Glove love: Zoom GP retro review

 Sole View: Nike Air Zoom GP retro review

Fit: 9/10

Cushioning: 9/10

Traction: 10/10

Support: 10/10

Materials 9/10

Aesthetic: 1997/1997 forefoot rand/overlay Popular with the Air Jordan 12 all of the bells, whistles and tech for your favorite lockdown down defending, trash talking Hall of Fame Point Guard out of Oakland. clean, fun, and stable with a ski boot lockdown lace cover emphasizing “the Glove” nickname and concept.

Fit: 9/10: the full grain leather upper which was come at the time, but a premium now wore well. there are also colorways with suede and nubuck/durabuck as well. the well spaced lacing, medial side monkey paw structure, solid heel counter and shape all contribute to a well fitting basketball sneaker. the lace cover and ski boot closure system are the main visual point however it does work and function well. you can actively feel it as you tighten the rachet/system. i think the sneaker would be fine without it, but from a visual and marketing standpoint this was cool AF during the time of it’s release. very fun, clever and visually appealing for any one who appreciated Nike Alpha project or any other well designed themes during the 90’s and early 2000’s. the fit was secure and stable horizontally for quick and agile moves on the offense and defensive end. “pick up your puppies lol” 

Cushioning: 9/10: the cushioning, like the 1997 hawkflight and Zoom flight 98 feature Heel and forefoot Zoom air and a full length or 3/4 length Carbon fiber Spring plate. The Shape of th forefoot Zoom Air units on the origin version of these sneakers released in 1997, 1998, and 1999 respecfully covered more of the forefoot and were segmented to promote flexibility and natural foot motion longitudinally and laterally. the 2019 retro of this version uses a standard forefoot unit, but again the cost to produce and manufacture this sneakers has changed as well the manufacturers and business models from those time. Even though these released through the Nike Sportswear division they still work well of the court. Current Basketball sneakers have moved forward in all aspects, but heel and forefoot zoom, with an actual carbonfiber spring plate and low profile phylon midsole still hold their own on the court. still fun, low the ground, stable and responsive. I didn’e experence and injuries or discomfort from the cushioning. impact protect is fine on the hardwood. these would better better served on the hardwood, but cand still hold up outdoors if necessary.

Traction: 10/10: peaked herringbone, soft pliable rubber and anatomical forefoot flex grooves. Perfect on clean hardwood floors. No issues whatsover. All sprints, crossovers, defensive slides and basketball movements were covered. I wouldn’t recommend these for outdoors as there are more affordable and durable options made specifically for that. Great traction for and active player on the perimiter at either guard or forward position.

Support: 10/10: for guards and lighter active players the support on the Zoom GP is Great. the Stable internal heel counter, fit, monkey paw structure, low to the ground stance, ankle padding and cut (higher medial side providing support while the lower lateral side not inhibiting natural range of motion and mobility. the Lower profile, Carbon plate and flared out wider forefoot and flat heel help to keep you grounded and stable on lateral movements, preventing ankle injuries and allowing you to move quickly.

Materials 9/10 the Material were great especially for 1999 which was a pivital time in the world/country and  a turning point in performance basketball materials. we would see the release of the 1999 flightposite 1 which pushed the envelope of a foamposite sneaker for guards (the Originginal foamposite and foamposites pros were design for around taller/larger point forwards like Anfrenne “Penny” Hardaway & 6 time NBA Champion Scottie Pippen. Performance basketball sneakers would move onto more affordable non-stretch synthetics that kept there shape over time, patent leathers, nubuck, durabucks and so on would be the norm until the PU skins, knits, wovens, meshes, natural fibers, textiles and others that we have today. while I am a fan of synthetic, vegan, recycled modrn materials that don’t use animals/animal skins (if you don’t eat meat or dairy or own a farm, then why use animal skins in your products. If you do then use the entire animal like some/many culture do with honor and respect for the animal whose life you have used to nourish and/or sustain you. As long as it’s done cleanly,ethically and honorably without any wastefulness. Sometime it’s a cultural thing, a conscious decision (health, lifestyle, environment, supplychain, ecosystem, life, religious) or sustainablity/green design/development/manufacturing reason.) Either way the materials on the Zoom GP were top teir, premium and the standard for the time. the quality of the materials on all of the colors were top notch.

