Puma TRC Blaze Court Performance Review

The Puma TRC Blaze Court is another great performance basketball shoe from Puma. The cushion is its biggest strength and materials are its biggest weakness.

Release Date: 2022

Price: $120

9/10 Total Score

Puma has become my favorite basketball shoe brand in recent years. I dig their aesthetics, I feel unconventional when I wear them, and they tend to perform great on the court. I’ve been able to play in the Puma RS Dreamer, the Puma RS Dreamer 2, the Puma Clyde All-Pro, and the Puma MB.01, all very different shoes, all great.

I have to say I was excited when I got to test the new Puma TRC Blaze Court, especially because at first glance, it reminded me of a beefed-up version of the Puma Clyde All-Pro. But there were some new performance features added that I’d never experienced. First, a new cushioning system. Second, new support features. And third, the materials seem very different from the Puma Clyde. So did this new model live up to the high standard Puma has set? Let’s find out

Traction

Traction is one aspect of the shoe I was fairly certain would be great. Puma has some great rubber compounds and every Puma shoe I’ve worn has had very good traction. Plus, the traction pattern they chose for the TRC Blaze Court had a great chance of being awesome: multidirectional herringbone.

Turns out that I was right to think the traction would be good. In fact, the traction was spectacular. The shoe stopped on a dime with every type of move I threw at it no matter the surface I played on. Puma tailored the traction to every part of the foot and to what type of movement you’re most likely to generate in each section.

For example, in the forefoot, you’ll mainly see traditional herringbone. So you get coverage on forward and backward motion with some lateral coverage as well. But at the very tip of the forefoot, the herringbone turns 100% horizontal giving you better coverage for forward and backward moves. This is the part of your foot that you’ll use for moves like stepbacks, push-offs, and hesitations, and that is the type of traction you want to help you pull those off.

The traction is primarily parallel on the lateral side of the shoe. This configuration is great for lateral movements. What do you use that part of your foot for? You guessed it, moving laterally. Sliding on defense, crossovers, etc. are well covered so your foot can push off with ease.

One thing to keep in mind is that outdoor durability may be an issue. The rubber compound probably won’t hold up great after a while outdoors, especially if you play on very abrasive surfaces. I ripped a chunk out of mine after playing a couple of times outdoors, but for now, I chalk that up as a fluke.

Cushion

The Puma TRC Blaze Court features 2 cushioning systems: Nitro foam, which we’ve seen before, and Trinomic cushioning, which we’ve also seen before, but not like this.

Trinomic cushioning is a setup that Puma used back in the day. That version was similar to Reeboks DMX cushioning. It featured hexagonal pods that resembled a bee hive. It was supposed to offer the “holy trinity”: cushioning, flexibility and stability. But, Trinomic seemed to be an air-based system, and that’s nowhere to be found on this shoe.

What you get here is a dual-density foam setup, and although the Trinomic cushioning doesn’t look like the old Trinomic it’s bouncy, flexible, and stable. So, I don’t really care that it doesn’t look like the old Trinomic.

The blend of Nitro and Trinomic felt akin to adidas’ Boost. You get a ton of impact protection with a good amount of responsiveness. And, while you do ride high in the TRC Blaze Court, the shoe remains very stable. You do lose court feel, however, so if that’s what you are looking for in a shoe, you might want to check out another model.

Materials

Materials on the Puma TRC Blaze Court are functional and that’s about it. If I were suggesting upgrades to the shoe, materials would be my main focus. The upper is built entirely with textiles of different consistencies, with two rubber reinforcements (per shoe).

There’s a softer mesh over the toe box and across half of the midfoot, and a tighter woven mesh in the other half and heel of the shoe. There are also felt reinforcements in high-wear areas that add some design pop. The rubber reinforcements are on the lateral side of the midfoot and the heel to boost support and containment.

All of these work great on the court but the shoe doesn’t feel premium in any way, which doesn’t do the shoe justice. They could have done something similar to what they did with Jordan 37 which does not feature premium materials perse but the materials chosen make the shoe look and feel more premium.

