Puma Mobium Elite Speed

Highly expansive in terms of performance, the new Mobium Elite Speed from PUMA is a performance trainer that has successfully infused smart, innovative design, style and quality all in one package. It is the third series of the Mobium elite series, and like the other shoes it belongs with, the Elite Speed has an adaptive fit technology. This means the fitting is flexible and can cater to a wide range of foot types. This shoe initially looks fast and is indeed fast according to its satisfied testers. It is an award-winning shoe that features a very useful reflective print. It is widely available in a range of color palettes which prove its stylishness. It also has been infused with a heavy combination of PUMA’s new technologies.

Arch support and pronation control

Being a neutral running and performance shoe, the arch structure and support of the Elite Speed is fairly sufficient, which mainly supports neutral pronators or supinators.

Terrain                                        

The Elite Speed can be used for a long range of surfaces or terrains. It can be used on urban city roads, dry dirt-packed trails, and even on the treadmill at home. What is really good about the Elite Speed is that it is not restricted in terms of terrain.

Use

As much as it is versatile on any kind of terrain, the Elite Speed can also be used for a wide range and assortment of activities too. Runners will like the fact that it can even be used as casual wear because of its modern design on the upper.

Durability

In terms of resilience and durability, the Elite Speed is considered a winner. An award-winning shoe like this has been proven to be very tough against a lot of naturally caused wear. Its defining feature, the Mobium technology, extends the life of the shoe much more aesthetically. It also does not overlap against the other technologies, which is very essential in a shoe. The “revolutionary” design of this shoe has been indicated as carefully processed and designed. The encouraged natural foot movement/motion also contributes to the overall durability of the shoe. Anything that lessens excessive wear is considered highly helpful to the resilience of the shoe’s different aspects.

Fit and sizing

Wide-footed runners may actually be turned off with the narrow design of the Elite Speed’s fit. These wide-footed runners though, are runners who have bigger foot types than the usual. On the upside, the adaptive fit technology of the Elite Speed makes it an able shoe that can easily adapt to a range of foot types; so if these wide-footed runners will choose to risk buying it, they will still benefit from the shoe. The sizing is also normal, meaning it comes in sizes available in width D.

Outsole

There are very noticeable expansion pods on the outsole of the Elite Speed, which provides all of the cushioning, durability and flexibility needed by the runner. The outsole is also where the Mobium band is highly utilized, running through the entirety in an 8 pattern, and works dynamically well with the tendons of the runner’s foot. What makes the Elite Speed very unique is that the more impact the runner puts on the landing, the more spring or bounce it returns. Another technology that completes the outsole of the Elite Speed is the Evertrack technology, the abrasion-resistant rubber compound found at the high-wear areas of the outsole. This is then complemented by the Everride Technology, the maximum cushioning needed for easier toe-off.

Midsole

The Molded PUMA Supreme Ride EVA sock-liner is found in the midsole of this shoe, completed and enhanced with flex grooves and a simple arch support. This allows the runner to go on very smooth, transitional and gradual rides. The underfoot is also sufficiently protected by the midsole cushioning, where the Mobium technology is highly utilized.

Upper

The upper of the Elite Speed is a new design that stretches four-way, which contracts and expands with the runner’s foot during running. A reflective design technology called the NightCat has also been used on the upper, so as to aid the runner during low-light conditions. All in all, the air mesh provides a very breathable coverage.

Summary

To runners looking for a very excellent combination of quality and design, the Elite Speed could very well be their ideal choice. The shoe lives up to its promises, and is truly reliable and trustworthy in a lot of aspects. So far, there are only slight concerns that are associated with the shoe, ones that do not usually grow into bigger problems. The Elite Speed may also still be regarded as a minimal shoe, but it provides so much more than just minimal feel. Look up retail stores to get your pair now!

Price

With the kind of technology the Elite Speed has, the price range does not initially come in an affordable price. The Elite Speed has primarily been endorsed as a neutral performance running shoe that has the reasonable price of $130. On the upside, there are retail stores you can look up online which may sell stocks of the shoe at a very affordable shoe.

Nike Zoom Venomenon 5

Traction – These have excellent traction. Surprising too since the pattern is pretty random. The Venomenon series is an outdoor specific shoe overseas, but I’m not sure

if that’s the case with the U.S. version. There was nothing stating that these feature XDR outsoles, and Nike will always let you know when they use a certain type of material as it’ll usually be labeled somewhere on the product or come with a hang tag with the material labeled. So while the traction was pretty awesome – indoors & outdoors – the rubber is softer than you’d expect with an outdoor shoe so I wouldn’t recommend them to someone that plays on a rough outdoor surface, but if you play on a court with a smooth blacktop finish like a tennis court then you’ll be good.

