks Caldera 6 Summary

The Brooks Caldera 6 is a unicorn trail shoe. Well-cushioned, super stable, and grips everything. As long as you buy the right size, you get an amazing shoe. Whether you’re trail running or hiking, I don’t think you’ll find a better trail shoe. Plus, if you spend a lot of time on the trails, your body will thank you for the bouncy, protective cushioning the Kyrie Low 5 midsole offers.

adidas Dame 8 Review: Comprehensive 3-Month OUTDOOR Analysis

Ever since the classic Dame 3, I feel like the Dame line could’ve peaked in its performance offerings and also in terms of innovation. However, the previous model was a ton of fun to hoop in so here’s to my in-depth Dame 8 review, solely based outdoors & tested by a wide footer. Let’s see if things are heading to where they once were.

Despite a familiar design every year, I’m always excited to see what tweaks adidas makes in the performance aspect. Here’s all about the Dame 8’s fit & comfort, outdoor performance, build quality, versatility, and value for the $$$ you’re paying.

I. SPEC SHEET

II. 1-MIN REVIEW

Looking for the speedy Dame 8 review? the adidas Dame 8 brought back some really damn good memories. It’s a shoe that just seemed to work perfectly for me.

It offers a secure fit but narrow footers should watch out since the toebox is pretty roomy, despite stepping a 1/2 size down.

Traction started taking care of business after a few hours of breaking it in. It’s also solid for outdoors since the rubber is fairly strong.

The dual-density Bounce Pro cushioning caught me off guard. I really didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did. It’s the definition of versatility.

Support & security wasn’t an issue either, much like most of adidas’s performance footwear. The platform is wide and near-flat which promoted stability.

The mesh upper was the one thing that didn’t really surprise me but not in a bad way. It’s in line with most of the stuff we’re getting in today’s era.

For $120 – I couldn’t ask for a better shoe honestly. The only caveat I’ve seen is that people report on mediocre traction if lots of dust/debris is present. I haven’t personally experienced this outdoors.

III. FIT & COMFORT

True to size or should you adjust? What’s the comfort level? Anything else to know fit-wise?

SIZING GUIDE

Here we go again. The elephant in the room when it comes to adidas hoop shoes is almost always the sizing. The Dame 8 should run long for most people. And I’m not talkin’ just half an inch long.

I had the chance to try these out in my local sports retailer before grabbing them online and stepping into my usual size 10 US (44 EU) meant a no-go right away.

And this is coming from a prominent wide footer. Too much volume. A half-size-down should be the primary option for most wearers, even if you think you got a wide foot.

The shoe clearly has a wider toebox than the previous few Dame models had, so even stepping a half size down shouldn’t cause major suffocation/tightness issues for wider feet. It didn’t for me.

These are pretty much perfect for me personally: they’re very snug but not to a point where I’d feel discomfort and I didn’t even need that long to stretch the upper out.

Everything’s secure, there’s no heel slippage or foot movement inside the footbed. Just solid all-around.

However, this also means that if you’ve got a more average-shaped foot or a more narrow one, the Dame 8’s forefoot will leave you with some room width-wise and height-wise. Not as much as if you’d go TTS but you’ll still notice it.

This is why I wouldn’t recommend the sneaker to those who swear by a snug, one-to-one fit and don’t want any extra space that might compromise containment or get in the way of their game.

Shoving an aftermarket insole will help make the fit more compact, and so will having a thicker pair of socks on.

Still, I’d advise sticking with the Dame 7 or grabbing something else entirely if you prefer a second-skin type of fit for your performance shoes.

COMFORT

I said this in my Kyrie Infinity review and it seems that I’m at least partially right so far. Manufacturers are starting to put some more emphasis on the comfort aspect.

Not performance, not how light it feels (those are typical by now) but how comfy and cozy the experience is for the foot while you’re moving around. The Dame 8 is another shoe that resembles this and I LOVE that.

The previous release wasn’t terrible in the comfort aspect or anything like that but this one went that extra mile by slapping on some extra little details. I really do appreciate stuff like this.

There’s more internal foam padding all throughout areas where the foot sits next to the material, the massive tongue is thin on the outside but it’s actually very softly padded on the inside (where it matters).

And the icing on the cake is that nice achilles pillow sleeve (or however it’s called) that cups the sides of the achilles for that extra confidence and coziness around the most critical part of the foot.

And not to mention the shoe actually feels a bit lighter than its predecessor. Adidas has never been known for ultra-lightweight performance sneakers but this one’s getting closer to that.

It’s still not the lightest shoe out there but it’s enough for me not to think about it and stay nimble at all times. Awesome stuff here – you gotta love the extra things that were put in the shoe.

While they don’t ultimately decide on the shoe’s worthiness, it adds to the experience. Especially for someone who tried dozens upon dozens of models throughout the years.

IV. TRACTION

Does it BITE? How’s the grip on a variety of surfaces? How sensitive & durable are the outsoles?

