NIKE ZOOM CRUSADER

The Nike Zoom Crusader are the lowest cut sneakers. The Nike Zoom Crusader is a surprise . The Crusaders come at a great price, they look great, and they play pretty damn good. Obviously, support is it’s biggest setback, but if you can possibly reinforce your ankles with some braces, you should be alright.

There are two types of rubber used on the outsole on the Crusaders that happen to workreally well both indoor and outdoors.  The inner section of the shoe is tad bit more forgiving than the outer area allowing the shoe to grip to the floor.  Surprisingly, the pattern held itself pretty well indoors as I squeaked my way around to the hoop.

Nike got it right once again with an awesome midsole and Zoom bag choices.  In the forefoot, you have a rectangle sized Zoom bag similar to the KD VI and a standard heel Zoom unit.  At this price point, $110.00 is a deal for having heel and forefoot Zoom. 

Running around the Crusader is effortless.  From heel strike to toe-off, the shoe feels fluid and smooth.  Because of a soft midsole and responsive Zoom cushioning, you glide through the court with no clunky feeling whatsoever.  You remain low to the ground with great on-court feel.

Support ties directly with the issue above, heel lockdown.  The shoe doesn’t flex much to begin with around the midfoot so it shouldn’t be an issue. Other than the heel lockdown issue, the Crusaders support the shoe and does a great job keep the foot on the footbed. 

It provides great traction, has great cushioning, and has an upper that will last longer than a season. For a cheap price you are provided with a better quality product.Enjoy.

Adidas Supernova Glide 7

We’ve got a fair number of adidas Boost models covered here, and we think the adidas Supernova Glide Boost to be the most rounded of the lot, near equaled by the firmer ridingSequence Boost. The Supernova Glide has an upper fit which isn’t as tight as Energy orResponse Boost; the amount of foam used results in a satisfying balance of compression and responsiveness, and the pricing isn’t too bad either just at US Retail: $ 130.

he forefoot feels slightly more relaxed, the midfoot top down pressure slides down to easy mode, and reflectivity sees an increased coverage area. Collar padding also gets a bit more foam, but from an usage viewpoint, not of significant impact.  The upper fit sees a change, though on first wearing, it might be hard to pinpoint. Synthetic leather panels stretch upwards around 5mm longer than Glide 6, and this translates into narrower lacing. And if you know what that means – less lacing pressure on top of the foot.

New Glide 7 laces have a melange texture with a different knit than last year, and feels a bit cotton-ish. Tongue design is the same, foam quilted, soft mesh lining and all, and is attached to the upper by a full gusset for a good midfoot wrap. This is not a full internal sleeve, and maybe that’s a desirable thing.

The Continental rubber outsole does a fairly good job at grip, and durability isn’t bad though . GB7 is a shoe which can don many hats, as its inherent properties bode well for speed training, comfort runs, or even just walking around in them. It doesn’t have a point to prove, and makes no pretence of doing so. If there was a sweet spot within the ever-growing crowd of adidas’s Boost offering, then the Glide Boost is pretty much it.

 

Nike Air Pegasus 31

At heart of the new Pegasus 31 update is a brand new, lower profile midsole which sits at a 10 mm heel-to-toe offset, and lower than the outgoing Pegasus 30. It uses a Zoom Air bag under the heel, same as last year, no change there. The midsole is Nike’s responsive Cushlon foam with a very clean profile, sans the deep side grooves seen on the Pegasus 30. It is common knowledge that a high degree of midsole deformation or compression leads to a heightened feel of cushioning, but sacrifices on speed.

The forefoot is quite pliable, and flexes and flattens during forefoot weight transfer.So toe-offs happen in good old fashion, with the big toe propelling the push-offs. There is no Zoom Air bag in the forefoot, hence no stiffness either. But slightly less bendable than the Pegasus 30 due to one missing exposed forefoot flex groove.

Regardless, stability is not an issue in the Pegasus 31, in much part helped by the lowered midsole, a wider under-arch base and a prominent midsole flare in the heel which helps guide foot strike. The shoe will do well for forefoot strikers too; there is ample padding underfoot, with protection and grip coming from the generous cladding of outsole rubber.

The Nike Air Pegasus 31 is a neutral running shoe of high caliber, and ticks all the boxes on overall ride experience. It comes across as very balanced, taking things like a cushioned ride, smooth transition, great upper fit and stitching all of them up perfectly well together. It is also happy to note that Nike hasn’t taken up the price for this one – at $100, it is good value.

Nike Lunarglide 6

This year’s Lunarglide 6 had a much firmer rear-foot strike than the 5 The midsole foam unit which extends from mid to rear-foot on both sides is actually one unbroken piece. The diagonal blue colored ‘wedge’ is just painted over the originally green foam. And this singular piece of foam happens to be quite firm.  Lunarglide 6 are firmer than the outgoing Lunarglide 5 .

The under-forefoot area of Lunarglide 6 is now a complete layer of Lunarlon foam which is softer. The LG6 eliminates the firmer midsole bed and makes the entire forefoot area Lunarlon. But here’s the catch; when you look at the pink Lunarlon area, it appears to be one wedge which starts from the toe bumper and ends at mid-foot. But no, the pink Lunarlon foam is one huge component, reaching into the inner recesses of under-heel area.