Cushion – Bottom loaded Zoom Air located in the heel and forefoot… not my favorite setup. It works well for what it is, but you don’t really feel anything since there is a midsole between your foot and the cushion. The good news is that it absorbs impact upon impact, and you’ll have a slightly more ‘responsive’ ride in terms of reaction speed, but the downside is that a bottom loaded setup is best when utilized full length in order to absorb as much impact as possible. Even when using tiny Hex-Zoom units like in the LeBron 12, they’re placed from heel to toe so you have a decent amount of protection. Same when it comes to something like the Air Jordan 2010 which opted for the full length option. So while they get the job done, the cushion is nothing to gawk at. It would have been awesome if the Zoom was bottom loaded and the midsole was Lunar, but I didn’t make the shoe so that obviously didn’t happen. I will say that this is definitely an improvement over the Venomenon 4, so in that sense… its a plus.

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Materials – I absolutely love the materials. Mesh and wovens are the new thing, and they’re something I thoroughly enjoy when utilized properly. If you you’ve played in the HyperRev 2015 and enjoyed their upper then you’ll likely enjoy these as well. They’re soft, flexible, require no break-in time, breathable and contain the foot well enough. It is a mesh though, so durability won’t be their strongest attribute. But if you prioritize the attributes I just mentioned above durability then you’ll be happy with them.

Fit – They fit true to size, and wide footers will want to try them on. They have that ‘perfect’ fit for my foot, so you might think they’re too snug if you have a wider foot. Forefoot and midfoot lockdown was really solid. Dynamic Flywire is located at the forefoot for some additional coverage so you don’t put too much strain on the mesh material, and the external heel counter offers great heel lockdown. Transition is a bit clunky due to the heel counter, but if you stay on your toes for the most part then you might not notice it too much. If you heel strike then you’ll feel the chunkiness that I’m talking about.

Support – They remind me of the Kobe 8 and Kobe 9 EM in terms of support. There is just enough to where you’re not as risk of injury, but not too much to where you’ll feel restricted. The heel counter is the only area that I’d change due to the clunky transition it causes. I’d have used a heel clip like what the Kobe 8 used, I think that would’ve allowed the heel to compress a bit more upon heel strikes. Other than that they’re solid. Internal shank, solid TPU heel counter and a forefoot lateral outrigger. Everything you’ve come to expect in one of Kobe’s main signature models, but in a more affordable package.

Overall – I actually like these a little more than the Kobe X’s. I enjoyed the materials much more, and the traction, while not quite Kobe X level, are capable of being used indoors and outdoors – even without the use of XDR. Cushion was much better in the X’s, but for $120 the Venomenon’s do just fine. Once again, I ended up enjoying the take down model a little more than the signature model… there are some things I’d change here and there, but overall they’re a great option for their price. Especially if you wanted a Kobe model for indoor and outdoor use.

Nike Hypervenom II Tier Breakdown- The Differences

Nike Hypervenom Phantom II

Let’s start off with the top dog. Nike knew they could not be too gung ho when they started fiddling with the hugely successful Hypervenom Phantom I, but the boffins at Nike say they have simply evolved everything that made the original Phantom great into the next generation Phantom. Of course, the biggest difference is the addition of the Dynamic Fit Collar. We have seen it on the Magista Obra and the Superfly II, and the Collar fits over the ankle for a glove-like fit that kinda makes the foot, ankle and lower leg work as one single unit.

This ties in with the Flywire integrated into the upper of the boot. With the Collar locking the foot down, the strategically placed Flywire then ensures your foot does not slide within the boot. The Flywire has a second purpose of creating a better touch on the areas of the boot that are likely to have more action with the ball (which is why it is more heavily concentrated towards the toe). This is the first time Flywire has been used in this manner, and the rest of the upper has been finished off with a mixture of a sophisticated mesh and Nikeskin, as well as the now customary All Conditions Control (ACC). The result is an upper that allows the user to have good, close control of the ball, but it still has a little more padding than the Superfly II.

There is also a slight change made to the soleplate. While the new Hypervenom still features the same split-toe design, stud design and configuration of its predecessor, the soleplate has been made from a slightly softer compound for a more comfortable ride. Plus there is the cool black and orange graphic that makes quite the bold statement. The boot also weighs in at a respectable 209 grams.

Nike Hypervenom Phinish

Sure, we have seen the Phantom II being advertised everywhere, but it is about time the Phinish gets a little more attention. And with good reason too, because the specs of this boot are absolutely fascinating. Essentially the direct successor to the first generation Hypervenom Phantom, the Phinish comes in a traditional low-cut design for a sock-like fit. This fit is accentuated by the super soft one piece upper that is also tongue-less, much like the Mercurial Vapor X.

The upper of the Phinish is made from Nikeskin, Flywire and a mesh material like the Phantom, but they have been mixed in a slightly different manner to offer a more suede-like feel for the ball. However, while the feel of the uppers are a little different in how they are put together, Nike say both boots attempt to offer a more amplified touch in general. Aesthetically, there does not appear to be a huge amount of difference between the two uppers, and given they are essentially made from the same materials, the touch offered by the two boots is probably very similar to each other.