Overall If you are a fan of the Trash talking, Hall of fame NBA champion defensive Point guard from Oakland then grab them. If your were a fin of well designed and innovative Basketball sneakers from the 90’s then grab two lol. Still fun to play in and wear off the court. still great lockdown, cushioning, support, traction and fit. Stay safe and enjoy.   

The Perfromance is woven in!: Air Jordan 29 review

 Retroactive review 

At the time the Air Jordan 29 was the best Air Jordan experience I had for my foot type. The Fit, Woven upper, Stability, Unlocked Zoom and flight plate were all a great experience for me on the court. read on.

The Air Jordan 29 originally launched in two color ways and upper patterns.

Fit: 9/10

Support: 7.5/10

Cushioning: 8.5/10

Comfort: 8/10

materials 8/10:

traction 9/10:

Durability 8/10:

FIT: 9/10: Following up were the Air Jordan XX8 took off the Air Jordan 29 looked stream line the upper with a new Woven Upper. while the 28 had an internal textile lace up upper with a zipper shroud. the Woven approach allowed comfort, breathability, strength, stretch, support and fit to be engineered using a single material. this has been down with leather and foampostie, but to be done with a woven or fabric upper brought something new to the performance basketball market. From a graphic/visual standpoint the Air Jordan 29's upper was able to engineer a larger variety of stories, graphics, visuals and patterns into the upper itself that you would be able to with traditional materials like leather. The most important thing was that it worked well, didn't cause any discomfort and did not hinder performance or movement. A very well fitting upper that was strong, lightweight, comfortable and durable enough to maintain it's durability when used for indoor hoops.

SUPPORT: 8/10: the stiff internal heel counter, TPU wrapped midsole/tooling/perimeter, ankle padding and upper materials helped to keep my foot locked in comfortable with minimal internal movement. very few blisters or jammed toes. the flight plate supported the arch/bottom of the foot and inspire of using TPU instead of carbon fiber the was no worry of plantar fascia injuries, sprains, or stability issues. the XX8 featured a decouple midsole (separating the forefoot and heel the the Carbon fiber plate sitting on top of the them the XX9 opted to create a thin tendril in the midsole & outsole that made the heel to toe transition and gait cycle EXTRA smooth and even more fun to play in without fear of injury or instability.

CUSHIONING: 8.5/10: while the Air Jordan xx8 used a large volume Zoom Air unit in the heel, carbon fiber arch support/ flight plate unlocked/uncaged fore foot zoom Air unit and forefoot carbon fiber support. the XX9 does all of this with TPU. The Heel Zoom air unit is traded in for pylon with a compression cavity and the forefoot unit has been turned is is more recessed/connect to the outsole. while the Air Jordan XX8 was a performance beast and great design the unlocked forefoot unit would pop or puncture on some peoples pairs over time. while more of design/engineering/manufacturing issue. the Air Jordan XX( looked to prevent this issue. the Heel cushioning didn't bother me as most players play on their toes. the design of the heel still did a great job of dispersing impact forces and protecting the heel with a zoom or air unit. the forefoot Zoom (while not as responsive as the XX8) while still fast, low to the ground, responsive and protective enough to keep me playing fast, strong and aggressive on both sides of the floor. the forefoot of the 29 might even be better as the natural motion/movement and flexibility of my feet during play was not hindered despite having a TPU wrapped. Shout out to the developers, engineers and manufacturers on the team. they did a great job.

COMFORT: 8/10: the Woven upper, while warmer than other top tier performers was still very comfortable. I purchased a pair of the low top version that was just as comfortable however the upper was noticibly thicker than the midsection. so much so that I would recommend going half a size up on them. the lining, integrated flight web laces, breathability, lining and ankle padding were all great as pets of the XX9 that allowed me to play my game without hesitating or giving my thoughts to anything other than the game I was playing. the insole is fine and removable if you need to add a custom orthodic or support, however the the flight plate, tooling and upper all felt great right out of the box.

