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i love this gameadidas Dame 8 Review: Comprehensive 3-Month OUTDOOR Analysis
Ever since the classic Dame 3, I feel like the Dame line could’ve peaked in its performance offerings and also in terms of innovation. However, the previous model was a ton of fun to hoop in so here’s to my in-depth Dame 8 review, solely based outdoors & tested by a wide footer. Let’s see if things are heading to where they once were.
Despite a familiar design every year, I’m always excited to see what tweaks adidas makes in the performance aspect. Here’s all about the Dame 8’s fit & comfort, outdoor performance, build quality, versatility, and value for the $$$ you’re paying.
I. SPEC SHEET
II. 1-MIN REVIEW
Looking for the speedy Dame 8 review? the adidas Dame 8 brought back some really damn good memories. It’s a shoe that just seemed to work perfectly for me.
It offers a secure fit but narrow footers should watch out since the toebox is pretty roomy, despite stepping a 1/2 size down.
Traction started taking care of business after a few hours of breaking it in. It’s also solid for outdoors since the rubber is fairly strong.
The dual-density Bounce Pro cushioning caught me off guard. I really didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did. It’s the definition of versatility.
Support & security wasn’t an issue either, much like most of adidas’s performance footwear. The platform is wide and near-flat which promoted stability.
The mesh upper was the one thing that didn’t really surprise me but not in a bad way. It’s in line with most of the stuff we’re getting in today’s era.
For $120 – I couldn’t ask for a better shoe honestly. The only caveat I’ve seen is that people report on mediocre traction if lots of dust/debris is present. I haven’t personally experienced this outdoors.
III. FIT & COMFORT
True to size or should you adjust? What’s the comfort level? Anything else to know fit-wise?
SIZING GUIDE
Here we go again. The elephant in the room when it comes to adidas hoop shoes is almost always the sizing. The Dame 8 should run long for most people. And I’m not talkin’ just half an inch long.
I had the chance to try these out in my local sports retailer before grabbing them online and stepping into my usual size 10 US (44 EU) meant a no-go right away.
And this is coming from a prominent wide footer. Too much volume. A half-size-down should be the primary option for most wearers, even if you think you got a wide foot.
The shoe clearly has a wider toebox than the previous few Dame models had, so even stepping a half size down shouldn’t cause major suffocation/tightness issues for wider feet. It didn’t for me.
These are pretty much perfect for me personally: they’re very snug but not to a point where I’d feel discomfort and I didn’t even need that long to stretch the upper out.
Everything’s secure, there’s no heel slippage or foot movement inside the footbed. Just solid all-around.
However, this also means that if you’ve got a more average-shaped foot or a more narrow one, the Dame 8’s forefoot will leave you with some room width-wise and height-wise. Not as much as if you’d go TTS but you’ll still notice it.
This is why I wouldn’t recommend the sneaker to those who swear by a snug, one-to-one fit and don’t want any extra space that might compromise containment or get in the way of their game.
Shoving an aftermarket insole will help make the fit more compact, and so will having a thicker pair of socks on.
Still, I’d advise sticking with the Dame 7 or grabbing something else entirely if you prefer a second-skin type of fit for your performance shoes.
COMFORT
I said this in my Kyrie Infinity review and it seems that I’m at least partially right so far. Manufacturers are starting to put some more emphasis on the comfort aspect.
Not performance, not how light it feels (those are typical by now) but how comfy and cozy the experience is for the foot while you’re moving around. The Dame 8 is another shoe that resembles this and I LOVE that.
The previous release wasn’t terrible in the comfort aspect or anything like that but this one went that extra mile by slapping on some extra little details. I really do appreciate stuff like this.
There’s more internal foam padding all throughout areas where the foot sits next to the material, the massive tongue is thin on the outside but it’s actually very softly padded on the inside (where it matters).
And the icing on the cake is that nice achilles pillow sleeve (or however it’s called) that cups the sides of the achilles for that extra confidence and coziness around the most critical part of the foot.
And not to mention the shoe actually feels a bit lighter than its predecessor. Adidas has never been known for ultra-lightweight performance sneakers but this one’s getting closer to that.
It’s still not the lightest shoe out there but it’s enough for me not to think about it and stay nimble at all times. Awesome stuff here – you gotta love the extra things that were put in the shoe.
While they don’t ultimately decide on the shoe’s worthiness, it adds to the experience. Especially for someone who tried dozens upon dozens of models throughout the years.
IV. TRACTION
Does it BITE? How’s the grip on a variety of surfaces? How sensitive & durable are the outsoles?
OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE
It almost seems like every new Dame release takes me back to the park. Each Dame shoe I’ve played in was mainly exhausted in an outdoor environment for one reason or another. The 8th iteration continues the tradition.
I hooped on a rubberized surface primarily and maybe a couple of weeks on traditional asphalt. During the 3 months of action, I really don’t have anything bad to say about the traction.
The shoe features a custom lightning bolt-looking pattern outside the green portion and inside it, a classic wave pattern is there to cover multi-directional movements.
I love that adidas took a page out of a Kyrie shoe and slapped on extra some extra rubber that comes up to the midsole laterally and medially.
If you find yourself planting your foot in an untraditional angle or you’re a very shifty, mobility-focused player: you’ll find this addition very much welcome.
I saw a few reviews reporting that the traction was iffy on dirtier indoor courts and needed a ton of frequent wiping to maintain it. Well, playing on an abrasive outdoor surface right away pretty much solved that for me.
It took a few hours of playtime to break in the outsoles as I wasn’t getting that sharp, aggressive bite initially. It’ll take a bit longer to get the desired result indoors for those that are wondering.
Rubber usually needs some heat and friction in order for it to start moving better and cover more ground (a.ka. playing time). The more abrasion you throw at it in the process, the faster you’ll start receiving good bite.
All in all, things are solid: I’m getting consistent grip no matter the movement, and I barely need to wipe the outsoles down as there’s enough friction to handle things.
Does the Dame 8 have the best all-around traction in the series? Not really. I’d still hand out the medals for the Dame 3 and 5 but anything that even comes close to those shoes is absolutely sufficient in my book.
DURABILITY
Gone are the days when basketball shoes were made with outdoor play heavily in mind. Remember when Adidas was using Continental Rubber on most of their models?
That stuff definitely upped the weight but it simply refused to break down.
While we don’t quite see things on such a level anymore, adidas still uses some of the more durable outsoles on their hoop shoes today.
The Dame 8 should definitely get you through multiple seasons of outdoor hoops. I’ve been playing pretty consistently in these and there are no signs of decreased performance yet.
The areas of high usage (like the balls of the feet and lateral sides) have thinned out more than the rest of the pattern but I don’t see that as a big problem.
I played in plenty of kicks where the pattern might be pretty banged up visually but most outdoor courts are still able to handle the load provided that the rubber used on the shoe is strong enough.
Once again, I don’t think anything will beat the Dame 3 in terms of outdoor durability in the Dame line but if we’re talkin’ current choices – the 8th shoe should handle business for quite a while.
V. CUSHION
All about the midsole: impact protection, responsiveness, underfoot feedback, ride height, and stability
A dual-density Bounce Pro midsole goes from heel to toe for the Dame 8’s cushioning.
The heel portion is much higher density, which makes it compress more and the rebound effect is more substantial. The forefoot utilizes a firmer compound with less density: it’s lower to the ground, more responsive, and provides less feedback.
There’s also an additional foam barrier that goes over and around the shoe’s midsole, likely for stability. I felt that my foot gets nicely cradled within that barrier which makes the ride feel more secure and stable.
I’ll tell you what – this is likely the most cushion EVER on a Dame sneaker. The Dame 7‘s Lightstrike midsole also had quite a bit of cushion at the heel but seemed almost dead at the forefoot.