I think what is truly interesting is that bar the Collar, the ever-so-slighty-different upper and the soleplate of the Phinish being a solid orange as opposed to the black and orange of the Phantom, there truly is very little separating the Phantom and the Phinish. Compared to ranges where there are clear differences between the top two boots, the lack of separability between these boots is an interesting move from Nike.

Nike Hypervenom Phatal II DF

So here is something. For the first time, Nike have introduced the Dynamic Fit Collar on a mid-tier boot. Well, it is kind of a mid-tier boot. Priced at about $170, the Phatal II is pretty pricey for a mid-tier boot (there are some top-tier boots that cost the same as the Phatal), but the addition of the Collar is an interesting addition by Nike.

However, this Collar is made from a thicker material than the Flyknit Collar of the Phantom II. The upper is also made from a thick inferior microfibre upper that is on the soft side. Alas, there is no Nikeskin or ACC used in the construction of the Hypervenom Phatal II DF, so while you get that Dynamic Fit Collar, it will not feel the same as putting on the Phantom II as you do not have the more flexible Flyknit collar.

Besides that, the soleplate and stud configuration of the Phatal II is the same as the Phantom and Phinish models. Nike do offer a standard low-cut Phatal II that has the same features as the Phatal II DF minus the Dynamic Fit Collar for $130, making it a much more affordable option. The Phatal II DF is good for those of you who want to try the midcut range of Nike boots, but do not expect it to give the same ride as the standard Nike Dynamic Fit Collar boots.

Nike Zoom Soldier IX

Traction – The traction, to put it simply, is beastly. When I test shoes, I will always start indoors then move outdoors to finish things off so that the traction’s integrity isn’t compromised by going back and fourth. However, I did the exact opposite with these and there was really no change between indoor and outdoor no matter how much I  wore them on the asphalt. Their traction is just really solid, and possibly some of the best I’ve had this year. Actually… I will go out on a limb and say confidently that these have had the best traction I’ve used so far in 2015. Yeah… they were that good.

 Cushion – I have’t really enjoyed the cushion from the Soldier models that released after the Soldier 6. They’ve been pretty lackluster and firm whereas the 6 was super comfortable. Luckily they finally decided to give us something closer to the 6 than before which made these really enjoyable from a cushion standpoint. I wish I could tell you what type of Zoom Air units were implemented within the midsole, but I couldn’t remove the insole to check and see. Just know that there is Zoom located in the heel and forefoot, and I believe they are pretty thick, you can feel them, and they’re awesome.

Materials – The entire upper is one piece, and it’s comprised of mesh, nylon and a little bit of Fuse. The only thing I dislike about the materials is that the tongue or opening of the shoe doesn’t stretch at all so getting them on is pain. Other than that I thought they were great. No pinching or hot-spots occurred while wearing them – no matter the type of sock I wore. Mesh isn’t extremely durable, so that might be considered a negative to some, but it creates a shoe that requires no break-in time and moves with the foot perfectly – and that helps create the feeling of wearing something that is one with the foot instead of something that the foot must adapt to wearing.

Fit – They fit true to size, and lockdown is the shoes greatest feature. In fact, my local House of Hoops only had a size 9.5 in stock (I prefer to wear a size 9), and the tiny bit of dead space within the shoe didn’t even bother me because once I strapped the shoe up my feet weren’t going anywhere. Nowhere.

The heel strap locks the heel into the shoe so perfectly that the only sneaker I could compare them to were the Ektio models. It’s attached to the shoes heel counter so the entire heel and ankle collar section of the shoe are pretty much one solid piece when all things are said and done.

Then there is the forefoot strap… this one is the game changer. This strap locks the foot into the shoe across the medial side of the forefoot first. Then it comes across the midfoot to lock that area into place. That portion of the strap is connected to the Flywire which is then activated once you pull to tighten – locking in the lateral side of the forefoot. Yeah. awesome! 

Support – As we all know, the support relies heavily on the shoes fit. And in case you couldn’t tell from the fit section, support is pretty. Damn. Beastly. You’re foot is literally supported at all points, at all times. Medial forefoot support? Check. Lateral forefoot support? Check. Heel support? Check. Midfoot support? Check. Yeah… Nike may as well have named these things the Nike Zoom Hakuna Matata. Once you have them strapped up, you’ll have no worries.

Overall – I’ve been liking Nike’s lower end models a whole lot more as of late when comparing them to their more expensive signature counterparts. I don’t know what it is, but they’re just shoes that offer you more bang for your buck. No, you probably won’t see LeBron wearing them on-court anytime soon, but they’ll take care of you on-court either way. Great traction, solid cushion, lockdown better than most shoes you’ll find on shelves right now which translates into some of the best support you’ll find. All of this without restricting any movement or making you feel as if you’re carrying extra weight with you. I really enjoyed playing in the LeBron 12, but I’d take these over them any day of the week. Unless I’m going to the mall… then I’d bust out the LeBron 12’s. Because these things are hideous.