Retroactive Review
Houston we have a solution. The James Harden vol.1 was a very good start to the new signature Hoops face of Adidas. It’s not always what you do, but how you do it. James Harden, the tough West coast Lefty guard made a name for himself at Artesia High school, paid his dues in Arizona (Arizona State), and had a get start in OkC, became a full fledged start player in Houston. And withe new roles/responsibilities came the Upgrade in Deals, business & Endorsements. A Lefty Guard Who could score, Pass, play make and run your offensive sparks off of the bench (Ginobili 2.0). Running Mike Diantoni’s high speed offense which was great for lead guards (Nash, Jeremy Lin, Chris Duhon, & others) allowed him to put his skills on full display. With Adidas innovations such as Primeknit & BOOST. The timing was near perfect.
Traction 8/10: the Harden vol 1 used a data driven pattern based on Hardens foot strikes, footwork and movements ( Such as has patented STEP BACK). It also seemed to be inspired by Fibonacci numbers. It’s a great story and Idea, but I think peaked herringbone with the right rubber compound was a bit better on the hardwood.
Cushioning 9.5/10: the main innovation of this time period was Boost cushioning. Developed be NSAF a biochemical engineering company. Boost marked a major step in the growth/area of footwear cushioning innovation. Like, Springy, bouncy, responsive & COMFORTABLE. A midsole comprised of heated pebax/TPU foam pellets molded into one consistent unit.
Combined with their TPU infinity plate which acts like an extension of their torsion plate helped to keep the foot stable, supported and even provided some snap back propulsion (in theory) by extending through the forefoot allowing it to pop back into shape, keep the heel and forefoot working together and preventing injuries such as plantar fasciitis and overpronation. The TPU cage on the lateral side also helped with stability while leaving the some exposure on the medial side still allow some natural movement through running/sprinting gait cycle.
The cushioning is perfect if you are a guard or forward who isn’t heavy for your height. The court feel is good and the cushioning/impact protection is great in the heel. I just felt that the forefoot cushioning was a little too thin for me using the inline insole. A custom or after market orthodic can remedy this easily
Fit 10/10: the fit is one the best features of this sneaker: the well padded Prime Knit upper is well padded and sculpted around the ankle. With a solid internal heel counter, burrito wrap tongue and PU fuse reinforced offset lacing the heel and midfoot are very secure and comfortably locked in place. The forefoot uses an approach that I fort witness/experience in the Air Jordan 2010 although it implemented it a little different or even better. The Harden vol 1 uses a floating toe cap as well. What great about this feature is that underneath the toe cap is the soft prime knit or mesh of the upper which keeps is breathable and moisture wicking, the floating toe cap is detached from up and around the toes enough to still provide protection and support WITHOUT being overly stiff or restricting natural movements. The raised TPU side walls of the midsole also help to keep the foot from sliding off of the footbed on hard cuts, drives and step backs.
Comfort 9.5: Again the combination of all of these features were implemented in a way that did NOT sacrifice comfort. From the plushly padded primeknit upper, burrito wrapped tongue, extra padded and sculpted ankle collar, floating toe cap and caged boost midsole. The comfort of the Harden vol 1 left little to be desired. Swap out the insole with a custom or better orthotic and you have on of the most comfortable basketball sneakers of that era.
Materials 10/10 the materials on the Harden 1 can vary from Premium Primeknit, alternative knit patterns, jacquard/woven uppers and well as mesh combination with Leather, suede or nubuck. Different colorways use different material combinations, but the olive pair in these review used a combination of prime knit and nubuck/suede that was comfortable, stylish and functional on the hardwood.
Durability 8/10
For indoors the pair/colorway shown was fine in terms of durability. The upper materials are fine for indoor hoops. The TPU caged midsole worked well with the infinity plate to help support the boost midsole while helping to keep the foot stable and prevent it from bottoming out. The rubber outsole should hold up fine over a full season as long as they are kept indoors. These are not the best option or first option for outdoor hoops as there are other/better options for that at a better/lower price point.
Aesthetics 9/10: buy what You like and what works best for you and your needs. Personally I think the Harden vol 1 is on of the best Preliminary Signature sneakers to come from the 3 stripes for a while. Visually and from a player/designer perspective I put these up there with the T-Mac 1 and D rose 1 in terms of aesthetics. They created a sneaker that was designed around the needs of their Athlete while adding or remixing their latest or previous technologies/innovations in a provoking and appealing package.
Overall the Harden vol. 1 was a great first Signature Sneaker and lead the way for James Hardens time with the 3 Stripes. He is currently on Vol. 10 with no looks of slowing down. You may be able to still find a wearable or DS pair for your collection. Depending on what the future holds look for the retro or Restomod version.
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