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE

It almost seems like every new Dame release takes me back to the park. Each Dame shoe I’ve played in was mainly exhausted in an outdoor environment for one reason or another. The 8th iteration continues the tradition.

I hooped on a rubberized surface primarily and maybe a couple of weeks on traditional asphalt. During the 3 months of action, I really don’t have anything bad to say about the traction.

The shoe features a custom lightning bolt-looking pattern outside the green portion and inside it, a classic wave pattern is there to cover multi-directional movements.

I love that adidas took a page out of a Kyrie shoe and slapped on extra some extra rubber that comes up to the midsole laterally and medially.

If you find yourself planting your foot in an untraditional angle or you’re a very shifty, mobility-focused player: you’ll find this addition very much welcome.

I saw a few reviews reporting that the traction was iffy on dirtier indoor courts and needed a ton of frequent wiping to maintain it. Well, playing on an abrasive outdoor surface right away pretty much solved that for me.

It took a few hours of playtime to break in the outsoles as I wasn’t getting that sharp, aggressive bite initially. It’ll take a bit longer to get the desired result indoors for those that are wondering.

Rubber usually needs some heat and friction in order for it to start moving better and cover more ground (a.ka. playing time). The more abrasion you throw at it in the process, the faster you’ll start receiving good bite.

All in all, things are solid: I’m getting consistent grip no matter the movement, and I barely need to wipe the outsoles down as there’s enough friction to handle things.

Does the Dame 8 have the best all-around traction in the series? Not really. I’d still hand out the medals for the Dame 3 and 5 but anything that even comes close to those shoes is absolutely sufficient in my book.

DURABILITY

Gone are the days when basketball shoes were made with outdoor play heavily in mind. Remember when Adidas was using Continental Rubber on most of their models?

That stuff definitely upped the weight but it simply refused to break down.

While we don’t quite see things on such a level anymore, adidas still uses some of the more durable outsoles on their hoop shoes today.

The Dame 8 should definitely get you through multiple seasons of outdoor hoops. I’ve been playing pretty consistently in these and there are no signs of decreased performance yet.

The areas of high usage (like the balls of the feet and lateral sides) have thinned out more than the rest of the pattern but I don’t see that as a big problem.

I played in plenty of kicks where the pattern might be pretty banged up visually but most outdoor courts are still able to handle the load provided that the rubber used on the shoe is strong enough.

Once again, I don’t think anything will beat the Dame 3 in terms of outdoor durability in the Dame line but if we’re talkin’ current choices – the 8th shoe should handle business for quite a while.

V. CUSHION

All about the midsole: impact protection, responsiveness, underfoot feedback, ride height, and stability

A dual-density Bounce Pro midsole goes from heel to toe for the Dame 8’s cushioning.

The heel portion is much higher density, which makes it compress more and the rebound effect is more substantial. The forefoot utilizes a firmer compound with less density: it’s lower to the ground, more responsive, and provides less feedback.

There’s also an additional foam barrier that goes over and around the shoe’s midsole, likely for stability. I felt that my foot gets nicely cradled within that barrier which makes the ride feel more secure and stable.

I’ll tell you what – this is likely the most cushion EVER on a Dame sneaker. The Dame 7‘s Lightstrike midsole also had quite a bit of cushion at the heel but seemed almost dead at the forefoot.

Here, I felt that things were much smoother and better balanced AND there’s even more cushion now. The forefoot still doesn’t give me too much pop underfoot but that’s for stability purposes – I’m totally okay with that.

Despite having a ton of cushion (especially at the heel) – this setup just felt more fine-tuned. I never found myself overly sluggish or sinking into the midsole on every stride.

The best way to describe it is that the ride felt softer and plusher but the rebound effect of the foam felt quicker than it did with the Dame 7.

This means that responsiveness isn’t sacrificed as much and we get to keep the fun factor.

Of course, I can name a bunch of shoes that do feel quicker to take off (Kyrie 7, Curry 9) but those are usually focused on a few specific attributes. I feel like this is something that’s catered towards just about anyone.

Court feel did kind of take a back seat for this one though. Fans of those ultra-minimal Kyrie or Curry shoes that are slapped right next to the ground could find these a little unnatural.

The Dame 5 is still probably my favorite cushion setup out of the Dame line for my personal preference. Those were a bit lower to the ground while offering good cushion.

But don’t get it twisted – this one comes pretty damn close. It’s a beastly setup.

VI. SUPPORT

How supportive is the Dame 8? What about stability? Any restrictions as a result?

I’m sure some of you are expecting this from the Three Stripes by now but support was never in question during my time with the Dame 8.

adidas always kills it in this aspect, so I’ll keep it short with this one.

The shoe has all the critical components that make up a secure experience: internal heel counters for ankle & heel lockdown, rugged midfoot shank plates for torsional rigidity, foam sidewalls for added containment, and a wide forefoot base for lateral stability.

