UA Curry 7 Review: Another Perfect Guard’s Shoe?

I’m coming a little late with a 2020 review of the latest Curry 7 but better late than never! So, you got $140 in your pocket, and you’re looking for a trustworthy pair of basketball shoes to play in. Perhaps this one will do the job just right? That’s what we’ll find out in my comprehensive Curry 7 review.

We’ll be covering the comfort & fit aspects, the shoe’s performance on the court, value for the price, and I’ll also compare it to the last model, the Curry 6 which I actually really liked.

SPEC SHEET

 

Model: Under Armour Curry 7

Build: Low-top

Weight: 13.2 oz / 374 g. (size 10)

Retail Price: $140

Cushion: Dual-layered HOVR & Micro G

I. COMFORT & FIT

 

SIZING ADVICE: TRUE TO SIZE ALL-DAY

Just as the Curry 6, the 7th model fits true to size for just about any foot shape. I’m a wide footer myself and just as I liked the fit on the 6, it’s more of the same feeling on the 7.

However, since the materials have been changed on the upper, the break-in process of the shoe was a bit longer for me, and putting them on for the first time didn’t feel as great as the Air Jordan 37.

This is nothing to worry about though – after the shoe adapted to my foot, I was reaping the full experience of the Curry 7 in about 5-7 days.

The materials aren’t even stiff or hard to break in, it just so happens that I’m a very wide footer.

I’m pretty sure the break-in process would be completely minimal for a regular footer, and the shoe would feel closer to optimal right from the start.

COMFORT: COMPACT & COMFY

In terms of overall comfort – I have no complaints. If you’re a fan of low tops, this one is one of the prime examples of a good fitting, comfortable, light, and secure shoe, all in a very minimal design.

I usually prefer mid-tops but if you’ve never tried a low before – I think this is a good one to get into.

I didn’t experience any slipping or containment issues, ventilation is mediocre but I don’t really care about that too much.

If I had to stack this one up to the previous Curry 6 – I’d give a very slight nod to the 6 just because of the softer knit materials used.

Nothing to take away from the 7 though – they’re very comfortable and if you don’t care too much about having more premium materials on board, then it really makes no difference.

II. TRACTION

 

A classic multidirectional herringbone traction pattern is back along with a radial pattern combo to better accompany quick movements from all angles.

What can I say – works just as good as it sounds. At this point, I think you shouldn’t even think about how good’s the traction on a Air Jordan. All of them excel in this area and this one’s just more of the same.

Pure grip on a wood court, dusty or new, just as aggressive bite outside on rubber & concrete courts. Once again the classic pattern choice proves it’s simply the best in the business.

I play mostly on a medium-condition wood court inside and in a park outside, made of synthetic rubber. Both courts felt great, I was barely wiping my outsoles as it was mostly not needed.

Thanks to the no-too-dense pattern of the outsole, dust isn’t much of an issue, even less so than on the Curry 6, so I guess you could say it’s a slight improvement.

OUTDOOR-READY OUTSOLE?

As for durability for outdoors, again, very similar to the 6. The rubber compound is not among the most durable, but from the few weeks of playing in them, I still don’t see any cracks or forms of deterioration on the outsole.

The grip itself is also just as good as it was from the start.

I do believe the rubber will start deteriorating soon if I keep playing outside so much, but this shoe isn’t really made for outdoors, so take it with a grain of salt.

I think if you’re looking to spend your money on an outdoor shoe specifically, this won’t really be it. But if you’ll be playing indoors and take them outside from time to time, I can absolutely see this lasting for a while.

III. CUSHION

 

A brand new setup is used on the Curry 7 – it’s a dual-layered setup, meaning HOVR sits on top, while Micro G sits on the bottom layer of the midsole.

Yeah, sounds good on paper, though it’s more of the same Curry style cushion, just as on the previous models.

I know it’s not much of a surprise for you but don’t expect to be walking on clouds or feeling any kind of bounce/spring from these.

