Last Updated on June 1, 2023 by Md sohrab
In 2022, Adidas and Under Armour took most of the places in top 10. The best basketball shoes doesn’t only depend on the shoe but also on the player. Be tricky enough in choosing your best fit. Look at the criteria we have stated to evaluate your decision. Traction is surely the most important feature in any basketball shoe.
10 Best Basketball Shoes Reviews
If you are a sports lover, basketball shoes are surely one of your wardrobe staples. Not only famous among the basketball players, these shoes are among the most famous styles of athlete shoes to hit on the streets with. As for basketball players, these shoes are an absolute necessity to get the most out of the game. So if you want to upgrade your on-court performance, you got to choose the best basketball shoe for you. As the craze for basketball shoes are increasing with time, the shoe companies are stepping up their game by introducing new exciting designs and technological advances in shoes. New technological advances in the basketball shoes will give you more comfort and higher grip. But with this advancement, the decision of buying the best basketball shoe becomes difficult. Now the question may arise, which basketball shoe is the best for you? According to us, the basketball shoe that best fit your style and comfort level is the one best for you. It may vary from person to person depending on their personality, playing style and playing position.
For your ease, we have shortlisted 10 best basketball shoes which will fit different styles and we have evaluated the important aspects of each of the shoes and compared the value of each models so that it will help you to choose the best among all the options available in the market. Not only these performance shoes are of high quality but also they are given some exciting and freshening look with addition of fun colors to heighten up the élan of the players. Either it’s the Nike or the Adidas or the Under Armor in your feet, any of these solid pairs will elevate your sportsmanship by heightening your confidence to run, jump or move; awarding you a better performance and protection. Let’s jump in to the review section and help you to narrow down your choice that will serve you the best. It is important to highlight that the shoes are mentioned in the article randomly and are not presented in any order. We believe all these shoes are the best purchase options of 2018!
1. Adidas Men’s Dame 3 Shoes:
Adidas Men’s Dame 3 Shoes
Specifications:
Adidas Men’s Dame 3 Detailed Review:
Material:
The synthetic fused mesh textile coated in TPU might give a negative impression at first opening if you have a bad experience with TPU material. You might question the comfortability of the shoe and think that the shoe might feel plastic to wear. But as always Adidas brought the biggest surprise by adding the durable fusedmesh textile inside, which adds on the advantage of supper comfort and flex along with stiffness and strength. We can say the comfort level of the shoe is so high that it can make you feel that you’re playing just wearing a sock! The adjustable lacing at the top can look a bit giddy but works as a magic to fit the shoe in any kind of foot shape.
Support and Cushion:
This shoe is designed in a way to give your feet high protection with features like midfoot shank, internal heel counter, great lock down, small outrigger and a rubber made out and midsole. The midsole are a great addition as it makes you feel that the shoe and you are on the same page (typically not running with a platform in your feet like other shoes!). If you’re just looking for a higher thrust in your lift, then the bounced cushion feature of this shoe is the best option for you. It offers a maintained balance and protection to your feet along with court feel.
Traction:
The blade traction includes thin pliable rubber with a lot of point of contact. This allows a multi-directional coverage all the way for any kinds of move. The pattern doesn’t require much wiping, only periodically. It works well to play at a dusty court but not in a flawless way. But the blade traction works just as flawless as its aggressive looks give us the impression.
Fit:
We can say the shoe is a heaven match for the wide footers. The upper portion looks stiff but actually is very flexible giving an advantage for the wide footers. Now coming to the point of comfort, the shoe is extremely comfortable and as mentioned before that you’ll not at all that you are wearing a shoe. If you have the previous version of the shoe Lillard 2, then go with the same size. But go a half size down compared to the size you wear for other shoes. The shoe is a bit long, so there will be some open space in the front but the napkin in the front will not let you feel uncomfortable for that. Moreover, the new lacing system is capable enough to make the gap as low as it becomes unnoticeable.
Overall:
We love this sneaker! This is the best signature sneaker in the market offered at an affordable price. The overall performance of the shoe will help you every way to get the most out of the game with the following features: amazing traction, balanced materials, bounced cushion, super responsive, excellent flexibility, impressive support and extreme comfort. Moreover, it is a fit for any kind of foot with its updated lacing system.
Let’s get a quick look at the pros and cons of the shoe which might help you to reexamine your decision of choosing the best basketball shoe:
2. Adidas Men’s Harden Vol 2 Basketball Shoe:
Adidas Men’s Harden Vol 2 Basketball Shoe
Specifications:
Adidas Men’s Harden Vol 2 Detailed Review:
Material:
Lack of any premium leather material might try to delude your first impression with disappointment but let me ask you this directly: Can premium leather make you win the game? No, you must be wondering what a stupid question. So that’s the answer, this lacking isn’t affecting your performance and even the durability of the shoe is ensured with a new Forgefiber Mesh material at front section. There is additional stitched done throughout the mesh to increase its stability. Also to increase the strength and support of the mesh it is coated with TPU material. So this gives your forefoot the protection from being torn. The rear of the shoe is made up of synesthetic panel which is extremely durable and strong. So the longevity of the shoe isn’t a question. The outer look might be a disappointment compared to the Harden Vol. 1; however the inner material of the shoe will make you feel out of the world. As you slip your feet inside the shoe, you will feel the material crawling up your feet gently and give you a gentle tight fit feeling. Also the advance lacing at midfoot just like the Dame 3 will help to cage your fit perfectly inside the shoe without any complain.
