After not being able to post any reviews of shoes due to not being able to get new ones earlier, I’m back with TWO new reviews! Yep, TWO NEW SHOES.
Thanks to Titan Circuit Makati (click there to see all the products they have on sale) and their very accommodating staff, I was able to cop the KYRIE 3 “White Chrome” and the DAME 3 “USA“.
I have yet to try these bad boys out but as soon as I can, imma update you guys.
Follow me on Instagram so you can see if I’ve posted on my stories about my initial thoughts on the shoes (@ralphdreyfus).
For the meantime, I’m gonna put up my initial thought reviews on each of these guys till I put up my actual performance reviews.
My parents bought this in Europe a while back during their trip there. As far as I know, you won’t be able to find this pair for sale here in the Philippines unless it’s from resellers.
The box is a bit worn out but it’s just your typical Vans box. Nothing too special.
The toe box and heel area have this navy blue suede material. The body is just your typical material, I’m just not sure if it’s canvas.
The design is by BEHANCE and this is why they chose this style:
“Stickers are one of the most iconic items in skateboard culture.
Every skater has its own sticker collection. Every board, every skate shop It´s full of stickers.
For my Vans 50th anniversary pack I wanted to bring back all this sticker culture with a print built with real vintage Vans stickers and using it in the most iconic Vans siluetes like the Sk8 Hi, Oldskool and Authentic”
The sole is still the classic gum sole with honey comb pattern that every Old Skool and Sk8-Hi has.
You can basically pair this with any outfit. Besides my Chuck Taylor’s, this pair is my second favorite go to kicks at the moment.
It’s the same with Chuck’s. You can’t go wrong with Old Skool’s.
I literally have had this thing or fascination with bomber jackets for quite a while already but I just wasn’t able to grab one. Maybe because it was a tad bit expensive? Yeah probably that.
Luckily, my folks got me 2 bombers (and other clothes) from their trip to Milan. I’ve been wanting a jacket for months already and now, not only did I get one, I got two! Patience truly is a virtue for this was really worth the wait. MOVING ON.
I really wanted to rock my new jackets (and other new clothes) as soon as possible! Fortunately for me, we watched “Spider-Man: Homecoming” just the other night. Perfect opportunity.
I decided to rock the Navy blue bomber with a plain black shirt, a white pair of shorts (It’s dri-fit as well!), a white-strapped watch, a bracelet, and a pair of Vans Old Skool.
And that part I forgot to mention, I also got new Vans (Old Skool mids).
The Vans that I got was a 50th Anniversary edition or either for the Summer/Spring collection I think? I haven’t done my research on them yet but that’s what the people at Vans told my folks when they got it. I’ll just have to take their word for it.
I’ll put up a review of the shoes as well soon.
The outfit is plain, simple, and yet, it stands out. It has a bit of that classy/preppy vibe to it as well.
Just today I went to a mall’s department store and was looking at the shoes section and I, along with my sister, stumbled upon this very eye catching pair.
I actually thought they were selling Jordan 12’s! They also had the White/Black colorway. My God. These are ripoffs! So bad dude. I mean, WHAT THE HELL?! Fire whoever’s responsible for this! Oh and if you think that’s it? Look at the sole!
Curry 1 soles anyone?
SMH for this pair. For those asking for the brand? Hot Wheels.
That’s all I have to say for this pair. I honestly am just trying to have a good laugh from this. Damn.
Not much to write on this post since I just really like this outfit.
The outfit would still look good even without the jacket wrapped around my waist but with it, it gives you a bit more attitude and color. The simplicity of the outfit makes it look appealing. You could also plainly fold the end of your pants or pinroll it.
I’d usually wear a plain white shirt or a plain black shirt but since they weren’t there for me to use, a black shirt with a gray pocket will also do since the pocket adds an accent to your overall outfit.
I know this has been reviewed far too many times already. But, better late than never.
BEAST.
TOTAL. BEAST.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SHOE IS A BEAST.
TRACTION
Herringbone pattern with a somewhat web design and a diamond pattern on the medial side plus a mamba logo at the heel because why not? It’s Kobe’s shoe anyway.
