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i love this gameadidas Son of Chi 2 Performance Review
adidas Son of Chi 2
The adidas Son of Chi 2 is the best adidas basketball shoe of 2022 so far. Most players will enjoy playing in them.
Release Date: 2022
Price: TBA
The adidas Son of Chi 2 is Derrick Rose’s newest signature sneaker, and visually, it looks like an evolution of last year’s adidas Son of Chi. The tech specs are generally the same, but that isn’t bad. Why go away from something that already works? While technically the Son of Chi line is not a number D Rose signature model, I think it brings a lot to the table and many players of all positions will enjoy this shoe.
Traction
Translucent rubber is a hit-or-miss deal with most brands. This one’s an absolute hit! On wooden floors, whether dusty or immaculate, it bites well enough for you to stop on a dime. I was worried about its durability because it is translucent, but I was happy to discover that it’s durable. The grooves are thick, and the rubber is tough, making it a great outdoor option. There are flex grooves all throughout the outsole, so your foot remains flexible on all moves.
Cushion
The midsole is full-length Bounce, the same as the Dunk. However, they don’t feel the same. This shoe does better with impact protection without feeling cumbersome. I never felt it compress, but I also didn’t feel my legs, back, or feet hurt even after 2.5 hours of play on concrete. It’s amazing! I would compare it to World Balance’s S-Ride foam that’s found in the Scottie 1. And compression lines aren’t abundant, which tells us that this foam will last longer than others.
Materials
The adidas Son of Chi 2’s whole upper is one piece without any seams. It’s a complete synthetic mesh build with fuse and thick stitched overlays for durability. The toe box is specially reinforced. The tongue is more open-celled and has a smooth feel. It’s not dynamic, but it is consistent and comfortable.
Fit
The fit is not quite adidas Pro N3XT 2021 true-to-size, but close. Both lengthwise and widthwise, the shoe felt perfect. I would recommend true-to-size for almost everyone, but those with extremely wide feet should probably go up half a size to be safe.
Support
The base is wide, so hard lateral movements and cuts are well accommodated even though there’s no outrigger. Because of the additional stitching and fuse overlays, the upper doesn’t over-stretch where you’re going over the footbed. There are two heel counters: one internal and another external. Both are hard as a rock, so they’ll both last a long while and make sure your ankle doesn’t go anywhere it’s not supposed to. The Achilles notches also help secure your heel. Lastly, the shoe has no noticeable drop, so you remain stable and level every time you play.
adidas Son of Chi 2 Overall
The adidas Son of Chi 2 is the best adidas basketball shoe of 2022. It has everything you need and nothing that you don’t. I know that Bounce can seem like an outdated cushion, especially with the introduction of BouncePro in the air jordan 37, but it still works when done right. The traction works on all court conditions and surfaces while remaining durable. I enjoyed my time in them and will keep them in my rotation.
Asics GEL-ACE PRO M Performance Review
How does Asics running DNA benefit their newest golf shoe, the Asics GEL-ACE PRO M?
When you think of Asics, golf is probably the last sport that comes to your mind, and for good reason: golf hasn’t ever been a priority for the Japanese sportswear company.
As of late, Asics is trying to change that with the introduction of the Asics GEL-ACE PRO M. While this isn’t Asics’ first golf shoe ever, it’s really the first to have a presence on TOUR.
The Asics GEL-ACE PRO M is the shoe of choice of the 2022 Masters Champion, Hideki Matsuyama. If it’s good enough for him, it’s surely good enough for me (and by extension, you), right?
Let’s find out.
Asics GEL-ACE PRO M
Release Date: May 2022
Price: $200
Sizing: True to size
- Rundown: Fantastic traction and stability are offset by a price that doesn’t justify the materials and lack of cushion.
Pros
- Traction
- Support
Cons
- Cushion
- Materials
Pros
Traction
The traction on the Asics GEL-ACE PRO M is exceptional, thanks in large part to the standard spiked setup. For a company that’s trying to make its name known in the golf industry, you must nail the traction on the first go-around.
The spikes are placed strategically around the outsole to provide coverage in all directions, and for all conditions.