There aren’t any prominent outriggers to catch lateral motions but I never felt I missed them.

The front portion of the shoe is so wide that it covers a lot of ground and ensures the chances of rolling my foot outward are very slim. I’d have to forcefully try to push the shoe laterally to be able to do so which is a great sign.

The base of the whole sneaker is almost flat as well. Pair that with fantastic cushion and good torsional coverage, and the Dame 8 quietly creeps into the list of the best options for a flat arch.

Overall, no apparent restrictions were present here, I was feeling both mobile and secure. Things might feel a tad bit bulkier for those who won’t manage to fully fill the shoe out with their feet.

So, narrow footers should probably steer away from these.

VII. THE BUILD

What are the upper materials and how’s the build quality? What about performance and longevity?

BUILD OVERVIEW

The Dame 8 has a bunch of synthetic mesh materials combined throughout the build along with a few Fuse overlays for added strength.

The forefoot utilizes a thicker, more structured mesh while things are a bit thinner at the midfoot & heel. You’ll find the Fuse overlays on the toebox, around the lacing system, and on the midfoot where the adidas logo resides.

There’s also a textile panel at the back which is where you’ll find the “Dame” writing.

The adidas Dame 8 takes advantage of traditional construction, meaning there’s a separate tongue sewed to the upper. These are quite easy to put on.

PERFORMANCE

Say what you want about modern materials we usually find on today’s performance sneakers but there’s no denying they excel in performance.

This mesh is definitely not among the thinnest you’ll find on the market but the shoe still manages to feel somewhat lightweight or at least balanced enough for me not to think about it.

A bit more volume of material also means these won’t break down as quickly and despite its flexible nature, this type of thicker mesh will hold even a heavier guy’s foot on the footbed.

It took me about 3-4 days to stretch out the upper ’till my foot felt optimal in there. Definitely a huge advantage vs. the hardcore leathers and suedes that can take ages to break in.

Ventilation is another plus among these types of materials. While not quite among the most breathable sneakers I’ve played in, it was enough for my feet not to get hot quickly.

Keep in mind that I’m hooping in the sun and temperatures can reach 90°F/32°C+ in the summer.

I don’t really have any complaints performance-wise. Everything’s pretty much as expected from such material choices: they’re mobile, comfortable, move well with the foot, and don’t take long to break in.

RELIABILITY

Let’s be real. Three months isn’t that long of a time period to comprehensively judge a shoe’s long-term durability. However, sometimes it can be enough to notice signs that indicate a breakdown is coming soon.

That wasn’t the case with the Dame 8. There’s barely any cosmetic damage besides a few small rips on the toebox due to toe-drags, and a banged-up pull tab that I use to put the shoe on quicker.

One last thing. The laces. They’re good. Finally. And I mean FINALLY.

If you had experience with a few adidas hoop shoes in recent years – you know what I mean. adidas uses some of the cheapest laces available and tons of shoes were getting undone minutes after re-lacing them. Minutes.

I’m relieved to say this wasn’t the case for me with the 8th Dame. Wheeew.

VIII. OVERALL

Concluding the Dame 8 review: final thoughts and a recap

You know, right when I ordered the shoe, I didn’t think too much of it. I kind of already had the idea to start off this review by asking the question “Is it finally the shoe that puts an adidas product right on top as it did back in 2015-2017?”

Honestly, I really did think the answer would be no. Have low expectations and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. That’s exactly what happened here.

Even if I had higher expectations, I’m sure I still would’ve been impressed.

The adidas Dame 8 is a fantastic well-rounded basketball shoe that reminded me of the classic Dame 3 & 5 but also modernized some things which made up a killer of a performer.

I’m not even going to address the $5 price increase since this is a brilliant shoe and Dame’s line has stayed at the $110-$115 mark for years now. Well, I guess I addressed it now but you get the point.

Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% Performance Review

Nike’s latest tour offering just hit the shelves; how does it stack up against the previous iteration? The Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% aims to replace and build upon the success of its predecessor, the Zoom Infinity Tour.

As someone who also owns the Zoom Infinity Tour, I have some gripes that I’m hoping that Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% improves upon when compared to its older brother. But the question remains, is it worth the upgrade, or are you better off buying last year’s version at a discount?

Let’s find out.

First Impressions

The Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% is, in my opinion, one of Nike’s best-looking offerings to date. They’re sleek, sexy, athletic, and bold.

I love a visible air unit, especially on a golf shoe, so that’s what caught my eye right at the start. The Infinity Tour NXT% is one of those shoes you wouldn’t know is a golf shoe unless you looked at it from the sole up. To me, the shoe looks like a running shoe or at least gives off that vibe.

Nonetheless, golf apparel is quickly becoming more tapered, athletic, and sleek when compared to the past, so I think the Infinity Tour NXT is perfect for the modern era of golf.