Cushion:
Compared to Harden Vol. 1; the Boost cushioning in the Vol. 2 is the thickest you can think of. There might be a question of instability due to the thickness but it’s pretty much stable at your feet. As you go off to play, you will find the packed up boost palette at the midsole is firmer and more responsive and also offering an overall impact protection. The boost packed in the heel area and the back cup is balancing each other; too much cushioning at the heel might give an impression of some crazy bouncing but the compressed boost actually lowers some bounce making it more stable. Yet the back cup keeps the balance by keeping the bounce still fresh and young. The shoe is bulkier than the preceding volume. Though the toe to heel transition is smooth, the front section is a bit lower. If someone’s looking for overall court feel and protection, this is the perfect shoe for them.
Traction:
The traction in Harden volume 2 is a bit of disappointment. Although the rubber quality might seem the same between the two volumes, it is not as durable as the previous one. But that’s still workable as it gives a good grip and quite a long durability. The main problem is the fractal traction pattern which is the same in both the shoes but just this time they made it bigger which is a major reengineering failure according to us. If played on clean field, you’ll have no complain and it will provide you multi-directional coverage and a good grip and stopping power. But, when you start playing on a dusty ground, the performance isn’t as good as before, rather very inconsistent. It becomes slippery due to debris entering constantly inside the larger groves and you have to pay more attention in wiping the shoes rather than playing. If you have continuous free time within the game, wiping can only give you good game.
Fit:
If you’re not a wide footer, this shoe will be a true-to size for you. The previous version had room for the wide footer but in this new volume Adidas decided to omit the feature. Where it brings disappointment in the wide footers, but the narrow feet will absolutely love the caging of the shoe. As mentioned before, the internal fabric like neoprene will cup around your feet in a very comfortable way. Lockdown of the shoe is pretty well and also no break in time needed for the special mesh fabric used. The side panel is also quite durable and provides much strength.
Support:
As mention in the cushion part, the support system of the sneaker is excellent among all the sneakers in the market. High heel feature give a high bounce but the wide boost platform won’t make you feel the height from the ground. It overall impact protection and stability. The forgefiber system makes it suitable for the outdoor use as the TPU covering gives it the strength to endure rough use and doesn’t wear off easily. The strongest point of the shoe is its support system and can be called a guard shoe for the following inclusions: torsional plate stretched from back to forefoot, heel containing a strong internal heel counter and a heavy rubber piece at the outsole.
Overall:
The shoe is a great option for the bigger guards and heavier players in the court who look for a huge impact protection and responsiveness. The overall performance of the shoe is much better than the previous James Harden signature sneaker. But the traction is a major fall back. But if you are player who can wipe two to three times in the field, it won’t be a big problem for as the grip on the clean field is near to perfect. The thicker boost cushioning and the support system is a big yay for the shoe!
Again, a quick look at the pros and cons of the shoe which might help you to reexamine your decision of choosing the best basketball shoe:
3. Adidas Originals Men’s Vs Hoops Mid 2.0 Shoes:
Adidas Originals Men’s Vs Hoops Mid 2.0 Shoes
Specifications:
Adidas Originals Men’s Vs Hoops Mid 2.0 Detailed Review:
Material:
The exquisite leather material used to build the shoe gives an aesthetic look which is a perfect go-to with any kind of attire. It doesn’t have the flashy appearance just like other basketball shoes in the market, which is a plus point for the shoe. The leather textile is not much upgraded and looks like the previous silhouette. Textured fabric is added in the posterior ankle area. Though the price if quite affordable, it doesn’t bring a compromise in the construction of the sneaker. The buildup is quite strong and pristine stitching does the magic of keeping everything in place. It is a very good outdoor shoe as the material is too much strong to wear off easily even in case of heavy beating. The only thing that brings a question to its look is that the upper part grows crease due to inflexible material in the longer run.
Support and Cushion:
The padded footbed gives full protection to your feet. As you slip on your feet inside the shoe, the mid-top design is such that it will pose the ankles in such a way that will prevent accidents by protecting your feet from any irregular movements. The overall padded guard relives from any kind of discomfort and chronic pain. It is a great shoe for the wide footers as well as flat feet. The corner footbeds are removable and the back leatherette layer resists lateral movement to prevent injury.
Traction:
The traction in the shoe is the weakest of all the options available. The tread pattern works pretty well for the normal daily use in the streets and gives a confident walk. It helps a tight grip with the ground and ensures stable footing overall. However, the scenario is different inside the court. The tread pattern doesn’t at all work well. It can’t provide a strong grip in head strike, especially during cutting and quick turns. There is always a possibility of slipping and skidding specially in dirt. The shoes are good enough for practicing with or casual use, but in demanding basketball games it might fail to serve the way you want it to.
Fit:
The shoe’s interior is quite plushy and soft with padded inserted in the collars and tongue. The padded cushion is quite plushy if not enough and entire shoe is pretty packed. It gives the ankle shared amount of comfort but leaves no space of air filtering. The inner isn’t built with such material to soak the sweat produced from the damp environment inside the shoe. The shoe is pretty sealed off from the entire corner and thus a major sweat production concern remains. To increase the comfortability of the shoe, one has to put off the shoe every now and then after finishing each halved of the game.
Overall:
If we look at the overall performance of the shoe, it does stand in the options of best basketball shoes. The sneaker is very stylish and must addition to anyone’s wardrobe. Not only for the aesthetic vibe, but it also adds a sporty touch. The major plus points are: durability, comfort and huge protection in the field. So it is quite famous among the young players. Comparing with the price, it is a major hit. But the traction of the shoe makes it skeptical to be included in the criteria of basketball shoe.
