Jordan 38 Review: A Flagship Jordan Done Right

The Jordan 38 is a big improvement on the Jordan 37 and just might end up being the best basketball shoe of 2023-24.

Colorway: Gym Red/Fir/Black/White

Release Date: 2023

Price: $200

9/10

Total Score

The Jordan 38 is one of the most highly anticipated models of 2023, as most flagship Jordans are, but on top of that, these just might be the best basketball shoes of the year.

The Jordan 38 serves as a sort of revamp of the flagship Jordan line, as it does away with all of the tech that the Jordan Brand has been featuring in these models in recent years: No eclipse plate, no unlocked Zoom, and no see-through hole in the midsole.

It is also one of the better-looking flagship Jordans that we have seen in a while and the tribute paid in the design of the shoe to 0 is subtle and very well done. So, having said all of this, let’s jump into the performance review and see whythe Jordan 38 just might be the best hoop shoe of 2023.

Jordan 38 Review

Jordan 38 Tech Specs:

Jordan 38 Traction

In this colorway, the Jordan 38 comes equipped with a translucent rubber outsole, with an aggressive, full-length herringbone traction pattern, which is a tried and tested pattern that offers great multidirectional coverage on court. After a brief first test on a hardwood floor, this traction feels super grippy and should work great.

That translucent rubber and the relatively shallow traction pattern do not bode well for outdoor use, however. We have seen some colorways of the Jordan 38 that do feature solid rubber, which may be more outdoor-friendly, but, for now, we’ll have to wait and see. But also, who is buying the Jordan 38 for outdoor use?

Jordan 38 Cushion

This might be the best feature of the Jordan 38. First, we have a full-length Zoom Air Strobel, which Jordan seems to have commandeered from Nike at this point. Nike’s (or Jordan’s) Zoom Air Strobel is an excellent piece of tech that provides a very well-balanced ride on court that will give you more than enough impact protection and reactiveness as you play.

Underneath the Zoom Air Strobele=, we have an injected Phylon midsole which is firm and bouncy, and underneath that, we have Cushlon 3.0, Nike’s top-tier foam cushioning. This Cushlon unit is full-length, plush, and responsive. Just great.

Jordan 38 Materials

The Jordan 38 has a very minimalist, lightweight build that combines textiles and synthetic leather. In fact, a good portion of the shoe is see-through. But the good news is that, unlike the Jordan 37, this part of the build feels like it will be able to offer all of the support and containment you’ll need on court while keeping the shoe lightweight, very breathable, and with a very minimal break-in time.

We have synthetic Nubuck and leather in the heel and toebox of the shoe for added containment. It’s nothing premium but it does feel good in hand which is a plus.

Also, the logo on the neoprene tongue of the shoe pays tribute (loosely) to the Jordan 8. The tongue of the Jordan 38 is very comfortable and has huge perforations punched out to add ventilation and reduce weight even further.    

Jordan 38 Support

The stand-out support feature on the Jordan 38 also pays tribute to the Jordan 8. The 8 had that iconic cross strap on the midfoot of the shoe, and in the 38 we have an X-shaped spring plate that you can see through the sole of the shoe.

This X plate covers the midfoot and forefoot of the shoe. The “arms” of that X shape provide torsional rigidity while the axis point will give you springy reactiveness as you move. A great little piece of tech, and a very clever implementation.

Everything else in terms of support and containment is what you would expect from a modern hoop shoe (wide base, outriggers, heel counter, etc.) and should perform well.

Jordan 38 Fit

The Jordan 38 fits true to size, so go with whatever size you usually wear. For those shopping online, don’t be alarmed if the shoes look a bit small, it’s just an optical illusion, try them on and you will see that they are the right size.

Jordan 38 Overall

The Jordan 37 was a bit of a disappointment in terms of on-court performance, and aesthetically it is one of the least “Jordan-looking” Jordans of all time. The Jordan 38 on the other hand feels like a grand slam of a shoe. The new tech that they have packed into this model feels great and should offer a premium experience on the hardwood, and it just looks and feels like a flagship Jordan should. The Jordan 38 has a great shot at becoming the best basketball shoe of 2023-24.  

TheNike SB Dunk Low review

Everyone who likes sneakers knows this one, and even Skateboarders who aren't into Nike SB have at least heard of it or maybe seen it in the Nike SB movie "What the Super Mario" . The characteristical toebox has been copied many times by every skateshoe brand out there. Since day one, it has been the flagship of the whole SB line.

This is a review of the Nike Sb Dunk low from a skateboarder’s view.

