Nike KD 3 Performance Analysis Review and PG update

The 88 dolla playa just works.

I was writing down my thoughts on the PG2 and forgot I had a few pair of these in my closet. I thought it would be interesting to review these since it’s basically the same idea with the same target customer (same team as a matter of fact); budget conscious consumers looking for a signature shoe.

If you haven’t noticed, budget friendly sig shoes are all the rage. Why pay $185 for KD 16 ny when you can get PG2 for $110? Dame 4 for $115? Kyrie 4 for $120? If you didn’t know the basic laws of supply and demand, more people are willing to purchase a product at a lower price if they see the higher priced item as equal. That’s how you move units without giving up a premium image.

Weight

14.5 ounces which is exactly the same weight as the PG2

Traction

Just a simple herringbone pattern that works. Standard rubber with a standard pattern and it works just fine, very similar to the Clutchfit Drive traction performance. Great on clean floors, needs some wiping on dusty floors to stay tacky. Nothing spectacular, no special storytelling but still very good overall.

Has sneaker traction technology changed much in seven years? A lot of my favorite traction patterns came before 2011 so it isn’t technology related, it’s just what they happened to use this time. At least KD 16 the storytelling to a minimum.

Cushioning

Forefoot Zoom and Phylon midsole. Sound familiar?

These feel almost like any other Nike set up with Zoom forefoot including the PG1. (I think the PG 2 feels a little softer overall). Works just fine. I remember when they released these, Nike would say KD “plays on his toes” so that’s why it’s forefoot Zoom only. What Nike forgot to mention is that it hurts their wallet to put Zoom in the heel for $88.

This set up just works fine. Nothing spectacular as you can feel the Zoom a little in the forefoot and the heel is cored out to give some extra give.

Fit

True to size

No heel slip from the get go, no movement side to side. These sit a little higher than most lows but not my much.

No fancy lace set up although this flap of leather is supposed to help but it’s attached to directly to the medial side of the shoe so you can’t get much more lockdown with this set up. You can choose a slightly lower lace set up at least.

These even have standard white flat laces. Can’t get much more mundane than that. No burrito, no asymmetrical, no one piece bootie…standard lace set ups just work.

Materials

The majority of the shoe is leather with just a little touch of Flywire and synthetic. This particular pair has patent leather on the lateral and medial panels.

Good luck finding this much leather for $88 let alone $150. It works just as well as any of the new materials out there but due to rising costs, much cheaper knits/mesh, and the call to go greener, we won’t be seeing this much anymore. But for Mother Earth, I’m willing to go with a more sustainable material.

Support and stability

I guess this a low but it’s a higher cut low like the PG2 and KD 16 Black. Support comes from the fit and standard heel counter. There is also a basic plastic midfoot shank that works fine as well.

Stability is great thanks to a flat outsole and forefoot outrigger

Once again, nothing new, nothing mind blowing, it just works.

Containment

No issues here. A little stiffer synthetic and Flywire at the forefoot and a raised outsole just keeps everything in place. Hmmm, who would have ever thunk to do that ? Oh yea, me.

Conclusion

Seven years later and it’s the same story as before, no issues at all with the KD3 . $88 would cost $96 today based on inflation so you are actually paying a little more for the PG2 than the KD3 in theory. You have to remember sneaker prices went into hyper drive for a few years then settled back down the past three.

Once again, it’s a matter of budget: how many bells, whistles, and signature allure do you need to buy this shoe? A good analogy for the KD III would be a 2011 Honda Civic; it’s priced affordably for all consumers, looks pretty good and can get me from A to B without fail. Do we need 350 HP cars with German engineering or a newer model to get us home on our daily commute? Absolutely not, but do we want it? Absolutely! Can we afford it… now thats the really question.

The same goes for shoes; do we need full length Boost or Zoom? Do we need the newest model to make us play better? Absolutely not, but boy do we want it. It’s consumerism at its finest.

PG2 Update

I’ve been playing in the PG2 sparingly the week and a half as I recover from my tournament and here are some of my thoughts.

Traction

A softer rubber and thinner pattern make the traction great. I already liked the PG1 traction but these having been working slightly better with a nice bite and minimal wiping. I love to see basics done right. Give me a good traction better with a decent fit and I’m usually a happy camper.

Cushioning

Nike put a bigger Zoom bag in the forefoot and I could tell a slight difference. It isn’t mind blowing Zoom but the feel is a little Zoomier than the PG1 which I thought felt very muted. The overall cushioning also feels an little softer and lower which I think everyone will like. Nike really disguised that Phylon feel with an ultra thick insole like they used last year.

