Good things take time: the point Carbon plated running sneaker by good.things

 A lightweight carbon plated running sneaker from a developers perspective that is clean, minimal & affordable. (NintynineProducts)

Fit:8/10

The fit in the heel and midfoot is great as the leather overlay (saddle) and stiff internal heel counter keep your feet locked back into the shoe. The forefoot is a little roomier allowing some side to side movement, but also being beneficial for multiple foot types and widths (d,e,ee). a great and affordable entry level runner or walking/everyday wear/lifestyle sneaker for anyone who wanted to support or experience a carbon plated runner.

Cushioning: 8.5/10

Carbon plated runners existed in the past at one point, but like many things what was new became old and what was old became new allowing new experiences and opportunities to innovate and doing things in a new, better or more effective way. The midsole is firm yet stable. It is Not a maximalist or high stack height foam Super Shoe like the current iterations, but hits a nice balance of responsiveness, stability, unhindered fluidity and natural motion/feel throughout the gait cycle. Better for heel and midfoot strikers (running, jogging or distance runs), can still be used for sprints/ sprint work and tempo runs. 

Comfort: 8/10

Light weight overall with breathable meshes and leather overlays. Good padding and support around the heel and collar. Comfortable enough for regular wear. Stock insole is comfortable. Can be swapped out for more arch support or cushioning depending on your foot type or needs.

Weight: 9/10

Lightweight in an unincombersome way. Good for outdoor road running, walks, jogs and time in the gym, daily wear or treadmill. 

Traction 8/10

Forefoot & heel rubber inserts for targeted traction and durability. Peaked geometric pattern across the outsole provides the rest of the grip. Worked well enough on the road, concrete treadmill and grass. 

durability:

Good at the moment. May be best when kept dry. 

Support 8/10: stable and ergonomic midsole as well as the padded lining and heel/midfoot fit of the upper contribute to a good overall, running, walking and jogging experience in multiple settings.

Materials 8.8/10: A variety of lightweight and breathable  meshes across different areas of the foot allowing for comfortable fit and function throughout the upper. Thin PU skin overlays on the forefoot for added structure/support with leather rands, toe cap, eye stay and saddle for added support. Responsive foam midsole, Carbon plate and rubber outsole pods cover the rest.

affordability: 9/10

A great entry level running sneaker that is clean, minimal and functional for running and daily wear. A very good price point for a carbon plated sneaker in today’s time/market. Enjoy!

Lightweight speed & close knit fit: Nike Free fly knit 2012

 

A light weight knit running sneaker with natural motion sole that helped strengthen your feet with a close and breathable 1 to 1 fit.

Fit: 9/10

It had to happen eventually from a design perspective (Sock shoes/sock sneakers) many early designers, developers and engineers/factories looked for ways to solve multiple problems in a clean and superior way. Stripping away the use of multiple overlays, materials and  animal products in the upper while looking for ways to use machinery and processes from other industries to engineer fit, support, and breathability into the upper while maintaining production costs, shipping, duty, quality and *profitability (margin, retail, direct sales, etc…). 

Moving away the traditional combination of open meshes, neoprene and natural leathers or synthetic leather overlays. Knits, wovens, and textiles became the new industry norm starting in running, moving to lifestyle, training, court sports and eventually cleated and field footwear and onto the fashion world as well. 

The fit on these took some getting used to as first, but stuck close to the foot. With or without socks they were great, but the tight knit collar which was necessary was a little too tight around the Achilles. Tape or socks that rise above the collar help alleviate this. 

Cushioning 10/10

ergonomic outsoles, minimalism, natural motion, flexibility tooling is nothing new, but the free design philosophy helped set theses sneakers apart from the other running/walking, jogging sneakers at the time. Instead of being overbuilt, they looked to allow your feet to splay and work naturally to build up the strength you would normally have if you weren’t constantly walking/running on concrete and other hard surfaces. A good ideology for those that train for track, sports, distance running, hiking or other sports, disciplines or activities. 

Comfort 9/10

Again at the time of its release knit sneaker were new and differed from the norm. Many running companies had their own concepts and approaches (performance running) that all helped push the envelope and contribute to the better quality of footwear, apparel and performance products that we have today. Your feet got used to them and with an insole swap and thick/tall enough socks (if necessary) comfort was not an issue.

Support 8/10

support is engineered into the upper (fit) and midsole (raised arch on the medial side). Not overbuilt but supportive enough to keep your foot on the footbed with out sliding off or causing unnecessary issues.

Traction: 9/10

The midsole/outsole and rubber inserts provided good traction multiple surfaces. Not necessarily noticeable, but there weren’t any issues on multiple surfaces throughout the duration.