To start at the beginning: If you decide to get some Dunks for skating be sure to get the right size. The recomendation is to buy them true to size. The shoe will stretch after several wears, especially the suede models, but also the leather ones, because the cusion in the heel will lose its original dimentions when put under pressure. If you buy them half a size too big, the cababillity of the shoe to hold your foot tightly in the right position will be lost, which might leed to ankle twists or other such injurys.

The break-in time that the Dunk takes is almost non existing, especially the suede models,
which are ready out of the box.The full leather ones might take a bit longer to break in, but after a few walk in them before you start skating them they are fine as well. If the still feel a little stiff, just bend the sole in all possible directions a few times to increase the flexibility.

Durability:

The durability of a shoe is largely affected by the way it's built in the key areas. More layers of strong and
resistant material will last longer than fewer layers of weaker material, such as canvas. The Dunk has a 4-layer toebox. From the outside there is a layer of suede/leather, a layer or durable
rubber/plastic, a second layer of suede or leather and finally a layer of the inner material, normally some kind of woven canvas.

The Dunk is really durable compared with shoes by other companys in the same category. How long a pair will last will depend on how often they are skated in and the tricks people do, but they hold up very well for their construction and the boardfeel they provide.

Some other shoe models have soles that wear out faster than the upper. The sole gets holes in them, the
grip wears away, while the upper remains intact.

This is not the case with the Dunk. The sole of the Dunks is durable but still provides a great contact with
the board. The design of the sole is roughly structured and the grooves are deep, so it takes longer to become slick. Although there's no optional physical lace protection or hidden lace loops, the laces last longer than most compareable models because of the high cut of the inside and outside panels of the Dunk. This means the laces need to be tied relatively tightly, which provides some protection for the laces.
Before the introduction of the SB line, the Dunk had been improved for skateboarding from the original basketball model with the Pro B range. However, there are some weak areas that, although they don’t effect the over-all performance, do cause the shoe to look worn out faster.
The first weak spot is the toebox, which is secured with double stitching.. Since the layers of the toebox area aren't glued together, the shoe will start to fall apart once the stiching (that admittedly do hold up pretty well) are worn through.

The swoosh isn't glued on either, or is just single stiched, the same thing will happening to it. This is especially the case when doing a lot of heelflips or general tricks that involve the back part of the shoe.
Another weakness is caused by the inner lining of the Dunk, which bends slightly to the outsides of the shoe, and the mesh tongue. Both sections rip quickly when in contact with griptape.
Although these weak spots, and the swoosh problem, don't affect the performance of the shoe, they make it appear kind of ugly after only a few wears. A much more substencial problem is the unglued toebox, which could be easily fixed by Nike in the future. Until then, it can be reduced by putting a thin line of super glue on the toebox stiching, which will add protection to the stitcing.

Breathability:
Breathability is an often-underrated element of skateshoes, especially since the revival of minimalistic vulcanised shoes that classicaly lack materials that allow airflow out of the shoe. But whoever has skated on a hot summers day for several hours knows the feeling of "cooking feet" that breathable shoes can reduce.
Since most Dunks, with a few exceptions , don't use mesh on their uppers, the breathability is completely dependent on the few holes in the toebox and the tongue. And since the tongue is stuffed, the airflow here is reduced. As a result, the breathability of the shoe isn't too good. The part of your feet that is covered by the tongue especially gets critically hot in the summer, up to the point where it's a
pleasure to take the shoes off.

Boardfeeling/Shape/stickyness:

The boardfeeling and stickyness of the sole used on the Dunk is extremely good for ashoe with a cupsole.You could even go so far as to say that there are vulcanised shoes out there that provide less boardfeeling and stickyness.
Although my goal is to write an as objective review as possible, i'm very picky when it comes to soles. I can't stand slippery soles at all, and was very pessimistic about the Dunk in the beginning. However, it satisfied my high expectations completely.The good boardfeeling has its roots in the low design of the midsole and the fact that there's simply not much material between sole and the inner part of the shoe. The 5 mm zoom air airbag supports this whole concept. On one hand, it protects your heels against heel bruises, on the other, it keeps your foot as close to the board as possible. I wouldn't recommend skating a 12 stair with Dunks though, because the shoe isn't specifically designed for it. Another important feature is the shape of the toebox, since that's the part of the shoe that you "work" with the most, from doing an ollie to complex flip tricks. The toebox of the Dunk combines the best from two different shapes, it's in the middle between an arrow shaped toebox (think Lakai Manchester) and a round toebox, like the Lakai mj-3 or the Adidas Campus. Because of this combined shape, most skaters feel comfortable with it, perhaps even when they normally would prefer a clear arrow/round shaped toebox.