Traction is straight up AMAZING. It actually is just jaw-dropping. No joke. The outsole is really thick and durable.
NO SLIPPING. NO WIPING. NONE WHATSOEVER.
(RATING: 10/10)
CUSHIONING
FULL. LENGTH. LUNARLON.
The shoes feature a full-length drop-in Lunarlon mid-sole. It provides decent impact protection when coming in from rebounds.
The mid-sole provides decent comfort while playing. It certainly isn’t the best but it gets the job done. Court-feel is another great factor that this mid-sole offers.
It certainly isn’t the best cushioning set up (still better than Adiprene/Adiprene+) but it’s pretty decent. Court-feel and comfort are a bit more than average. If you want a better mid-sole for your shoes, swap it with the one from the Kobe 11 (heel Zoom+Lunarlon/full-length Zoom) or the Lebron 11 (heel Zoom+Lunarlon/full-length Zoom).
(RATING: 7.5/10)
SUPPORT
As for thesupport, don’t expect too much. It’s just an internal TPU heel counter that’s small but enough to be noticed and provide decent lockdown.
It’s a low top and they’re basically shoes for training. Youcan’t really expect too much fancy features. Plus the fact that it’s a budget shoe.
If you aren’t a fan of low tops and are skeptical of the safety of low cut shoes, this isn’t the pair for you. For those who are okay with these kinds of shoes, then youshould have no problems at all.
I personally don’t like low tops for the simple reason that I’ve had a bad history withthose types of shoes. However, I always told myself I’d make an exception for Kobe shoes.
(RATING: 5-6/10)
MATERIALS
The upper is made of Flyweave. Same as the KD 8, except that the 8’s have a softer upper unlike the Mentality’s that feels like it’s been reinforced with plastic (for durability, I guess).
The toebox is reinforced with fuse for it to be stronger and durable espcially for those players who are prone to toe drags while hooping.
(RATING: 8/10)
FIT
Go true-to-size or half a size down (like what I did). I just wanted that snug feeling that’s why I got a 10.5 instead of my usual 11.
(RATING: 8/10)
VENTILATION
Not bad. Not great.
It’s alright. I still think it’s better than the ventilation of the J Wall 2 Boost (which is the worst for me. Second worst is the Lebron 13 but that’s a different story).
It can feel a bit hot and cramped at times but it ain’t always like that.
(RATING: 7/10)
LOCKDOWN
The lockdown is good. Not great. Good. It certainly isn’t the worst.
Typical cushioned tongue that goes hand-in-hand with the TPU heel counter that provides a decent lockdown on your feet. No this pair doesn’t offer Flywire for better containment since it’s on the budget shoe line of Nike.
(RATING: 7/10)
OVERALL
This is a go-to pair. Solid traction, decent cushioning setup, decent support and lockdown, and all for a decent price. Don’t expect too much, it doesn’t offer anything fancy as I have said a while ago.
If you’re looking for a pair of shoes that you can hoop in indoors and outdoors, go get this pair. It certainly won’t disappoint you.
Sorry for the really long hiatus. Just got really lazy to write and I know that isn’t an excuse. But here I am with a new review of a shoe that isn’t really that new.
Here’s my review of the Nike KD 8 “Hunt’s Hill Night”.
First up.
SUPPORT
Let’s start with the heel counter. There’s this HUGE heel counter at the back of the shoes that’s based on the teeth of a Sabretooth. If you guys don’t know what a Sabretooth is, Diego from the animated film “Ice Age’ is a Sabretooth. if you guys don’t know what “Ice Age” is, get a life.
The heel counter provides great support and lockdown. It’s so good that this low top shoe acts as if it were a high top.
I DO NOT LIKE OR LOVE LOW TOP SHOES. NEVER.
except for this pair.
I was always to afraid of using low top shoes because I’m afraid tripping and injuring my ankles (because I honestly have weak ankles). But this pair proved me wrong and actually had me trusting in low top shoes again (depends on the shoes tho).
The inside of the shoes has a decent amount of padding for better lockdown.
STABILITY
Its main base is a full length bed of Zoom Air cushioning system that’s flat and plain which actually provides really good stability and also has great heel-to-toe transition while running up and down the floor.