MATERIALS 8/10: the Sneaker is very simple is it mainly consists of the woven upper, TPU wrapped midsole and rubber outsole. all the material work and keep everything simple & effective. while it may not be as Premium as other Flagship models. It got the job done very well. while woven uppers helped cut cost and save manufacturing and production costs (which is great when you are mass producing footwear or any consumer product) It didn't feel or come off as cheap. It may not be your first choice off the court (there are many previous AJ models and retros that can do that) It does ever thing an Air Jordan Sneaker is supposed to innovated, be the standard and Be the best performing flagship model on the court.

TRACTION 9/10: The Soft rubber outsole and unique horizontal wavy pattern got the job done well. while it may not be peaked herringbone, the grip on clean hardwood and indoor courts left little to be desired. as long as the stole is kept clean, the traction held up well and lasted the duration of the season. I would not recommend these for outdoors as there are cheaper and more durable models made specifically for that. they would still hold up, but indoor courts is where the traction really shines and lasts.

DURABILITY 8/10: the XX9 is durable enough to last a full season of amateur, collegiate or semi pro basketball (Most pros go through multiple pairs throughout a season * check with your equipment manager). I enjoyed playing in it that I obtained multiple pairs. As stated this was on of the best fitting and playing Air Jordans for my foot type so having multiple pairs wasn't the worst move especially if you could find them on sale. the upper might fray with wear and tear over time but the strength and durability of the upper kept it's integrity for the life of the shoe. the Low top uses a little bit of Leather on the Heel largely for aesthetic, but the woven upper on the XX9 mid doesn't uses any animal skins which is great for you vegan, life/animal respecting, conscious hooper.

* The low top version provides just as much support, stability and performance as its higher cut counterpart. the only noticeable difference is the thicker upper that may require you to go half a size up to avoid discomfort.

While A purchased the first Black, Red, White Cement print version multiple times, this inc version was really clean. With a silver TPU wrap, translucent outsole and alternating digi camo print. the XX9 had many appealing Colorways.

The Upper of the XX9 allowed for very detailed graphics the be engineered into the upper unlike any other Air Jordan before it. 

The XX9 featured different embroidered and engineered patterns into the woven upper that did not the effect the performance negatively. in spite of the variety the Performance of the Air Jordan XX9 was great and consistent across the board.

*the one piece woven upper took really well to color and texture which allowed for nice visual effects like the gradient color way inspired by the Charlotte hornets.

This year of the goat color is visually beautiful to be as a designer and Art aficionado. the hues and patterns are very pleasing to the eye.

*Even though the XX9 is the first fully woven upper on a performance basketball model. this one piece leather upper version is still clean and gave customers the option to own a pricier full grain leather option. I'm sure these performed just as well with variances due to the leather, but it's still clean and modest visually.

In conclusion, The Air Jordan 29 was one of the best Air Jordans for my foot type. A great performer that I thoroughly enjoyed on the court. these definitely held me don through tryouts and leagues. A great experience for any hooper that wants to perform there best on both sides of the floor. the Woven upper, TPU wrapped perimeter, Flight plate and forefoot unlocked zoom did a great job allowing me to play fearlessly and aggressively (like any great performer). the outsole and traction was also solid. I played with the solid rubber options, but I'm sure the translucent versions work just as well on clean indoor courts as long as the are kept clean. Grab a pair online if you can find them. 

Adi Audi Quattro posite: Adidas the Kobe 1/Crazy 1 review

 Retroactive Review 

Fit: 8.5/10

Cushioning: 8/10

Traction: 9/10

Support: 9/10

Comfort: 8.5/10

Aesthetic: (IMO) 9/10

Overall design: 9.5/10

The Adidas the Kobe 1. A great sneaker by design and performance standards fit for one of the best. Drawing inspiration from the Audi Quattro. THE adidas the Kobe 1 was pushing the edge of what a performance sneaker could be at that time. Coming off of the feet you wear license that focused on a more ergonomic and proportionately accurate outsole/midsole philosophy off mimicking the natural shape of the human foot with Adiprene, Adiprene + cushioning, and torsion technology in the midfoot for rigidity, injury prevention and torque support. Many models later (top 10 2000, KB8 1, 2, & 3, & others) adidas set itself up with a real winner that also translated into Championships. 