Fit

True to size for everyone. I thought they were snug at first but they loosened up quickly. No heel slip, no side to side movement. I really should just copy and paste my KD3 review.

Materials

Mesh with some synthetic suede panels. Budget materials but it looks nicer than most budget shoes by breaking up the monotony with the placement of different colors and textures. Aside from a name and story telling, that’s the biggest difference you get with budget signature shoes in my opinion; sexier budget materials. As I said in my Harden review, premiumizing budget materials makes us feel like we got more value or bang for the buck.

Support and Stability

No issues here. Good fit and a normal flexing heel counter plus a flat outsole and outrigger set up.

Containment

The synthetic rand around the forefoot helps with the containment. Very similar idea to the KD3 but just done externally rather than integrated. It’s probably a lot cheaper to do it this way than to fuse it’s sew two different materials together. That’s why mesh and no sew uppers are so popular and prevalent now.

Summary

This is going to be another solid shoe from PG and Nike. Nike got the sneaker world buzzing with the PlayStation PG2 and that buzz carries over to the rest of the line. Brilliant idea Nike even if it has no real merit performance wise.

I won’t have this review done for another week or two due to Spring Break with the family but I think the consensus for the PG2 is pretty much same across the board, it just works just like the KD III.

Nike KD 3 Performance Analysis Review and PG update

The 88 dolla playa just works.

I was writing down my thoughts on the PG2 and forgot I had a few pair of these in my closet. I thought it would be interesting to review these since it’s basically the same idea with the same target customer (same team as a matter of fact); budget conscious consumers looking for a signature shoe.

If you haven’t noticed, budget friendly sig shoes are all the rage. Why pay $185 for KD 16 ny when you can get PG2 for $110? Dame 4 for $115? Kyrie 4 for $120? If you didn’t know the basic laws of supply and demand, more people are willing to purchase a product at a lower price if they see the higher priced item as equal. That’s how you move units without giving up a premium image.

Weight

14.5 ounces which is exactly the same weight as the PG2

Traction

Just a simple herringbone pattern that works. Standard rubber with a standard pattern and it works just fine, very similar to the Clutchfit Drive traction performance. Great on clean floors, needs some wiping on dusty floors to stay tacky. Nothing spectacular, no special storytelling but still very good overall.

Has sneaker traction technology changed much in seven years? A lot of my favorite traction patterns came before 2011 so it isn’t technology related, it’s just what they happened to use this time. At least KD 16 the storytelling to a minimum.

Cushioning

Forefoot Zoom and Phylon midsole. Sound familiar?

These feel almost like any other Nike set up with Zoom forefoot including the PG1. (I think the PG 2 feels a little softer overall). Works just fine. I remember when they released these, Nike would say KD “plays on his toes” so that’s why it’s forefoot Zoom only. What Nike forgot to mention is that it hurts their wallet to put Zoom in the heel for $88.

This set up just works fine. Nothing spectacular as you can feel the Zoom a little in the forefoot and the heel is cored out to give some extra give.

Fit

True to size

No heel slip from the get go, no movement side to side. These sit a little higher than most lows but not my much.

No fancy lace set up although this flap of leather is supposed to help but it’s attached to directly to the medial side of the shoe so you can’t get much more lockdown with this set up. You can choose a slightly lower lace set up at least.

These even have standard white flat laces. Can’t get much more mundane than that. No burrito, no asymmetrical, no one piece bootie…standard lace set ups just work.

Materials

The majority of the shoe is leather with just a little touch of Flywire and synthetic. This particular pair has patent leather on the lateral and medial panels.

Good luck finding this much leather for $88 let alone $150. It works just as well as any of the new materials out there but due to rising costs, much cheaper knits/mesh, and the call to go greener, we won’t be seeing this much anymore. But for Mother Earth, I’m willing to go with a more sustainable material.

Support and stability

I guess this a low but it’s a higher cut low like the PG2 and KD 16 Black. Support comes from the fit and standard heel counter. There is also a basic plastic midfoot shank that works fine as well.

Stability is great thanks to a flat outsole and forefoot outrigger

Once again, nothing new, nothing mind blowing, it just works.

Containment

No issues here. A little stiffer synthetic and Flywire at the forefoot and a raised outsole just keeps everything in place. Hmmm, who would have ever thunk to do that ? Oh yea, me.

Conclusion

Seven years later and it’s the same story as before, no issues at all with the KD3 . $88 would cost $96 today based on inflation so you are actually paying a little more for the PG2 than the KD3 in theory. You have to remember sneaker prices went into hyper drive for a few years then settled back down the past three.