TRACTION
The traction pattern is a modified herringbone with a digitized pattern.
The material used on the outsole is soft and not that thick.
So far, I have no issues with slipping yet. Only minimal wiping is needed. Sometimes, it aint even needed anymore.
Like the other reviewers, the rubber on my sole started to fray a bit but not so much because it’s very soft. Just don’t use it outdoors.
Definitely not for outdoor use.
FIT
Fit will always be tricky. Always fit the shoes before buying them and not just because your size because not all shoes fit the same.
I got this pair from my girlfriend as a gift. I’m a size 11, the pair she got me is a size 10.5. It actually felt better for me. Snug and tight. No issues on slipping inside the shoes. The tightness isn’t even uncomfortable. Lockdown was so much better.
The flywire at the forefoot helped lockdown my feet even more.
As for the tongue, it aint super thick but not thin either. Enough for it to keep your feet in place and goes hand-in-hand with the heel counter.
Laces are your typical laces and nothing special or spectacular.
Also, the internal padding makes your feet feel comfortable even while running the floor.
MATERIALS
The shoes feature a flyweave upper. The material is very flexible and also form fitting.
The toebox area is reinforced with fuse for more durability. Fuse is also used on the holes of the laces.
The design of the flyweave upper is similar to the traction pattern of the shoes. It has the same digitized pattern.
CUSHIONING
FULL. LENGTH. ARTICULATED. ZOOM.
The shoes features a full length bed of Zoom Air units which is articulated in the forefoot for better flexibility without compromising the cushioning of the shoes.
Just like what “nightwing2303” of Weartesters.com said, you can feel the Zoom in the heel. But that’s about it. Not much in the forefoot. The Zoom is reinforced at the sides with extra plastic so that the Zoom wouldnt expand and or compress too much.
VENTILATION
Not so much. It may seem as if the flyweave upper gives enough ventilation but it’s nothing compared to flyknit. I don’t have any basketball shoes with flyknit but I do have the Lunar 3’s which is full on flyknit which is amazing. It’s decent. The ventilation isn’t as bad as the lebron 13 or the Jwall 2 primeknit.
THOUGHTS
Damn good shoes.
I’d honestly give it an 8/10. Some other people might not agree but it’s one of my go to shoes already. Support and lockdown are the two best features on this pair. Traction is good but I’ve had other shoes with better traction.
Cop this shoe if you want. You won’t be disappointed. Though the reviews for the KD 9 are so much better. But, I haven’t tried those yet so take my word for this pair. Cop it.
That’s it for my review of the KD 8 “Hunt’s Hill Night”. If you have any comments or questions, hit me up below.
Stay tuned for my next shoe review, the “KOBE MENTALITY 2″.
Did that get your attention? Yes? Good. Because it really doesn’t suck. I was just messing with ya’ll.
The J Wall 2 Boost Primeknit (All White/Triple White colorway) was supposed to be part of the All Star Weekend special releases. Apparently, they didn’t drop. What we got instead was the Aurora Borealis colorway (which in my opinion, sucks, compared to this all white colorway).
Who can ever go wrong with all white? No one can. But, if you like the aurora colorway, I won’t judge. To each his own, right?
Just to get this out of the way, this pair is GLOW IN THE DARK!
See? Sorry for the low quality post! Kinda hard to take a picture of it in the dark.
Anyway, let’s get on to the review.
Let’s start with the TRACTION.
The traction pattern is just a basic blade pattern on the forefoot. Provides decent grip on the floor while running. BUT. The court I played on was dusty. Lots and lots of wiping were needed. It was as if I was on skates. On some parts of the court that weren’t dusty, grip was just great. From the mid-heel area, the soles are made from translucent rubber with an outward directional pattern in which I had no issues with slipping whatsoever.
TRACTION: 7-8 (I have yet to try them on a clean court)
FIT/SIZING/LACING:
As for the sizing of the shoes, I am a size 11 but the pair that I got was 10.5 and it was a perfect fit with no problems of it being uncomfortable. My feet are not wide so maybe the sizing may vary on the type of feet that you have.