FIT: 8.5/10

At first glance the Kobe 1 looks like and attempt at a foamposite or “adiposite”, however the approach is much different instead of using molded PU (or EVA) the folks at the 3 stripes used synthetic leather overlays with Eva/foam backing which altogether created a very comfortable and form fitting upper with minimal side to side movement. There was some front to back movement, but that was mostly due to the mostly flat insole. A custom insole or orthotic can remedy that. The solid heel counter, forefoot shell toe (bumper), lacing, and added Cushioning and design of the ankle area provided great support and stability without sacrificing range of motion. A very good job indeed. 

Cushioning: 8.5/10

The cushioning wasn’t bad at all for what the company had a bailable at the time Adiprene cushioning in the heel with an Adiprene+ insert I. The forefoot within and EVA type carrier and a cushioned insole. Not perfect, but it was a great combination of light weight, impact protection, responsiveness, court feel and natural movements (without restriction on the court). Overall very good. Boost, bounce, a combination of both or something new would be very good on the retro or protro.

Traction: 9/10 

Solid rubber outsole with a varied herringbone pattern. The softness of the rubber also added in the grip of the outsole on the court. Indoor hardwood is recommended at first. Outdoor courts won’t demolish them but indoor hoops is probably the best place to hoop in these.

Support: 9/10

A combination of solid heel counter, midfoot torsion system, forefoot shell toe bumper, fit, and designed made this a great shoe to play in with restricting natural movements.

Comfort: 8.5/10

The Upper, cushioning, backing, extra foam backed ankle collar & fit all contributed to a very comfortable experience on and off of the court. An insole swap/upgrade take these over the top in terms of fit and comfort.

Materials: 8.5/10

The majority of the colorways released are mostly synthetic leather panels with mesh and textile backings/linings. There was a metal/wire mesh upper that he wore in the playoffs of that year, but all in all the materials were quite durable for on court and off court wear.

Aesthetic: (IMO) 9/10

From my perspective I enjoyed the aesthetic of the Kobe 1 as it looked great from a side view and top down view while also seaming futuristic, light weight and ahead of it’s time in teams of what was on the display walls at that time. A little bit of love/hate isn’t a bad thing in terms of aesthetic as it can really be intriguing at first glance while inviting to touch, check out and try on these performance sneakers. Kobe’s Championship runs did hurt either.

Overall design: 9.5/10

I personally like the designs as form follows function and every item within this shoe has a purpose while looking, sleek, streamlined and FUN. It’s always great to have/wear a sneaker that allows to play your game to fullest with getting in the way or restricting your play or movements. I found this sneaker to be great for my taste and even accepted the follow up THE KOBE II as I viewed there furthering of the concept & inspiration while pushing the envelope of what a performance basketball sneaker could. Not for everyone, but eliciting and love or hate emotion isn’t a bad thing in design as it can force you to pay more attention to it, approach the show all, touch it, try them on and ultimately decide if they are going to be the sneaker for you. A beautiful combination of art, science, engineering, math, design & creativity. The adidas Kobe 1 was a great sneaker that was fit for a champion. Find a pair online or at a retail store when they retro/rerelease again. 

Sole View: Nike Air huarache retro review

 Sole View: Nike Air huarache retro review

Fit: 9.5/10

Cushioning: 9/10

Traction: 8/10

Support: 7/10

Materials 8/10

Comfort: 9/10

Aesthetic: The lightweight, comfortable and breathable fit of a minimalistic sneaker named and inspired by a mexican sandal.

Originally released in 1991-1992 and made popular by Michigans fab 5 (black socks, baggier shorts, style, swagger and Superfreshmen. (All current NiL athletes and collegiate freshmen starters should thank them). The Nike air flight Huarache moved in a diffrent dirrection than footwear of that time, challenging conventional norms and introducing innovations that are still used today in the footwear industry.