Here, I felt that things were much smoother and better balanced AND there’s even more cushion now. The forefoot still doesn’t give me too much pop underfoot but that’s for stability purposes – I’m totally okay with that.
Despite having a ton of cushion (especially at the heel) – this setup just felt more fine-tuned. I never found myself overly sluggish or sinking into the midsole on every stride.
The best way to describe it is that the ride felt softer and plusher but the rebound effect of the foam felt quicker than it did with the Dame 7.
This means that responsiveness isn’t sacrificed as much and we get to keep the fun factor.
Of course, I can name a bunch of shoes that do feel quicker to take off (Kyrie 7, Curry 9) but those are usually focused on a few specific attributes. I feel like this is something that’s catered towards just about anyone.
Court feel did kind of take a back seat for this one though. Fans of those ultra-minimal Kyrie or Curry shoes that are slapped right next to the ground could find these a little unnatural.
The Dame 5 is still probably my favorite cushion setup out of the Dame line for my personal preference. Those were a bit lower to the ground while offering good cushion.
But don’t get it twisted – this one comes pretty damn close. It’s a beastly setup.
VI. SUPPORT
How supportive is the Dame 8? What about stability? Any restrictions as a result?
I’m sure some of you are expecting this from the Three Stripes by now but support was never in question during my time with the Dame 8.
adidas always kills it in this aspect, so I’ll keep it short with this one.
The shoe has all the critical components that make up a secure experience: internal heel counters for ankle & heel lockdown, rugged midfoot shank plates for torsional rigidity, foam sidewalls for added containment, and a wide forefoot base for lateral stability.
There aren’t any prominent outriggers to catch lateral motions but I never felt I missed them.
The front portion of the shoe is so wide that it covers a lot of ground and ensures the chances of rolling my foot outward are very slim. I’d have to forcefully try to push the shoe laterally to be able to do so which is a great sign.
The base of the whole sneaker is almost flat as well. Pair that with fantastic cushion and good torsional coverage, and the Dame 8 quietly creeps into the list of the best options for a flat arch.
Overall, no apparent restrictions were present here, I was feeling both mobile and secure. Things might feel a tad bit bulkier for those who won’t manage to fully fill the shoe out with their feet.
So, narrow footers should probably steer away from these.
VII. THE BUILD
What are the upper materials and how’s the build quality? What about performance and longevity?
BUILD OVERVIEW
The Dame 8 has a bunch of synthetic mesh materials combined throughout the build along with a few Fuse overlays for added strength.
The forefoot utilizes a thicker, more structured mesh while things are a bit thinner at the midfoot & heel. You’ll find the Fuse overlays on the toebox, around the lacing system, and on the midfoot where the adidas logo resides.
There’s also a textile panel at the back which is where you’ll find the “Dame” writing.
The adidas Dame 8 takes advantage of traditional construction, meaning there’s a separate tongue sewed to the upper. These are quite easy to put on.
PERFORMANCE
Say what you want about modern materials we usually find on today’s performance sneakers but there’s no denying they excel in performance.
This mesh is definitely not among the thinnest you’ll find on the market but the shoe still manages to feel somewhat lightweight or at least balanced enough for me not to think about it.
A bit more volume of material also means these won’t break down as quickly and despite its flexible nature, this type of thicker mesh will hold even a heavier guy’s foot on the footbed.
It took me about 3-4 days to stretch out the upper ’till my foot felt optimal in there. Definitely a huge advantage vs. the hardcore leathers and suedes that can take ages to break in.
Ventilation is another plus among these types of materials. While not quite among the most breathable sneakers I’ve played in, it was enough for my feet not to get hot quickly.
Keep in mind that I’m hooping in the sun and temperatures can reach 90°F/32°C+ in the summer.
I don’t really have any complaints performance-wise. Everything’s pretty much as expected from such material choices: they’re mobile, comfortable, move well with the foot, and don’t take long to break in.
RELIABILITY
Let’s be real. Three months isn’t that long of a time period to comprehensively judge a shoe’s long-term durability. However, sometimes it can be enough to notice signs that indicate a breakdown is coming soon.
That wasn’t the case with the Dame 8. There’s barely any cosmetic damage besides a few small rips on the toebox due to toe-drags, and a banged-up pull tab that I use to put the shoe on quicker.
One last thing. The laces. They’re good. Finally. And I mean FINALLY.
If you had experience with a few adidas hoop shoes in recent years – you know what I mean. adidas uses some of the cheapest laces available and tons of shoes were getting undone minutes after re-lacing them. Minutes.
I’m relieved to say this wasn’t the case for me with the 8th Dame. Wheeew.
VIII. OVERALL
Concluding the Dame 8 review: final thoughts and a recap
You know, right when I ordered the shoe, I didn’t think too much of it. I kind of already had the idea to start off this review by asking the question “Is it finally the shoe that puts an adidas product right on top as it did back in 2015-2017?”
Honestly, I really did think the answer would be no. Have low expectations and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. That’s exactly what happened here.
Even if I had higher expectations, I’m sure I still would’ve been impressed.
The adidas Dame 8 is a fantastic well-rounded basketball shoe that reminded me of the classic Dame 3 & 5 but also modernized some things which made up a killer of a performer.
I’m not even going to address the $5 price increase since this is a brilliant shoe and Dame’s line has stayed at the $110-$115 mark for years now. Well, I guess I addressed it now but you get the point.
Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% Performance Review
Nike’s latest tour offering just hit the shelves; how does it stack up against the previous iteration? The Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% aims to replace and build upon the success of its predecessor, the Zoom Infinity Tour.
As someone who also owns the Zoom Infinity Tour, I have some gripes that I’m hoping that Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% improves upon when compared to its older brother. But the question remains, is it worth the upgrade, or are you better off buying last year’s version at a discount?
Let’s find out.
First Impressions
The Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% is, in my opinion, one of Nike’s best-looking offerings to date. They’re sleek, sexy, athletic, and bold.
I love a visible air unit, especially on a golf shoe, so that’s what caught my eye right at the start. The Infinity Tour NXT% is one of those shoes you wouldn’t know is a golf shoe unless you looked at it from the sole up. To me, the shoe looks like a running shoe or at least gives off that vibe.
Nonetheless, golf apparel is quickly becoming more tapered, athletic, and sleek when compared to the past, so I think the Infinity Tour NXT is perfect for the modern era of golf.
Materials
The materials on my pair of Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% are nothing short of stellar. The mesh upper is light and breathable, while the leather overlays and swoosh take things up a notch.
It might sound weird, but the heel is my favorite part. This pair (the special colorway that Nike released for The Masters) features some amazingly lush long hair suede on the heel, a touch that you shouldn’t overlook. It looks sweet and feels fantastic.
Most TOUR-worthy golf shoes feature some premium materials, so this was a must. I felt that they mixed the textiles and premium materials in a way that added to the overall package and design of the shoe.
Traction
Like the original Air Zoom Infinity Tour, the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% features a spiked sole with four massive spikes to keep you grounded. The TPU spikes offered plenty of traction and grab, and the accompanying ridges and nubs provided more traction in critical areas to help reduce slipping.
Spiked traction like this is good because it really digs into the ground when applying force. Think of it like a pair of cleats; there’s a reason that all sports played on grass/turf use some sort of cleat or spike. The ground is unpredictable, and traction like this counteracts it and keeps you upright.
I didn’t notice any slippage while playing in these, which I expected. Spiked offerings such as this should, at minimum, stop you from slipping. Even when I got myself into some sticky situations on the course, I found myself completely confident in the traction of the Nike Kyrie 8.
Cushion
My favorite part of the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% is the cushion. Last year’s pair featured a React midsole and Zoom strobel, yet I found them rather uninspiring and stiff. I was glad to see that Nike listened to golfers like me and retooled the setup to make these mad comfy. They removed the Zoom strobel but beefed up the React midsole and added the two visible air units in the forefoot.