If you compare the overall impression of the Dunk compared with shoes of other brands they have a rather tight and narrow shape. If you lace them really loose they get a "fatter" shape, but several skate shoes of other brands are still way bigger and more stuffed.

The described cut is especially an advantage for skaters with narrow feet that normally "get lost" in shoes by other companies. Dunks still fit quite close to your foot if you like your skateshoes laced loose. If a narrow shape is important for you, you should, in general, pretty much choose between either Lakai, Vans or Nike SB.

Comfort/Support:
The Dunk feels comfortable on your feet. The stuffing is concentrated in key areas, which means only the heel has thick stuffing. The middle and front don't have stuffing materials except for in the tongue.

On one hand, this composition is supportive for the overall boardfeeling of the shoe, on the
other, your feet will get hurt easier. A main disadvantage of the Dunk is the lack of support
in the heel area. This area generally consists of more than just leather and suede layerssewed together.

In many skateshoes you'll find an additional support element, which is made out of either plastic or a special cardboard. The bigger and stronger this element is,the more support the whole shoe will provide, preventing twisted and bruised ankles. This element in the dunk is neither big nor very strong, you can test it by simply squeezing the heel., If you compare different shoes and brands you'll find that the Dunk is pretty weak in this area. You can diminish this weakness by lacing them tight and up until the last whole, but it will be a higher risk for your feet compared with stiffer shoes.

Improvements:
Althought it seemed that Nike SB wants to keep the original shape and feel of the Dunk, there are some minor improvements that would improve the overall performance without changing the shape.
The toebox area could have hidden stiching, like Nike already do with the Harbor shoe.

This means the toebox doesn't need to be glued on but the durability would be much better. This is also the case for the swoosh, which falls off far too easily.

The tongue straps could be bigger and maybe placed a bit higher up the tongue to stop it bending in an almost horizontal way if you just lace the first 5 holes, which most people do.
This would also add some support.

Finally, there should be more leather or suede tongues instead of mesh. The mesh looks ugly after a few sessions because it gets destroyed so quickly. The mesh doesn't even provide much breathability anyway. So a perforated leather/suede tongue would be more durable and allow just as much airflow as the already-existing mesh tongue.
Another solution might be a top part of the tongue made from leather, while the rest of the tongue that's hidden under the laces stays mesh.

“One sentence summary”:
The Dunk low is a basic and universal shape that most skateboarders will like. Except for the breathability and the heel support the Dunk is a great skate shoe that is grippy, has a balanced amount of board feel and is quite durable.

Thanks to Tim Weissberg who had a look at the grammar and spelling

Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf: Grass Volleyball Review

The Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf is a fairly unassuming shoe (despite a very long name). It’s not exactly a huge line and it doesn’t have a big name attached to it (Zoom Trout review coming soon). To start this summer off, I tested the Zoom Trout, the Nike Dunk Low What the Super Mario (the .5 was unexpectedly incredible in the grass. The 6 loses that magic traction and also is way too warm to use in the sun), and the Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf.

I didn’t expect the latter to be not only my favorite grass shoe of the group but also possibly my favorite overall. Keep reading to find out what makes the Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf such a great grass shoe.

Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf

• Rundown: The Nike Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf is a turf shoe meant for baseball that also works great for grass volleyball.

Pros

• Traction
• Lockdown and Stability

Cons

• Cushion
• Mud

Pros

Traction

Traction is always the most important feature in a sport performance sneaker. In the grass, it’s so important that other features are really afterthoughts. Grass gives some cushioning by itself, and on uneven ground, most shoes are pretty unstable no matter what. The best thing your shoe can do is provide traction.

The Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf has soft rubber cleats that give traction in multiple directions. This is an advantage over trail runners, which are primarily meant to grip when moving straight forward. These cleats are soft, loose rubber, so they’re safe and legal (regular cleats are frowned upon because they can hurt other players’ feet and if they grip too well you are risking serious knee injuries). I have tried these on grass that was dry, wet, long, short, thick, sparse, and even mostly dust/dirt. They aren’t perfect, but they are the most surefooted I have felt in grass shoes.

I will add that there is an exception to this: thick mud. I’ll expand on this in the cons section.

Lockdown and Stability

The Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf is not the most high-tech or flashy sneaker, but it’s well-designed. Sometimes the fundamentals are all you need. One of the most important roles of sports footwear is providing confidence in movement. Traction is the first piece of this, but then comes lockdown and stability. You can think of it from the ground up. The outsole should grip the ground without sliding (traction), it should stay relatively flat on the ground (stability), and your foot should stay in place in the shoe (lockdown). If all three of these things happen, you can focus on the sport instead of your footing.