Fit: 9.5/10: the fit is the hero of the shoe or one of the major areas on the Air flight huarache that stand out. the introduction of the neoprene bootie. Leather based sneakers with convention toungues and well padded ankles were the standard at the time. the tongues could slide down during play and be cumbursome and annoying. Full leather uppers while durable and sturdy may have had some down sides in weight, while the heavier padded and higher cut ankle collars (the convententional standard for preventing ankle injuries at the time) restricted mobility and didn’t always prevent ankle sprains and inversions. The Neoprene bootie construction (along with the lycra, spandex and mesh) helped to imrove the comfort and fit like never seen before. the Strips of leather, nubuck, and stable/solid heel counter made it so that ankle injuries weren’t more prone inspite of the unconventional design of the anlke area or lack of padding or material in that area. The exoskeletal aproach to the Ankle area Similar to a converse Weapon Y bar uses a synthethic nubuck with minimal stretch to wrap around the ankle bones. when laced to the top most eyelet. It provides support without limiting range of motion. visually striking, yet purposeful and functional. 

Cushioning: 9/10: Polyurethane midsoles were the standard at the time. Dense enough to absorb impact forces. Previously vulcanized soles and EVA midsoles were the best we had. Nike created their own version of EVA called phylon that is lighter and less dense than Polyurethanthane (PU) augmented with a standard internal Heel Air sole and forefoot airsoles. the units themselves are incased in PU and insertes into the lighter Phylon midsole. Very comfortable for walking, running and hoops indoors and outside. the height and thickness of the midsole does not get in the way of playability if you are a guard or forward. 

Traction: 8/10: Thick rubber and Peaked Herringbone. You can’t go wrong with what works. Great on clean and even semi dusty courts when the outsole is kept clean. there is some slight veriation to the outsole for story telling, but it didn’t effect to grip negatively. The flex grooves helped and the thickness of the rubber while last you on the asphalt/concrete for at least one or two seasons.

Support: 7/10: As many learned later through the varies trends, innovations and learnings from the basketball footwear design, development, biomechanics, health and manufacturing industries over time the prevention of ankle injuries was more about the fit, support, and stability of the heel, midfoot, arch, width/flaring of the forefoot/outsole/lateral side and support of natural movement through the gait and support around and/or the base of the ankle area. The flat heel (outsole) sculpted midsole, sturdy internal heel counter and adittional TPU/TPR external heel support (albieit mostly visual) all contributed to a stable heel and midfoot. the fit Neoprene bootie and exoskeletal anke area when laced fully help keep the foot stable and upright. it is a very strange and unique experience when playing in them, but they worked well on and off of the court. if you tape/wrap your anlkes or use ankle sleeves or wraps these shouldn’t get in the way of that. The Leather overlays and toe box also help to cover the foot and contribute to the support and stability of the sneaker. Some coloways feature full nubuck uppers, but the fit and support were largely uneffected as the synthethic nubuck/durabuck doesn’t strech or degreade in fit over time like traditional suedes or nubucks.

Materials 8/10: for inddors the materials are fine and should hold up throughout a traditional Amatuer Basketball season. These are also a great options for Spring/Summer hoops outdoors and on the blacktop (mainly the leather versions) as the Air flight huarache is lightweight, stable and sturdy enough for that. very forward moving and innivative during it’s initial release. The retro versions 2004 and beyond did not leave much to be desired. the comfort is so good that these are a great off the court/ lifestyle option as well just loosen the laces and enjoy. there have been upgrades today in materials used (such as ariaprene which is better/less toxic to the foot/body than neoprene), but for 1992 these would become the new standard.

Comfort: 9/10: the whole as as good or better than the sum of it’s parts. the neoprene bootie and breathable textile are two innovations that are standard today as genuine and full grain leather basketball sneakers are a thing of the past. Comfort, fit, stability, breathablity and ankle mobility are all the norm and standard in a basketball or court sneaker today. while we are in the age of low tops as high tops (50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s), midtops aka 3/4 cuts (90’s, 00’s) and now performance lowtops 2009/2010 and beyond. the 1992 A flight hurache was a turning point in what a basketball sneaker could be. the color stories are great and my feet did not regret the experience. an insole swap or custom othodic (if necessary) can improve arch support as the Air flight Huarache doesn’t use a hard Plastic/TPU support shank, but the largely flat outsole still does it’s job to provide torsional support and injury preventing stability. the Running and Cross training versions are similar as the comfort and fit of the bootie carries over throughout those models while adjustsments in the tooling and uppers made for there respective purposes.