The wedge does what Lunarglide does best; gradually help the foot roll inward after landings.  Cushioning feel is pronounced at lower/walking speeds than during a run, when it is not that noticeable. The new outsole design also does its bit to cushion the forefoot, which we’ll come to in just a moment. There’s another thing we wanted to point out. The initial heel/rear-foot strike comes across as firm due to the midsole structure, but as weight transfers to the Lunarlon foam base during the gait cycle, the transition comes across as smooth and consistent. This behavior owes itself to a singular density of foam underfoot – spanning right from the heel to toe.

Due to the change, the weight of Lunarglide 6 sees a favorable change. The  weighing scale now shows the LG6 at 297 grams or 10.47 Oz for a half pair of US 11, a full 3% lower than the outgoing LG5.

The Lunarglide 6 chucks out the engineered mesh and instead embraces the use of open mesh fused over synthetic underlays. Nike dumps the use of engineered mesh and moves on to a single layer, open mesh fused over a lattice-work of synthetic underlays.

Nike dumps the use of engineered mesh and moves on to a single layer, open mesh fused over a lattice-work of synthetic underlays.

Adidas Energy Boost 2.0

Earlier this year was Boost’s first anniversary, and Adidas followed the original shoe up with its successor – the Adidas Energy Boost 2.0. The midsole and outsole unit is unchanged, carried over from last year’s model, and the upper features some tweaks while retaining the overall feel of the original Energy Boost.

Running in the Energy Boost 2 is a revelation of sorts. For years, footwear industry veterans have struggled to find the perfect balance between soft and responsive cushioning. Most of the time, results would lean in favor of one attribute, with the shoe feeling either too soft and outright firm. The unique cushioning property of Boost seems to have solved that conundrum.

It feels noticeably soft at slow speeds, yet it is underscored by an overbearing springy sensation. Pick up pace, and the ride comes through as responsive without any ’sink-in’ delay. What’s also impressive is the smooth weight transfer and loading – the midsole of the Energy Boost 2 is a singular, near heel-to-toe unit of Infinergy foam. The consequence of which is a uniform and consistent cushioning feel from rear to front. The outsole also sits low and flat with a ‘lip’ extending beneath the heel, so that also helps in better first contact with the running surface. Ground feel or feedback is slightly isolated

There’s also a small circular cutout in the rear foot, just below the heel. This dials up the cushioning level in that area. The transparent film (under the sockliner) in the forefoot is thinner than in the back, allowing the front to feel more cushioning and flexibility. 

The sockliner is a contoured, drop-in piece of foamy softness. The shape flares upwards beneath the arch, helping support it, and has a friction free top cloth. Lift the left insole, and there’s a MiCoach cavity, where there’s space to pop in the transmitter foot-pod.the shoe is available only at US Retail: $ 160.

The Boost platform has been marketed as a ‘game changer’ by Adidas, and for once, it is indeed so. The new technology magically delivers a perfect balance of softness and responsiveness, and is highly resistant to bottoming out – if that is not footwear utopia.

 collectionfootysquare.blogspot.com

Nike Zoom Hyperfuse

Today’s sneaker deal includes the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2013, one of the better kicks to dominate on the hardwood. Built with Hyperfuse technology, these kicks are built to keep you cool during the grind of a game or practice. The Nike Zoom cushion will absorb all the power and cuts that you perform while you are on the court, giving you an advantage against your opponent.

This colorway is perfect for those of you who perfer simpler colorways and not too many flashy colors. Most of the upper is black, but the midsole does have both white and black. There is also some white by the heel, but the black definitely dominates in this sneaker.

The Nike Zoom Hyperfuse is on sale, so act fast and get the proper kicks to improve your game.

Sale Price: $79.99.

collectionfootysquare.blogspot.com

NIKE LEBRON 11 XI

Nike introduces new technology to the brand new lebron 11 with a hyperposite shell, full-length Zoom technology combined with Lunarlon, and the latest Nike Flywire system. 

 That being said, the Lebron 11 doesn’t have the greatest grip, but is average.   The traction is made of the usual rubber compound found in most sneakers, but the it didn’t grip the floor enough.  The outsole pattern did squeak sometimes.

Cushion for the Lebron is a drop-in Lunarlon insert that houses a full-length Zoom bag.  The Zoom bag feels a bit on the mushy side, but provides adequate responsive cushioning.  Mushy isn’t good as it slows down the process of moving around because your foot sinks instead of getting ready for the next step. It’s real strength is impact protection and the ability to disperse the stress upon impact throughout the footbed.

The shoe runs a little on the narrow size especially in the toe box.  The toe-box is very narrow and is a problem for many people. For me, it wasn’t an issue until after several wearings.  The midfoot panels is where the Lebron 11 benefits from the use of foamposite as it creates a wall for your lateral movements, keeping the foot from sliding side to side.  As for the heel, it’s sturdy, firm, solid, but has a sloppy fit. 