I could not find any fault with this setup. Sometimes it’s the simple traction patterns that work the best, and such is the case with the Air Jordan 37
Support
The Asics GEL-ACE PRO M offers phenomenal support and stability thanks to Asics’ Trusstic technology. The Trusstic technology is essentially a reinforced shank plate that runs through the bottom of the shoe to provide added support and reduce twisting.
I found the Trusstic to do an excellent job. The added rigidity made the Asics GEL-ACE PRO M extremely stable and supportive. No unwanted flexing, no unexpected movement.
Cons
Cushion
Okay, we’ve reached the awkward part of the review, the cushion. As a company known for its cushion and Gel technology, the Asics GEL-ACE PRO M left me wanting more. The Dunk midsole and Gel pad in the heel provided some cushion, sure, but honestly, I didn’t find this pair as comfortable as I’d expected.
The cushion is extremely lightweight, which is a huge bonus when you’re doing a lot of walking, but I found my feet aching a little more than normal after each round. The cushion isn’t bad, but not up to par for such a prestigious company known for its cushion technologies.
I’ll chalk it up to break in time and give Asics the benefit of the doubt here. Most others I’ve talked to have found the Asics GEL-ACE PRO M to be very comfortable, but it’s my job to relay my experience.
Materials
The Asics GEL-ACE PRO M is super sleek and pretty traditional looking, but the $200 price tag it carries is enough to give me some pause as to the materials used. The synthetic leather upper just doesn’t feel as nice as some other real leather shoes (I’m looking at you, FootJoy).
On top of that, the Asics GEL-ACE PRO M seemed to crease in all of the wrong places. After just a few hours of wear, the upper looks like it’s taken a beating. Not something I’d expect on a $200 shoe.
Asics GEL-ACE PRO M Summary
As Asics’ first entry in the TOUR golf shoe market, the Asics GEL-ACE PRO M does a suitable job, but not an amazing one. The $200 price tag is not an easy one to swallow, so I have a hard time recommending these to you unless you’re all in on Asics, or have the chance to try them on and see how they feel for you. Great traction and support are offset by mediocre materials and a lack of promised cushion.
As with most shoes, your mileage may vary…but my miles weren’t as great as I’d hoped.
Puma Court Rider 2 Performance Review
Puma Court Rider 2
A great budget model that’s well suited for guards. Be mindful of the fit.
Colorway: Ocean Dive/Harbor Mist
Release Date: 2022
Style Code: 376646-04
Price: $110
The Puma Court Rider 2 is the follow-up to what LaMelo Ball initially wore in the NBA – the Puma Court Rider. Puma kept some things from that first model and updated several others. The Puma Court Rider 2 has some obvious aesthetic updates, and we liked the shoe during our initial review. But, how did they hold up after hours on the court? Let’s find out.
Traction
Puma tweaked the traction pattern slightly from the original Puma Court Rider. They took the bold, durable Puma patterned section of the outer portion of the sole from that first model and spread it all over. This turned out to be a good move because the shoe gripped every surface I played on superbly, and the pattern is plenty durable to hold up well outdoors.
The traction also wraps up on certain portions of the midsole. This will add bite to more aggressive moves like crossovers, or hard cuts. Traction would have been my favorite feature if Puma had neglected to update another feature. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Cushion
The Puma Court Rider 2 features full-length foam cushioning. Puma calls this foam Rider Foam. The setup is well balanced and offers sufficient impact protection while keeping the shoe responsive and low to the ground.
The Puma Court Rider 2 was clearly designed to cater to lighter, more nimble players who need a more reactive ride. If I’m nit-picking, I would have preferred a bit more plushness, but I enjoyed the setup, and at no point did I feel my legs or my joints getting weary.
Materials
Now, the materials were my favorite part of this shoe. Admittedly, there is nothing I would describe as premium on the shoe, but I would say the build is excellent. The Puma Court Rider 2 features textiles, fuse areas, mesh, and synthetic leather layered on top of each other. The Court Rider 2 reminds me of shoes from the early 2000s.
The upper performed admirably. Lockdown was on point, with no pinching or restrictiveness, they were lightweight and breathable, and ventilation was not an issue. But what takes everything to the next level is just the look and feel. How you feel in a shoe is almost as important as how it performs (just ask Rasheed Wallace) and I just loved how I felt wearing these.