The React midsole is incredible. I’m a big fan of React, so I was not disappointed. When I say all-day comfort, I mean it. Generally, when I’m out on the course, I may switch shoes a time or two to continue to test other kicks, but not when I had these on. I couldn’t take them off. They were that good. I found these much more comfortable than last year’s pair, despite the change in cushion setup.
As if you needed more cushion, the two forefoot Zoom Air units provided good responsiveness and helped with energy and weight transfer through the swing. Explosive moves (at the transition from backswing to downswing) felt energized and lively.
Seriously, these things were so comfortable.
Stability
One of my biggest gripes with last year’s model was stability; the shoe felt so narrow that I struggled to stay in balance at times. Nike solved that in the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT%. A wider base and the slightly improved traction gave me the confidence to swing away without falling off balance.
Fit
My other issue with last year’s iteration of the shoe was fit. The original Infinity Tour fit narrow, really tight, and pretty short. Again, Nike listened to golfers and made sure to address that for the Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT%. They fit much better in pretty much every way.
The overall fit is wider, less restricting, and more true to size than before. I would have gone up at least a half size in last year’s model. In these, I’m much more inclined to order my proper size.
Wide-footers who missed out on last year’s pair due to the fit will have no issues playing in these.
Nike Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT% Summary
Everything that people (me included) didn’t like about the original Air Zoom Infinity Tour, Nike fixed for the Air Zoom Infinity Tour NXT%. There’s no doubt in my mind this is going to be a fan favorite moving forward.
Now, let’s revisit my question on whether you should buy the Infinity Tour NXT% or the original Infinity Tour at a discount. New version all the way. You’re going to want to experience the upgrades from this new pair.
Gone are the days (hopefully for good) of Nike Golf shoes fitting too narrow and lacking top-of-the-line cushion. The Infinity Tour NXT% is a massive step in the right direction for Nike and, admittedly, my current favorite pair of golf shoes.
Nike Kyrie Infinity Review: 2-Month INDOOR & OUTDOOR Report
The Brooklyn Nets’ very own Uncle Drew has dropped his 8th signature sneaker with Nikey and after about 60 days of action both indoors and outdoors, here’s my comprehensive Kyrie Infinity review, giving you as many details as I possibly could. Yes, the new Kyrie isn’t the Kyrie 8 – it’s now the Infinity.
I’ll give you a sizing guide, break down the fit & comfort, performance, build quality & value for the money you’re paying, versatility and decide if it’s worth upgrading from any of the previous models.
I. SPEC SHEET
II. 1-MIN REVIEW
For those in a hurry: the Nike Kyrie Infinity is now a solid all-around hoop shoe despite the controversies initially.
I found it to be likely the most comfortable Kyrie sneaker EVER – many thanks to lots of padding, awesome sculpting, and high-quality materials.
The cushion underwent major changes too: a large forefoot Zoom Strobel now offers a ton of bounce and impact protection.
Traction was fine but make sure not to worry about it being questionable at first. I recommend breaking it in outdoors to achieve good bite faster.
Support was just as good as on any of the previous Kyrie models but mediocre torsional coverage also returned. Those with flat feet might want to skip these.
The upper now features genuine suede & leather and it worked beautifully once broken-in. The shoe still felt light despite beefing up the cushion and the materials.
Bottom line: get these if you’re looking for a solid all-around sneaker. Outdoor hoopers or wide footers: you might want to find the EP version just in case.
For alternatives, check out the Kyrie 7, the Kyrie Low 5, the Cosmic Unity, and the KD 14.
III. FIT & COMFORT
TTS or should you change up the size? What about the fit & comfort level?
SIZING GUIDE
Owners of the previous two Kyrie shoes shouldn’t have trouble picking the size for the Kyrie Infinity – just stick with the same size. Though expect things just a little bit roomier this time.
As for newcomers trying a Kyrie silhouette for the first time: most should get away with their usual size. Fairly typical for a Kyrie sneaker, the fit will be very snug and quite narrow at the midfoot & forefoot areas.
I personally went up a half size since I’m a prominent wide footer. I’d say the Kyrie Infinity is a slightly better option for wide footers when compared to the 7. I didn’t feel as suffocated as I did with the Kyrie 7 right out of the box.
While both shoes still aren’t exactly a wide footer’s dream – trying these on in a store or just going up a half size should do the trick for those guys.
Going up a half size from my typical choice resulted in about a half-inch (~1.3 cm) of space length-wise but for me, that’s completely okay.
I should mention I own the regular US release of the shoe and not the EP which has a slightly wider fit & XDR rubber outsoles slapped on. I wasn’t able to find an EP pair from where I live.
If you don’t want any extra room and prefer your hoop shoes to fit one-to-one with your foot: true to size is the go for normal/narrow footers, while seeking out the EP version of the Kyrie Infinity is the best option for wide footers in that case.
Although experiences with this one are mixed online – some even say their true size was too snug for a non-wide foot. Fit is very subjective, so trying a shoe live if you can is always the safest bet.
COMFORT
This is where the noticeable changes start getting into play.
I never had any major complaints with any of the previous Kyrie kicks feeling uncomfortable but the latest iteration seemed like it wanted to step things up even further. And it sure did.
There’s a TON of foam padding around the ankle and heel, the tongue is absolutely massive and plush, and the mix of well-implemented genuine and synthetic materials hugged my foot as well as anything on the market today.
I seriously don’t know why brands don’t offer as much padding and sculpting more consistently as there are quite literally no downsides to this. I doubt it affects the weight in a noticeable way.
This large tongue cups the front of the ankle like a pillow, the lining around the ankle gives me a secure and cozy feeling all around, and if you think that all of this added awesomeness resulted in the shoe feeling bulky – think again.
These are still among the lightest Kyrie hoop shoes and they play exactly like it. Don’t let the looks fool you.
This is probably the most comfortable Kyrie basketball sneaker EVER and I love that the comfort aspect is getting more love in the performance footwear market now.
IV. TRACTION
Does it grip various surfaces/floors well? How sensitive are the outsoles to dust/debris? What about durability?
INDOOR PERFORMANCE
I started my journey with the Kyrie Infinity inside on a medium-condition high school gym floor. It’s a soft rubberized surface, not real hardwood. I played there for about a week.
I’ll tell you what – this isn’t the optimal floor to hoop on if a shoe’s traction needs some break-in time. That’s exactly what this shoe needed before it could provide sufficient grip no matter the movement.
The traction at first was pretty wonky. I had decent bite overall but quickly changing directions or stopping on a dirtier spot or where some moisture is present resulted in slight delays.
Wiping the outsoles down didn’t help because it wasn’t even needed in the first place – this rubber was fast to push most of the dust out of the pattern before it became a problem.
I did notice a slight improvement every day but I’d still find myself wondering if this is the maximum I’m going to get. It wasn’t.
The rubber simply needed some heat and break-in time and what’s the best surface for the fastest results? That’s right, and abrasive one.
Taking these outdoors on concrete for a few hours, cleaning the outsoles out, and then returning to the gym made ALL the difference.
The traction now is excellent and feels more at home with other Kyrie releases: it bites the floor very well, doesn’t get troubled by dust/debris too much and the extra thread that comes up to the sides of the midsole allows for just about any angle to be covered by excellent grip.
Not that I needed that but if you’re even remotely close to the shiftiness of Uncle Drew himself – you’ll find it welcome on the Infinity.
OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE
There’s very little chance that a shoe’s traction is weaker outdoors than it is indoors.
Playing on a more abrasive surface means more friction will be generated upon every step and even weaker traction patterns can be somewhat saved by a more harsh surface.
No surprises with the Kyrie Infinity here – traction was even deadlier on the two surfaces I hooped on outside (a rubberized court and classic asphalt).
