Hyper Dunking (Nike Hyperdunk high)

             Well folks here is my review for the Nike HyperDunk high. The Nike Hyper dunk released during the summer of 2008 and had some great marketing with the vast array of Olympic colorways. Like the Huarache 2k4 and 2k5 before it, the Hyperdunk was designed by Eric Avar with insights from The Black mamba himself, Kobe Bryant. These shoes came out with alot of hype and two new technologies in the form of FLYWIRE and LUNAR FOAM. Now while the flywire was a noticeable innovation in fit and upper support, the lunar foam was a little less dynamic. Nike states that it is 30% lighter than their phylon midsole, but i didn't really care for it. The lunar foam is a combination of EVA foam and a rubber compound that is used in NASA spaceship seats. While that's all well and dandy, the implementation of it in Basketball leaves something to be desired.

Comfort and Fit:
            The upper of the mid features two panels that are stitched together at the heel and extend up to the base of the toe box. These panels are made of two thin layers of translucent polyurethane with  flywire strands sandwiched in the middle. The flywire itself is a system of strands that support the foot and keep it on the foot bed by providing proper tension like the cables on a bridge. Because they are so so thin and strong (and made of a material called Vectran) the strands allow the shoe to be that much lighter with the use of minimal material. As soon as i put them on if felt the supreme fit and lockdown that only the hyperdunk could provide. I can honestly say that this is the best fitting shoe ever in terms of lockdown. I never worried about my feet moving anywhere they weren't supposed to. There was zero heel slip. the flywire panels also extend up past the ankles to give great lockdown.
The tongue is actually a breathable mesh bootie that wraps around the foot snuggly. The toe box is made of a synthetic leather or nubuck depending on the colorway. I had no complaints about this area and my toes were happy every game.

                                                                                                                Cushioning:


Notice the carbon fiber midfoot shank, good stuff



            While the lunar foam wasn't anything special to me, the heel featured a nice responsive zoom air unit. The heel felt great and provide great court feel. To make up for sub par forefoot feel  there is a performance insole but Nike did learn their lesson in this department  and added zoom air in the forefoot and heel. Tying things together is a carbon fiber shank in the midfoot which does a great job of keeping to foot stable, protecting the arch and supporting foot during court movements. The midsole is kept light by the use of a nicely sculpted phylon midsole with a supportive lateral wing that adds to the supportive design of  the shoe.

From the ground up this shoe is a solid performer.



Traction:
             The traction was good, but wasn't great. While it featured a nice pattern and some functional flex grooves, the traction would have been so much better with full herringbone. I have yet to find a more tried a true pattern, it just works and sometimes that's all you need

The Pivot point was the only Area with herringbone, full coverage could
have been so much better

 .

So, in conclusion the Nike Hyperdunk is great step forward by Nike and has evolved into new shoes such as the hyper Rize, Hyperdunk 2010, zoom Kobe 4, 5 and 6 and many more to come. I have to say that Nike really has something with the flywire and I'd like to see the Lunarfoam come back in a more evolved form. The Hyperdunk is a lightweight, freaky fast performer. If you can find a pair at an outlet buy it, wear it and enjoy it, hey you might catch a dunk or two.