Support is abundant in the Lebron 11. The Nike Lebron 11 is the most supportive basketball sneaker in the line. The midfoot TPU shank also provides stability and rigidity. 

The Lebron 11 uses hyperposite which is a lighter and more flexible compound of the original.  This allows the shoe to have the ultimate support yet remain lightweight.

 collectionfootysquare.blogspot.com

Adidas Kobe Bryant KB8Crazy 8

In 2005, Adidas re-released the KB8 under its new alias, the Crazy 8. The cushioning is all foam and with the adidas torsion system, the shoe flexes with your feet, which really goes with the “feet you wear” technology that was originally on this shoe. With that being said, the shoe doesn’t really catch on the sides when making moves around the court, so those of you with delicate ankles need not worry. Those chunky sides actually serve a purpose as they are designed to flex with your feet as you’re moving around the basketball court.

In regards to the fit and material, the Crazy 8s are pretty true to size and because they are made with full grain leather. Other design elements besides the full grain leather uppers include the use of patent leather for the adidas stripes. The use of the full grain leather does have some consequences and that’s the lack of any sort of ventilation in the shoe. The biggest indicator is the steaminess that comes from the shoe right after the runs at the gym.

While adidas does implement a herringbone system on the sole of the shoe, the 90’s technology created a flat point of contact with the floor, so think of it as sliding across an ice rink on a phone book. Today’s technology has evolved to create more space between the herringbone design and create a sharper point at the point of contact so to grip the floor better. Overall, you have to give Adidas a pass on this, since these are retro shoes.

At $100 and even less, these are a great overall value for some fresh kicks.

 collectionfootysquare,blogspot.com

Nike Hyperdunk

The Nike Hyperdunk deserves to be forever immortalized in basketball sneaker heaven because it will always be the first of its kind in what is shaping up to be Nike’s very own innovation revolution.

Employing their personally invented Flywire technology, which is on display on the side panel of the shoe for all to see, Nike was able to create the lightest high performance basketball shoe ever created (until the Kobe IV and V).  However, weight management is merely one major advantage of Flywire.  It also adds a level of support never before felt on the court by truly giving a player the sense that their foot is locked down into the sneaker.

The Hyperdunk was also given Lunar Foam technology for high quality cushion that doesn’t compromise weight.  The upper is relatively simple with a high collar that gives every player peace of mind when it comes to ankle stability.

 collectionfootysquare.blogspot.com

ADIDAS CONSORTIUM ADIZERO PRIME BOOST LDT

The adidas Consortium brings back the Adizero Prime Boost in a combination of black threads and reflective 3M Detailing. Highlighted by the Primeknit design that offerslightweight support with optimum flexibility, the dark features are contrasted nicely with the white midsole that holds the Boost Technology for ultimate comfort.

google

Adidas Springblade “Ignite” II

For those who love the Springblade technology from adidas, you may fall in love the newest model. Originally, the Springblades debuted with an entire outsole composed of 9 rubber Springblades. adidas’ newest model, the Springblade Ignite revamps the outsole and will only feature 5 Springblades all in the heel.

Adidas unveils Springblade Ignite, the first Springblade with heel-only blades. Nine individually tuned blades and an adiprene forefoot work together to provide cushioning and explosive energy return at the origin of foot strike – the heel. The sleek design merges lightweight style and performance. The new mesh upper with seam-free fabrication allows for maximum breathability and lockdown through the final phases of foot strike.

The Ignite is available in five colorways for men, including Scarlet/Black/Silver Metallic,Core Black/Black/Solar Blue, Semi Solar Yellow/Core Black/Iron Metallic, Core Black/Core Black/Solar Red and Collegiate Royal/Collegiate Royal/Core Black, and three colorways for women including Vivid Mint/Silver Metallic/Solar Pink, Core Black/Neo Iron/Neon Pink and Solar Pink/Metallic Silver/Black.

Springblade Ignite is available now for $120 .

GOOGLE

Adidas barricade

The Barricade 8 felt good to go on the first wear. The upper is noticeably softer and more pliable, and it flexes in all the right places. That flex remained consistent after the break-in period and the feel of the uppers was comfortable from the first wear to the last. As usual, fit was spot on with a perfect length and a medium width. the Barricade 8 felt good to go on the first wear. The upper is noticeably softer and more pliable, and it flexes in all the right places. That flex remained consistent after the break-in period and the feel of the uppers was comfortable from the first wear to the last. As usual, fit was spot on with a perfect length and a medium width.

adidas always does a solid job when it comes to arch support in the Barricades, and this latest offering proved to be spot on for

the Barricade 8 shined when it came to stability, the Barricade has a history of being a stable shoe, and adidas has continued to improve on this in the 8.

These Barricades feature just the right amount of give and the right amount of stick when it comes to traction. While our playtesters agreed that the Barricades have never been known for their lightweight feel, no one really seemed to mind because of the performance that was offered. It is a sole warranty shoe, so I did not expect them to wear like a pair of the CC Feathers. The weight is very comparable to all the other sole warranty shoes.

google