Materials 9/10: the got the job done in a new, sustainable and cost effective way that became the new standard for running going forward (knits, wovens, and textile uppers with lightweight, ergonomic and functional midsole/outsoles).

Affordability: these released quite some time ago. There are many great knit, woven and textile sneakers that you. can find today across multiple brands and categories. This particular sneaker might still be found, online, at a thrift store, a consignment shop or even a local family owned shop. 

A great sneaker at the time that helped push the material, process and category.

Sustainable speed: Adidas Supernova+ performance review

 A great entry level running sneaker at a modest and affordable price point.

For anyone that didn’t run regularly or needed to run long distances for training or otherwise this was a great entry level running sneaker.

Fit:    8.5/10

Well fitting and true to size. The recycled mesh upper is lightweight, breathable, supportive & durable. 

Cushioning: 9/10

A full length bounce midsole with targeted boost in the forefoot and heel. A good set up for long distance, tempo runs, and sprints/conditioning. It is also stable enough for the gym/weight room and other forms of training.

Comfort: 8.5/10

The insole is sculpted and thin. The Supernova+ is more about lightweight performance running than lifestyle comfort. Great for walking, jogging and the complete gait cycle. 

Support: 8.5/10

The fit, materials, stack height, and outsole width/geometry all contributed to a stable running experience.

Traction: 9/10

Lightweight and durable rubber outsole held up well on multiple surfaces.

Materials : 7.5/10

The recycled TPU upper is lightweight, breathable and strong. Best in dry conditions. The midsole and outsole are also great. 

affordability 9/10

A great sneaker for entry level and moderate runners. You might still be able to find a pair on sale online, at a retail store or outlet. 

Outdoor court approved: Puma Court Rider 2 review

 Sole View: Puma court rider 2 review

Fit: 9/10

Cushioning: 9/10

Traction: 10/10

Support: 7/10

Materials: 8.5/10. Indoor: 9/10, outdoort8.5/10

 

In 2000/2001 Puma Had their last foray into Signature Basketball sneakers with Vince Carter. He would soon after lace up a pair of white & red And 1 Tai chi sneakers to SHUT DOWN the Famous 2000/2001 NBA All star weekend dunk contest. He would later sign on with Nike to be the face of Nike Shox Basketball sneakers. Jumping over a 7 footer in the olympics can do wonders for your marketing team lol. He would go onto to embossed many Signature and non signature snaekers from the Swoosh. Almost 20 years later Puma stepped back into the Performance basketball footwear market by tapping into there history and pulling inspiration from their most stylish Signature basketball Endorser 2x NBA Champion Clyde the glide Frazier. With new materials, cushioning technology, Young/taleted endorsees and designers, Puma was set to make a strong push to gain more market share in this category.

They created a lot of new, unique and effective inline and signature sneakers that are good on the hardwood and the pavement. For a solid outdoor hoops sneaker I narrowed it down to the Puma Court rider 2. I low top sneaker with great traction, Cushioning, fit, durability and functioning materials.

The fit is good for my foot type with a solid heel counter and limited movement within the sneaker. You can always wear thick socks or double sock if necessary, but the fit on the Puma Court rider 2 is top notch.

Cushioning is an area where a lot of brands have been able to compete with longer standing rivals with the introduction of foam innovations like Nitrogen/EVA/Pebax, TPU pellts, and rubbber foam mixes. The Puma court rider 2 uses a mixed foam called rider foam that is lightweight and responsive while still bing dense enough to absorb and distribute impact forces from jumping and landing without sacrificing court feel. overall the cushioning is one of the best aspects of the sneaker.

Traction is great for what i used the sneaker for which is outdoor hoops. An adjusted herringbone pattern made up of aligned PUMA logos and counted depth. It has stood up well on the pavement without and slipping or instability.

The Support of the Court rider 2 is solid, especially for a low top. The fit of the upper, soild internal heel counter, wide base and midsole/outsole geometry held my foot in place comfortably without any unnecessary internal movement. the issue was some anke aversions from the low cut/great traction combo, but that was rare and easily remedied.

The Materials are synthetic, which is fine as a fan of green design or anyone who doesn't consume animal products. The synthetic leather, textile and mesh upper works well to keep the foot upright, stable, and moisture free. Overall out off all of the options available for outdoor hoops sneakers at a great price point the Puma Court Rider 2 take the trophy. Buy them if you need a great outdoor hoops sneaker that won't hurt your wallet.