Fit

The shoe fits great, if anything it’s slightly snug, and takes no time to break in. The 1-to-1 fit enhances the shoe’s support and lockdown on-court. But if that type of fit has given you issues in the past, you might want to go in-store and try them on or go up half a size.

The insole is nothing special, but there’s some padding in the forefoot and some nice heel padding and sculpting that make the shoe feel comfy from the get-go.

Support

Support is another standout feature on the Puma TRC Blaze Court. The shoe features a wide base in the forefoot, a TPU torsional plate in the midfoot, a pair of lace cables, a heel counter, and the aforementioned rubber containment features on the upper.

They all work well together to keep your foot in place as you play without feeling restricted. The two rubber pieces on the upper are different densities to offer targeted support: the heel piece is harder and acts like a roll cage to keep your heel in place while the midfoot piece is softer and more forgiving to allow a bit of stretch on lateral movements while keeping you on the footbed.

The wide base and the actual formulation of the midsole foam make for a stable ride, and the different weaves of the textile upper allow flexibility or containment where you need it.

Lastly, the shank plate. While it’s not the most substantial shank plate out there, it offers torsional support and adds some spring to your step.

Overall

I think the Puma TRC Blaze Court is a great shoe. The simplistic analysis of “a beefed up Puma Clyde All-Pro” is not far off. The Puma TRC Blaze Court might not be an all-time great basketball shoe, but I think it will easily make our list of the best basketball shoes of 2022.

Puma has become the most consistent brand in the basketball shoe space which is no easy feat. Models like the TRC Blaze Court just keep boosting Puma’s rep. If you want a shoe that does everything well and excels in cushioning, the Puma TRC Blaze Court is a safe bet.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 Performance Review

The original Saucony Endorphin Speed was a 2020 shoe of the year candidate and championed by some reviewers as Saucony’s best shoe ever. While I wouldn’t go that far, I did think the original Endorphin Speed was a very good shoe. The second iteration was basically the same shoe so I didn’t even take the time to write a full review. However, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 tweaks the winning formula to create the best Endorphin Speed yet.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

Release Date: August 24, 2022

Price: $170

Weight: M 8.1oz, W 7.2oz

Drop: 8mm (28mm forefoot, 36mm heel)

Sizing: True to Size

• Rundown: The versatility of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 means it works for any kind of running. It also offers a bouncy, stable, and comfortable ride.

Pros

• Bounce
• Versatility
• Stability
• Fit

Cons

• Wet traction

Pros

Bounce

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3’s PWRRUN PB feels slightly softer than the previous Endorphin Speeds. It’s still not as cushy as jordan 37 but it’s got a great plush feel that bounces back quickly.

Part of the pop you experience can be credited to the new winged S-curve nylon plate. It’s just a bit more springy than previous iterations and an absolute rocket during track workouts or during uptempo runs. The Endorphin Speed line continues to boast the best nylon plate in the running industry.

With the PWRRUN PB midsole and the nylon plate working together you won’t waste any energy. All the force gets transferred through your footstrike and pushes your foot back up into the air quickly. That tech, along with Saucony’s Speedroll midsole geometry, makes keeping up your cadence (how quickly your feet hit the ground in succession) much easier. It feels like you get a nice push with each step. If you like to feel bouncy, the Endorphin Speed 3 is a great choice.

Versatility

Though the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is the daily training or workout version of the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, the Speed 3 is the more versatile shoe. Long slow daily miles, track work, tempo runs, and even races are all doable in the Endorphin Speed 3.

Could you run a marathon in it? Yes. In fact, I’d recommend it as a marathon shoe for those that don’t like the stiffness of a carbon fiber plate in their shoe. You still get a plate with great bounce but your feet don’t have to do near the work to flex the plate.

The Endorphin Speed 3 can do anything you need it to…but be careful on easy days as it’s a quick shoe so you may speed up unintentionally.

