Nike Kyrie 5 Review: Detailed On-Court Performance Analysis

The Kyrie line always brings up mixed feelings – some love them due to their usual low-profile design, perfectly locked-down fit, and literally unbeatable traction. While some – don’t appreciate their lack of impact absorption and lack of versatility.

Today, I’m bringing you my comprehensive Kyrie 5 review where we’ll find out if it’s more of the same formula or if we finally get to experience something different.

I’ll be discussing my personal experience of the shoe from performance, comfort, value for the money, versatility, and upgrades over the last model perspectives.

SPEC SHEET

Model: Nike Kyrie 5

Build: Mid-Top

Weight: 14.8 oz / 420 g. (Size 10)

Retail Price: $130

Cushion: Phylon midsole & Zoom Air Turbo

I. COMFORT & FIT

Kyrie’s line is typical for its ultra-secure fit, very prominent support, and an overall secure feel – something an explosive, flashy guard such as Kyrie obviously needs to supplement his game.

If you’re somewhat similar and like the feeling of extreme security – this one’s a check. For me personally – I have a wide foot and went true to size. The shoe felt a bit too tight and snug for me, even after a few weeks after breaking it in.

Wouldn’t nag the shoe for that though – my feet are ridiculously wide and I probably should’ve listened to other shoe testers for their advice on going up half a size.

Regardless of my tightness issues – I can see why the shoe is praised so much for its overall fit. Lockdown and support aren’t going to be issues, no matter how hard you play.

The upper isn’t extremely well ventilated but I am sure I wouldn’t have had any comfort complaints if I would’ve gone up half my regular size.

Expect the sneaker to feel on the snug side, it’ll be a very secure, supportive, and quality experience playing.

II. TRACTION

Again – what ain’t broke – don’t fix it. Though this time, it seems like Nike wanted to go with something the Kyrie line isn’t known for. And that is taking away the classic herringbone traction pattern on the outsole.

Herringbone, especially herringbone implemented so well breaks other shoe competitors’ hearts. While the Kyrie 5’s more modern, the modified multi-directional pattern didn’t look like herringbone, it damn well performed as one.

It was great. Both indoors and outdoors. I’ve been playing a lot outdoors these past couple of summers & springs and I don’t see the Kyrie 8’s breaking down anytime soon.

I am not a big “wipe my outsole every 24 seconds” kind of guy and these didn’t require that at all.

In a nutshell, this shapes to be one of the best outdoor and indoor shoes from a traction standpoint. Bravo.

III. CUSHION

It looks to me as Nikey attempted to do something different once again, separating themselves from the standard Kyrie formula.

2018 released Zoom Air Turbo unit was used at the Kyrie 8’s heel area, along with a standard Phylon midsole to complement the foot’s overall impact absorption.

And you know how it felt this time? The same thing pretty much.

I did try to give them a lot of chances and bring out that Air Jordan 1 ZOOM unit to life.

If it would’ve been brought out of someone – it would’ve been me. I’m a very explosive player and I do abuse quick, aggressive movements, and play over the rim when I can. These didn’t help me do that too much.

Once again, not knocking on the shoe – this one will work best for lighter, below-the-rim players. Quick movements will be very well supplemented. However, beastly jumps, dunks, and large-step drives to the basket would probably need a more springy shoe for the job.

Worst case scenario, getting yourself a quality performance insole would correct the impact absorption a bit if you’re really experiencing a prominent lack of cushion under your foot.

My feet or knees didn’t hurt or anything after a bunch of games, but I would’ve liked more impact protection. Take it with a grain of salt – everyone’s different, so you gotta know how you play and what you’re looking for first.

IV. SUPPORT

No surprises here – brilliant support, fantastic lockdown, no matter what size you go with.

We have all the essentials implemented: a TPU heel counter, a flat heel construction for a more stable ride, plus the Flytrap strap to secure the forefoot additionally.

I had zero complaints in terms of stability and support (minus the too-tight fit, due to not going up half a size). This is how a quick guard’s shoe should protect your feet.

