ADIDAS BASKETBALL SHOES
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Latest adidas Basketball Shoe Reviews
adidas Harden Vol. 8
adidas has created a more than worthy successor to their best basketball shoe in years, the Harden Vol 7. In terms of performance, the Harden Vol 8 should be equally as effective on court as the Vol 7. But, that’s just half of the story. In terms of overall design and overall build, the Harden Vol 8 maintained a common design language with the Harden Vol 7 while at the same time improving and refining several aspects. This is, admittedly, an odd-looking basketball shoe, but at the same time, it stands out. Truly memorable basketball shoes perform great and look different, and the Harden Vol 8 does just that. Read full review. Price $160.
The Adidas addZ Select 2.0 exhibits several strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, its lightweight construction offers impressive support despite its lightness, making it suitable for quick movements on the basketball court. The traction pattern, reminiscent of the Adidas Dame 4, provides excellent grip indoors, with minimal wiping needed. Additionally, the shoe boasts a stable base and wide platform, enhancing stability during gameplay. The tongue design, featuring pillows for comfort and breathability, is also noteworthy. However, the Light Strike cushioning, while comfortable, lacks the responsiveness and bounce some players may prefer, and the fit can feel a bit roomy, requiring potential buyers to consider going half a size down. The materials, although lightweight and comfortable, may cause some discomfort around the toe area and the lack of a heel clip is noted as a missed opportunity for additional support. Despite these drawbacks, the Adidas addZ Select 2.0 remains a viable option for those seeking a lightweight basketball shoe with solid performance characteristics. $110
adidas has been having a bit of a resurgence in the performance basketball market. The Harden Vol 7 was fantastic, the Trae Young 3 was very solid, and now we have the AE 1 which is a top-tier basketball shoe and one of the best first signature shoes we have ever seen. The AE 1 might end up being the best overall basketball shoe of 2024, but even if it doesn’t end up at that level, it’s an excellent shoe..
IIt is a slightly heavy shoe and fits a tad bit long, but all in all, these will be hard to beat, especially if you take the shoe’s price ($120) into consideration. If the freaky design doesn’t weird you out and you are jonesing for a good pair of adidas basketball shoes to play in, the AE 1 should be at the top of your list. Price: $120
The adidas Crazy 8 2023 was released back in 1998 and was Kobe Bryant’s first signature shoe in the NBA, and was the shoe he wore during his first All-Star Game. This version of the shoe is much better than the original in terms of materials, and practically the same in terms of performance.
In this version, we have nice, pre-aged non-synthetic nubuck and leather which is much better than the original synthetics. It would have been nice to see other upgrades made in the shoe to boost performance, but, maybe next time. Price: $140
The adidas Trae Young 3 is a massive improvement in regards to Trae Young 2. It’s a quick, light, reactive, and grippy shoe that also boasts top-tier lockdown and stability. This makes it a very solid performance basketball shoe, but it also makes it one of those shoes that just won’t be everybody’s cup of tea. If you are an agile, springy player who doesn’t require much impact protection and enjoys a fast and secure ride on court, all packaged in a pretty outlandish design, the Trae Young 3 will be perfect for you. Read the full review. Price: $140
The adidas EQT Top Ten 2010 was the first shoe that Kobe Bryant played in when he arrived in the NBA back in 1996. Kobe played in two colorways of the shoe, this one and a primarily black version as well. This retro release packs all the original features of the shoe. They are equipped with a beefy traction system with a herringbone traction pattern. If you are accustomed to more modern performance basketball shoes, this setup will probably feel bottom-heavy and clunky, but aside from that it should perform well on the court, particularly outdoors. In terms of cushion, we have an EVA midsole with an Adiprene crashpad in the heel. The shoe also features a very substantial torsional plate, and the materials on the shoe are surprisingly great. The shoes fit slightly long so you will probably want to try these on in-store or go down half a size for a perfect 1 to 1 fit. Price: $140
The adidas Harden Vol 7 is probably adidas’ best basketball shoe on the market. It is an odd looking performance basketball shoe but it feels great on foot, and performs very well on court. The Harden Vol 7 packs an impressive array of performance features.
The Harden Vol 7 has great traction that combines solid and translucent rubber and herringbone and radial traction patterns. With the Harden Vol 7 you also get some really nice plush cushioning that combines Lightstrike in the forefoot and Boost in the heel. Read full review. Price: $180
The adidas Dame Certified is Damian Lillard’s latest budget signature shoe, and a decent performance model (especially outdoors). The Dame Certified has a durable solid rubber outsole with a grippy wave bone traction pattern, full-length boost cushioning, and a well-built layered upper. The materials are all cheap and synthetic but they make the shoe feel way more premium in hand than it really is. Containment and support are also on point and the shoe fits true to size. Read full review. Retail price: $95
Adidas DON Issue 4
Donovan Mitchell’s adidas DON Issue 4 is quite an upgrade compared to the Don Issue 3 which was already a pretty decent basketball shoe. The biggest upgrade the DON Issue 4 received was in terms of materials. The DON Issue 4’s upper is made out of a nice Jacquard knit that feels comfortable and supportive. The midsole is full-length Lightstrike, which offers a responsive ride on court. The shoe’s strobel is also made out of the same foam for some added comfort. The rear section is made out of synthetic nubuck and suede to add a little premium feel. There should be more exciting colorways coming soon. Read the full review. Price: $120