Stability

The nylon plate in the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 introduces an extra stability feature that feels great underfoot and continues the Endorphin Speed’s ability to provide great stability at high speeds. The nylon plate includes wings at the midfoot on both the medial and lateral sides. They extend all the way to the edge of the midsole so can see them peeking out.

This extra support at the midfoot really helps the Endorphin Speed 3 take fast corners with no wobble. It also provides stealthy arch support for those that need it. If heavy overpronators are looking for a faster shoe, they should try the Endorphin Speed 3. It’s incredibly supportive for being so fast which is a rare find.

Fit

The fit of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is great all around. The heel features excellent lockdown while the midfoot and forefoot open up to be more accommodating. Wide footers should get enough room by going up a half size while most people can buy their typical size (check here to see if Saucony introduces wider versions at some point).

The upper is super breathable and hugs the foot while expanding as your foot expands on long runs. The tongue is slightly too short but honestly that’s a nitpick, because it’s gusseted and protects the top of the foot from any lace pressure.

It’s a great fitting shoe that you can slip on, and leave on, for hours.

Cons

Wet traction

It’s tough to find anything negative to say about the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. Other than the short tongue, the only thing that bothered me was the wet traction. I had some slippage on wet boardwalks and some muddy sections of a greenway after a huge rainstorm. There aren’t many shoes that can handle those particular tests without some slippage…and the slippage from the Endorphin Speed 3 is minimal.

The slippage is likely due to the ample exposed foam on the outsole. That’s a trade I’m willing to make because the exposed foam is helping the overall ride and bounce. The exposed foam on my pair has taken some damage but is proving to be more durable than most exposed Pebax-based foams that typically take damage easily.

Saucony Endorphin 3 Summary

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a near-perfect everyday running shoe. Its versatility means you can use it for any type of running and it’ll be well-fitting, comfortable, stable, and bouncy along the way. Even with minor wet traction issues, the Endorphin Speed 3 will easily make our Best Running Shoes list.

Nike KD Trey 5 X Performance Review

The Nike Trey 5 X is a very reliable budget option. You get solid cushion and traction but weaker budget materials.

Release Date: 2022

Price: $100

 

8/10

Total Score

The Nike KD Trey 5 X is a solid budget offering from Nike. It’s this year’s takedown model of Kevin Durant’s signature line, which has brought us some of the best signature shoes in recent years. This model clearly takes some design inspiration from the last year’s Nike KD 15. Tech-wise, the shoe feels like someone gave the development team their spare change and told them to get as close to the KD 14 as possible.

But even so, I think they did a decent job and as much as they could while keeping the shoe under $100. Now, let’s dive into the performance features and break everything down.

Traction

The traction on the KD Trey 5 X is solid. The sole features a heat map-style traction pattern that offers multidirectional coverage. So whether you are moving side to side on defense or making a hard cut, these guys won’t leave you hanging.

The rubber compound is not the hardest rubber I’ve ever played in but it also isn’t the softest. Plus, the grooves are pretty deep. So, if you’re planning on playing outdoors with these, I’d say they’re a good option, especially considering the price tag.

Indoors, the traction also did its job well, but the grooves are close together in certain portions of the shoe (ie the forefoot) so I did have to stop and wipe down a couple of times.

Cushion

The cushion on the KD Trey 5 X is the shoe’s best feature, and wouldn’t be out of place on a more premium shoe. In fact, the technology used is pretty similar to the Nike Kyrie Low 5: a rectangular Zoom Air unit in the forefoot and a full-length foam midsole (in this case React). The shoes don’t feel anything alike, but the Kyrie Low 5 goes for $15 more.

You get a good amount of impact protection without feeling like you’re sinking into the shoe, or that the shoe won’t react at the speed you want it to. Plus, you can definitely feel the Air Zoom unit in the forefoot, which adds some bounce to your step.

I keep thinking of these as outdoor shoes, maybe because I associate budget shoes with outdoor use. But this setup makes the KD Trey 5 X a great outdoor option, and they’re equally serviceable indoors.