This is a very low-profile, guard-orientated setup that will provide as much speed with zero sacrifices, mobility, and court feel will be at their maximum.

Though since the setup is not completely barebones with nothing in the heel, there is still some impact protection, so you won’t be blowing your knees out.

I personally prefer more cushion in general since it works better with my playstyle, so this will definitely come down to your personal preference.

Give ’em a shot if you’re looking for a very stable, quick, and responsive ride, with no restrictions or anything else to take away the speed of movements.

Though stay away from them if you’re looking to get maximum impact absorption and a soft, bouncy ride.

I do think the Curry 6 felt just a bit less firm than the 7 in my opinion. Despite all the marketing and bringing the beloved Micro G to the game in the Curry 7, I would actually stick to the Curry 6’s setup if I’m hunting for something balanced, catered towards more players than just low profile guards, shooters, etc.

Not saying the Curry 6 has a very bouncy and springy cushion setup – it doesn’t. Just comparing the two, I think the 6 is a bit closer to an in-between solution.

IV. SUPPORT

Just as traction goes, the support area tells a similar story. The Curry 7 does a fantastic job providing stability, support, and hardcore lockdown – but that’s no surprise since pretty much all Curry’s releases blow this category out of the water.

We’ve got a supportive upper and a snug, contained fit, an internal heel counter, outriggers for lateral protection and there’s the plastic flexible plate around the shoe’s heel & midfoot areas for even more stability.

This one feels like a tank, reminds me of the older LeBron’s back in the day, but the Curry 7 does it in a much lighter & minimalistic frame, which is really cool and shows how far basketball shoe technology has come.

Though due to the stiff upper, the plastic reinforcement, and overall rigid tank-like design, the shoe barely flexes, as the Curry 6 does.

I definitely don’t have any complaints about this though – I personally prefer this level of support over a small loss of flexibility.

If you’re really looking for maximum support and security – keep in mind that it comes at a cost of having the shoe a bit less flexible, and leaving your foot with a bit less mobility in terms of awkward movements.

But once again, this is totally a personal preference, I personally think this is a fantastic setup for my explosive play style.

For anyone who’s looking to feel freer and get more flexibility – taking a look at knit upper shoes might be a better idea.

V. BUILD & MATERIALS

 

It feels kinda weird to see a classic, OG material combo in 2020 but it’s what we get with the Curry 7.

The upper is pretty much mesh with synthetic fuse overlays, as well as plastic casings on the sides of the shoe. That’s what I meant when I was talking about the shoe being tank-like, and this upper adds to it for sure.

Compared to the way less hardcore Curry 6 upper, this one is almost the complete opposite. Yes, you’re getting a ton of support, containment, lockdown on these is insane, and the shoe is definitely very durable.

But as I’ve said earlier, the flexibility of the shoe and the material’s ability to move around more freely will be limited.

Ventilation is also something that’s not going to be ideal if you care about such, due to the synthetics taking up a larger part of the shoe’s upper.

So as you can tell, it’s not a very premium-like upper, and it seems a bit strange for a star’s signature shoe to be this way, but I don’t personally complain about it since it works from a performance perspective.

They’ll last longer and provide excellent comfort & performance on the court, so if you could get past the fact that you’re paying $140 for a 2011 style upper, then I think you’ll do fine with the Curry 7.

VI. OVERALL

 

I think it’s a killer performer, no doubt about it in fact. The Curry 7 will get the job done pretty much perfectly if you’re a lighter/lower profile guard, you need all the court feel you can get, and having firm & responsive cushion is your preference.

If you can get past the basic material combo, it won’t bother you playing – it’s just that coming with premium expectations while buying a signature shoe could likely leave some people disappointed.

But hey, the shoe is a beast and there’s no denying it, plus $140 is not a bad price compared to some $170-$200+ releases this past couple of years.