I didn’t have the chance to play on the hardwood with the shoe but I’d expect these outsoles to perform somewhere on the level right between the high school gym floor and an outdoor surface.
In other words, you shouldn’t have any major issues.
And if you’re mainly an outdoor hooper like I am – don’t worry about the grip being iffy initially. Even outside.
Nikey tends to use a thin layer of coating all over the outsoles sometimes (not usually visible to the naked eye) that needs to be burned off. Once you do that – the rubber only needs some heat in order to start moving better and cover more ground. Patience is key.
The cushion system has been completely reworked from last year’s model.The Kyrie Infinity now features the most cushion you’ll find on a Kyrie sneaker: a Zoom Air unit in the heel, a large Zoom Strobel at the forefoot, and a foam midsole (likely Phylon) to accompany the ride.This is INSANE to see on a flagship Kyrie sneaker. The typical minimal feel is now replaced with a super bouncy forefoot and an all-around plush ride from heel to toe.Step transitions felt smooth as butter, and even though the smaller heel Zoom unit wasn’t really doing much in terms of feedback (maybe except on harder heel strikes), the overall feel of the underfoot sensation is nothing short of awesome.Don’t get it twisted though – a properly implemented Zoom Strobel is a threat to any other competitor. Here, it’s soft and springy since there’s a lot of it but I felt extremely low to the ground nonetheless.
DURABILITY
I played in the Kyrie Infinity a little less than I did in the Kyrie 7 before putting out a review, so it’s pretty tough to compare the durability between the two sneakers.
2 months in, I’m not seeing as much visual damage to the thread as I did on the Kyrie 7 three months in, so there’s that.
However, performance-wise, there isn’t a meaningful difference. Traction is still fine, consistency is still there as long as I clean my outsoles after every few sessions.
There’s quite a bit of damage on the forefoot portions and along the lateral portions of the outsole, so just as with the Kyrie 7, it’s a matter of time before that visual damage catches up to actual traction received on the court.
I would love to pick a winner in terms of durability between this year’s and last year’s model but practically speaking – there’s really no reason to.
It would make more sense if the differences in performance would be clear right now, or if I’d played in both sneakers for a much longer period of time. All I’ll say here is you should be good to go for at least a season of outdoor hoops with the Infinity.
If you’d like to be sure that you’ll be set for potentially longer – I highly encourage you to find the EP version of the shoe or at least put on XDR outsoles on Nike By You while customizing your pair.
The real EP release will still provide better outsoles than the option you’d get via Nike By You though. But hey, grab what you can and live with it.
And lastly, if you’re not able to grab either the EP or the Nike By You pair – going with the gum rubber outsole colorway might be the safest option for outdoors.
The evidence on this is anecdotal but based on my and other hoopers’ experience – gum rubber outsoles can be more durable and tackier than others.
V. CUSHION
How’s the impact absorption and feedback? What about step comfort, ride height, and stability?
I think the only group of people who won’t enjoy this setup are those who strictly prefer a minimal experience with less-to-no cushion underfoot.
If you’re ALL about speed and precision and don’t need any shock absorption to go along with it – sticking with any of the previous Kyrie models will be your best bet.
VI. SUPPORT
How’s the all-around security? What about foot containment? Any restrictions?
Let me list all of the biggest negatives when it comes to the support of the Kyrie Infinity first. There – done.
On a more serious note, we’ve come to expect great security and support from every Kyrie release and the next iteration isn’t all too different. I had no major issues.
The shoe sports beefy internal heel counters for proper heel & ankle lockdown, midfoot shank plates for additional torsional rigidity, midsole sidewalls that come up at the forefoot & heel, and a criss-cross lockdown system consisting of bands that pull your foot down and back to the heel when you tighten the laces.
The forefoot portion of the shoe is noticeably wide which promotes stability, and you could say there are small outriggers in place for further lateral coverage. Not those plastic fins though – those don’t do anything.
Everything worked properly: I was stable, not overly restricted, and never felt unconfident to pull off a certain move.
Don’t worry about the interesting-looking sculpting of the tooling either. It might look like the shoe will encourage you to roll the foot inward but that simply does not happen on the court. Merely a visual illusion.
THE TORSION DILLEMMA
One little caveat that carried over from the Kyrie 7 is the mediocre torsional rigidity. Despite a midfoot shank in place, these are still flimsier torsionally than an average hoop shoe on the market.
I barely noticed this because I was putting some hours into the Kyrie 7 before testing the new model, so chances are, my feet are now more used to working harder in order to stabilize the joints and tendons torsionally.
But if you’ve got weaker feet (perhaps you’re coming off a foot injury or maybe you haven’t hooped in a while), there’s a good chance you’ll start feeling some fatigue faster than usual.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing since your feet will be more exposed to heavier workloads and as long as you give them enough time to recover in between sessions – you’ll end up in a better place than before.
Of course, some might value being able to play longer hours comfortably over anything else. In that case – choosing a shoe with stronger torsional coverage will be a wiser option.
VII. THE BUILD
What are the materials used? How well do they perform on-court? How’s the quality & reliability of the build?
BUILD OVERVIEW
The Nike Kyrie Infinity utilizes a structured mesh material on the front, a suede panel at the back that’s lined with genuine leather, and also synthetic leather pieces on the tongue, back, and lacing system.
There’s a little bit of everything here and I really do appreciate it.
It looks like Nike “stole” adidas’s concept of material dependency based on the colorway. The debut colorway that I have features a suede ankle portion that’s lined with leather but other colorways seem to use a leather ankle that’s lined with synthetic leather instead.
I think both options are excellent and you really shouldn’t sweat it too much when it’s time to choose. Leather is a bit easier to clean and take care of than suede, so if that matters to you – go for any of the other colorways.
The shoe’s built on a standard lace & tongue construction, so this insanely large tongue is sewed on separately.
PERFORMANCE
While Nike ditched the all-out synthetic & minimal focus of their past models and replaced it with beefier and more premium materials on the Infinity, I feel like performance didn’t suffer at all.
In fact, these awesome materials greatly contribute to how comfortable the shoes felt when the material is sitting next to my feet.
Even the plasticy-feeling mesh at the front broke in quickly and wrapped around my foot very well.
These did feel slightly tight for me at first (mainly due to my wide feet) but all of the materials throughout the build broke in to a point where I don’t feel any major pressure, pinching, suffocation, or anything nasty like that at all.
Well, there’s a little bit of pressure where the leather lining begins on the lateral side of the shoe as that’s where the widest part of my foot is.
It only happens on certain movements but as I’ve said – comfortable materials make these collisions acceptable when they could’ve been annoying.
One thing that does suffer from the more traditional material choices is ventilation. The Fused mesh forefoot doesn’t allow for any airflow, nor does leather, obviously.
I did feel my feet getting pretty damn hot while hooping outside in the sun, and that’s pretty unusual for me since it takes quite a bit for my feet to start sweating.
Or perhaps I should say for me to notice that my feet are getting hot in there. Not a huge downside but something to remember for those under-the-sun sessions.
RELIABILITY
No shoe will break down on you quickly when genuine compounds like leather or suede dominate the build.
It’s normal for leather to visibly change over time and start looking banged up fairly soon but the actual health of the material will stay intact for a long time. If you take care of it that is.
A couple of months with the Kyrie Infinity resulted in the leather lining looking a little creased, the suede ankle is a bit dirty since debris can easily get stuck in it, and the rest is just small visual dents here and there.
This is definitely one of the most durable Kyrie shoes to date and I expect them to last for multiple seasons (if the outsoles could hang in there).
I’ll update you months later to see if my predictions were true. If I’ll still be hooping in the shoe of course.