As for the fit of the shoes, if you have the right size, the fit would be great. There was this instance that while I was running, the laces suddenly loosened up. Maybe it was just me not lacing them up properly. Other than that, the shoes fit well and it’s awfully snug.
Lacing? Nothing spectacular with the lacing. It gets the job done of holding down your feet in place. You have to tighten em up every now and then to keep ’em tight tho.
MATERIAL:
PRIMEKNIT. IS. A. BEAST.
YES. IT. IS.
The shoes does offer a lot of parts with Primeknit but not the entire shoes.
On the medial side of the shoes, part of it is synthetic leather (I think). I actually prefer that more than just plain Primeknit because it offers more support and stability when moving.
On the outer side, its composed of Primeknit with a layer of padding underneath it to provide it with a bit more structure but don’t worry! It doesn’t remove the flexibility of the shoes.
The toe box has plain Primeknit with a bit of fuse on the sides. The toe box is comfortable as hell. Flexibility and mobility is a solid 10 for me.
SUPPORT:
The main support of the shoes is this hard plastic TPU that gets the job done. It aint uncomfortable in anyway. The Tongue is very thick but soft at the same time which compliments the TPU which keeps your feet in place with no problem at all.
Your movement will not be hindered by anything at all. You can move from left to right or in any direction without worrying about anything in the ankle collar bothering your ankles.
As for ankle support (for those afraid to get injured like me), no worries. This pair has got you covered. Just don’t do anything that might really injure you. The support is there to protect you from twisting your ankles and from bending to much. It is NOT idiot proof.
CUSHIONING:
Boost in the heel section.
Intense comfort
Helps with absorbing impact from jumping, running, and rebounding.
Adiprene+ in the mid and forefoot.
Amazing court feel
Takes time to break in
Hard at first but becomes comfortable after using it a couple of times.
Stiff at first
VENTILATION:
This would be the biggest drawback in this pair.
It is very hot. Not hot as in, “Damn those shoes are hot” but literally. It doesn’t seem to be breathable. At all. Maybe a bit but not so much. I almost had cramps but good thing it didn’t happen.
After the first game, my feet didn’t feel as hot as it was in the first game but it was still hot.
I basically have nothing good to say about this pair’s ventilation.
OVERALL:
I give this pair a solid 7-8/10.
Compared to the D Rose 5, I still prefer that than the Wall 2. Don’t get me wrong, I love this pair because of the comfort that it gives.
Do I suggest that you get this pair? Well, if you love the Crazylight boost 2015, then you’d love this pair. It’s a vary decent pair indeed. Just don’t play in it outdoors if you wanna save the sole of the shoes.
That’s about it. If you have any questions about this pair, cooment down below!
Waddup guys? Took too long for me to come back with a new post? Yeah, I know. Sorry about that (insert peace sign emoji).
Anyway,
We celebrated my dad’s birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday!), and yes it did land on a Sunday, so we went out to have lunch and then mass in the evening.
I honestly didn’t know what to wear, well, except for the pants and shoes, those I had covered already. Luckily, mom was there to save the day! She let me use one of my dad’s long sleeves.
And voilà, instant #OOTD!
The soft and simple colors just makes it so easy to look at and it’s very appealing! Just partner it with a simple watch, wax your hair or whatever it is you feel like doing to it, and you are done!
I also love those pants. So comfy and it may not look like it, but it is stretchable and soft, plus the tapered ends just make it look extra clean.
You may or may not notice it, but those shoes of mine (Onitsuka Tiger), are really beaten up already. But just like Chuck Taylor’s, they look good even if they’re a bit messed up already. Maybe it’s just me, I really don’t know.
That’s about it. Thanks for taking your time to read this short post! Hopefully I get to post regularly already!
Just comment down below on whatever it is you feel like asking me!
Not Zoom from the Flash TV show but the cushioning from Nike. We’ll get to that in just a while.
I couldn’t really compare it to any other pair except for my D ROSE 5 and my Adidas Crazy Fast 2 (which I just use outdoors). I’ll just do comparisons for you and I’ll tell you what I like about the 13 and what I don’t.