Overall the Huarache ideology and design approach is one my favorite froma comfort and fit perspective. the visual appeal is very fun, clean and “funky” especially when carried over to one of my favorites (Air Jordan 7 raptors “black, charcoal, true red”). the 1992 Nike Air flight Hurache and corresponding retro are great sneakers for lifestyle, Summer hoops and so one. The Current Basketball footwear market benefited from some of it’s key innovations from this sneaker. buy it and add it to your collection if your a fan or just appreciated really good design.

Thrill Bill vol 1: Nike Zoom Kobe 1 review

 

Nike Zoom Kobe 1 review

 *Retroactive Review

Fit: 9/10

Cushioning: 9/10

Traction: 10/10

Support: 10/10

Materials 9/10

Aesthetic: A straples evolution of the Nike Huarache 2k5 that is made for getting buckets.

Originally released around 2005/2006 the Nike Zoom Kobe 1 (technically the nike Zoom Kobe 3 (the Nike air huarache 2k4 & 2k5 were technically his signature shoes, but life happens and we all adjust) was a well built stable Performer built for Kobe Bryant, his appreciators and anyone else that liked to get buckets, Win on the court and play aggressive.

Fit: 9/10: the fit on the Nike Zoom Kobe 1 was good. I think the fit on the Nike Zoom Huarache 2k5 was better, but these weren/t bad. The well padded leather upper was comfortable and thick which added to the shoes longevity and durability. The ankle padding was good in terms of support and coverage without restricting mobility. There was minimal front to back movement and only a little side to side movement within the shoe. Just be sure to go true to size.     

Cushioning: 9/10: A large volume heel Zoom unit, phylon midsole with a nike free inspired forefoot, a forefoot 1st metatarsel based zoom unit and a TPU carbon fiber coated midfoot/heel wrap and shank plate. Again an evolution of what was indruced earlier in the Zoom Huarache 2k4 & 2k5. I think the 2k5 was a perfect sneaker (for me at least guards & forwards would agree), but the Zk1 is a little beefier or substantial. The thickness of the tooling and added carbon fiber supports made your feet work a little more thank the 2k5 when it came to the free inspired flex grooves, flexability and natural movement of the foot, but Bean put on more weight/muscle during the previous offsean and needed a sturdier upgrade for the responsibilities of that season. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01/gamelog/2006/. The cushioning is still responsive and does it’s job to prevent injuries and dispersing impact forces. Larger and heavier Guards and forwards can appreciate it.         

Traction: 10/10: the traction on the ZK1 did not leave much to be desired. With targeted Herringbone placed horizontally at the forefoot and heel that didn’t hinder front to back movements but kept you in control laterally. Movements like cross overs, defensive slides, slashes, drives, jump stops and ofcourse pull up jumpers were all taken into consideration and unhindered by the design of the outsole. The targeted diamond pattern, flex grooves and flared out segmented heel didn’t hurt either. Great on clean indoor courts and the rubber is thick and durable enough for outdoors if necessary.

Support: 10/10: The fit, thickness of the foam backed leather upper and additional supports found in the heel and tooling helped to keep the foot upright and stable without too much unecessary movement within the shoe. this helped to minimize the potential of injuries like plantar fasciatis, ankle sprains, inversions and breaks/fractures for overuse, landings and other impacts forces (don’t overtrain lol.). Although a little heavier, injuries were not a concern while playing in the Zoom Kobe 1.

Materials 9/10: Thick Geniune foam backed Leather & Nubuck/Suede that will last you the season indoors and out. A breathable foam Mesh Ankle area with achilles notch for range of motion and additional leather peices covering the malleoi or protrotruding anke bones for addited support/comfort. durability is not an issue on these and the lining is breathable enough to prevent blisters and other issues. Cotton tube/crew socks that reach above the collar are recommended.

Overall the Nike Zoom Kobe 1 is a beefier strapless evolution of what already worked so well in the Zoom Huarache 2k4 & 2k5. Buy the original (if you can find them in good shape online, at an auction or memorabillia retailer) for your collection or grab a pair of the protro which features a feel length Zoom air unit and shorther carbon fiber plate https://www.nike.com/launch/t/kobe-1-protro-work-blue-and-metallic-gold.