Materials

The materials on my pair of Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% are nothing short of stellar. The mesh upper is light and breathable, while the leather overlays and swoosh take things up a notch.

It might sound weird, but the heel is my favorite part. This pair (the special colorway that Nike released for The Masters) features some amazingly lush long hair suede on the heel, a touch that you shouldn’t overlook. It looks sweet and feels fantastic.

Most TOUR-worthy golf shoes feature some premium materials, so this was a must. I felt that they mixed the textiles and premium materials in a way that added to the overall package and design of the shoe.

Traction

Like the original Air Zoom Infinity Tour, the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% features a spiked sole with four massive spikes to keep you grounded. The TPU spikes offered plenty of traction and grab, and the accompanying ridges and nubs provided more traction in critical areas to help reduce slipping.

Spiked traction like this is good because it really digs into the ground when applying force. Think of it like a pair of cleats; there’s a reason that all sports played on grass/turf use some sort of cleat or spike. The ground is unpredictable, and traction like this counteracts it and keeps you upright.

I didn’t notice any slippage while playing in these, which I expected. Spiked offerings such as this should, at minimum, stop you from slipping. Even when I got myself into some sticky situations on the course, I found myself completely confident in the traction of the Nike Kyrie 8.

Cushion

My favorite part of the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% is the cushion. Last year’s pair featured a React midsole and Zoom strobel, yet I found them rather uninspiring and stiff. I was glad to see that Nike listened to golfers like me and retooled the setup to make these mad comfy. They removed the Zoom strobel but beefed up the React midsole and added the two visible air units in the forefoot.

The React midsole is incredible. I’m a big fan of React, so I was not disappointed. When I say all-day comfort, I mean it. Generally, when I’m out on the course, I may switch shoes a time or two to continue to test other kicks, but not when I had these on. I couldn’t take them off. They were that good. I found these much more comfortable than last year’s pair, despite the change in cushion setup.

As if you needed more cushion, the two forefoot Zoom Air units provided good responsiveness and helped with energy and weight transfer through the swing. Explosive moves (at the transition from backswing to downswing) felt energized and lively.

Seriously, these things were so comfortable.

Stability

One of my biggest gripes with last year’s model was stability; the shoe felt so narrow that I struggled to stay in balance at times. Nike solved that in the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT%. A wider base and the slightly improved traction gave me the confidence to swing away without falling off balance.

Fit

My other issue with last year’s iteration of the shoe was fit. The original Infinity Tour fit narrow, really tight, and pretty short. Again, Nike listened to golfers and made sure to address that for the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT%. They fit much better in pretty much every way.

The overall fit is wider, less restricting, and more true to size than before. I would have gone up at least a half size in last year’s model. In these, I’m much more inclined to order my proper size.

Wide-footers who missed out on last year’s pair due to the fit will have no issues playing in these.

Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% Summary

Everything that people (me included) didn’t like about the original Air Zoom Infinity Tour, Nike fixed for the Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT%. There’s no doubt in my mind this is going to be a fan favorite moving forward.

Now, let’s revisit my question on whether you should buy the Infinity Tour NXT% or the original Infinity Tour at a discount. New version all the way. You’re going to want to experience the upgrades from this new pair.

Gone are the days (hopefully for good) of Nike Golf shoes fitting too narrow and lacking top-of-the-line cushion. The Infinity Tour NXT% is a massive step in the right direction for Nike and, admittedly, my current favorite pair of golf shoes.

Nike Kyrie Infinity Review: 2-Month INDOOR & OUTDOOR Report

The Brooklyn Nets’ very own Uncle Drew has dropped his 8th signature sneaker with Nikey and after about 60 days of action both indoors and outdoors, here’s my comprehensive Kyrie Infinity review, giving you as many details as I possibly could. Yes, the new Kyrie isn’t the Kyrie 8 – it’s now the Infinity.

I’ll give you a sizing guide, break down the fit & comfort, performance, build quality & value for the money you’re paying, versatility and decide if it’s worth upgrading from any of the previous models.

I. SPEC SHEET

II. 1-MIN REVIEW 

For those in a hurry: the Nike Kyrie Infinity is now a solid all-around hoop shoe despite the controversies initially.

I found it to be likely the most comfortable Kyrie sneaker EVER – many thanks to lots of padding, awesome sculpting, and high-quality materials.

The cushion underwent major changes too: a large forefoot Zoom Strobel now offers a ton of bounce and impact protection.

Traction was fine but make sure not to worry about it being questionable at first. I recommend breaking it in outdoors to achieve good bite faster.

Support was just as good as on any of the previous Kyrie models but mediocre torsional coverage also returned. Those with flat feet might want to skip these.

The upper now features genuine suede & leather and it worked beautifully once broken-in. The shoe still felt light despite beefing up the cushion and the materials.

Bottom line: get these if you’re looking for a solid all-around sneaker. Outdoor hoopers or wide footers: you might want to find the EP version just in case.