On Cloudvista Performance Review

On Running Shoes are almost ubiquitous in the United States. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen them on a medical practitioner’s feet at a doctor’s office or PT clinic. And have you been to a theme park lately? Scores of moms and Dads rock them as they read articles on smartphones while waiting in line with several talkative children. On is basically a yuppie movement at this point. And so, On is off to conquer new ground. Next stop, the great outdoors. The On Cloudvista takes On’s signature styling from the roads to the trails.

On Cloudvista

Release Date: March 2022

Price: $140

Weight: 9.88oz

Drop: 7mm

Sizing: Go up a 1/2 size

• Rundown: The On Cloudvista is a great-looking, comfortable shoe with a super grippy outsole and firm cushioning.

Pros

• Outsole
• Upper
• Devilishly Good Looks

Cons

• Cushion
• Rock Plate
• Narrow Fit

Pros

Outsole

When the On Cloudvista arrived, I liked the size and spacing of the lugs. The rubber used, called Missiongrip, is impressive. It gripped various trails well and performed admirably on slippery mud that’s often the bane of other trail shoes.

The Cloudvista was also flexible enough to handle bigger rocks and roots that made footing uneven without messing up my stride. The only problem with the outsole is the occasional rock getting stuck in the channel down the middle. That happens in some form or fashion with almost all trail shoes so I don’t see it as a big issue. Overall, I was impressed with the performance of Missiongrip and will definitely take notice when it pops up on other On shoes.

Upper

The mostly polyester upper almost looks like ripstop nylon with a different pattern. However, it feels much better than ripstop on foot. There’s no weird flexing and it hugs the foot nicely. On knows how to make a comfortable upper and this one is no exception. It’s built so well that I hardly even noticed the TPU overlays protecting the toe and heel until they deflected rocks, roots, or mud.

I could complain about the synthetic suede tongue (in my mind it cheapens the premium look On achieves) but at this point I’ve just come to expect it on all my On Dunk Low. One thing about the tongue and laces I’ll compliment is the lace garage. I love a nice lace garage on my trail running shoes to keep those laces from getting caught on stray branches. It’s a small but welcome touch that doesn’t necessarily add to the comfort but nails the convenience.

Devilishly Good Looks

The On Cloudvista is one of the best-looking trail shoes on the market. It’s just so well balanced. It could easily be worn casually as part of your after-outdoor activity, on the way to dinner, hiker chic fit. It fits well in upscale outdoorsy towns like Telluride, Park City, or Vail. It’s the only shoe that can go road to trail to dinner without missing a beat.

Cons

Cushion

Different On shoe, same story. The Cloudtec midsole is just a little too firm for my liking. I felt too many of the rocks and roots poking my foot. And that’s disappointing because I know modern trail shoes can do better (see the Air Jordan 37).

Rock Plate

Part of the reason I could feel the rocks and roots so pointedly (pun intended), is that the On Cloudvista doesn’t have a real rock plate. It just relies on the typical TPU On Speedboard that sits above the cushioning. The Speedboard is meant to flex, load energy, and provide pop upon toe-off. It’s not meant to shield your poor feet from sharp rocks. With its Cloudtec midsole, I’m not sure how On would implement a real rock plate, but I hope they figure it out on the next iteration of the Cloudvista.

Narrow Fit

Not only does the On Cloudvista fit about a half size small (go up a half size from your normal shoe size when buying it), it runs narrow. I can’t recommend my wide-footed friends grab this good-looking shoe. This is odd because On shoes are usually pretty accommodating and not something I expected going into testing.

On Cloudvista Summary

The On Cloudvista is a fantastic-looking, comfortable, versatile shoe with a super grippy outsole and firm cushioning. While wide footers should avoid the narrow fit, the Cloudvista has some good use cases. You can run in it, hike in it, vacation in it, and more. It’s one of those do-everything sneakers easily packed for a European vacation that features a bunch of city streets and mountain peaks. And as a bonus, your feet will look really good the whole way.