Again, a quick look at the pros and cons of the shoe which might help you to reexamine your purchase decision and clears out the confusion whether this shoe is the best basketball shoe for you:
4. Adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoe:
Adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoe
Specifications:
Adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Detailed Review:
Material:
With the new addition to the crazy explosive series, Adidas tried to give their best to their fans. If material means something really important to you and you are finding a hell lot of comfort at your feet, this is the best basketball shoe for you. The mesh is too soft and also coated with TPU materials to give the stability which is required. The mesh is softer, thinner and stretcher. Also, the whole sneaker is backed up with Nylon at places to prevent excessive stretch. The material is not only a comfort machine but also contributes in giving enough boost to your game. Surely your style game will also be elevated with the new textures, pattern and color introduced in this shoe.
Cushion:
The cushioning of the shoe is the major plus point for this shoe. We can say, the best Boost cushioned technology available in the market. You can’t just be disappointed at it ever. Like every other explosive series sneakers, the Boost in this shoe is amazing, magnificent, and simply PERFECT. It will give you just the perfect amount of bounce, impact protection and stability. The shoe is very responsive and court feel in high level. Don’t worry about the comfort. As mentioned earlier, it’s really comfortable but the stability is balanced. Around the midsole, TPU rubber is lined up wrapping it completely. Since it’s a rubbery material, the TPU is not uneven and hard and will not cause disturbance at your feet. It allows the heel to expand fitting the forefoot inside it.
Traction:
Hands down to the traction. If you have used any of the shoes of the crazy explosive series, you’ll agree to me without any doubt. Oh man the grip! It’s like you’re sticking to the ground. Yes, that’s how much good the grip is. It will keep you covered all the way in the court and you’ll love the feel. It gives multi-directional coverage. Even if the patterns are semi-transparent, it won’t worry you in the game and give you the beasty traction possible. In clean court, it shows the best performance. But while using in a dirty court, you might like to wipe your shoe at times to get the same feeling. Even not wiped, it still gives the best support. All you can receive is peace of mind while wearing this shoe.
Fit:
In the specification you have already seen that the weight of the shoe is much more than any ordinary sneaker. So you’re going to feel a bit bulky and heavy wearing it. The explosive fits true to size. Though it looks like you’re going to have a lot of free space, guess the inner bootie takes the space. If you try for the first time, you’ll get a lot of break in moments as the knitted upper will stretch to make room for your feet type. But the updated lacing system will give a release from that surely. You would be surprised to see that the shoe has only four eyelets but still gives the same lockdown support. The reason is, the lace tied up just the important parts of your feet which is necessary like the forefoot, midfoot, ankle and all other places. There will be no heel slippage problem.
Support:
The upper descriptions of cushioning and traction has already given you the idea that what are we going to say. Needless to say, the support is absolute amazing with all the features Adidas has added to this shoe. The outsole of the shoe is very very wide! Wider than most other shoes, so it gives a confidence while spinning or turning. No chance of tripping or spraining the ankles. The sneaker is flat and has a stable platform. The TPU wrapped works as an outrigger for the forefoot cradling it up. The lockdown is stable with new lacing system. You can find everything in this one shoe- internal heel counter, torsional stability shank and amazing feet containment.
Overall:
Best thing about the shoe is its consistency. It’s not that the shoe is really good in some department and a complete failure in rest of the features. Rather Adidas has really pulled up in constructing a shoe which is consistent in every feature. Also the longevity of the shoe is not a question. This sneaker is suitable for any kind of player and any kind of feet. Whether you’re quick or slow or explosive etc. this shoe is going to give a bang on your performance. The comfort and looking is crazy. The boost is up to the mark and traction is beasty. The sock like inner bootie and the padding at the ankle and heel regions make it more stable. The knit material makes it both durable and breathable not sweating your feet.
Let’s not waste a minute and get a quick look at the pros and cons of this shoe to clear out your confusion if this shoe stands in the options of best basketball shoes or not:
5. Jordan Nike Men’s B. Fly Basketball Shoe:
Jordan Nike Men’s B. Fly Basketball Shoe
Specifications:
Jordan Nike Men’s B. Fly Detailed Review:
Material:
As much comfortable as the material is, it isn’t much durable. It’s one of the budget shoes that are made by the brand. But the material isn’t that shabby. The upper portion is pure woven and completely feels like the XX9. Seeing the comfortability and light weight, we can say that it’s the best Jordan has offered. The weight of the sneaker is extremely light; it almost feels like a feather at your feet. It is super soft and really flexible, everything to not make you understand you’re wearing something at your feet. It’s free from restrictions and strategically it provides support at some places also. The shoe looks great when laced up in feet. Also the heel is layered in synthetic fabric with Jordan’s number embossed on it. It sure does feel premium. But the shoe is only good to be used in indoor games mostly because of its weak fabric. The durability is questioned for outdoor games.
Cushion:
The cushion obviously doesn’t give you much of a bounce but it will still just feel great. It gives a solid performance and the basic setup is great. The Zoom Air unit is in the bottom of the forefoot. The addition of the responsiveness received from this tech is fair enough and just the right amount that need to be felt at the forefoot. In this budget, this shoe is the only one where you can feel it. So it takes its place in the best basketball shoe options. As mentioned before, the performance is great- you can get enough court feel, decent impact protection and very well responsive. The Phylon midsole that is used is definitely of very high quality. It’s nothing like that is used in other shoes. The midsole is very well balance and really soft at the feel but enough responsive in the forefoot.
Traction:
The traction is pretty good. It comes with a very different pattern from all and it looks really interesting. You can see circular dots bumping out from the sole. This new addition didn’t make any difference according to us. Although, it works really well. You can see that the pattern comes in two way- translucent and solid rubber. The solid rubber is a better choice as it’s more trustworthy. Talking about the performance, at clean court it works really well. The grip is good and also it gives much coverage. You won’t even slip. But when it comes to dusty court, it is actually a problem if you’re not someone who’s used to much of wiping. The pattern is really compact and super dense. So dust gets easily in it and there will be slippage.