Fit
The fit was the one area I had an issue with. I usually hover between a 12.5 and a 12. I ordered my pair in a size 12 and I felt I could have gone down a whole size, length-wise. It was odd because the rest of the shoe felt great: no break-in time, 1 to 1 fit, no sliding, etc. But there was almost an inch of dead space between my toes and the end of the shoe.
To be fair, it didn’t affect the performance of the shoe in any noticeable way, it just took some getting used to.
Coincidentally, I happened to order another pair of Pumas in a 13 and they fit better lengthwise than the Jordan 37. Maybe I just got a wonky pair, but I would say to go into a store a try them on.
Support
The Puma Court Rider 2 has more than decent support. Nothing crazy, but it gets the job done. The layering of the upper plus the lace cables helps keep your foot securely on the footbed. The forefoot provides a wide base to enhance stability, and there is a decent heel counter as well.
There is no visible torsional plate, however, and the shoe is pretty flexible. I didn’t have any problems with the setup, but if you like shoes where support is the main feature like the Nike Air Max Scorpion, these might not be for you.
Overall
I really enjoyed playing in the Puma Court Rider 2. At the moment, if I’m reaching for a “guard shoe” I’m reaching for the Puma Court Rider 2. I do like what they bring to the table performance-wise and the materials and aesthetics just happen to be my jam.
In closing, I should bring up their price. Nowadays, $110 seems to be a budget price point, which I think is a bit nuts. I was able to get my pair for $80, so going into my testing they felt like a budget shoe. I must admit that part of the reason why I like the Puma Court Rider 2 so much is that I perceived them as an “impressive budget model”. I don’t know if I would have been so impressed if I had paid full price.
Nike Giannis Immortality 2 Performance Review
Nike Giannis Immortality 2
The Nike Giannis Immortality 2 is a solid budget option that excels in traction and responsiveness. It’s almost identical to the previous Immortality model.
Release Date: 2022
Style Code: CZ0170-001
Price: $85
Score Breakdown
Cushion:8.5/10
Materials:7/10
Fit:6/10
Support:8/10
Weight and Sizing
The Giannis Immortality 2 is a very decent budget model. No denying that. But, if you are a sneakerhead and familiar with the Giannis Immortality 1, it feels completely redundant. The Nike Giannis Immortality and the Giannis Immortality 2 are, as Mike Goldberg would say, “virtually identical”.
But the few changes Nike made on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s second signature budget model are for the better so there is that, and the fact of the matter is (spoilers) that the Giannis Immortality was one of the best budget basketball shoes last year, so you can trust that the Giannis Immortality 2 is going to be an above-average performance model. Let’s get into it.
Traction
The traction pattern is identical to that of Giannis Immortality 1, which featured herringbone everywhere. There are 3 distinct sections to the traction pattern that you can see clearly as they are highlighted in two different colors: blue and volt yellow. The pink portions you can see peeking out in between the traction is the foam midsole.
The traction is very solid. It does need wiping in very dusty conditions, but on clean courts, I had zero issues. There are several sections of the traction that wrap up the midsole that help you on more extreme changes of direction and cuts. The shape of the shoe, the traction, and the cushion setup give the model a distinct “guard shoe” feel. And speaking of the cushion…
Cushion
The cushion on the Giannis Immortality 2 is a feature that some will love and others will hate. The cushion is great if you like responsiveness and court feel. If you are a bigger player and you want something with great impact protection, you might want to look elsewhere.
The setup is again, the same as on the Giannis Immortality 1: a slab of Phylon. Nothing else. Portions of which are caged by the outsole. The Phylon does take some time to break-in, but once it does, you get a nice responsive ride. Shifty, lighter players will enjoy this setup.
If you want a bit more cushion from the get-go you can pick up a pair of Move insoles in order to boost the shoe’s cushion from the jump.
Materials
The materials on the shoe are where you will see most of the changes from the previous model. On the Dunk Low, we have a very lightweight mesh upper with fuse overlays on high-wear areas. The tongue and heel of the shoe have some of the most synthetic leather portions you will ever see on a shoe. Similar to the Immortality 1 there’s a back section that feels like neoprene with a mesh wrap.