V. BUILD & MATERIALS

The upper is relatively simple – regular mesh infused with Nylon for extra durability and strength. No complaints though – you can’t call this a stand-out upper but it surely gets the job done.

I love the Kyrie line for their continuous durable shoe releases, and the 5th iteration is more of the same. I feel like this is a very great outdoor pick as well, as engineered mesh won’t break down quickly on you.

I guess if I had to point out some drawbacks for this particular build – it will take a bit of time to break the materials in for an optimal fit, especially if you got a wide or a high-arch foot.

Breathability is also not ideal but, honestly, I really don’t care. I care that the shoe is comfortable and plays well. That’s it. Just wanted to let the people know that do take these details into account.

VI. OVERALL

I’ve expected something a bit different from the fifth Kyrie model. And here we are.

Despite the lack of actually noticeable change in the Kyrie formula – you can’t bash the shoe for continuing something that works. Is it very versatile? No. Are the build and materials used improved and feel premium? No.

Despite all of that, it’s still a very good performing shoe that feels comfortable, secure, and ensures all the qualities of a quick, agile guard are properly supplemented by the shoe.

If you’re a below-the-rim guard who’s quick and can’t afford any restrictions & any kind of loss in speed, this is a very good choice.

If you’re looking for a solid outdoor option that will work for you without worrying about durability – this is also an excellent pick.

Asics GlideRide 3 Performance Review

The Asics GlideRide 3 is the best daily neutral running shoe released so far this year. It’s almost perfect with one small flaw that’s easy to ignore. It’s one of the rare shoes where buying multiple pairs to stock for future use is advisable. Let’s dig into why I like it so much.

Asics GlideRide 3

Release Date: June 2022

Price: $150

Weight: M 9.9oz, W 8.5oz

Drop: 6mm (26mm forefoot, 32mm heel)

Sizing: True to Size

• Rundown: The Asics GlideRide 3 is soft, bouncy, comfortable, and incredibly smooth. It’s easily one of the best running shoes on the market.

Pros

• Soft and Bouncy
• Smooth Rocker
• Extremely Comfortable
• Stability

Cons

• Breathability

Pros

Soft and Bouncy

The Asics GlideRide 3 features two layers of foam cushioning with a forefoot plate. The result is a shoe that’s super soft as your foot lands and then ultra bouncy as you toe-off into your next stride. This year we’ve seen FF Blast+ as the primary cushion on the flagship Asics Gel-Nimbus 24 and FlyteFoam as the midsole of the Asics Gel-Nimbus Lite 3. FF Blast+ is great alone but FlyteFoam is kinda meh when left alone. But together with that plate? Awesome.

The cushion setup handles any type of run up to high double-digit long runs. And it saves your legs while doing it. On top of that, the foam is resilient and after 100+ miles it hasn’t lost either the softness or bounciness. I’m bullish on the long-term durability of this dual-layer midsole.

Smooth Rocker

The Asics Guidesole technology adds a super smooth rocker motion to the soft and bouncy midsole setup. The Asics GlideRide 3 feels like it just rolls from the heel or midfoot landing zone to the toe and then off the ground again. When you get into a groove wearing the GlideRide 3 the effect is wheel-like. I was moving fast but the effort needed to maintain my pace was low. In that way it sort of mimics the Asics Metaspeed Sky+, which is Asics top of the line race day option. Any time your daily trainer makes you feel as efficient as the much lighter and bouncier shoe you wear for races, it’s a big win.

Extremely Comfortable

The jacquard mesh upper is plush on foot. The tongue and heel collar feature ample padding that, when paired with that midsole, surrounded my foot in softness. The semi-gusseted tongue didn’t move while I ran making sure the comfort stayed put throughout my runs. While the upper make look plain, it’s one of the more comfortable uppers available.

Stability

The base of the Air Jordan 1 isn’t super wide but it’s highly stable anyway. The shoe’s midsole is built so the bottom FlyteFoam layer juts out wider than the rest of the shoe creating a natural outrigger around the entire foot. It doesn’t push out enough to look odd or ungainly but still gets the job done. Sharp corners, fast turns, or the occasional misstep never caused any instability. On turns, my foot sank slightly into the softer FF Blast+ but the wider FlyteFoam layer engaged every time and made sure I didn’t get too off my axis.