Fit:
The best thing about this shoe is how it fits on every kind of feet. If you’re a wide foot you would absolutely find it amazing because no other shoe can give you this resting feeling that this shoe can give. It’s a true to size fit for everyone and it’s unbelievably comfy. The woven fabric is the reason of this, and also the extreme light weight of the sneaker. The sneaker is specifically made with all the light materials to make it the lightest model available in the market. Also the asymmetrical lacing with dynamic fit makes the magic of extreme snug and true for any player. The material is stretchable so a narrow footer can go a ½ size down. The internal of the shoe is padded completely to give a good support and protection to your feet.
Support:
The shoe comes with an internal heel counter, asymmetrical lacing (already mentioned), wide base and dynamic fitting. The amazing part is the support is not compromised by its comfortable fabric at all. A super soft shoe can be such a rock solid support no one could imagine. So if you’re looking for the best basketball shoe which can give you a hell lot of support, this shoe is just for you. It can give you steller stability and superior lockdown and great midfoot containment.
Overall:
This shoe might not look the best for the fabric it has used, but since it’s the performance that matters, so this shoe is actually one of the best basketball shoes in affordable price. Overall it’s going to blow your mind once you try it on. It has a decent cushion, beastly support, supper light, decent traction and very well lockdown. Best for the light players; also great for any versatile wearer.
Let’s jump into our concluding summary to show you why this shoe is one of the best basketball shoes!
6. NIKE Men’s Hyperdunk 2022 Basketball Sneaker:
NIKE Men’s Hyperdunk 2022 Basketball Sneaker
Specifications:
NIKE Men’s Hyperdunk Detailed Review:
Material:
The fused mesh tech-infused in the shoe makes it stiffer than what the shoe would have been if pure mesh had been done. Maybe it decreases the softness but increases the durability. The fused mesh is incorporated in the forefoot, which makes it sturdy. There is fused mesh in the ankle collar too. The look of the shoe is not very impressive, but it’s not too bad either. It may not go with casuals but looks really smart in basketball court. Simple yet outstand in crowd.
Cushion:
The cushioning of the shoe is a major drawback. Once the zoom cushioning of Nike was a major hit, but with added thickness or with some change in fabric it is lay back. Nike Zoom cushion doesn’t give you the comfort that you deserve. The Zoom Air is present in two places: heel and in the forefoot. There is no lunarlon added with it this time. But it doesn’t change much. It’s too plain and simple, doesn’t give much responsiveness in the field. Nike really need it reconsider on the cushioning set up of the sneakers. Only the impact protection is served decently. The heel section protects the knees from injury.
Traction:
Best traction basketball shoe ever! Nike Hyperdunk 2016 gives you full coverage. The outsole is the best attraction of the shoe. The shoe keeps itself stuck anywhere in the ground, even in dust or debris you will not feel any difference. It is made to withstand multi-directional movement. The rubber in the outsole is a wow ingredient as it is not so pliable rather very durable. Outdoor usage will not be a concern. The traction is itself great and the shoe is intended to be used for heavier use.
Fit:
The Hyperdunk 2016 is not a super comfortable shoe. Rather it might feel a bit uncomfortable at the beginning. As most part of the shoe is made of fuse, it takes a longer break in time. Till then it will be uncomfortable. The shoe’s first version was made high-top but then it is changed to low-top. The reason behind this is, the ankle reason was a bit higher and directly hurts at the achilles. But you’ll find no problem in the low-top version at all. The shoe is true to size. It’s neither too narrow nor too wide. Yet, the wide footers should check on size before buying. The worst part of the shoe maybe is the ventilation state of the shoe. Since all of it is made with fuse, the shoe is not at all breathable. There’s no place for airflow except for the tongue area which suffocates the feet. The Nike FlyWire tech is quite amazing; it gives a great lockdown to your feet.
Support:
Support is another yay point in the sneaker. It’s more than sufficient so you won’t be having a problem. The lockdown is great so your feet will find the containment. The upper part, that is, the fuse is quite sturdy and gives good support. As mentioned, the ankle area is very high and stiff, which questions the flexibility of the shoe but totally attributes in increasing support. Maybe lowering down the collar can increase flexibility without harming the support. The heel size is too big, might affect the aesthetics of the shoe but it’s a good heel counter. Even if you dislike looking at it, you would love to play with it. The outsole is flat with herringbone which keeps flexibility without diminishing the support of the shoe.
Overall:
The shoe is not at all the best option for casual and everyday wear. With Nike relaunching Zoom cushioning, our hopes were obviously raised. If you are an old zoom cushioning fan of Nike, you’re going to get disappointed. Again if comfort is your main preference, this shoe isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for performance, this shoe definitely has some hit points to get in the list of best basketball shoes. The support is solid, feet lockdown is great and traction will blow your mind. Your in court performance will not be questioned with this shoe if you find your comfort level in wearing by changing the insole or waiting for the break-in period.
A quick look at the pros and cons of the shoe to clear your confusion is right here:
7. NIKE Men’s Kyrie 3 Basketball Shoe:
NIKE Men’s Kyrie 3 Basketball Shoe
Specifications:
NIKE Men’s Kyrie 3 Detailed Review:
Material:
The material of the shoe is really great. Mainly mesh is used in covering toe to heel. To make the shoe durable, especially in high wear areas, the mesh is reinforced by fuse to make it durable for heavy use. The whole of the shoe is padded with foam, mainly at the flex zone of the forefoot. Kyrie 3 has a better too setup than Kyrie 2 and it is quite enjoyable to play with. The flexibility is great and the material and tooling doesn’t counter affect each other. The 3D rubber overlay- Kurim – at the back area adds on the aesthetic factor of the shoe. It also gives good protection from wearing. You might feel a bit discomfort with the stiff fuse used over the mesh at it might decrease flexibility, but it depends from players to players. Overall, the material is durable, sophisticated and of good quality. It is also breathable and comfortable.