Considering that we’re still paying the same $130 at retail, this is definitely a noticeable step-up in the quality of the materials, as well as the quality of their implemenation.
VIII. OVERALL
Wrapping up the Kyrie Infinity review: recap, recommendations, and versatility
The Nike Kyrie Infinity is a fantastic all-around basketball sneaker that finally found the courage to change things up from the usual formula. Not everyone will like that but I suspect A LOT of people will.
Remember when Kyrie Irving trashed the shoe on his Instagram and refused to wear it right before it launched to the public? I suspect the cushion was part of the problem.
The early reviews of the shoe reported on the cushion being severely unresponsive and not in line with Kyrie’s previous low-profile formula-like setups.
Honestly, I HIGHLY doubt the shoe I played in is the same version of the shoe that he wasn’t a fan of or that the reviewers tested initially.
Performance shoes often get tweaked based on the athlete’s feedback and the new improved versions hit the market later. This is nothing new.
There are versions of certain hoop shoes that are exclusive to their signature athletes, as the regular consumer can only get their hands on a slightly different version.
That’s why this whole Kyrie Infinity situation wasn’t a big surprise for me like it was for some people.
Kyrie later posted a message apologizing to Nikey in a way and pretty much saying all is good now. Well, they probably fixed up the areas of the sneaker he didn’t like.
It could’ve been handled better in my opinion, but all I really care about is the fact that we get to play in a great Kyrie hoop shoe now.
From guards to forwards, from aggressive slashers to all-around players: the Kyrie Infinity should get the job done. Not something I thought I’d say about a Kyrie model.
Adidas Harden Vol 4 Review: OUTDOOR Performance Breakdown
First off, don’t get disturbed that these look HUGE on feet. Literally. The tooling is unusually very wide and I dig that a lot for a couple of reasons.
The first one being that this saves hassle for wide footers – I have very wide feet myself and the forefoot & midfoot areas are wide enough for me, especially after about a week of adjusting.
The second one being unprecedented stability – that wide of a platform + sitting so low to the ground makes up for an extremely stable & agile combo, and for a low top – I think this is perfect.
So, regular/narrow footers – going true to size is the #1 option without a doubt. Wide footers like myself – it would be best to order two pairs (one TTS and the other up 1/2 a size) to be safe and return the unneeded one.
But I actually went true to size and I believe I’ve got a pretty extreme case of wide feet, so this should tell you going TTS shouldn’t be so scary if you’re not up for ordering multiple pairs.
Unless your feet are even wider than mine, which would mean you should have the feet of a clown at that point. Going true to size resulted in me feeling super secure, there’s zero slippage in the heel or anywhere else.
If you are experiencing some heel slippage though – there might be a few things you can do. Check out my heel slippage guide for basketball shoes to find out more!
Going up half a size could’ve messed with the overall lockdown as I feel like they’re now perfect length-wise, so any extra space could’ve compromised the sense of security and that one-to-one fit feel.
THE BAND SITUATION
One thing I want to touch on is that midfoot elastic band thing that pulls into the midfoot and ankle areas when lacing ’em up for enhanced lockdown. While it does help lock down the fit, that strap took the longest to get it out of the way in terms of break-in.
It was pretty terrible for me during the first week (partially because of my huge feet I presume) since that area was pressing into my feet to the point where it was painful at times when the shoe flexed, especially torsionally.
Don’t worry though – through multiple reviews and user feedback I’ve heard people having the same thing but it goes away for most. And it should go away quicker for you than for me as well.
COMFORT: FAST, LIGHT, AND SMOOTH
Even though I feel like adidas hasn’t been on such a perfect roll these past couple of years when compared to the air jordan/D Rose 6-7 days, I still think the Harden line has been super consistent in providing a comfy, secure, and fast shoe to play in.
The Harden Vol. 4 feels light as hell, to begin with. Even though it’s not among the lightest shoes in terms of pure numbers, the most important thing is how they actually feel in action.
And the Harden Vol 4 feels as fast & light as ever.
Also, looking for comfy, fluffy internal padding in your shoe? You got it. It’s everywhere and there’s a lot of it. While that might take away some space and condense your foot, man it’s comfy in there provided you get the size right!
Soft and buttery smooth is the best way to describe it. If you feel like these fit you properly but your foot’s really cradled in there, give ’em some time to fully break in, or go up half a size if you prefer a roomier fit.
In most cases though – you shouldn’t need to.
IV. TRACTION
Does it grip different surfaces well & consistently? Is dust/debris a factor? How long will these last outside?
TRACTION PERFORMANCE
adidas loves to switch things up almost every year when it comes to the outsole and even though I’d prefer all brands to just stick with solid/XDR rubber & good ol’ herringbone, I wasn’t disappointed with the Harden Vol 4’s traction.
As you can see, the heel and forefoot portions are separated pretty distinctively – the heel portion uses a more spaced out pattern while the forefoot area is denser to cover more ground for stops, cuts, changes of direction, etc.
I’m not sure how these would’ve performed if a consistent pattern was used all throughout the outsole but the traction on these was great regardless.
The rubber used is almost ridiculously sticky, so that also helped with how quick and effective each stop or shift was. And sticky also means A TON of squeak. Get your ears ready if you’re playing on hardwood/rubber.
However, tacky rubber also means dust sticking to it very easily. Even though the pattern is properly spaced out and there’s room for dust to escape, the glue-like rubber catches all of it, so frequent wiping will be needed to keep the traction consistent.
Not the worst scenario there was at all though – the traction never dropped to a point where I’d feel a huge decrease, even when I’d skip a wipe where I’d normally do it, such as during longer, more intense stretches of a game.
And I was playing in my local park that’s pretty weary now – it’s good to know these outsoles will get the job done no matter the nasty debris all over the court.
OUTDOOR DURABILITY
Speaking of which, how’s the durability for outdoors you ask? While the shoe is clearly not an “outdoor” model so to speak, the rubber does hold up well.
I’ve got back to playing in these from time to time after putting out the initial review, so here’s a 1-year update.
It’s something about adidas’s basketball footwear. It delivers in durability – that’s for sure. Things are looking very similar to when they were just 3 months after getting the shoe.
There are more frayings along the medial and lateral areas of the pattern (mainly in the forefoot portion) and some of the rubber is looking weary.
HOWEVER, the core of the pattern is still there, with almost each and every knob resembling its original shape.
And I’d be lying if I said I’m feeling a clear decrease in performance. That’s simply not true. I haven’t taken these indoors for a long time now so things might be slightly different. On concrete/rubber though – just like the Dame line, these refuse to break down.
How To Prevent BLISTERS in Basketball: An All-In-One Guide
I personally get an average span of (roughly) 1 to 3 blisters per couple of weeks, particularly when it’s the spring/summer season and our group of hoopers bang it out in the park almost ’till dark. So how to prevent blisters in basketball you ask?
Well to answer, we need to dive deep into the topic. Let’s do just that.
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
The truth is, no one can completely ensure there’s no chance of a blister occurring despite you taking advantage of all the tips & tricks known to mankind. But I wrote this guide to filter out some of the B.S. in the form of guessing, untrustworthy sources, or marketing to sell a product. Yes, all of this can be found when we’re talking blisters.
Let me break it down to you what I’ve learned so far myself by playing and what the research currently shows us on the annoying phenomenon of blisters: what we actually know about blisters so far, what can cause one, and what are the ways to manage them or prevent them in the future.
I’ll also give my regularly updated shoe options that I currently find to stay either blister-free or at least reduce the chances of it happening on the basketball court.
WHAT WE (ACTUALLY) KNOW ABOUT BLISTERS SO FAR
How does it form? Why? Can we treat it? Prevent it? We gotta stick to credible research & tried-and-true stuff!
While it’s something none of us can fully control or completely prevent, through my years of being into sports & playing basketball, I’ve noticed, tested, and researched what are usually the main tendencies that possibly cause blisters and what are some of the things we can do to help fight it.