Materials

The materials are the weakest point of this shoe by far. It’s a shame because if the materials on the KD Trey 5 X had been even remotely like the ones on the Kyrie Low 5, I think these would have had a chance to make it onto our best basketball shoe list for the year.

Materials really can elevate a shoe from being mediocre or good to being great. Materials don’t only contribute to the aesthetics of a shoe, they affect fit, lockdown, support, and just the general feeling that a shoe is cheap and not a budget model. Those are two different things.

Unfortunately, the materials on the KD Trey 5 X feel cheap. Not only that, they’re a detriment to the shoe’s containment and all-around fit. When you have shoes like the Puma Court Rider 2 or the Jordan Zoom Separate out there in the same price range with, not necessarily more expensive materials, just better ones, it’s a bit of a bummer.

Fit

The shoe fits ok. The materials (mentioned above) don’t help. The materials are soft and forgiving, but a little bit too much. The one saving grace is that the forefoot strap is functional and does help enhance the fit and the shoe’s overall containment.

This being said, wide-footers might find the soft, malleable materials more accommodating than those in other shoes.

Support

The support is a little hit or miss. You have a relatively wide base that helps with stability, a decent heel counter, two rubber pieces on either side of your heel for added support, and the forefoot strap does help lock down your foot.

On the other hand, there is no torsional plate, so the shoe does bend easily and, once again, the materials do very little to keep your foot securely on the footbed.

I didn’t run into any serious issues with the support while playing, but I can see scenarios where the support of the KD Trey 5 X could fail.

Overall

Overall, I did enjoy playing in the KD Trey 5 X and I do think that it has some really nice performance features. It’s a shame that they didn’t put a little more money into these shoes, because there’s potential for them to be a great performance model.

I think they can be a reliable first option on the court if you’re restricted to a budget. As a secondary pair for practices or as an outdoor option I think these are a no-brainer for most players. If you prefer cushioning on the more reactive side, or you think support might be an issue for you, then you should probably look elsewhere.

Jordan Luka 1 Performance Review

The Jordan Luka 1 is one of the best performance basketball sneakers of 2022 (so far). There’s a lot to get excited about with this highly anticipated Luka Doncic signature sneaker.

Colorway: Black/Metallic Silver

Release Date: 2022

Price: TBA

 

8.5/10

Total Score

Luka Doncic used the Air Jordan 37 and its low-top version for most of the 2021-2022 NBA Season. Once in a while, he would swap those out for the Jordan Zoom Separate. Then, at the end of the season, he broke out his first signature sneaker, the Jordan Luka 1.

Traction

The traction ties all the performance features together. It is the foundation of all basketball performance sneakers. The outsole on the Jordan Luka 1 is made of translucent rubber and works well with its multi-directional pattern to cover all your movements and changes of direction. Indoors is where it performs its best, even with dust. The pattern is raised enough that it isn’t an issue after wiping. Outdoors, however, was a bit different. There was slight slipping in the forefoot area that needed wiping, and the translucent rubber can’t be depended upon to last for a long time.

Cushion

Jordan Brand sells us their newest foam with the Jordan Luka 1. That new foam is called Formula 23. What you see on the exterior is the carrier foam and the real moneymaker is housed inside. There’s some space between the Formula 23 and the carrier, so when pressure is applied, it expands and contracts accordingly. However, if you’re expecting a Zoom Air-type experience, you might be disappointed.

Something to note is that there was a noticeable difference after extensive hours of play. The forefoot felt lower than the heel. This might be that the foam is molding to the foot or bottoming out. The insoles are standard Ortholite.

Materials

The materials in the Jordan Luka 1 are not premium whatsoever. They’re lightweight, consisting of textiles with fuse overlays and some synthetic leather in the heel and eye stay areas. They’re lighter than the Nike KD 15, a lightweight shoe on foot. FlightWire wraps around the whole upper for additional support and lockdown. The ankle collar material is soft and makes it easy for you and me to get our feet in and out of the shoe. The tongue is well-padded, comfortable, and rests nicely above the foot.