Cushion:
The cushion is obviously better than Kyrie 2 but not at all up to the mark. Kyrie 2 lacked in any kind of cushioning. In Kyrie 3 you can see a small heel Zoom Air unit and that’s all about it. No other cushioning other than it. The shoe is mainly focused to have court feeling. If you want an amazing court feel and cushioning doesn’t matter to you, Kyrie 3 is a great choice. But if you happened to rebound or jump-stop a lot, you may not like it. It doesn’t give a plushy and bouncy feeling, also not great at being responsive. But it’s not a major factor if you look at the overall aspects in the shoe.
Traction:
Nike did it again with the traction! This time bringing the best traction features in this beastly sneaker. The traction set up is nearly perfect and made to give you all way round coverage. The herringbone pattern all over the shoe from toe to heel and two multi-directional pods at both sides is set in a very clever way. The aggressive herringbone pattern will give linear coverage whereas the two pods at two sides will allow you to change directions very fast and swiftly without losing the grip or court feel. There is no slippage problem. After using this, you might think why all other shoes don’t have the same traction! It surely is question that popped us in all of use. The setup is quite flawless except for the part between the two pods, where it performs a bit lower than other places, but that won’t be something very noticeable. It might require few times wiping because of the dense groves to get the same feel in dusty court, though it won’t be a major problem. This sneaker is perfect for outdoor use and durable.
Fit:
The shoe is true to size but quite narrow than usual shoes. So the wide footers might need to go a ½ size up to get the perfect fit. There’s not much to say about the fit of the shoe. The Nike Flywire did the magic in giving amazing lockdown again. Although you might find the laces too longer to control, it just needs to be tied cleverly. The shoe is very comfortable. The heel is secure and sturdy but the ankle is just perfect and causes no pain. The fabric is awesome and gives enough comfort. Narrow space isn’t an issue as it doesn’t feel extremely tight at any area.
Support:
The support is minimalistic yet works the best. You won’t be amazed to hear the support set up but once you get it in your feet you’ll get to know why we are telling it a great one. The set up only includes midfoot internal shank for torsional support and internal heel counter to keep the feet at place. Very basic right? But trust us, it won’t disappoint you because you’ll feel no pain and very well protected. The shoe is obviously not flat but they are enough wide to cradle your feet. Only mentioned discomfort is the sturdy fuse at the forefoot which can cause a panful toe. Then again, everything depends on finding the right size. A right size can give a relief from all of it.
Overall:
Undoubtedly it’s one of the best basketball shoes in the market. If you’re a court feel lover and want aggressive traction, Kyrie 3 will become your best friend in the court without a question. But if you’re into cushion and bouncy feeling, you know this isn’t the best option for you. Nevertheless, whichever is your preference, you’ll surely love to play in this pair of sneaker. Kyrie 3 is surely a guard shoe. It is so much better and improved than Kyrie 2 but the price didn’t go as high and that is obviously a loving factor.
We have told enough of times how much we are in love with the shoe, but still you might like to have a summary. So let’s jump into our concluding summary to show you why this shoe is one of the best basketball shoes!
8. Under Armour Men’s Drive 4 Basketball Shoe:
Under Armour Men’s Drive 4 Basketball Shoe
Specifications:
Under Armour Men’s Drive 4 Detailed Review:
Material:
The time the Under Armour hasn’t used the usual premium ClutchFit upper, rather graded down to usual fusedmesh and neoprene set up. This is a disappointing factor for people looking for premium materials but not a problem for anyone who just wants great quality and comfort. The material works great! The textile mesh covers the toe and external forefoot areas. The material looks highly woven and stiff and not stretching. Yet while playing you won’t be feeling the stiffness and also the outer panel flexes easily. The ankle collars are padded with foams and covered with neoprene, which is a very awesome material. It is comfortable and let the feet have flexible transition. The middle is covered with nylon and to add a gorgeous looking at the light there is 3M pipping laces popping out to fit the feet well. The huge fuse added at the top is required to mention as it is added to increase the durability. Overall it’s a pretty good built shoe.
Cushion:
The shoe has a pretty decent cushion set up. Obviously, a full length microG is desirable by all, though it is not a disappointment. Under Armour has tried to keep a well balanced set up for all kinds of players. The MicroG is not lightly understandable like the Drive 3 rather the whole heel is made of MicroG and covered with harder carrier foam, just perfect for big players. The heel gives amazing impact protection and the harder carrier allows no instability on landing. It is greatly responsive also. The bouncy feeling might not be a great feature of MicroG like a full length Zoom Air or Boost, but it will serve you pretty right. As it is not a full length MicroG, the forefoot doesn’t have it and feels like straight EVA. But the phylon forefoot is also given for a reason. Guard lovers and more explosive players want excessive responsiveness and no lag in movement. It rides really low to the ground, a full length MicroG might have given a better impact protection. We would say this sneaker is actually made keeping everyone in thought.
Traction:
As mentioned earlier herringbone is the best traction that can be infused in a basketball shoe. Under Armour has used it perfectly in every of their sneakers and Drive 4 isn’t an exception. They have kept it simple, yet it works better than last time always. The shoe grips perfectly any kind of floor it is placed in. You will have no complain of slippage or drifting rather very smooth transition. Plus the rubber is so hard and so thick that this shoe is perfect for outdoor use and will survive many years. The shoe is firm and stable enough to give you confidence in the floor. The wave kind of pattern under the herringbone is worth mentioning. It attributes in flexible cutting, smoother transition and also add more cushion to your feet. The only lacking that can be pointed out is minimum problem in transition because of the collar setup. Otherwise, this is a very sturdy sneaker.