In the Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf, your foot sits a little low into the midsole, which helps it stay in place inside the shoe. There’s not really an outrigger on the shoe, and there’s no added lateral containment, but it’s definitely as stable as any shoe can be on grass. The laces are very basic, but they work great. The Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf has simple, effective stability and lockdown. They’re not as fun or exciting as something with air jordan 38 playoffs or a carbon plate, but they’re good enough that you forget you’re wearing them and feel confident moving around.

Cons

Cushion

The cushion in the midsole is nothing special. It’s Nike Dunk, a relatively stiff foam, and since you sit low in it, there isn’t much under your foot at all. In the grass, this usually doesn’t matter. In fact, it’s generally better for stability if there isn’t too much cushioning since grass can be soft if it’s rained recently. But on dry grass, or mostly dead grass and dirt courts, you can really start to feel the landings adding up. Just think about what the grass you usually play on looks like, and decide based on that.

Mud

The traction on these shoes is among the best I have tested in the grass. Trail runners might have a slight advantage, but they have other issues (they’re not designed for direction changes and jumping). These performed excellently in almost all conditions. The exception is mud.

I tested these in a particularly rainy tournament (shout out to the Pottstown Rumble), and they held traction well at first. As the ground became muddy, though, the soft rubber cleats were completely caked in mud, deep into the seams that the rubber comes out of. This happens with other shoes and even trail runner lugs, but not as fast and as severely as with the rubber “cleats”. I tried to keep scraping the mud out, but I ended up switching to other shoes I had with me.

Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf Summary

The Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 4 Turf is not a flashy sneaker (I do wish it came in brighter colorways). It does what it needs to do though, and for that reason, it’s an excellent choice for grass volleyball.

I feel like every shoe I’ve tested in the grass has had a trade-off of some sort. For indoors, most shoes are good and some are great. For grass, most shoes are kinda bad and some are good. This is an example of a good shoe. Its only trade-off comes in either extremely dry weather or extremely muddy weather. In those extremes, you’re probably going to have issues anyways. For that reason, these are my current pick for the best grass volleyball shoe.

Nike KD 16 Review: Major Changes, Still Great?

The Nike KD 16 presents a bunch of changes from the Nike KD 15, but it still might become one of the best basketball shoes of 2023-24.

Colorway: Crimson Red

Release Date: 2023

Price: $160

 

9/10

Total Score

Kevin Durant’s signature line has been churning out bangers since the Nike KD 12 and the introduction of the full-length Zoom Air Strobel. The KD 12, 13, 14, and 15 have all been great all-around basketball shoes, that level up thanks to the plush yet responsive cushioning that the great Zoom Air Strobel provides.

Well, the Nike KD 16 is switching things up in a big way. Instead of the setup that we have come to know and love in the past years, we have something very comfortable, but very different. In any case, the KD 16 looks like it could be one of the best basketball shoes of the year, so let’s dive into the review and see everything the Nike KD 16 has to offer.

Nike KD 16 Review

Nike KD 16 Tech Specs:

Nike KD 16 Traction

In terms of traction, the KD 16 comes equipped with a translucent outsole (at least in this colorway) with a very interesting traction pattern, that looks like gears or cogs. As weird as it might be, it should work well on court because in terms of performance what that pattern ends up being is a radial traction pattern with great multidirectional coverage. 

The translucent rubber Nike has used in this model is rather tough, but the traction pattern itself isn’t very deep, which means the KD 16 won’t be a great outdoor option. However, you can always try to get your hands on an overseas edition that features XDR rubber if you’re interested in using these outdoors.

Nike KD 16 Cushion

Here is where we have all of the major changes in the KD 16. Instead of a full-length Zoom Air Strobel what we have is a dual-density setup. From the midfoot to the heel we have an AIR Strobel, very similar to the one that was featured in the Jordan Zion 2. In the forefoot, we have a large Zoom Air unit that covers most of that area.

These two units are housed within a Cushlon foam midsole. This is a very different setup to the KD 15, but still a very comfortable one.

But why the change? The KD 16 design seems to be inspired loosely by the Nike Air Penny 2, and this change in the cushioning might be to mimic the setup in that shoe. Whatever the case may be, it’s comfortable and will give you a well-balanced ride on court.

Nike KD 16 Materials

The Materials on the Nike KD 16 are what we have come to expect from a KD shoe. We have a combination of a textile mesh and “leather”, all of which are synthetic. The build flexes well, it conforms and contains your foot, it’s very well-ventilated, and requires little to no break-in time. Nothing is premium on the shoe but everything should perform well.