Fit

The fit of the Jordan Luka 1 is adaptable. Going up half a size works fine if you wear ankle braces or other accessories. If you have regular to narrow feet, going true to size should work for you. The shoe is accommodating, especially in the midfoot and forefoot areas. We can thank the tongue that’s slightly disconnected for that. There are only five eyelets that all work together efficiently to ensure that you quickly get your preferred fit.

Support

The IsoPlate system is unconventional yet functional, just like Luka himself. It does a few key things. First, it acts as torsional support. Second, concentrating it on the lateral side makes the shoe much more flexible than other shoes where the torsional plate is placed right in the middle. Third and most importantly, it aids lateral stability during defensive and offensive movements. You can make hard cuts without worrying if the shoe will give too much. The heel counter is also as solid as a rock in order to keep your heel locked in.

Overall

The Jordan Luka 1 provides a big bang for your buck, considering that it will fall in the $110-120 price range. Those who value traction (especially indoors), court feel, and an adaptable fit will enjoy the Luka 1 the most.

Puma Rise Nitro Performance Review

The Puma Rise Nitro is lightweight, comfortable, and fits well. It’s one of the best basketball shoes available from Puma.

Colorway: Sun Stream/Blue Atoll

Release Date: 2022

Price: $125

9/10

Total Score

Puma basketball may have started slowly, especially in the cushion department, but times have changed, and Puma has improved. The Puma MB.01 is LaMelo Ball’s signature model and represents the brand well. Their primary team shoe, the Puma Rise Nitro, isn’t just an ordinary basketball shoe and shows a lot of potential for beastly on-court performance. The more great performance sneakers we get, the better for all of us consumers.

Traction

The outsole pattern is a wave-bone implemented to cater primarily to lateral movements. The bite is hard and will stop on a dime, but you won’t get squeaking sounds out of them if you’re into that. The traction comes up the midsole just a bit for those toe drags on tricky crossovers. However, because of the soft rubber compound used on the outsole, outdoors isn’t the Rise Nitro’s strong suit. Only after a few hours of play outside, there are already prominent bald spots.

Cushion

The cushion was the least impressive part of the Puma Rise Nitro experience. We get a full-length Nitro-infused foam midsole much like the Puma MB.01 Low. If you’ve played in that shoe, you know the drill for the most part. However, these feel denser than that shoe and others with the same technology. There’s not a notable amount of bounce, and when you feel that, it’s primarily due to the ProPlate. The cushion isn’t bad by any means; impact protection was still there, and the Ortholite insole provided good step-in comfort.

Materials

The upper of Puma Rise Nitro is purely a seamless textile. The most prominent feature is the knit shroud that adds another layer to the shoe while also giving you a place to tuck your laces. Inside the shroud is a typical shoe with lots of nylon to ensure you’re laced up nicely. There are also PwrTape overlays for added structure. If you’re expecting breathability, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Fit

The fit is my favorite aspect of the Puma Rise Nitro. True to size is recommended for almost everyone. Wide-footers shouldn’t have a problem going up half a size, but trying them on in-store is always safest. Containment is excellent in whichever direction you choose to go, thanks in large part to the additional overlays.

Support

Support starts with the fit, and that’s spot on, assuming you get your correct size. Lateral stability was never an issue due to the lateral plastic overlay, foam that comes up the upper, and the broad and stable base. The heel containment isn’t like the Freak 4 that grabs your Achilles and won’t let go, but with a sturdy heel counter and plenty of collar padding, it isn’t lacking either. The x-bar ProPlate torsional support system works to make the Puma Rise Nitro rigid enough to be supportive.

Overall

The Puma Rise Nitro is one of the best shoes Puma has to offer, and it’s been among my favorite shoes to play in all year. It’s fairly lightweight and has comfortable materials that rest well over your feet. The fit is excellent for most foot shapes, widths, and lengths. The support is great so long as you get the fit right. There’s not much to complain about, other than it not featuring a springy cushioning system like Nike’s Zoom Air. Puma continues to evolve and improve upon its previous releases. We’re excited for what’s to come next.