But first, here’s a bit about how a blister forms…
HOW A BLISTER EMERGES
You guessed it – friction. Especially common among active individuals, a blister is caused by an overwhelming amount of frictional forces between the skin area and the material/object that comes in contact with it.
So, you play ball in your hoop shoes, sweat builds up inside the shoe causing even more friction and if a part of your shoe constantly rubs an area of your skin during various movements, it can potentially form a blister.
But if we’re talking specifics, a recent study on friction blisters by Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH described the exact pathophysiology (the process of a blister creation) by having subjects rub the skin at a consistent, constant force.
Turns out, a mild form of exfoliation takes place on the rubbed area of the skin which means a layer of your skin cells (commonly dead cells) is removed and with that, slight erythema (skin irritation, reddening) also appears on that focal point of the skin.
Next, a zone of pallor (skin getting pale) forms around the irritated area, and over time, the pallor extends into the core of the erythematous skin area and this forms a blister. This results in discomfort, especially if you’re playing a sport like basketball and need to move around. Quickly.
The pale area of the skin that often looks like a bubble is the outer layer of the blister and is referred to as the roof. Peeling off the top means you’re deroofing the blister and leaving the area once again susceptible to infections and further irritation. We’ll talk about what you should with this later!
But why should we take blisters seriously? Not every human is equal and for some, a simple blister that gets infected might be very severe or even dangerous: the impetigo being the most common bacteria that forms inside blisters can turn into something as serious as cellulitis or sepsis.
WHAT’S KNOWN ABOUT THE CAUSES OF BLISTERS?
The likelihood of a blister emerging on your skin is based on the level of friction force as well as the number of times the problematic spot is rubbed against an object/material in a consistent manner.
The most problematic areas of the skin are thick, adherent areas. This means you’ll usually see blisters forming on the palms, heels, soles, and dorsa of the fingers.
Most research & studies you’ll find on blisters will be based on subjects that are in the military or they’re athletes. Both fields can be taken as great, practical examples that tell us a bit about what causes blisters and what are the main tendencies in terms of your apparel, human-specific differences, and external factors.
The same study on blisters found out that socks of different properties, the way your shoes fit, moist buildup, and even gender all have effects on the formation of blisters. Wearing socks that don’t induce as much friction against the skin proved to help decrease the chances of your skin getting irritated.
Heat and sweat build-up inside a shoe can accelerate the chances of a blister emerging since your skin can become macerated (overly softened skin), thus becoming more susceptible to friction & irritation.
However, the moisture factor is a bit of a tricky one. Moist on the skin surface can increase friction and thus possibly cause a blister while especially moist skin can actually decrease friction, creating a lubrication effect.
Some interesting stuff was also found out regarding gender-specific factors. Turns out that the female skin is naturally more sensitive to friction while it’s moist. Guys – you’re in luck with this one.
THERE’S SOMETHING TO KNOW ABOUT TREATMENT & PREVENTION.
We’ll talk about the specifics of treatment & prevention methods in the later section but there’s something important to know about it first. You need to stick to proven, tested methods to ensure you’re not doing more harm than good.
There are a bunch of claims lurking in the realms of the Internet which may or may not help treat a blister but believe it or not, some of the stuff suggested can even be risky for your own health. Let’s talk about the stuff you should avoid before getting into the meat.
A good example would be a 1995 study on blisters by J J Knapik. It’s still widely available online and it’s actually among the first sources that appear when you look up blisters. There’s some good information there that’s still viable today but it also claims that the use of any antibiotics doesn’t help the healing of a blister in any form.
On the contrary, a recent study from 2021 has indicated that using a topical containing nitrofurazone, of which some antibiotic ointments are made, do in fact help heal a partially or fully deroofed blister. So, DON’T just grab an antibiotic thinking it’ll take care of the irritation – you must ensure you’re getting the correct ointment first.
Another good example is the use of various antiperspirants or “anti-blister” sprays as some brands love to market them. Such products are created to help lower the hydration of the skin. However, the above-mentioned study has proven that such products simply yield no evidence that they help prevent or heal blisters.
The only form of such a product that can help is foot powder.
Now that you know about the things to look out for & avoid, let’s get into the meat of the guide…
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CURRENT BLISTER
Tested & proven methods that can help ease up your blister nightmares
Let’s face it – there’s no magic trick or solution to stop blisters from giving you discomfort. They don’t heal overnight either – so you’ll have to stay patient and stick to the things that can absolutely help deal with the blister. If you’re experiencing pain, or have trouble playing your sport, check out the following tips below!
The very first thing you MUST do is distinguish what you’re working with…
I. ASSESS THE BLISTER
Got a nasty blister on your foot? You need to make sure it’s not infected first. While most blisters, infected or not, can be painful and cause discomfort, there are a few signs to look for to make sure you don’t have a more serious issue on your hands.
If a blister is infected, you could notice one or several of the following symptoms:
- warmth around the area of the blister
- iffy smell
- pus
- overwhelming pain
- visible holes in the blister
- peeling skin around the infected area
So if you’ve got any of these, I highly advise consulting a doctor for treatment since messing around with an infected blister yourself can worsen the issue and even spread the infection throughout your skin.
However, most of the time a blister doesn’t appear infected as long as you don’t turn it into one. If you don’t have any of the mentioned symptoms and it looks just like a regular blister, you have some options. The biggest question here is whether to pop it or not.
II. SHOULD WE POP IT OR NOT?
I’ve been an advocate on both sides actually but as I’ve gotten older I eventually found myself sticking to what the science/medical expertise says and that seems to be working well so far. I’m not a huge fan of popping a blister when I see one but there could be times where it’s beneficial.
Here’s the gist of it. If you’re not feeling too much discomfort and can still do your sport/activity in a full or near-full capacity, there’s simply no reason to pop it.
You’ll end up with more pain and an open wound that will need to heal over time, causing you to be stopped in your tracks because people usually tear the blister apart while trying to pop it.
However, research says it’s good to drain it but only while keeping the roof intact. This is mostly recommended if you can’t properly function and this particular blister’s very painful & causes an immense amount of discomfort.
If you pop it and peel off the roof, you’re starting at day 1 again as the healing process will be lengthened. Here’s how to drain the blister while keeping the roof intact:
- Make sure to start with washing your hands
- Take a needle and sterilize it to prevent possible infections. You can use any alcohol-based solution
- Optimally, find the very edge of the blister and mildly poke it in several places to break through the outer layer
- Fluid will start coming out – you can use gauze to help soak it up
- If you know what you’re using – you can apply an antibiotic ointment on the drained blister such as a nitrofurazone-based product
- If you don’t feel comfortable with antibiotics – simply bandage the area up with moleskin or a regular padded bandage
- Make sure the blister is always clean and you can peel/cut off the dead skin buildup in the coming days if it forms, and then reapply the bandage again
- Do this until you feel no signs of the blister affecting your foot
III. ENSURE AN OPTIMAL FIT
Based on various studies done as well as my own personal experience – it’s usually the shoes that are the main culprit for emerging blisters. Some of you have preferences as to how you like your basketball shoes to fit but sometimes, that can fail to align properly with ensuring less friction and ultimately preventing blisters.
So if you can’t fight off blisters when you’re active, pay attention to how your shoes fit first. You’ll want to make sure you’re feeling comfortable and secure, obviously. However, by saying comfortable, I don’t mean leaving inches of dead space and playing in a loosy goosy sneaker.
Same thing for security – a secure fit doesn’t mean an overly tight, suffocating one that ends up causing blisters rather than preventing them. You’ll want to find that in-between solution. Length-wise, leave about a thumb’s width of space up at the toes.