Nike KD 16 Support

The most prominent support feature is the Nike Air Max 1 The Bay–esque TPU panel on either side of the shoe. These two pieces should offer all the lateral containment you need while making moves. On top of that, we have a TPU spring plate that goes from the midfoot all the way to the forefoot. This should provide torsional support and a nice springy feeling as you run.

The KD 16 also provides a very wide and stable base, with slightly rounded edges for added mobility. And, lastly, we have a decent heel counter to keep your heel locked down. This package should be more than enough to keep most players stable and secure on court.

Nike KD 16 Fit

The KD 16 fits true to size, but it’s a very snug “true to size”. This is optimal for performance but may be uncomfortable for some. If you have had issues with this type of fit in the past, we suggest trying these on in-store.

Nike KD 16 Overall

Even though the KD 16 is a very different shoe from what we have been accustomed to in recent years, it should still be an excellent performance model and should easily make our list of the best basketball shoes of the year.

What you can expect from the KD 16 is great indoor traction, a well-balanced cushioning system that will offer both impact protection and reactiveness on court, and a secure feeling shoe that will fit like a glove. 

Nike Blazers Demystified: Basketball Shoes or Something Else?

Are Nike Blazers basketball shoes or something more? This question has sparked debates among sneaker enthusiasts and sports fans alike.

While Blazers have roots in basketball, their influence has extended beyond the court, captivating the worlds of fashion, street culture, and skateboarding. With their iconic design and versatile appeal, Nike Blazers Demystified effectively blur the lines between sports and style.

Let’s delve into the multifaceted nature of Blazers and explore why they’ve become much more than just basketball shoes!

The Burning Question: Are Blazers Basketball Shoes?

The short answer is: yes, Blazers are basketball shoes in every sense of the word.

But why the confusion? Why is there even doubt about the Blazer’s pedigree as a basketball shoe?

Over the years, Blazers have transcended their original purpose and become a fashion statement, embraced by sneaker enthusiasts and style-conscious streetwear followers.

 

Blazers have evolved beyond their original purpose as performance basketball shoes and have become fashion icons. Their popularity in fashion might lead some people to question their credibility as serious basketball footwear.

Of course, Blazers have a rich history in basketball, with a legacy spanning decades. While part of the Blazer legend is due to its widespread popularity in fashion, they still maintain the performance features necessary for the sport.

Why are Nike Blazers a Good Choice for Basketball?

Besides being fashion icons, Nike Blazers have earned a reputation for providing the necessary support, traction, and stability for basketball players to perform at their best on the court.

Let’s take a look at why Nike Dunk are highly regarded as basketball shoes and how they elevate the game for athletes and others who lace them up:

Traction: Nike Blazers offer excellent traction during use, thanks to the herringbone tread and durable vulcanized rubber soles. The tread patterns on the sole help improve maneuverability on the court’s surface.

 

Materials: Nike Blazers feature durable suede and leather uppers, making them well-suited for the demands of basketball. These materials ensure longevity, provide crucial support for the feet and heels, and improve stability during gameplay.

Support: The mid-top versions of Nike Blazers offer superior ankle support and protection, making them ideal for running and dribbling. With their high-top design, each pair provides added stability and protection for the ankle.

Blazers vs. Other Basketball Shoes: Style, Performance, and Functionality

When choosing the right basketball shoes, the options can be overwhelming. Among the many choices available, Nike Blazers stand out as a distinct and iconic footwear option for both on and off the court.

 

But how do Blazers stack up against other basketball shoes regarding style, performance, and functionality?

One key factor that sets Blazers apart is their unique and timeless design. With their retro-inspired aesthetic and classic silhouette, Blazers exude a sense of style that appeals to sneaker enthusiasts and fashion-conscious individuals.

In terms of performance, Blazers may not offer the same level of advanced features as specialized basketball shoes. But they still provide adequate support, cushioning, and traction for recreational play. Blazers are particularly popular among streetball players and those seeking a combination of style and moderate performance.

 

Functionality is another aspect to consider. Blazers are extremely versatile, as they can be worn for various occasions beyond basketball. They are suitable for everyday wear and can complement various outfits, making them ideal for those seeking a shoe that transcends the court.

Admittedly, Blazers may not meet the needs of professional athletes or those who require advanced performance technologies. While they may not be the go-to choice for professional athletes or those seeking cutting-edge performance features, Blazers hold a special place in the sneaker world and appeal to individuals who appreciate their iconic design and versatility.