For alternatives, check out the Kyrie 7, the Kyrie Low 5, the Cosmic Unity, and the KD 14.

III. FIT & COMFORT

TTS or should you change up the size? What about the fit & comfort level?

SIZING GUIDE

Owners of the previous two Kyrie shoes shouldn’t have trouble picking the size for the Kyrie Infinity – just stick with the same size. Though expect things just a little bit roomier this time.

As for newcomers trying a Kyrie silhouette for the first time: most should get away with their usual size. Fairly typical for a Kyrie sneaker, the fit will be very snug and quite narrow at the midfoot & forefoot areas.

I personally went up a half size since I’m a prominent wide footer. I’d say the Kyrie Infinity is a slightly better option for wide footers when compared to the 7. I didn’t feel as suffocated as I did with the Kyrie 7 right out of the box.

While both shoes still aren’t exactly a wide footer’s dream – trying these on in a store or just going up a half size should do the trick for those guys.

Going up a half size from my typical choice resulted in about a half-inch (~1.3 cm) of space length-wise but for me, that’s completely okay.

I should mention I own the regular US release of the shoe and not the EP which has a slightly wider fit & XDR rubber outsoles slapped on. I wasn’t able to find an EP pair from where I live.

If you don’t want any extra room and prefer your hoop shoes to fit one-to-one with your foot: true to size is the go for normal/narrow footers, while seeking out the EP version of the Kyrie Infinity is the best option for wide footers in that case.

Although experiences with this one are mixed online – some even say their true size was too snug for a non-wide foot. Fit is very subjective, so trying a shoe live if you can is always the safest bet.

COMFORT

This is where the noticeable changes start getting into play.

I never had any major complaints with any of the previous Kyrie kicks feeling uncomfortable but the latest iteration seemed like it wanted to step things up even further. And it sure did.

There’s a TON of foam padding around the ankle and heel, the tongue is absolutely massive and plush, and the mix of well-implemented genuine and synthetic materials hugged my foot as well as anything on the market today.

I seriously don’t know why brands don’t offer as much padding and sculpting more consistently as there are quite literally no downsides to this. I doubt it affects the weight in a noticeable way.

This large tongue cups the front of the ankle like a pillow, the lining around the ankle gives me a secure and cozy feeling all around, and if you think that all of this added awesomeness resulted in the shoe feeling bulky – think again.

These are still among the lightest Kyrie hoop shoes and they play exactly like it. Don’t let the looks fool you.

This is probably the most comfortable Kyrie basketball sneaker EVER and I love that the comfort aspect is getting more love in the performance footwear market now.

IV. TRACTION

Does it grip various surfaces/floors well? How sensitive are the outsoles to dust/debris? What about durability?

INDOOR PERFORMANCE

I started my journey with the Kyrie Infinity inside on a medium-condition high school gym floor. It’s a soft rubberized surface, not real hardwood. I played there for about a week.

I’ll tell you what – this isn’t the optimal floor to hoop on if a shoe’s traction needs some break-in time. That’s exactly what this shoe needed before it could provide sufficient grip no matter the movement.

The traction at first was pretty wonky. I had decent bite overall but quickly changing directions or stopping on a dirtier spot or where some moisture is present resulted in slight delays.

Wiping the outsoles down didn’t help because it wasn’t even needed in the first place – this rubber was fast to push most of the dust out of the pattern before it became a problem.

I did notice a slight improvement every day but I’d still find myself wondering if this is the maximum I’m going to get. It wasn’t.

The rubber simply needed some heat and break-in time and what’s the best surface for the fastest results? That’s right, and abrasive one.

Taking these outdoors on concrete for a few hours, cleaning the outsoles out, and then returning to the gym made ALL the difference.

The traction now is excellent and feels more at home with other Kyrie releases: it bites the floor very well, doesn’t get troubled by dust/debris too much and the extra thread that comes up to the sides of the midsole allows for just about any angle to be covered by excellent grip.

Not that I needed that but if you’re even remotely close to the shiftiness of Uncle Drew himself – you’ll find it welcome on the Infinity.

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE

There’s very little chance that a shoe’s traction is weaker outdoors than it is indoors.

Playing on a more abrasive surface means more friction will be generated upon every step and even weaker traction patterns can be somewhat saved by a more harsh surface.

No surprises with the Kyrie Infinity here – traction was even deadlier on the two surfaces I hooped on outside (a rubberized court and classic asphalt).

I didn’t have the chance to play on the hardwood with the shoe but I’d expect these outsoles to perform somewhere on the level right between the high school gym floor and an outdoor surface.

In other words, you shouldn’t have any major issues.

And if you’re mainly an outdoor hooper like I am – don’t worry about the grip being iffy initially. Even outside.

Nikey tends to use a thin layer of coating all over the outsoles sometimes (not usually visible to the naked eye) that needs to be burned off. Once you do that – the rubber only needs some heat in order to start moving better and cover more ground. Patience is key.