The added stability pays dividends, especially on days where a hard workout the day before has your legs feeling a little rickety. The soft and stable midsole helped my tired legs feel less thrashed by taking care of the impact protection and doing some of the stabilizing so I didn’t have to exert extra effort.

Cons

Breathability

I struggled to find any cons with the Asics GlideRide 3 but the breathability could be better. Asics doubled down on the comfort of the upper but in doing so used extra layers of mesh. Those layers don’t allow a ton of air to pass through. On cooler mornings, I didn’t have any issues. As the morning temps started to creep into the high-70s here in Georgia, I could feel that my feet weren’t getting as much air as I’d like. Is it a dealbreaker? Heck no! In fact, it’s pretty easy to ignore given how comfortable my fee were otherwise. It’s just a little thing to note in case you’re the type that prefers shoes with massive airflow.

Asics GlideRide 3 Summary

As I said at the beginning of this review, the Asics GlideRide 3 is one of the, if not the shoe of the year for me. The combination of comfort, cushion, stability, and an ultra-smooth ride just makes me wear it as much as possible. When I don’t have a shoe to test, I’m constantly reaching for the GlideRide 3. While I got lucky that Asics sent this first pair for testing, I’m definitely going to grab one or two more of the other colorways currently available.

The Asics GlideRide 3 is a “buy multiple pairs” type of shoe. And in the running shoe world, there’s no greater compliment.

 

9.5/10

Total Score

Pros

• Soft and Bouncy
• Smooth Rocker
• Extremely Comfortable
• Stability

Cons

• Breathability

Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase Performance Review

Before I start my review of the Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase, I want to give a big thank you to my good friend Ravi (@zerodeefex), a fellow member of the fitsportinggoods, for helping me secure my pair. I was unable to grab a pair on release day however, Ravi knew how much I wanted a pair and was able to grab a pair for me. Without Ravi, this review isn’t possible. Thanks a ton, Ravi!

My first pair of FlyEase sneakers was the Air Jordan 1 Hi FlyEase, which was released in 2019. That pair means a lot to me. It was the first pair of shoes made for people like me, people with physical limitations. In case you’re wondering, I have Cerebral Palsy. The FlyEase Jordan 1 was the first pair of shoes I could get on easily and independently. I wore them tons and I still love them. However, they’re pretty beat and I don’t wear them as much now. So when I first heard about the Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase, I knew I had to grab a pair.

Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase

The Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase is the new low-top version of the accessible Jordan 1 Hi FlyEase. It delivers in terms of easy entry but is already proving hard to find.

Release Date: June 16, 2022

Price: $130

Sizing: True to size

Pros

• Easy Entry
• Classic Looks
• Good Materials
• Low Retail Price
• Fantastic Traction

Cons

• Outdated Cushioning
• Lack of Heel Support
• Hard To Get

Pros

Easy Entry

The most important part of any FlyEase model is the FlyEase system, so how good is the one on the Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase? In short, it’s really good. But, before I break it down, not every FlyEase system is made for every type of physical limitation. In other words, take my words with a grain of salt, if you have a physical limitation. Take a look at our other FlyEase reviews here.

Back to the sneaker at hand (or at foot?). I love this FlyEase system, it is very easy, and fast, to use. When fully opened, it offers a large enough opening to place your whole foot through. The zipper and all the velcro are good quality and should last.

Classic Looks

The Air Jordan 1 Low is one of the best-looking shoes ever made. They have a Nike Swoosh on both midfoot panels and the Jordan Wings logo on the top of the heel. The FlyEase version looks just like the classic from 1985. And, in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with this very original-styled White/Black/Gym Red colorway.

Good Materials

This sneaker has a full leather upper. The leather used is soft and buttery. And by Jordan Brand’s modern standards these materials are pretty good.

Low Retail Price

The Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase retails for $130, which is $10 less than the FlyEase Hi. Seeing how Jordan Brand charges upwards of $200 for retros with poor materials, these seem like a good deal for the retail price.