Width-wise, you should be feeling the material hugging your foot in a snug manner. Avoid feeling overly suffocated though. If you’re a wide footer like myself, you need to take that into account while getting a new shoe/trying to play in your current shoe.
Lastly, you MUST ensure your foot isn’t moving in the shoe at all. No exceptions. If you feel your heel popping off during certain movements, your foot is shifting forward and back, or anything along those lines – you might be in trouble. Play around with the laces and try to optimize the fit.
Remember, unnecessary & rapid movement of the skin against an object causes friction. Friction causes blisters.
IV. USE THE “BUNNY EARS” LACING TRICK
Let’s say you find your current kicks not fitting optimally. You’ve got a blister that’s annoying you but you’re not looking to grab a new pair. While adjusting the shoe’s fit won’t eliminate the presence of a blister, depending on the area it occurred on, it absolutely CAN help deal with it easier.
Let’s say you’ve got a blister on your toe or any area at the front of your foot for that matter. Try out MRFOAMERSIMPSON’S lacing technique! He calls it the “bunny ears” and having tried it myself (mostly to reduce heel slippage on certain shoes), I absolutely find value in it for a handful of sneakers.
Here’s how to perform this method:
- Lace the shoe up like you usually do but leave out the top eyelet
- For the top eyelet, drive the laces through from the opposite side this time
- This will create bunny ears out of your laces at the top
- Cross the laces together and finish lacing up the shoe up like you normally would
This will lock you down even further and drive the heel back to improve the overall experience and possibly reduce any fit imbalances you might’ve had inside the shoe initially. This might reduce discomfort at the front portion of your foot if there’s a blister there. The least you can do is try it out – it’s free.
V. CHECK YOUR SOCKS
If your shoes are all good, the next step is socks. First, make sure to fix any bunched-up spots, fix up any loose areas. Also, remember that moisture inside the shoe = friction more easily irritating the skin, so you’ll want to swap out a moist pair of socks to a dry pair to not worsen your blister.
If the blister is bothering you, double up your socks for more padding as that will act as protection against further friction. Ideally, a thin polyester sock should be underneath a thicker performance sock or a wool-based sock.
The use of acrylic socks has been proven to cause the least friction, so if you have those – put those on and protect your feet against additional discomfort.
VI. PADDING TO STAY PAIN-FREE
A painful blister can be hard to deal with, no matter what socks or what kind of shoes you’re wearing at the moment. If I’ve got a game that day and my blister still hasn’t healed up properly, I usually pad them which helps a bit. Not a lot in terms of feel but this ensures the blister won’t get infected and its healing process won’t be hindered as much.
If your blister is still intact and has a roof – moleskin bandages/pads will do the trick best. You can also get some of those “blister pads” some companies make but they’re more marketing than something actually catered towards managing blisters. You’ll usually find standard, well-padded bandages if you get one of those.
If your blister is damaged or deroofed – you’ll need to treat it as an open wound. Apply an antiseptic to prevent any infections and pad the area with a hydrocolloid dressing. Those are found to be the most effective in accelerating the healing process & relieving some of the pain.
If you’ve got a toe blister – look for padding in the form of toe caps. You can also find those in the form of moleskin.
VIII. DRY YOUR KICKS
Something I’m sure a lot of people still overlook. Before and after each and every session, I highly recommend ensuring your kicks are fully dry. We don’t want to begin with a footprint of moisture as that’s a recipe for disaster. I always dry my kicks in the balcony with the windows open to let the fresh air do the work.
A simple tip but something you should get into the habit of doing if you haven’t already.
IX. SHOES ARE TOO STIFF? IT’S TIME TO SWITCH
Lastly, let’s go full-circle and go back to the shoes. You can try all the methods in the world in the form of socks, padding, you name it. But if your shoe is causing the discomfort and there’s not a lot you can do about it – it’s time to switch. Your wallet will have to handle the load here but your feet will most definitely thank you.
Avoid playing in overly stiff shoes if you’ve already got a blister as that might worsen the issue. Leather, nubuck, or stiff synthetic-based builds that don’t move much with your foot isn’t a good idea when you’re dealing with blisters.
Also, if you’ve got a brand new pair just recently but got a blister that’s bothering you – I highly suggest waiting ’till you’re all healed up. Breaking in new shoes can sometimes be an uncomfortable and even lengthy process and that won’t do wonders for your skin irritation.
HOW TO PREVENT BLISTERS IN BASKETBALL
Your go-to plan to reduce the chances of blisters in the future
Let’s talk future blister prevention. The same principle stands – there’s no way to fully prevent them but you can do a handful of things to ensure your foot is in the best possible position in terms of preventing blisters.
Let’s start with something simple but VERY important…
I. THE BREAK-IN. DON’T FORGET IT
No basketball shoe starts at 100%. Kicks utilizing raw materials such as leather or suede will need a good amount of time to feel as they’re intended to feel because those materials need to be broken in so they can properly mold to your foot’s shape and move better with your foot.
Because of this, the first couple of weeks can feel questionable in a brand new pair of sneakers. What does this have to do with blisters? Quite a lot, actually. It’s all about awareness here – don’t panic if things are uncomfortable at first.
Don’t push yourself too hard in a new pair and gradually increase the load. This will reduce the chances of your skin getting irritated due to stiff materials not budging when you move. If you’re just coming off of a freshly healed up blister, I don’t personally recommend breaking in new shoes, especially if they’re built with a lot of structure.
If you don’t have a =nother pair that’s broken in – that’s fine. Just be careful, don’t push too hard too soon, and use the tips below to ensure you’re doing everything you can!
II. LOOK FOR AN OPTIMAL FIT
Once again, you’ll want to make sure the shoe fits you properly. It should feel snug and secure but not overly tight to cause suffocation for your feet. Ideally, you’ll want to end up with a thumb’s width of space for your toes length-wise.
Width-wise, there should be minimal-to-none extra space and no side-to-side movements.
Your foot SHOULD NOT move inside the shoe – if it does, this will cause additional friction. If you’re having trouble achieving such a fit, use the earlier-mentioned “bunny ears” lacing trick to shift your heel to the back of the shoe and improve the overall fit.
I personally tend to get the most blisters when I’m playing in a shoe that causes my foot to slightly shift forward upon certain movements. This results in toe bumps and my toes feeling banged up after a session and also additional friction that irritates the skin.
I LOVE playing in the classic Dame 3 and also the new Curry 9 Flow but ironically, those two shoes have been causing blisters for me quite often since I get a lot of toe bumps in ’em. I still play in those and I do think those are fantastic on-court performers but they’re also good examples of what you should avoid when preventing blisters.
III. AIM FOR FORGIVING MATERIALS
If a shoe is properly fitting you, it’s broken in and you’re still getting tons of blisters – chances are your skin is more sensitive and prone to irritation when moving against a rough surface.
You want to ensure you’re doing everything you can to combat this, so for your future sneakers, opt for builds utilizing softer, more “forgiving” compounds. Knits, wovens, thin mesh materials, and soft fabrics/textiles are all viable options to minimize the impact of rough collisions against your skin.
It’s no coincidence I usually have the least amount of trouble regarding blisters and even general foot fatigue after playing in a basketball shoe that fully represents the modern era of shoe design. Nike’s Flyknit & Flyweave, adidas’s Primeknit or PUMA’s evoKnit are all great examples of a true modern hoop shoe.
The Curry 8 Flow wouldn’t be a great example even though it’s a knit-based build. The movement inside the footbed & toe bumps make it a tough sell for someone who’s blister prone but you get the idea.
Check out my most comfortable basketball shoe list to get an idea of minimal & “forgiving” builds
IV. SOCKS ARE IMPORTANT
Another critical factor that has to do with blisters forming is socks. There have been various studies done on the effect of different material socks and their relation to the possibility of blisters. Mostly tested on athletes and military personnel, it has been found out that acrylic socks tend to cause the least friction with the skin.