The materials are as cheap as they can get, but they are functional. The shoe is very lightweight and there is no break-in time whatsoever, and there are no containment issues. So we can’t really complain too much when we are talking about an $85 shoe.
Fit
The fit is another high point of the Giannis Immortality 2. The shoe fits true to size and fits like a glove. It might seem slightly snug at first but within a couple of minutes of play, the shoe conforms to your foot perfectly.
The 1-to-1 fit also contributes to the shoe’s all-around lockdown and helps you to feel secure on moves with more torque.
Support
Support is basic but effective. As I have mentioned, the upper keeps your foot safely locked down on the footbed. The shoe’s forefoot provides a wide base and features a substantial outrigger to keep you centered while spotting up for a shot, or changing directions.
The heel of the shoe is wide and rounded which creates a stable base. The beefed-up materials in the heel also help lock down the back section of the shoe.
Overall
The Giannis Immortality 2 is an above-average performance basketball shoe and a very good budget model. It’s a shoe that smaller, faster players will appreciate the most. The blend of performance features included on the Giannis Immortality 2 makes it a great option for guards.
On the downside, Nike displayed very little creativity when designing this shoe. If you already own the Giannis Immortality 1, there is no need to pick this model up. Also, even though I understand that this is one of the cheaper budget models from Nike, I still expect better material quality for $85, even as functional as the Giannis Immortality 2’s materials are.
Jordan Zion 2 Performance Review
The Jordan Zion 2 is different than its predecessor. Some changes are upgrades and some are downgrades.
Colorway: Half Blue/Pink Prime-Deep Royal Blue
Release Date: July 2022
Price: $120
Zion Williamson hasn’t played for the New Orleans Pelicans since May 4, 2021, when he had a stat line of 23 PTS, 12 REB, 7 AST, and 4 STL. That’s an excellent game for a second-year player. This is the potential of Zion if he stays healthy. His second shoe, the Jordan Zion 2, also has potential. It has elements like the traction and (partially) the cushion going for it, but there were adjustments made from the Jordan Zion 1 that don’t bode well for its potential on-court performance.
Traction
The traction is the best aspect and our favorite part of the shoe. It’s multi-directional and covers you on all movements. There are very few shoes that are going to bite as well as these, especially on lateral movements. There are levels to traction performance, and the Zion 2 is at the top-most level. Just note that about an hour of break-in time is needed for peak performance.
The grip is good outdoors, but it isn’t going to last long because the traction pattern is shallow. For as long as it lasts, though, you’re going to get an excellent experience.
Cushion
The cushion comprises an injected Phylon midsole with a heel Air Strobel unit and a standard forefoot Zoom Air unit. The heel does its job of impact protection, though don’t expect anything as plush as the Jordan Zion 1. The forefoot, however, is lower to the ground than you’d expect. The Jordan Zion 2 may have been made for a big player like Zion, but it will cater to the average wing and guard.
Materials
In one word: cheap. The front half is a mesh that allows for flexibility, while the rest of the shoe comprises poor-quality synthetics. The heel portion is incredibly disappointing because, although it has some cool graphics, it’s just felt. The tongue is a nylon material similar to the shoe’s inner lining.
Fit
We recommend true to size for everybody. Length-wise it’s perfect, and the width is accommodating enough for wide-footers. Narrow-footers also don’t need to worry because the forefoot strap works well to contain the feet.
The heel area is well-sculpted, though the Achilles pillows didn’t feel like pillows. The area where the rubber comes up the side of the midsole around the lateral midfoot can create some pinching. Watch out if that’s a typical trouble spot for your foot.
Support
This is the aspect of the shoe that feels like it was made for Jordan 37. It all starts with the wide base and the outriggers. If you remove the insoles, you can see the shank plate through the Air strobel heel unit. The rubber that comes up from the midsole adds more stability. If you get the right size, the Zion 2’s support will not disappoint you.
Overall
The Jordan Zion 2 will leave many satisfied with its performance on-court. There’s not much to complain about. This is a great option if you enjoy a low-to-the-ground, supportive basketball shoe. If you don’t mind the cheap materials and are willing to break in that traction, you’ll be ready to go. Just don’t expect to be dunking like Zion Williamson as soon as you put these on.