First, a quick tech breakdown:
Hyperfuse Mesh Upper
Hyperposite Pieces
Hexagonal Zoom Air units in the sole.
Phylon Material for the midsole.
Outsole is made of anthracite or Gum Soles.
Check out this video of mine for better details:
Let’s start with the review.
Traction:
There are little triangular pattern shapes on the bottom/inner part of the sole where there are no zoom units and multi directional line patterns on the protruding zoom units.
There’s nothing that I don’t like about it. That’s the problem. The shoe grips the floor perfectly. No slipping whatsoever. One quick wipe every now and then is all that you need.
(Rating: 4/5)
Support:
As for the support, I really loved the segmented Hyperposite pieces on different areas of the shoe.
They do not hinder your movement while playing. Thank God for that. They give you enough support and a good fit without sacrificing your range of movement and mobility.
In comparison with the D Rose 5’s Support/Ankle Collar, I think that the 5’s are better. Your movement with the 5 is a bit more fluid and smooth since the ankle collar is made of soft yet sturdy and durable rubber-like material.
Also, there’s this arch support/shank below the shoe:
As with other reviews, if you have a high foot arch, your foot will scrape the top of the inner part of the shoe and it will be uncomfortable. I ain’t got no problem with that, I don’t have a high foot arch to start with.
(Rating: 4/5)
Lockdown/Fit:
I’ve been playing with this pair for 3-4 times already and so far, no issues with the lockdown yet.
The dynamic flywire helps in locking down your feet without the unpleasant feeling you get when you tighten your shoelaces too much. This way, it gives you a good lockdown and a snug fit.
One thing I do NOT like at all is this extra Hyperposite piece on the forefoot.
I mean, it doesn’t really bother you but it is irritating. You could feel it pressing against your foot when you’re running, jumping, abruptly stopping from running, and so on and so forth. Others may not have a problem with it but it does bug me.
(Rating: 3.5-4/5)
Cushioning:
This is what I really LOVE.
Cushioning set up was on point.
Midsole is made up of Phylon and the outsole is made up of anthracite or gumsole with segmented and strategically placed Zoom Air Units.
Midsole:
Outsole:
So, cushioning.
Phylon does it job as the shoes’ midsole. It’s not hard on the feet when running or jumping. It’s soft and durable. It’s not too thick for you not to feel the Zoom units that are placed on the outsole. Unlike Boost that is extremely soft, Phylon has this extra bounce to it that compliments the Zoom units’ responsiveness in the shoe.
Zoom. I am now a big fan of Zoom. I love the responsiveness of the units.
When rebounding, you could actually feel the large Zoom unit propelling you upwards. It doesn’t make you jump higher, but it does give you a better transition from either standing-jumping or running-jumping and an extra boost upwards.
The smaller Zoom units in the forefoot are bit harder to notice when playing. But as my friend said, “try to do a lay up, you’ll feel it.” Which was true. It was there but it wasn’t that noticeable.
(Rating: 3.5-4/5)
Material/Ventilation:
Upper is made of Mesh and Hyperfuse material for better durability, better movement, and better ventilation.
I personally love the mesh and hyperfuse combination. It’s light, it’s soft, and it’s easier to move. It won’t crease when you bend.
As for ventilation, it was below par. My feet were starting to feel really hot, not to the point where it starts to sweat crazily, but it was a bit uncomfortable. Don’t get me wrong, I love the shoes and I don’t think the ventilation ruined this pair but I just think that they could’ve done better.
(Material Rating: 4/5)
(Ventilation Rating: 3/5)
Overall:
I love the shoes. There were some things that I thought they should’ve fixed or improved like the ventilation the extra Hyperposite piece on the forefoot, but other than that, it was all good.
Also, I’d like to point out that the sizing is pretty much TTS/True to size, length wise. Just try different sizes and get the one you’re comfortable with.
I’d give this pair a solid 4/5 rating.
I recommend that you cop this pair. The Lebron 13 is a must have hoop shoe, especially for big men type of players who come down hard from rebounding, jumping, or even blocking.
So if you’re looking for a nice pair to hoop in, you know what to get.
Extra pictures:
If you have any questions, comment down below and I’ll answer you ASAP.
Tall Tales! 