Fantastic Traction

I’m not a basketball guy at all but, according to Chris, Air Jordan 1s have the greatest traction of all time (for performance basketball). The rubber feels like all my other Jordan 1s. It’s tacky, hard, and should last a while.

Cons

Outdated Cushioning

As I’m sure most of us know, the Air Jordan 1 was first released in 1985, and, sadly, Jordan Brand uses the same cushioning setup from 1985. The rubber cup sole with PU wedge and heel Air Sole unit is not up to snuff with modern sneakers. I wish Jordan Brand would update the cushioning with some React foam or Air Zoom, even simple Phylon EVA would be an improvement.

Lack of Heel Support

In order for the heel zipper to function, Jordan Brand removed the standard heel counter. For me, this makes no difference, but I don’t recommend buying the Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase for performance.

Hard To Get

This colorway of the Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase sold out very fast. I don’t know why they sold out as fast as they did, but it sucks. Nike has been previously accused of using disability to build hype and create sellouts so I’m crossing my fingers they’ve got more stock on the way. I just hope people with physical limitations were able to get a pair and that Jordan Brand will make more pairs in the future.

Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase Summary

To sum up, Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase is a fantastic model. They look so much like the 1985 original. The leather upper is very soft and buttery. And the low cut is perfect for the summer months. With the easy-to-use FlyEase system, I can put up with the poor cushioning. I can highly recommend the Air Jordan 1 Low FlyEase to those with physical limitations.

 

8.5/10

Total Score

Pros

• Easy Entry
• Classic Looks
• Good Materials
• Low Retail Price
• Fantastic Traction

Cons

• Outdated Cushioning
• Lack of Heel Support
• Hard To Get

Nike Giannis Immortality 2 Review

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

8/10

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 Freak 3: 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 Giannis Immortality 2, 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 Dunk, I still expect better material quality for $85, even as functional as the Giannis Immortality 2’s materials are.

Reebok Nano X2 Performance Review

The Reebok Nano X2 continues the long-running Nano series from Reebok. As Reebok no longer officially sponsors CrossFit, the Nano X2 continues the line’s departure from an emphasis on CrossFit-type workouts to a more general-purpose workout shoe.

This review was cowritten by Arune Singh. Arune is a twenty-year veteran of the entertainment industry and is Director of Brand, Editorial for Skybound Entertainment. He was previously an exec at Marvel, Syfy, and BOOM! Studios. You can find his published writing in various graphic novels and nonfiction books. You can follow him for sneaker, comic book, and entertainment commentary on Twitter or Instagram.

Arune: Like so many folks in the functional fitness world, I got my start while wearing Reebok Nanos and so I’m always going to be biased towards anything Nano. My sweet spot is the Nano 4-6 and somehow, to this day, those models still work fantastically for me.

So with all the hype around the KD 15, it seemed like a great opportunity to see if I could find a modern version of all the things I loved about those earlier models.

Spoiler: I returned the shoes after one day. That doesn’t mean these shoes won’t work for you but it does mean they didn’t work for me.

Drew: Well, now that Arune spoiled the whole review (lol), let’s dive a little deeper.

Reebok Nano X2

Release Date: April 8, 2022

Price: $135

Weight: 10.2 oz (Men), 8.3 oz (Women)

Drop: 7mm

Sizing: True to size, fits wide

• Rundown: A promising shoe with a really sloppy upper. Buy the Reebok Nano 6000 instead. It solves most of the Nano X2’s problems.

Pros

• Forefoot…everything
• Versatility

Cons

• (In)stability
• The Upper is a Downer

Pros

Forefoot…everything

Arune: As a slightly-wide footer, I always struggle with fitness shoes that can comfortably contain my Hobbit-esque feet and allow my toes to actually spread out. The good news is that the Nano has always been a really great fit for me, versus the Nike Metcon which seems to shrink with every model, and it continues with this model. I hear reviewers like Drew and Chris talk about a shoe hugging their foot and that usually makes me think of my pinky toe getting crunched – but the Nano X2 gives me that perfect forefoot hug I crave.