Once again, it’s a matter of budget: how many bells, whistles, and signature allure do you need to buy this shoe? A good analogy for the KD III would be a 2011 Honda Civic; it’s priced affordably for all consumers, looks pretty good and can get me from A to B without fail. Do we need 350 HP cars with German engineering or a newer model to get us home on our daily commute? Absolutely not, but do we want it? Absolutely! Can we afford it… now thats the really question.

The same goes for shoes; do we need full length Boost or Zoom? Do we need the newest model to make us play better? Absolutely not, but boy do we want it. It’s consumerism at its finest.

PG2 Update

I’ve been playing in the PG2 sparingly the week and a half as I recover from my tournament and here are some of my thoughts.

Traction

A softer rubber and thinner pattern make the traction great. I already liked the PG1 traction but these having been working slightly better with a nice bite and minimal wiping. I love to see basics done right. Give me a good traction better with a decent fit and I’m usually a happy camper.

Cushioning

Nike put a bigger Zoom bag in the forefoot and I could tell a slight difference. It isn’t mind blowing Zoom but the feel is a little Zoomier than the PG1 which I thought felt very muted. The overall cushioning also feels an little softer and lower which I think everyone will like. Nike really disguised that Phylon feel with an ultra thick insole like they used last year.

Fit

True to size for everyone. I thought they were snug at first but they loosened up quickly. No heel slip, no side to side movement. I really should just copy and paste my KD3 review.

Materials

Mesh with some synthetic suede panels. Budget materials but it looks nicer than most budget shoes by breaking up the monotony with the placement of different colors and textures. Aside from a name and story telling, that’s the biggest difference you get with budget signature shoes in my opinion; sexier budget materials. As I said in my Harden review, premiumizing budget materials makes us feel like we got more value or bang for the buck.

Support and Stability

No issues here. Good fit and a normal flexing heel counter plus a flat outsole and outrigger set up.

Containment

The synthetic rand around the forefoot helps with the containment. Very similar idea to the KD3 but just done externally rather than integrated. It’s probably a lot cheaper to do it this way than to fuse it’s sew two different materials together. That’s why mesh and no sew uppers are so popular and prevalent now.

Summary

This is going to be another solid shoe from PG and Nike. Nike got the sneaker world buzzing with the PlayStation PG2 and that buzz carries over to the rest of the line. Brilliant idea Nike even if it has no real merit performance wise.

I won’t have this review done for another week or two due to Spring Break with the family but I think the consensus for the PG2 is pretty much same across the board, it just works just like the KD III.

adidas Dame Certified Review

The adidas Dame Certified is Damian Lillard’s budget model for the year, a very solid performance basketball shoe overall.

Colorway: Black/ Green / White

Release Date: 2023

Price: $95

The adidas Dame Certified is Damian Lillard´s latest budget signature model, and the only Dame shoe Lillard will be getting during the 2022-23 season. It seems like adidas may be eliminating the main Dame signature line, but they will be keeping the Certified line, which isn’t great news for Dame fans. The good news is that the Dame Certified is no joke and it packs a considerable performance punch. On top of that the Dame Certified retails for just $95, which makes it one of the budget models of the year. It’s also one of the best adidas basketball shoes overall and one of the best outdoor basketball shoes out there.

adidas Dame Certified Traction

Traction might be the shoe’s best feature. The shoe is equipped with a beefy solid rubber outsole, with a grippy wavebone traction pattern. This setup offers really great multidirectional coverage both indoors and outdoors, but what makes it exceptional is the durability of the rubber.

Not every shoe nowadays is well-equipped for outdoor use, but this one definitely is, and that versatility is to be appreciated. But aside from the versatility of the outsole and the traction pattern, the fact is the shoe offers elite grip no matter the surface you play on.

adidas Dame Certified Cushion

The adidas Dame Certified features full-length Bounce cushioning. Bounce usually offers a very well-balanced ride on court with a nice combination of impact protection and reactiveness. In this case, this iteration of Bounce is much more on the reactive side of things. This is great to keep you feeling speedy and agile on court.

This setup is especially great on a bouncy playing surface, like a parquet floor, or a nice plush PVC surface. Outdoors that Bounce cushioning will offer just enough impact protection to keep you on the blacktop for extended periods.

adidas Dame Certified Materials

Materials are another highlight of the shoe. Although there is nothing premium on the shoe the layering and implementation of the materials adidas used on the shoe is great. We have a mix of textiles, synthetic nubuck, and synthetic leather. The combination and construction of the upper make the shoe feel much more premium than it really is.