Fit:
The fit is also pretty much awesome. It has a double layer construction and with all those extra padding done all the sides and overlays, underlays etc. etc. it is pretty comfortable to sung in your feet. It might need some break in time, otherwise it’s perfect. If you lace up the shoe, then it will give a pretty tight lockdown. The ankle collar is itself very generous, not at all pinching or stuck at feet. And to avoid heel slippage you just have to lace it up tight. The forefoot toe wrap is even great, a lot of space to cradle your toes and feel comfortable. It’s pretty awesome with so many features and reinforced lacing system. The shoe fit true to size for every kind of footers.
Support:
After the traction, the support is to die for. The external plastic heel counter will keep your feet intact at the perfect place throughout the game improving your performance. The way you slipped in, it will hold it on the same way. As the materials are stiff enough, support is sure to come all the way. The show has flat wide base and forefoot outrigger allowing quite stable landing on heels, relieving from causing any kind of pain. And heel is cut in the bottom to give enough flexibility. The extra plate that runs from toe to heel in the midsole prevents your feet from rolling in the footbed and prevent the shoe from bending while transition, making it smoother. Now for people who don’t need higher cut and extra supportive shoe, the high ankle collar might be a problem. The material of the ankle collar makes it very stiff and doesn’t allow room for movement if laced up tightly. It can become restrictive and harm the smooth transitions.
Overall:
Under Armour Drive 4 is a shoe to fall in love with. Like seriously, it has decent amount of everything in it and very little amount to disappoint you. The cushion is made keeping in mind of all kinds of players, so it suits everyone. The traction is the best in the market, the support is incredible and also it fits well in both kinds of footer. The shoe is very comfortable, the material maybe cheap but totally reasonable to die for and a superlight weight construction. So if you are an all-rounder player, dive in this shoe without a question. But if you want to have a better guard, more precise cut and a lot of bouncing, you might look for other options. The price of the shoe is pretty decent also. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best basketball shoes in the market.
Run your eyes over the important points regarding the shoe again before making your purchase decision because we want you to purchase the best basketball shoe!
9. Under Armour Men’s Longshot Basketball Shoe:
Under Armour Men’s Longshot Basketball Shoe
Specifications:
Under Armour Men’s Longshot Detailed Review:
Material:
The material of the show is disappointing as it didn’t match with the description of the product as said in the website. Rather than using leather in the ankle collar, we saw a vinyl kind of material. The complain with this Under Armour is similar to the rest with ankle collar that it is not comfortable. The ankle is still and really hard and wears off the skin. So it is pretty much discomfort for sensitive skin. The shoe requires a lot of time breaking in too. So you need some time to find the comfort in this shoe. The other parts are quite okay and won’t cause much problem to your feet. The other areas are built up with open mesh and the mid and forefoot areas flexes quite well. The fused section can be seen only on the toes for stability and webbed lacing system does well to give support at feet. The plastic shank used from midfoot to forefoot eases transition. So the material is decent enough if the ankle collar is somehow managed.
Cushion:
The cushioning of the shoe is quite interesting. Although it has a full length MicroG in it, a charged cushioning is set up at the heel and forefoot to absorb impact and be more responsive. With this ultra awesome set up, the cushioning was supposed to be the best in the market. Unfortunately, it failed to create a different. It is still a decent one. MicroG is one of the best cushioning materials but somehow for the extreme stiff carrier around the heel has lowered its performance and the main purpose of the addition. It doesn’t give the bounciness it was supposed to give and also the impact protection is really poor. But the court feel of the shoe is amazing and as the shoe is very solid so no impact or discomfort is felt while landing. It never caused pain or was uncomfortable so we can say the cushioning worked. Like mentioned before, the cushion is decent enough but not what was expected reading the description.
Traction:
Under Armour did a great job with traction as usual. Like always they have used the herringbone and it is perfect in holding the grip. Whatever court you’re using it in; it allows your feet to be stable and glued to the ground. It doesn’t cause slippage or drifting. So wherever you’re standing, you will not move an inch if you are not moving yourself. So it works more than perfect. It also provides multidirectional coverage and really precise cut with confidence without the fear of slipping. It surely improves your court performance. It shows similar performance both in clear and dusty field so wiping once will do the magic. The pattern is deep and the waves are magical in the herringbone, the rubber is also sturdy to be used both indoor and outdoor. The traction makes it a durable shoe.
Fit:
The fit is great. It is true to size for all footers. The webbed lacing system provides good lockdown ability keeping the feet in the immediate position, specially obstructing lateral movements of the feet. So it acts smartly with any instant reflexes like rolling or stopping giving a good grip and not moving the feet. The toe front has some hollow space but not more than needed. So after lacing up, you can comfortably snug your toe inside. The upper is made with woven mesh and the whole region is padded with no internal bootie construction. The ankle heel counter is solid and keeps the legs in place. The ankle fit is locked down with help of the lacing system and the ankle padding. Overall, the shoe set up and lacing system lockdown your feet well and cause no discomfort even.
Support:
This is the best part of this under armour shoe. Wide, flat, stable base with a long outrigger all over the lower feet from toe to arch end keeps the feet upright and locked in position without making it restrictive to transition. The foamed cushioning makes the landing stable giving protection to your feet from injury. All the other features are already mention. The heel counter is not too sturdy but enough to assist normal landings and any kind of movements. The webbed lacing system is marvelous as already mentioned how it gives perfect lockdown and all way round support. The midfoot shank is adds a little spring at your feet. The heel is split in two and one part manages the accidental landings efficiently. The transition is pretty smooth in this shoe.