Drew: My narrower forefoot had lots of room in the Reebok Nano X2 but it didn’t bug me. However, the upper materials…we’ll talk about them later. What Arune didn’t mention about the forefoot is the Floatride Energy foam. As usual, Floatride delivers good bounce and impressive impact protection. Doing plyometrics and various jumping exercises in the Nano X2 was a good experience (which definitely can’t be said for all cross training shoes).

By the way, if you want to really see what Floatride can do when it’s the entire midsole, grab the Reebok Floatride Energy 4 for running or casual use. It’s a great deal at $110.

Versatility

Arune: This is both a plus and minus (the latter of which we’ll discuss later) as the Nano has become a catch-all fitness shoe instead of one focused on CrossFit. That means while the shoe won’t excel at one single thing, you can do almost any fitness-related activity with the Nano X2 on your feet. Want to run? It’s better than a lot of training shoes. Rope Climbs? It works just fine. Heavy lifts? You’ve got enough stability (though more on that later) for many lifts. HIIT Session? You’ll be able to move nimbly in these shoes.

Are they the best shoe for any of the above? Nope. But if you’re more focused on physical activity over Olympic lifts, this might be the shoe for you.

Drew: What Arune says is true. No matter what I was doing in the gym, the Reebok Nano X2 was adequate. But, as someone who tests a lot of shoes, I expected more. At least do one thing great. I think most people will view the Nano X2 as adequate but that may not be enough given what we’re about to discuss.

Cons

(In)stability

Arune: Look, you can do almost any fitness activity in the Nano X2, but based on my experience there is a good chance you’ll do it with no confidence that you won’t fall over. Doing rear foot elevated split squats was a nightmare and skaters felt like I was asking to fall over.

The stability issues weren’t as pronounced with deadlifts or squats, but anything requiring single-leg focus wasn’t a great experience.

Essentially, this is a shoe that does a bit of everything but the lack of stability means I don’t think it does any of them especially well.

Drew: I too tried split squats and single-leg romanian deadlifts in the Reebok Nano X2. The key word there is “tried.” With a wide, flat base you’d think the Nano X2 would be fine for single-leg movements, but it fails miserably. The upper just doesn’t lock the foot down in the right ways for those types of exercises. This brings us to the biggest drawback of the Nano X2…

The Upper is a Downer

Arune: Yes, the forefoot has upsides but the midfoot is way too narrow, which caused a lot of pressure and pain on my arches. Most of all, I  couldn’t escape the feeling that the shoe felt cheap on foot. I have no reason to believe that Reebok skimped on the materials nor did I test out the shoes long enough, but nothing about the shoe felt premium.

Drew: When I got the Reebok Nano X2 in hand, I was cautiously optimistic about the Flexweave woven upper. But other than the comfortable tongue, the upper just doesn’t do anything right. It flexes in weird ways, sometimes pushing into or away from my foot during complex movements. Both outcomes were uncomfortable.

I could also tighten the shoe all I wanted and never affect the forefoot fit or heel lockdown. The only part that got tighter was the midfoot, which I didn’t need tighter because it starts out fairly slim (as Arune mentioned).

There may be a better shoe hiding inside the Nano X2, but the wonky upper prevents it from coming out.

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UPDATE: It appears Reebok noticed the same problems we did with the upper on the Nano X2 and moved quickly to fix them. They recently released an updated Nano X2 with a completely different upper and are calling it the Reebok Nano 6000. We’ve got a pair and the upper is both more comfortable and better fitting. While the new upper doesn’t fix everything about the Nano X2, the Reebok Nano 6000 is a huge upgrade. Just make sure to buy a half size down from your normal size as the Nano 6000 runs a half size large. The Reebok Nano 6000 is the Nano we’d currently recommend for all our Nano fans.

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Reebok Nano X2 Summary

We really wanted to be able to recommend the Dunk Low, mostly because we typically love Floatride Energy foam and the Nano line in general, but the terrible upper undermines the whole purpose of the shoe. If you want to stick with the Reebok Nano this year, buy the Reebok Nano 6000 instead.

 

4/10

Total Score

Pros

• Forefoot...everything
• Versatility

Cons

• (In)stability
• The Upper is a Downer