 

Adidas CodeChaos 22 Performance Review

You’re either going to love or hate the looks of the all-new adidas CodeChaos 22 spikeless golf shoes. They’re loud, out-there, and a little “chaotic”…but how do they perform?

Trust me on this one, everything about the Dunk Low 22 points towards this being my new favorite spikeless golf shoe. Let’s find out why.

adidas CodeChaos 22

Release Date: June 2022

Price: $160 ($140 for Women)

Sizing: True to size

• Rundown: All-day comfort, great stability, and adequate traction make this shoe an easy choice for your next round of golf.

Pros

• BOOST Cushion
• Stability
• Sustainability

Cons

• Traction

Pros

BOOST Cushion

As an avid fan of adidas BOOST, I was admittedly disappointed with the cushion of adidas’ flagship golf shoe, the TOUR360 22. This time around, adidas nailed the cushion. The adidas CodeChaos 22 is the most comfortable golf shoe that I’ve played in to-date.

I’m not sure what adidas did differently for this shoe, but the BOOST felt bouncy, responsive, and downright comfortable. Finally, all of that BOOST goodness we’ve come to love has been implemented in a way that provides all-day comfort and responsiveness to a golf shoe!

Have a golf trip coming up? You’ll have no problem walking 36 in the adidas CodeChaos 22…it’s just that comfortable.

Stability

Take one look at the adidas CodeChaos 22, and it’s easy to see why it’s such a stable shoe. The outsole wraps up onto the midsole (and beyond) in some spots to keep your foot contained and stable as you move through your downswing.

Plus, if you get yourself into a tricky situation, the Twist Grip traction wraps up the entire outsole. No matter the lie or stance, you’re going to feel stable and secure in the adidas CodeChaos 22.

Sustainability

These days it seems that sustainability is one of the best abilities a product can have. Thanks to adidas’ efforts to reuse and recycle, at least 50% of the materials used to make the adidas CodeChaos 22 are recycled.

I know, 50% doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but I’m okay with this type of thing becoming the norm. What good is a golf shoe if they aren’t any courses to play? Taking care of the planet is never a bad thing, so I’m giving adidas some points for making an effort.

Cons

Traction

Before you jump to a conclusion that isn’t correct, here me out: the TwistGrip traction on the adidas CodeChaos 22 isn’t bad. It’s far from bad. But, in comparison to some of the other spikeless shoes I’ve tested (i.e. FootJoy Fuel and Air Jordan 37), the traction is less than amazing.

As I was testing the traction I found the rubber lugs of the Twist Grip to be a little too flexible in some situations, which could cause some slippage down the road. You’ll only experience this in extreme cases, but overall the traction did not feel as grounded as did the options I mentioned above.

The Twist Grip is nothing to be afraid of, but just something to note. The everyday golfer will find it more than adequate. And frankly, I’m okay sacrificing a tiny bit in the traction department for the great ground feel that a spikeless shoe brings versus a spiked shoe.

adidas CodeChaos 22 Summary

The adidas CodeChaos 22 provides all-day comfort and ultimate stability in a package that’s overall better for the earth. The BOOST cushion and performance of the wrap-around outsole are more than enough to overlook the tiny faults of the Twist Grip traction.

Even if the looks are a little chaotic for your liking, you’ll be hard pressed to find any spikeless golf shoe that’s more comfortable and wearable than the adidas CodeChaos 22.

 

9.5/10

Total Score

Pros

• BOOST Cushion
• Stability
• Sustainability

Cons

• Traction

Puma Run XX Nitro Performance Review

The women-specific idea behind the Puma Run XX Nitro definitely shines as this shoe hugs the foot in all the right places. There’s not too much arch support, but the Run XX Nitro is designed to fit without extra heel locks or other lacing tricks. This trainer encourages a stable ride, features great traction on a variety of surfaces, and has decent responsiveness when you pick up the pace.

