Great thread!!!
Sticky?
Also anyone who posts should say a bit about his playing style and position, a center's opinion on a bulky high top will be different thatn a skinny PG's.
So , i'm 6'1'' , BW is in the mid 190's and i play PF. I am in the paint 90% of my game time. I am slow and my game relies most on out-strenthing and out-jumping my opponents.
Here's what i've played in ( pics are in the colours i own ):
Nike Hyperdunks ( the original ones , 2008 ):
Overall 4.5/5
Ankle support 4.5/5
heel to toe action 4.5/5
grip 4.5/5
cushion 4/5
sizing/shape 4/5
Awesome shoe. Back in the day it was an era ahead the competition.
Great traction , ankle support , stability , heel-toe transition, responsiveness. Loved that shoe , didn't change it until it was totally worn out.
If i have to find some disadvantages i would say:
1) They are a little wide , didn't hug the foot that well.
2) The lunarfoam used eventually lost its initial abilites, so minus 1 for durability.
Nike Hyperdunks 2010:
Overall 3/5
Ankle support 5/5
heel to toe action 4.5/5
grip 4.5/5
cushion 4.5/5
sizing/shape 1/5
Big dissapointment. Having loved the first hyperdunks i was excited to get the next model.
On the good side , shoe is very stable , light , responsive , fast, traction is great too. It sounds ideal BUT:
Sizing had major problems. Was too short AND narrow , and the high collar+thin tongue+deep achilles tendon cut just didn't work. Shoe was full of hotspots , could not find the perfect lace tightness, kept geting blisters in the ankles and bruised nails on my big toe. I even widened and lengthened them 1 size , nothing changed.
If a foot fits well in this shoe , its a solid performer.
Nike zoom kobe V
Overall 5/5
Ankle support 4.5/5
heel to toe action 5/5
grip 4.5/5
cushion 5/5
sizing/shape 5/5
Awesome. Just awesome. Everything about this shoe is great! Very light , fast , stable , ultra responsive yet cushioning. Fits the goot like a glove. Gives a great ankle 'hug' and safety feeling although being low cut. I wear them mostly in my outdoors jumping sessions and after 2 years they still deliver. I don't use them in-season only because i am mentally unable to play competitive bball in low tops.
Best shoes ever , resect!
Under Armour Juke
Overall 4/5
Ankle support 4.5/5
heel to toe action 4.5/5
grip 3.5/5
cushion 4/5
sizing/shape 4.5/5
Currently using those. A very 'honest' shoe with an unbeatable value-for-money ratio.
Two interesting features in this shoe : 1) cushion is all foam ( microG ) and 2) low cut with built in ankle sleeve.
Shoe is legit. It's light , it's fast , it's responsive and it's stable. The fabrics are awesome , offering tight fit and good ventilation. The low-cut&sleeve combo delivers , good lockdown with increased flexibility. Foam works good too , it feels bouncy and has short respinse time. Shoe will fit many different playing styles.
A couple of cons:
1) Traction is not that good. It's not bad but it's not the traction that makes you trust and push 110%. Why did they chose that weird diamond pattern? If you can't beat herringbone, just use herringbone dammit!
2) Cushion is very responsive and feels like it absorbs the landings too , but after intense games with many jumps i feel pain in my foot balls ( ahem! ). Ive never had such issues with any other shoe ( which were all zoom ), even after 2-hour dunk sessions on concrete. It's not much of a pain, goes away next day, but it exists.