The cushion system has been completely reworked from last year’s model.The Kyrie Infinity now features the most cushion you’ll find on a Kyrie sneaker: a Zoom Air unit in the heel, a large Zoom Strobel at the forefoot, and a foam midsole (likely Phylon) to accompany the ride.This is INSANE to see on a flagship Kyrie sneaker. The typical minimal feel is now replaced with a super bouncy forefoot and an all-around plush ride from heel to toe.Step transitions felt smooth as butter, and even though the smaller heel Zoom unit wasn’t really doing much in terms of feedback (maybe except on harder heel strikes), the overall feel of the underfoot sensation is nothing short of awesome.

Don’t get it twisted though – a properly implemented Zoom Strobel is a threat to any other competitor. Here, it’s soft and springy since there’s a lot of it but I felt extremely low to the ground nonetheless.

DURABILITY

I played in the Kyrie Infinity a little less than I did in the Kyrie 7 before putting out a review, so it’s pretty tough to compare the durability between the two sneakers.

2 months in, I’m not seeing as much visual damage to the thread as I did on the Kyrie 7 three months in, so there’s that.

However, performance-wise, there isn’t a meaningful difference. Traction is still fine, consistency is still there as long as I clean my outsoles after every few sessions.

There’s quite a bit of damage on the forefoot portions and along the lateral portions of the outsole, so just as with the Kyrie 7, it’s a matter of time before that visual damage catches up to actual traction received on the court.

I would love to pick a winner in terms of durability between this year’s and last year’s model but practically speaking – there’s really no reason to.

It would make more sense if the differences in performance would be clear right now, or if I’d played in both sneakers for a much longer period of time. All I’ll say here is you should be good to go for at least a season of outdoor hoops with the Infinity.

If you’d like to be sure that you’ll be set for potentially longer – I highly encourage you to find the EP version of the shoe or at least put on XDR outsoles on Nike By You while customizing your pair.

The real EP release will still provide better outsoles than the option you’d get via Nike By You though. But hey, grab what you can and live with it.

And lastly, if you’re not able to grab either the EP or the Nike By You pair – going with the gum rubber outsole colorway might be the safest option for outdoors.

The evidence on this is anecdotal but based on my and other hoopers’ experience – gum rubber outsoles can be more durable and tackier than others.

V. CUSHION

How’s the impact absorption and feedback? What about step comfort, ride height, and stability?

It’s an unusual combination but all for the better – we’ve really come far in the technology of basketball shoes. This low-profile feel combined with plush cushion first reminded me of the Nikey Cosmic Unity.Everything felt stable, quite responsive, and well-balanced. The Zoom Turbo units the Kyrie 5–6–7 used could probably be called a bit faster-feeling but people often like to overdramatize things.The difference in how “fast” I felt was marginal at most. Or better way to describe it – I just hooped. Comfortable. Nothing got in my way nor did I ever think that I was lacking responsiveness.I feel like almost every type of player would find the cushioning sufficient and enjoyable. Quick guards will appreciate the low-profile setup, while anyone who’s a bit more athletic or heavier will find more than enough impact protection here.

I think the only group of people who won’t enjoy this setup are those who strictly prefer a minimal experience with less-to-no cushion underfoot.

If you’re ALL about speed and precision and don’t need any shock absorption to go along with it – sticking with any of the previous Kyrie models will be your best bet.

VI. SUPPORT

How’s the all-around security? What about foot containment? Any restrictions?

Let me list all of the biggest negatives when it comes to the support of the Kyrie Infinity first. There – done.

On a more serious note, we’ve come to expect great security and support from every Kyrie release and the next iteration isn’t all too different. I had no major issues.

The shoe sports beefy internal heel counters for proper heel & ankle lockdown, midfoot shank plates for additional torsional rigidity, midsole sidewalls that come up at the forefoot & heel, and a criss-cross lockdown system consisting of bands that pull your foot down and back to the heel when you tighten the laces.

The forefoot portion of the shoe is noticeably wide which promotes stability, and you could say there are small outriggers in place for further lateral coverage. Not those plastic fins though – those don’t do anything.

Everything worked properly: I was stable, not overly restricted, and never felt unconfident to pull off a certain move.

Don’t worry about the interesting-looking sculpting of the tooling either. It might look like the shoe will encourage you to roll the foot inward but that simply does not happen on the court. Merely a visual illusion.

THE TORSION DILLEMMA

One little caveat that carried over from the Kyrie 7 is the mediocre torsional rigidity. Despite a midfoot shank in place, these are still flimsier torsionally than an average hoop shoe on the market.

I barely noticed this because I was putting some hours into the Kyrie 7 before testing the new model, so chances are, my feet are now more used to working harder in order to stabilize the joints and tendons torsionally.