Puma Run XX Nitro

Release Date: June 17, 2022

Price: $130

Weight: 8.25oz

Drop: 8mm (23mm forefoot, 31mm heel)

Sizing: True to Size

• Rundown: The Puma Run XX Nitro women-specific running shoe with a narrow fit, stable ride, great traction, and a slightly hard or dense road feel.

Pros

• Women-specific fit
• Stability
• Traction

Cons

• Hard Ride
• Response

Pros

Women-Specific Fit

I’m always a sucker for a sneaker I can slide into without needing an extra heel-locking lace loop or thicker socks. The Jordan 37 fits well around the heel and forefoot without skimping in the toe box. I run very forward and had no issues with sliding within the shoe or my toes hitting the end of the toebox.

The mesh tongue is connected with elastic on the inside and stays nicely in place. The mesh upper provides decent breathability, especially in the humid (and hot!) southern temps I tested them in.

Stability

The Puma Run XX Nitro comes equipped with “Runguide” for foot strike guidance. It does this by placing a firm density rim around the heel. The Runguide is meant to promote alignment and centering of the foot throughout the stride. This stability feature really helped me on runs with tired legs. I found myself running more efficiently and landing with less pronation.

Traction

The Air Jordan rubber outsole provided great traction on pavement, wet pavement, old crumbly roads, and on the few gravel paths leading back to pavement. I felt confident I wasn’t going to slip and felt like I had a wide enough base and solid grip on the ground throughout the run.

Cons

Hard Ride and Response

The Puma XX Nitro claims to be the “perfect balance of durable and lightweight,” thanks to the firm NITRO foam midsole (Editor’s Note: the Nitro is firmer on the Run XX Nitro than on the Velocity Nitro 2 or the Magnify Nitro, Puma’s top of the line neutral daily running shoes). I found the shoe to ride a bit hard, meaning I could feel the ground but with not as much bounce-back response as I was expecting when running easy pace. However, when doing pick-ups, or running closer to tempo pace, the shoe seemed to respond back with a little more snap.

Puma Run XX Nitro Summary

The Puma Run XX Nitro women’s specific running shoe is a step in the right direction for realizing the difference between men’s and women’s feet and running needs. The fit, stability, and traction make it a trainer that I find myself reaching for when I need a little more stability or extra traction. You can buy the Puma XX Nitro women’s running shoe at Puma.

 

8/10

Total Score

 

Pros

• Women-specific Fit
• Stability
• Traction

Cons

• Hard Ride
• Response

Nike Kyrie Infinity 8 Performance Review

The Nike Kyrie Infinity is one of the most well-cushioned Kyrie shoes to this point. Some good elements from previous models return as well.

Colorway: Black/Multi-Color-White

Release Date: 2021

Price: $140

9.5/10 Total Score

Score Breakdown

Traction:9.3/10

Cushion:9.1/10

Materials:9.3/10

Fit:8.7/10

Support :8.5/10

Weight and Sizing

The Nike Kyrie Infinity is Kyrie Irving‘s 2021-22 signature shoe, but we’re not entirely sure what the brand would call them as some retailers instead listed them as the Nike Kyrie 8. Regardless of what these are called, though, we are excited to get them tested on the court. A lot of elements from the last two models as well as more recent Nike basketball releases have been included to make this shoe a certified bad boy performer.

I’ve been able to play in these both indoors and outdoors (though my short review video is all outdoors) and during league play, so I really put them through their paces. I’ll let you check out my performance review video above to see my verdict on the shoe.

Now let’s dive in to the full breakdown of the shoe:

Traction

The Kyrie 8 / infinity features a very similar traction pattern to the Kyrie 6 and the Kyrie 7. The pattern is etched into the rubber and it is super aggressive. The traction was superb and it was augmented by the shoe’s lockdown and support.

I got to use the Kyrie 8 during several playoff league games, on a court that tends to be pretty dusty and dirty. The competition level was high as was the intensity. On top of that, I’m coming off an Achilles tendon tear, and I still have to build muscle mass back in my left calf. All this to say that I was hyper-aware of the traction and support as they are the two features I was most wary about. I DO NOT want to re-injure that tendon.