Where the materials are placed also enhances the performance of the shoe, adding containment and support in all the areas you’ll need it. As far as budget models go, the adidas Dame Certified features the best material setup of the year, rivaled only by the materials on the adidas harden vol 7.

adidas Dame Certified Support

Support and containment are also very good. There is nothing groundbreaking or innovative about the Dame Certified but everything on the shoe works together to offer a very stable and safe experience on court. The shoe features a very wide base with a lot of contact surface with the court, the Bounce cushioning is very stable, and the upper offers excellent containment.

Synthetic leather overlays are placed on either side of the forefoot to keep you on the footbed during linear movements. Synthetic nubuck wings on either side of the midfoot add lateral containment and there’s a heel counter and a TPU reinforcement in the heel for added stability. Nothing special, but everything works together to keep you feeling safe and supported.

adidas Dame Certified Fit

The adidas Dame Certified fits true to size, so go with whatever size you usually use with adidas. The upper conforms well to your foot and requires no break in time.

adidas Dame Certified Overall

The adidas Dame Certified is a very nice performance basketball shoe, which becomes all the more attractive when we consider the price and its versatility. For $95 you get full-length Bounce cushioning, really great traction that grips both indoors and outdoors tremendously well, and excellent materials that have been implemented very well to boost performance.

The biggest drawback of the Dame Certified might be the cushioning system, which might not offer enough impact protection for every type of player. But aside from that, the Dame Certified is a very reasonably priced, well-rounded performance basketball model with amazing traction.

Nike Pegasus 40 Review

The Nike Pegasus line turns the big four-oh so you’d expect Nike to really go all out for the Nike Pegasus 40 right? Nope! The tooling and outsole from the Nike Pegasus 39 stay exactly the same but with a (slightly) updated upper. I guess 40 isn’t all that special after all. Cue all our readers in their 40s nodding vigorously.

Maybe they’re saving the big splash for 50. At least the price stayed the same. We’ll take the wins where we can get them. Especially with Nike, where, thanks to the SNKRS app, Ls are plentiful.

Release Date: April 2023

Price: $130

Weight: Men’s 9.4 oz., Women’s 7.7 oz.

Drop: 10mm

Sizing: True to size

• Rundown: The Nike Pegasus 40 is largely the same as the Pegasus 39 but features an improved upper.

Cushion

The Nike Pegasus 40 cushion is a React foam midsole, a typical oval Zoom Air bag in the forefoot, and a standard rectangular Zoom Air bag in the heel. It’s a minimal cushion setup by today’s running shoe standards.

Upper

The Pegasus 39 upper improved a ton over the horrible Nike Pegasus 37 upper and solid Nike Pegasus 38 upper. The Nike Pegasus 40 upper takes it to a new level with improved lacing, fit, and lockdown. It’s the best Pegasus upper in over four years.

Outsole

The Nike Pegasus 40 outsole being the same as the Lebron 20 is a good thing. It’s a pattern that grips well in all weather conditions and the rubber is thick and durable. The outsole is so durable it will last longer than the Pegasus 40 cushioning.

Is the Nike Pegasus 40 wide foot friendly?

The Nike Pegasus 40 is on the narrow side, like most Nikes, but is available in a wide version on Nike’s website. The wide version is not typically available at other retailers.

Is the Nike Pegasus 40 worth $130?

While the Pegasus 40 is a solid value at $130 there are several options I’d recommend for more value when considering buying this shoe.

You can buy the similar, but better overall,  Shadow AF-1  for $120. It’s bouncier with a better upper and outsole. Or you could spend $10 more and grab the high-performing Asics Novablast 3 or Hoka Clifton 9. Both of those shoes deliver way more cushioning and bounce than the Pegasus 40 alongside more accommodating uppers and similar or better durability.

I’d also recommend considering the Nike Vomero 16. It’s on our Best Running Shoes list for a reason. Its combo of large volume forefoot Zoom Air bag, ZoomX foam, more accommodating fit, and plusher, more comfortable upper make it the Best Nike daily running shoe available right now.

Cons

Nothing much to put here except that the total Pegasus 40 package is underwhelming. Nike’s daily trainers, led by the iconic Pegasus line, have fallen behind the competition in terms of technology, fit, and fun factor. It’s hard for us to recommend the Pegasus 40 over any of the neutral running shoes on our Best Neutral Running Shoes list or our overall Best Running Shoes list.