Overall:
The longshot takes its place in the list of best basketball shoes because of its deserving performance. It is a great shot and a well performing shoe. Long thing short, if you’re looking for great premium materials and super bouncy, responsive cushioning; this shoe isn’t for you. But if you are okay with any kind of materials and just want a great support, durable, killer traction and high performance, it’s obviously one of the best options. Even lack of cushioning can smooth your transition; just it might hurt a bit later.
Concluding rewarding points for the readers to find out the reasons why/ why not they should buy this shoe:
10. Under Armour Men’s Team Drive 4 Basketball Shoe:
Under Armour Men’s Team Drive 4 Basketball Shoe
Under Armour Men’s Team Drive 4 Detailed Review:
Material:
Just like the drive 4, the team drive 4 has the fused textile used all over it. It is the woven mesh which covered most of the part of the shoe and makes it breathable. The shoe is supper comfortable to snug in. Also neoprene padded in the ankle collar, so the ankle is enough supported. Fused is added of TPU material to give the shoe a sturdy look. The shoe is pretty stylish and comes in really good colors. The lacing system is also pretty good but like drive 4 it doesn’t suffocate the ankle collars.
Cushion:
Again, just liked the Drive 4, the cushioning set up is exactly the same. It is pretty basic but serves you right if you are not looking for high bounce. Sure to give a good court feeling. In the forefoot, the MicroG isn’t used rather it feels like a low straight EVA. The forefoot is rather very low. But the toe wrap deletes the complain of discomfort.
Traction:
Nothing new to talk about the herringbone traction. The rubber is durable and the traction pattern is beautiful enough to hold a grip on any kind of floor. But surely, you need to wipe few times in a dusty field just to get a beasty performance.
Fit:
The fit is true to size for narrow footers but go ½ size above for wide footers. The webbed lacing system is great at providing lockdown. There is no question in the comfortability of the shoe. It avoids slippage and drifting.
Support:
The support is great just like Drive 4, no new addition to this topic. An external heel counter provides extra support and greater height. The new reinforced lacing system keeps your feet locked up in a single position. Addition to Drive 4, the team drive 4 has a 3D midfoot shank around it which gives good torsional support and also resists your feet movement in lateral ways.
Overall:
If we talk about this shoe and Drive 4, we couldn’t find any difference at all except for the additional 3D midfoot shank crawling up around the sidewall. This is great shoe to purchase undoubtedly, great traction, very good support and comfortable fit. The only thing which might question you is the cushion again. It’s not going to give a feel like Zoom Air or Boost. So if you want so much of bounce, look at the options above.
Let’s have quick summary of one of the best basketball shoes of Under Armour that we had identified:
Criteria Used To Select the Best Basketball Shoe That Fits Your Style
As the personality of people is different, so is their playing style. Even the roles in the game determine a lot about the kind the kind of shoe you required. Then there is a personal preference upon which our likings and disliking depends. So a player needs to know oneself at first before knowing the kind of shoe that they want. If you are a guard player, you need a shoe which is completely different from the shoe required for a heavy player.
Above we mentioned the selected shoes that we thought to be the best basketball shoes of 2018. But that doesn’t mean every of them are a great option for you. To choose your basketball shoe wisely we have identified few points which surely will help you!
High Standard Soles:
A shoe with a good sole should be the primary concern while selecting basketball shoe. Good and strong rubber soles which can give you good traction should be chosen as they give multi directional coverage and grip against the floor you are standing. This gives protection from any injuries like ankle sprains etc. which can create a negative impact in your basketball career. Again, it gives the confidence to move smoothly and with confidence. Different parts of soul are described:
- Outsole: Outsole must give you grip and make your movement swift by giving multi directional coverage. The outsole should be made with sturdy rubber with will halt you whenever you want or from what direction you’re coming from. It will not slip your feet forward on a sudden stoppage. And it must have traction pattern within it which improves the quality of movement. So a lot of a chance of clean shot depends on the shoe.
- Midsole: The midsole is the most dense and thickest part of the shoe as its main function is to absorb the shock and protect your feet. As basketball requires a lot of jumping and movements and landings, shock is a very common thing. If it’s not absorbed it will affect your muscles, bones and joints in the longer run. So a thick and dense midsole is an absolute necessity to continue the game for the whole life and protecting yourself from sore toe. Midsole made of rubbers and other incorporated synthetic materials are best for shock observing. And yes midsole plus the inner cushioning, both together omit the shock.
Shoe Style:
For a long time players wanted to wear high tops where the ankles remain completely covered to give protection. But now low tops is more famous. Let’s see the features of all three types of style:
- Low Tops: The low cut shoes make your movement swifter increasing the flexibility. The guard players mainly love low tops as they need quick and flexible movements to make. Moreover low cut shoes are of lightweight to give you balance in quick movement.
- Mid Tops: The name itself suggests its reason; it gives the better of two worlds. Just because it gives the best from both the sides don’t mean it is the perfect one. The mid tops provide swiftness and flexibility as well as ankle protection and stability. The stability is not hard rock and the shoe isn’t light weight like a feather either. It’s just in the middle for those who want to avoid the much bulkiness and good for forwards.
- High Tops: High tops restricts the feet a little much to give solid lockdown. It was a popular mean of basketball shoe feature from the old times. It gives ankle protection and support with lots of padding making it comfortable. The flexibility surely decreases a bit but those who are looking for complete support and protection, high tops rule for them.