If you have ever had a bad injury, you know that when you return you are a little gun-shy at the beginning and you slowly gain confidence as you play. I was very surprised that after just a quarter of play or so in the Kyrie 8, I was no longer focusing on my Achilles. I felt so safe and locked down in the shoe that instinct took over and I could play with no (mental) restrictions.

The traction had me stopping on a dime, making hard cuts, and locking down on defense. Now, if the support had been lacking, the traction wouldn’t have mattered. If your foot is sliding around as you stop or cut, the traction might even be a hindrance.

On outdoor courts, it worked equally as well. I have heard some people say that it is not the most durable set-up for outdoor play, but I personally have had no issues with this and my traction pattern looks the same as the first day I laced them up. That might have to do with the fact that I bought my pair in Spain where I live, and we might get a different rubber compound here, but my experience outdoors has been great.

But the Kyrie 8 was awesome, great traction and great support. But more on that later.

Cushion

The Kyrie 8 is the Kyrie model that packs the most cushioning tech out of all the shoes in the line. The Kyrie 8 features a phylon midsole, a U-shaped zoom unit in the heel, and a large zoom strobel in the forefoot. The same zoom strobel, in fact, that you will find in the Nike GT Run. Thats a lot of cushioning for a Kyrie Irving shoe.

Kyrie Irving seems to prefer low-profile shoes with a lot of court feel and responsiveness, so it’s surprising to see this level of cushioning. But the fact of the matter is that the implementation of the zoom unit and strobel allow the shoe to provide a ton of impact protection and even feel bouncy while keeping you close to the ground like a traditional Kyrie shoe.

I really enjoyed the cushioning. I prefer shoes on the responsive side to feel quicker on my feet. The Kyrie 8 did a really great job of providing cushy impact protection and responsiveness. In this aspect, they kinda’ of reminded me of the Puma Clyde All-Pro for some reason.

Materials

The materials on the Kyrie 8 were easily my favorite feature, and that’s saying something. The Kyrie 8 has a perfect blend of modern lightweight synthetic materials and old-school premium materials.

The synthetics do their job well and keep the shoe light and well ventilated. But the shoe also has some nice suede and leather on the heel which give the shoe a “premium signature” look and feel. I personally really like leather uppers so this was right up my alley. I even liked the puffy tongue which a lot of people didn’t care for.

You get all of the performance of a modern hoop shoe with a slick “90’s” design. Love it.

Fit

If there is one aspect to nit-pick it is probably the fit. I went true to size with my pair and I had no problems, but the consensus seems to be that the Jordan 37 fits snug. This being the case I would say to go up half a size, or if you have the chance, go into a store and try them on and see how they feel for you.

For me, the fit enhanced the support and lockdown and I had no issues what so ever.

Support

Support was again, excellent. I was paying close attention to the support because of my wonky leg and it worked great.

The Kyrie 8 features what Nike calls the Dynamic Strap System. In this video, our teammate Rico takes an in-depth look at this setup.

The shoe features 2 interior straps that surround your heel and forefoot respectively. When you lace the shoe, you tighten both straps, pulling your foot down into the footbed and securing it.

I thought that it worked great. I am a heavy guard and when support on a shoe is terrible I really notice, and not only did I have no issues with the support, I would say that the Kyrie 8 is one of the most secure feeling shoes I ever hooped in.

Overall

I know some of my WearTesters colleagues have other shoes they would put above the Kyrie 8 performance-wise, but everyone agrees that it is one of the best basketball shoes of 2022.

I personally think that the Kyrie 8 is the best basketball shoe of the year. Admittedly, it has everything I WANT in a basketball shoe. You might prefer a different cushioning setup, different upper materials, or just different aesthetics, but you will enjoy playing in the Kyrie 8 on some level.