Nike Pegasus 40 Summary

The Nike Pegasus 40 is a solid shoe. But also kinda meh and hard to get excited about. It’s now an old standby and long-time Pegasus lovers will enjoy some good improvements over previous Pegasuses (Pegasi?). But if you’re looking for fun, innovative, high stack foam, or superior bounce…you’ll need to look elsewhere.

The Pegasus is no longer a shoe that’s pushing boundaries in the running industry. Hopefully, Nike has plans to get the Pegasus back where it belongs as a hip, fun, and innovative daily trainer. But for now, it’s just a ho-hum shoe that won’t generate any excitement.

Air Jordan 12 Low Golf Performance Review

When the Jordan Brand started expanding into the golf world, I was their target demographic. I’m a basketball player at heart and always will be. I bought the Jordan ADG golf shoe and loved them so much, I bought a second pair. But when it came to the Retro releases like the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf, I was hesitant to take that leap.

The Retros scared me for 2 reasons – the price tag, and the performance. As someone with kids and a mortgage I didn’t want to spend $220 on shoes I only played golf in, especially if they didn’t do what I needed them to do. I love MJ but I also like winning my golf league, and if those shoes are going to hurt my chances, they won’t be on my feet.

This past weekend I was able to test a pair of the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf out and I was shocked by the results. I’ll be breaking down my thoughts into the top 4 things I look for in a golf shoe: style, traction, cushion, and support.

Style

There is a reason that the Air Jordan 12 is considered by almost everyone to be one of the, if not THE, best-looking Jordan shoes of all time. Inspired by a 19th-century fashion boot and the Japanese Nisshhoki flag, the first flagship shoe released under the Jordan Brand moniker is instantly recognizable, and a timeless classic. The beauty of this shoe is its simplicity and the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf version of this classic sticks to the heart of what makes it great.

There is one golf-specific change to the heel tab that I absolutely love though. Where the basketball version says “Jordan – Quality Inspired by the Greatest Player Ever”, the golf version replaces that with “Golf – For the Love of 18”. It’s a small change but a great detail.

Traction

There are two connections in golf that mean more than anything else – our connection to the club and our connection to the ground. Power is generated from the ground up and if a shoe can’t be counted on to keep me grounded, then it’s useless to me.

I tested the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf in very soggy conditions after a couple of days of rain and I am happy to report that sliding was not an issue at all. The bottom of the shoe features a herringbone tread pattern as well as 7 removable soft spikes that provide a great amount of traction. I’m a big guy that generates a lot of force and I didn’t slip once during an 18-hole round.

Cushion

The original Air Jordan 12 came equipped with a full-length Zoom Air unit and that’s what you’ll find in the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf as well. And while the airbag is under your whole foot, the place I felt most cushioned was in the heel, which is where a lot of golf shoes fall short. This is just another example of the Jordan Golf team executing something simple in a great way.

Support

The other feature that the basketball and golf versions have in common is the carbon fiber shank plate. I’d be lying if I said that while I was playing I was thinking “man I’m glad that shank plate is there” but the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf is a stable shoe that will keep you locked in.

As someone who has had more than his fair share of sprained ankles, finding a shoe that will keep my foot and ankle joints secure is something that’s very important to me. Because of the premium I place on stability, I’m willing to make sacrifices on footwear that other people may not, which brings me to the two factors that people might not love about the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf.

The first thing that might rub people the wrong way is the cut of this shoe. These are officially called the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf, and while they might be considered a “low” on a basketball court, I wouldn’t say it’s the case on a golf course. If you’re someone who is used to a traditional golf shoe cut and the way they fit, then this shoe might not be for you.

Another element that helps with the support but could also be a negative to some people is the leather that is being used in the upper. I think it’s important to remember what this shoe actually is – a recreation of a 90s basketball shoe, and back then we weren’t as concerned with things being lightweight or breathable.

Where I live we haven’t cracked 80 for more than 3 hours yet this year so I have tested the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf in pretty chilly temperatures. I could see that leather and the lack of ventilation being a problem when the heat and humidity start to rise. I’m no stranger to sweating buckets into basketball shoes but even I will admit that when the thermometer KD 15, I will probably be reaching for a different shoe option that day.

Air Jordan 12 Low Golf Summary

 

I will fully admit that the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf was made with someone like me in mind. That being said, there’s a reason why I never had a pair until a couple of weeks ago. I’m sure I’m like a lot of people out there who were worried that the price tag wouldn’t match the performance, and for some people, this shoe still might not.

The Air Jordan 12 Low Golf is a basketball shoe at its core and has a different feel than traditional golf shoes. But if you’re anything like me (and the rest of the WearTesters team) and grew up in basketball shoes, I can definitively say that you’ll love these.