If you’re playing ball, chances are you’re aware of performance basketball socks. Most of ’em actually do a solid job of wicking away moisture, keeping the foot dry and friction-free. However, you’ll still want to ensure you’re getting fairly thick, moisture-wicking socks that don’t move against your skin while playing.
Like a lot of hoopers, I found Nike’s Elite socks to be among the most comfortable and effective in wicking away moisture & staying comfy. Under Armour’s HeatGear stuff is also solid.
If you’re getting ready for a long, hardcore session and you’re prone to getting blisters, doubling up your socks is a good idea. The formula that usually works best is you’d slap on a thin pair of polyester socks as the first layer and then a pair of your usual performance socks OR thicker wool/polypropylene socks as the second layer.
The key is having enough padding to protect the skin from getting irritated as well as wicking away excess moisture. Always think about these two factors when choosing socks.
Use acrylic or Nike Elite socks for less friction. You can also double-up your socks with a thin polyster sock under a thicker wool/performance sock.
V. PADDING IS YOUR FRIEND
You don’t have to have a blister to take advantage of padding. Everyone who’s prone to blisters can pad areas that are the most likely to get irritated: soles, balls of the feet, toes, heels.
I’m not saying you should have your foot wrapped up in 20 bandages each time you play but proper padding definitely reduces the chances of nasty stuff happening. Especially when moisture comes into play.
So if you’ve recently had a blister on your sole – apply a bandage on it before you play, as well as several other areas that could be prone to such issues. Once again, you can use blister pads, moleskin bandages, moleskin toe caps, or use hydrocolloid dressings if you’ve got a deroofed blister.
VI. ENSURE DRYNESS (along with making sure to dry your shoes & socks)
A lot of products that are marketed as “anti-blister” attempt to decrease the hydration of the skin to prevent moisture build-up. Based on the study I’ve talked about earlier, turns out the only products that actually have a positive effect are foot powders.
Talcum powder and corn starch work best to keep your foot inside the sock dry and avoid possible blisters. So, before an active session, apply some powder on your feet. Don’t be afraid to put a lot of it since it can only help. Then you can put your socks on and add some more powder on the socks as well.
Aside from the use of powders, you’ll of course want to make sure you’re always playing in dry shoes & swapping moist socks into dry ones (if you can) to keep things optimal.
VII. REDUCE FRICTION
Remember what we talk about earlier – moisture can have a negative effect while trying to fight blisters but an extensive amount of moisture can temporarily help as lubrication is a direct antidote against friction. The best product for lubrication is still petroleum jelly. Yes, that means go grab some vaseline.
Before a session, apply some petroleum jelly on areas that collide with your shoes: heels, toes, soles, sides of the feet, etc. You don’t want to go overboard with vaseline though and avoid using it for many hours per day on a regular basis.
Why? Remember what we learned from the studies. Skin maceration isn’t a good thing when it comes to blisters – friction will become even more of an enemy in such a case, so make sure you’re not constantly marinating your feet in vaseline as the method can become less and less effective that way.
VIII. A CUSHIONED INSOLE CAN HELP
How does cushioning help prevent blisters? It’s fairly simple and it helps in two ways.
One, evenly distributed cushion for a foot means that it can take some pressure off the blister and distribute it across the whole foot. Today’s performance insoles are made with this in mind – the cushioning doesn’t just compress and spring back into place.
It actually spreads the load evenly across the foot while compressing and that’s a win when you’re trying to avoid blisters. No single peak pressure point becomes susceptible to blisters as you’re spreading the force across the whole area.
Two, insoles that offer cushion can help absorb shear so that your skin won’t have to handle all the load. You can read about the effects of shear modulus here.
With all that said, you don’t want to have too much cushion underfoot as that can affect performance and the mechanics of your movements. 99% of basketball shoes today already offer cushion but it’s still a good idea to grab an aftermarket insole and put it in in case your current shoe might be a little lackluster in this department.
I recommend Spenco insoles. For best cushioned basketball shoes, check this list
BEST BASKETBALL SHOES FOR THE JOB
The hoop shoes I’ve been playing in lately that cause the least hassle
Time to talk about some shoes! I thought it would be helpful to share some of my current favorites I’m playing in that don’t usually cause blisters. While I am using some of the methods I’ve talked about myself, it’s the shoes that have a huge effect on the task at hand.
Now, this doesn’t mean these three shoes will guarantee you won’t get any more blisters from now as everybody’s different, I still want to share what currently works really well for me.
I’m sure at least one of the options could help you out and if not, these are also good examples of what you should be looking for when getting a new pair in terms of decreasing the chance of blisters.
I. NIKE KOBE A.D. NXT 360 $200
The very first shoe that came to my mind is the awesome Kobe A.D. NXT 360. It’s a pricy one but if you can get your hands on it – you’re in for a treat.
360 degrees of Flyknit all over the shoe is there to greet your foot. Inside, outside, it’s everywhere. I love this minimal, ultra-lightweight build that’s buttery soft for my foot once the material wrapped around it in a few days. No hotspots, no pinching, no movement inside the shoe, none of that nonsense. Just pure comfort.
For cushion, there’s a removable React & Lunarlon midsole which is very well-balanced so chances are you won’t need an additional insole for this one. I’m low to the ground, quick but also well-cushioned. A fantastic setup for most guys in my opinion.
The rest of the shoe is stellar as well: good traction, extremely lightweight support, and a premium build. I don’t recommend taking these outdoors too often though and for heavy/explosive players, you might need something with a bit more structure.
II. NIKE LEBRON SOLDIER 13 $140
LeBron’s secondary signature line is consistently putting out solid well-rounded performers and I found myself returning to the 13th Soldier shoe the most often.
While it might not ideally fit all anti-blister criteria on paper as this build isn’t among the softness or thinnest, the fit I always get with these is no short of perfect. A near one-to-one fit with my foot, spectacular foot containment no matter the movement, and once I pull those straps, it’s game over.
For cushion, we’ve got Zoom Air units in the heel and forefoot and even though they’re not anything special, they get the job done in providing moderate impact protection & enough comfort to feel confident on the court. Never got a single blister on my soles in these, so I’ll take it.
The LeBron Soldier 13 also has great traction that’s viable for outdoor play, unmatched all-around security, and a structured ripstop fabric build.
III. NIKE LEBRON 16 $185
Another LeBron shoe but this time, let’s shift to LeBron’s main signature line and the year 2018 when this one launched. No issues in the fit department: a snug fit that’s not overly tight but locks my foot in very nicely. The upper utilizes Battleknit 2.0 which is a structured knit material. Super comfy, no painful collisions with my foot either.
For cushioning, here’s a beefy setup for ya: full-length Max Air along with a bunch of articulated Zoom pods under your foot. This is literally running on a bouncy mattress so you won’t need an insole for this one. But the awesome thing is, these still feel well-balanced. I was never sluggish despite having lots of cushion.
The LeBron 19 also boasts fantastic traction and it’s currently among my favorite outdoor choices! Great support too, without overly restricting you. And as I always mention, Battleknit 2.0 is probably the most durable knit-based material I’ve seen on a hoop shoe. Or at least one that crosses my mind first.
YOUR SHOE KNOWLEDGE CONTINUES!
There’s always more to know & take advantage of: dive deep into the guides!
Now that you know all about blisters – your shoe knowledge journey continues! There’s so much misleading information out there that is either based on marketing and selling a product or based on bro science & myths that are still taken as legit information in the sneaker world.
I try to do my best in filtering out the B.S. and giving my personal, research, and experience-based insight that I’m sure would help out one or two of you. So if you’re feeling it, I urge you to check out my other shoe guides & best shoe lists in topics that I believe are the most important to know about.