But if you’ve got weaker feet (perhaps you’re coming off a foot injury or maybe you haven’t hooped in a while), there’s a good chance you’ll start feeling some fatigue faster than usual.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing since your feet will be more exposed to heavier workloads and as long as you give them enough time to recover in between sessions – you’ll end up in a better place than before.

Of course, some might value being able to play longer hours comfortably over anything else. In that case – choosing a shoe with stronger torsional coverage will be a wiser option.

VII. THE BUILD

What are the materials used? How well do they perform on-court? How’s the quality & reliability of the build?

BUILD OVERVIEW

The Nike Kyrie Infinity utilizes a structured mesh material on the front, a suede panel at the back that’s lined with genuine leather, and also synthetic leather pieces on the tongue, back, and lacing system.

There’s a little bit of everything here and I really do appreciate it.

It looks like Nike “stole” adidas’s concept of material dependency based on the colorway. The debut colorway that I have features a suede ankle portion that’s lined with leather but other colorways seem to use a leather ankle that’s lined with synthetic leather instead.

I think both options are excellent and you really shouldn’t sweat it too much when it’s time to choose. Leather is a bit easier to clean and take care of than suede, so if that matters to you – go for any of the other colorways.

The shoe’s built on a standard lace & tongue construction, so this insanely large tongue is sewed on separately.

PERFORMANCE

While Nike ditched the all-out synthetic & minimal focus of their past models and replaced it with beefier and more premium materials on the Infinity, I feel like performance didn’t suffer at all.

In fact, these awesome materials greatly contribute to how comfortable the shoes felt when the material is sitting next to my feet.

Even the plasticy-feeling mesh at the front broke in quickly and wrapped around my foot very well.

These did feel slightly tight for me at first (mainly due to my wide feet) but all of the materials throughout the build broke in to a point where I don’t feel any major pressure, pinching, suffocation, or anything nasty like that at all.

Well, there’s a little bit of pressure where the leather lining begins on the lateral side of the shoe as that’s where the widest part of my foot is.

It only happens on certain movements but as I’ve said – comfortable materials make these collisions acceptable when they could’ve been annoying.

One thing that does suffer from the more traditional material choices is ventilation. The Fused mesh forefoot doesn’t allow for any airflow, nor does leather, obviously.

I did feel my feet getting pretty damn hot while hooping outside in the sun, and that’s pretty unusual for me since it takes quite a bit for my feet to start sweating.

Or perhaps I should say for me to notice that my feet are getting hot in there. Not a huge downside but something to remember for those under-the-sun sessions.

RELIABILITY

No shoe will break down on you quickly when genuine compounds like leather or suede dominate the build.

It’s normal for leather to visibly change over time and start looking banged up fairly soon but the actual health of the material will stay intact for a long time. If you take care of it that is.

A couple of months with the Kyrie Infinity resulted in the leather lining looking a little creased, the suede ankle is a bit dirty since debris can easily get stuck in it, and the rest is just small visual dents here and there.

This is definitely one of the most durable Kyrie shoes to date and I expect them to last for multiple seasons (if the outsoles could hang in there).

I’ll update you months later to see if my predictions were true. If I’ll still be hooping in the shoe of course.

Considering that we’re still paying the same $130 at retail, this is definitely a noticeable step-up in the quality of the materials, as well as the quality of their implemenation.

VIII. OVERALL

Wrapping up the Kyrie Infinity review: recap, recommendations, and versatility

The Nike Kyrie Infinity is a fantastic all-around basketball sneaker that finally found the courage to change things up from the usual formula. Not everyone will like that but I suspect A LOT of people will.

Remember when Kyrie Irving trashed the shoe on his Instagram and refused to wear it right before it launched to the public? I suspect the cushion was part of the problem.

The early reviews of the shoe reported on the cushion being severely unresponsive and not in line with Kyrie’s previous low-profile formula-like setups.

Honestly, I HIGHLY doubt the shoe I played in is the same version of the shoe that he wasn’t a fan of or that the reviewers tested initially.

Performance shoes often get tweaked based on the athlete’s feedback and the new improved versions hit the market later. This is nothing new.

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There are versions of certain hoop shoes that are exclusive to their signature athletes, as the regular consumer can only get their hands on a slightly different version.

That’s why this whole Kyrie Infinity situation wasn’t a big surprise for me like it was for some people.

Kyrie later posted a message apologizing to Nikey in a way and pretty much saying all is good now. Well, they probably fixed up the areas of the sneaker he didn’t like.

It could’ve been handled better in my opinion, but all I really care about is the fact that we get to play in a great Kyrie hoop shoe now.

From guards to forwards, from aggressive slashers to all-around players: the Kyrie Infinity should get the job done. Not something I thought I’d say about a Kyrie model.

Adidas Harden Vol 4 Review: OUTDOOR Performance Breakdown

First off, don’t get disturbed that these look HUGE on feet. Literally. The tooling is unusually very wide and I dig that a lot for a couple of reasons.