Cushion:
Cushioning is one of the important factors of basketball shoe but then good cushioning doesn’t take a shoe to the list of best basketball shoes. The reason is it completely depends on the person’s preference who is buying it and also his/her body structure. Cushioning is inserted in a shoe to give overall impact protection, immense court feel, responsiveness and a bounce in your feet. Now not everyone likes thick cushioning which may give a lot of impact protection and bounce but decrease the court feel. Especially a smaller player wants more responsiveness in his feet, whereas a bigger player mostly looks for heavy cushioning with lots of protection and bounciness to feel light. So it’s hard to describe bad cushioning. There are few types of cushioning very popular in the market: Nike Zoom Air cushioning, Adidas Boost cushioning, Adidas Bounce and Under Armour MicroG. Zoom Air is the most loved one which has compressed air units embedded in the midsole. If you are looking for light cushioning, go with Adidas Bounce and Under Armour MicroG. And if you are someone who is looking for something bouncy, go for Nike Zoom Air cushioning and Adidas Boost cushioning.
Traction:
Traction surely is an important thing to judge while buying a shoe. No one likes to slip in every movement they make. Also in a game if you’re just waiting for a shot and it get lost just due to the lack in grip of your shoe, that’s going to be the disappointment to rest in you for your entire life. So a good traction means good grip in the floor and swift changing of movements without slipping or drifting, just a clear cut. Two factors should be noticed in understanding traction ability of a shoe:
- Traction Pattern: In the article we have mentioned a lot of times that nothing beats the herringbone patterned traction. The waves that is interestingly set in the outsole with a gap in between after every few steps just to ensure that your feet don’t get stuck with the ground, makes it the best of all. There are also few traction patterns which work well like blade traction. The blade traction pattern is worth mentioning as it is enough aggressive also. But different companies are trying to bring new innovative things which don’t work always. So we think it should be mentioned to the companies that unless you’re completely sure of the pattern you’re installing, don’t include that in the shoe. It just might take 10 on 10 shoes to 0 rating.
- Rubber: Choose it upon your preference of playing area. Softer rubber isn’t good for outdoor games as it collect a lot of dust and harder rubber isn’t good for gripping indoor courts. But as for semi transparent and solid rubber, go for the solid ones as they are more durable.
Material and Fit:
To us a shoe must be comfortable to wear when we are playing. Cause if you feel disturbance while playing, your game will never be a winning one. Shoe’s comfort depends on getting the right fit and the inner and outer material with which it is made. So the things that must be looked upon before deciding the pair of basketball shoes best for you are:
- Interior Design: Don’t go for a shoe which is very tight for you cause it may wear off your skin, again don’t go for a shoe which is very much loose for you cause it might not lockdown your feet and roll your feet over the footbed while playing. Just look for moderate space and width inside it to comfortably rest your feet. And also inner soft fabric will snug your feet better.
- Components: Midsole making material is important. If it isn’t thick enough then the shock won’t be absorbed plus it will feel stiffy. And it is too much bounce, you’ll lack ground feeling.
- Weight: Weight is big distraction. Try to go down in weight as much as possible. Putting too much weight in your feet only slow you down.
- Ventilation: If you feel the shoe you liked the most in the market lacks ventilation but is superior in everything so it won’t matter, then you’re completely wrong. Sorry lad, you have to stop buying it Basketball requires a lot of movement so your feet get sweaty and watery. And as often as it gets, it causes distraction with irritation. Your game will be disrupted. So choose a shoe with good ventilating panel at the side and top of the foot and toe box, where it is most required.
- Materials: Comfortability depends a lot on material used. A wide range of material is used for making basketball shoes. Cheap materials like mesh and synthetic fiber are good comfort, flexible and lightweight but question durability. For premium fabrics like leather, primeknit are expensive but is soft and comfortable and no break in time required. Choose the material that your feet are comfortable with.
- Fit: You got to find your true fit seriously. Yes we are serious in this because larger or shorter shoe will only impede your performance. Fit is an essential component of support. It lockdowns your feet and give good performance and minimize the gap between your foot and shoe. Certain things you should see: Make sure that a toe box wraps your toes. Second, the width of the shoe should be enough to snug your feet and not tighten them at all. Your heels should be locked down in a soft padded place to reduce feet, ankles and hip injury. Obviously it shouldn’t be very tight that you can’t lift your ankles. Lastly, look at the lacing system. A lacing system is important for giving the right fit. It gives a hell lot of support in playing, so laces are important however tacky they look.
Support:
If you are thinking support means a bulky shoe with high tops and big laces, you are wrong. They obviously give support, but there are other ways. Let’s see the factors important for giving support:
- Outrigger: The outrigger placed on the lateral side of the shoe sole to make it a bit wider than the shoe width is a heaven for the players. It makes the base width larger and so the landings are more stable and no harm in the legs is felt. Plus it avoids slippage or rolling.
- Midfoot Shank: The midfoot shank stretching from the arch to toe is important and this extra padding gives torsional support.
- Heel Counter: This keeps your heel in place and a lot of padding makes the landing stable. Heel counters need to be soft and both strong and durable. A larger heel counter will lock your heel and absorbs all the shock of your feet. If you’re recovering from an ankle injury, look for shoes giving maximum ankle protection.
- Lacing system: Yes lacing is important. As lacing ensures the feet and lockdown, you have to have locked feet to get the maximum support from your shoe. A webbed lacing system is very efficient.
- Strong material: Not to say much about this, the strong material keeps your feet wrapped in durable place preventing from any cut and sprain.
Flexibility:
Don’t be a fan of support only. Flexibility may reduce your support but decrease your tension of movement. If your shoes obstruct your movements that are necessary for the game, how are you going to play well? So while choosing the best basketball shoe please ensure that the frame, upper build and the sole is flexible enough. None of this should restrict your movements in the game.
So these are the features you need to look in a basketball shoe. I’m sure you’ll find all these features in the above list stated. We will just suggest one more thing before you make your final decision. Before going to buy the best-fit basketball shoe for you, know your preferences. Then only your choice will be the perfect one. For any other questions, don’t forget to ask us!