The first one being that this saves hassle for wide footers – I have very wide feet myself and the forefoot & midfoot areas are wide enough for me, especially after about a week of adjusting.

The second one being unprecedented stability – that wide of a platform + sitting so low to the ground makes up for an extremely stable & agile combo, and for a low top – I think this is perfect.

So, regular/narrow footers – going true to size is the #1 option without a doubt. Wide footers like myself – it would be best to order two pairs (one TTS and the other up 1/2 a size) to be safe and return the unneeded one.

But I actually went true to size and I believe I’ve got a pretty extreme case of wide feet, so this should tell you going TTS shouldn’t be so scary if you’re not up for ordering multiple pairs.

Unless your feet are even wider than mine, which would mean you should have the feet of a clown at that point. Going true to size resulted in me feeling super secure, there’s zero slippage in the heel or anywhere else.

If you are experiencing some heel slippage though – there might be a few things you can do. Check out my heel slippage guide for basketball shoes to find out more!

Going up half a size could’ve messed with the overall lockdown as I feel like they’re now perfect length-wise, so any extra space could’ve compromised the sense of security and that one-to-one fit feel.

THE BAND SITUATION

One thing I want to touch on is that midfoot elastic band thing that pulls into the midfoot and ankle areas when lacing ’em up for enhanced lockdown. While it does help lock down the fit, that strap took the longest to get it out of the way in terms of break-in.

It was pretty terrible for me during the first week (partially because of my huge feet I presume) since that area was pressing into my feet to the point where it was painful at times when the shoe flexed, especially torsionally.

Don’t worry though – through multiple reviews and user feedback I’ve heard people having the same thing but it goes away for most. And it should go away quicker for you than for me as well.

COMFORT: FAST, LIGHT, AND SMOOTH

Even though I feel like adidas hasn’t been on such a perfect roll these past couple of years when compared to the air jordan/D Rose 6-7 days, I still think the Harden line has been super consistent in providing a comfy, secure, and fast shoe to play in.

The Harden Vol. 4 feels light as hell, to begin with. Even though it’s not among the lightest shoes in terms of pure numbers, the most important thing is how they actually feel in action.

And the Harden Vol 4 feels as fast & light as ever.

Also, looking for comfy, fluffy internal padding in your shoe? You got it. It’s everywhere and there’s a lot of it. While that might take away some space and condense your foot, man it’s comfy in there provided you get the size right!

Soft and buttery smooth is the best way to describe it. If you feel like these fit you properly but your foot’s really cradled in there, give ’em some time to fully break in, or go up half a size if you prefer a roomier fit.

In most cases though – you shouldn’t need to.

IV. TRACTION

Does it grip different surfaces well & consistently? Is dust/debris a factor? How long will these last outside?

TRACTION PERFORMANCE

adidas loves to switch things up almost every year when it comes to the outsole and even though I’d prefer all brands to just stick with solid/XDR rubber & good ol’ herringbone, I wasn’t disappointed with the Harden Vol 4’s traction.

As you can see, the heel and forefoot portions are separated pretty distinctively – the heel portion uses a more spaced out pattern while the forefoot area is denser to cover more ground for stops, cuts, changes of direction, etc.

I’m not sure how these would’ve performed if a consistent pattern was used all throughout the outsole but the traction on these was great regardless.

The rubber used is almost ridiculously sticky, so that also helped with how quick and effective each stop or shift was. And sticky also means A TON of squeak. Get your ears ready if you’re playing on hardwood/rubber.

However, tacky rubber also means dust sticking to it very easily. Even though the pattern is properly spaced out and there’s room for dust to escape, the glue-like rubber catches all of it, so frequent wiping will be needed to keep the traction consistent.

Not the worst scenario there was at all though – the traction never dropped to a point where I’d feel a huge decrease, even when I’d skip a wipe where I’d normally do it, such as during longer, more intense stretches of a game.

And I was playing in my local park that’s pretty weary now – it’s good to know these outsoles will get the job done no matter the nasty debris all over the court.

OUTDOOR DURABILITY

Speaking of which, how’s the durability for outdoors you ask? While the shoe is clearly not an “outdoor” model so to speak, the rubber does hold up well.

I’ve got back to playing in these from time to time after putting out the initial review, so here’s a 1-year update.

It’s something about adidas’s basketball footwear. It delivers in durability – that’s for sure. Things are looking very similar to when they were just 3 months after getting the shoe.

There are more frayings along the medial and lateral areas of the pattern (mainly in the forefoot portion) and some of the rubber is looking weary.

HOWEVER, the core of the pattern is still there, with almost each and every knob resembling its original shape.

And I’d be lying if I said I’m feeling a clear decrease in performance. That’s simply not true. I haven’t taken these indoors for a long time now so things might be slightly different. On concrete/rubber though – just like the Dame line, these refuse to break down.