ART x DESIGN x SKATE

 Modrn Mavrks x Reginald Pean "PANTHER IN THE JUNGLE canvas SKATE sneaker

While being more of lifestyle/ fashion approach to apparel and footwear the Panther in the Jungle Canvas skate shoe still works on the board and half pipe.

Traction: 9/10

If it isn't broken, then don't mess with it. A vulcanized rubber sole with gum rubber waffle traction pattern gave good grip on the board.

Cushioning: 7/10

The vulcanized rubber sole had decent cushioning without sacrificing board feel and control. The removable sock liner adds some additional impact protection and stability underfoot and around the heel. The version updated and available now has a margom outsole that is comfortable for walking and thrashing activities. 

Fit; 6/10

• The fit could be better the upper material, while lightweight could use some additional structure and internal support. Again this is more of a lifestyle/ fashion approach to Skate footwear, but the canvas upper is lightweight, breathable and has a thin PU coating that adds some level of durability

Comfort: 7/10

While the fit isn't on the level of some performance skate footwear. The cushioning and removeable sculpted sockliner a solid for walkability and daily wear. These still do a good job on the board and half pipe, but double or thick shocks would be recommended to improve the fit

Materials: 7/10

The coated canvas upper is lightweight and sustainable as no animal life needed to be taken to make this

Durability: 7/10

The coated canvas upper, reinforced eyelets and vulcanized rubber sole are strong enough to last 6 months to a year as far as walkability and daily wear. While not as durable as a Suede, nubuck or reinforced upper. These Canvas skate sneakers are still adequate for some light work and time on your board.

Overall the modrn marks x Reginald Pean panther in the Jungle canvas skate shoe is a lightweight, stylish and comfortable sneaker for regular wear that can still allow you to hit a couple of tricks on your board pain free. There is an updated version with better cushioning and fit on the upper as well as an alternative midsole for more comfort and durability for everyday use. Grab your pair here: www.modmavs.com

SUPERSONIC…Under Armour Men’s Supersonic mid.

Sole View: UA Supersonic review

Heat gear. Micro G. Synthetic leather, PU skins, Patent leather, TPU support shanks, solid rubber outsole with Circular traction pattern.

Fit: 9/10

Cushioning: 9/10

Traction: 8/10

Support: 9/10

Materials 8/10

Aesthetic: Clean & Performance Based.

3rd Option In terms of major Footwear brands in the performance basketball Space looked to become to

3rd major option on the shelf. Nike/Jordan Brand was/ is the leader/standard in the US?North America, While Adidas (Founded in Germany) was the second place/runner up and Reebok was the other option until they were bought by Adidas AG this left space the Baltimore Apparel brand to stake a claim for that 3rd Us/North American option with a lot of there initial footwear offerings being released in 2008/2009 Under Armour "Prototype moniker" The had a training/cross training/lifting sneaker, Some running sneakers (at least 3 if memeory serves me well) and a basketball sneaker endossed by their preliminary BBall endorsee Brandon Jennings They would also expand on their cleats and football gear with the likes of Cam Newton, Professional Baseball players, and even Tom Brady with improvements each season The UA footwear offering became better and a norm in terms of no nonsense performance. Guards such as Kemba Walker and Maryland terp alumni Grevis vasquez continued to perform in the new and "innovative" inline Products while Brandon Jennings (55 point rookie game) was the signature face of their bball department.

the UA Supersonic (2011/2012) was an inline performance produced that was popular and marketed through the UA basketball camps, grassroots, High school and Collegiate divisions. From their innovative Apparel (Under Armours bread & butter btw) and signature foam cushioning (microG is the preliminay full length signature rebounding foam based cushioning in the U.S.). It took what worked, kept things clean and simple while focusing on allowing to do what you want/need to do on the court.

The fit is solid and form fitting with the synthetic perfed leather upper with PU skin overlays and Heat gear backing the helps dissipate heat throughout the games. the toe box is a little too rommy vertically, but making sneakers for the general public forces a company/manufacter to use lasts that are more accomidating to the majority of foot types Custom orthodics help.

Cushioning is really good in the sense that the Micro G midsole while thin is still bouncy, resillent and dense enough to protect your foot from injuries while keeping court feel and resonsiveness form quick, fast & natural movements. the ortholite sockliner is comfortable, but became mushy quick. an after market or custom orthodic can be a better option, but step in comfort was fine.

Traction was adequate as it was based on a varied circle pattern (see underside of an octopus tentacle). peaked herringbone would have been better (my standard), but the the solid rubber outsole made the slipping and dust minimal factors.

Support. The Support is provided by the fit, materials, tpu structures and heel counter. the patent leather toe box is helps to protect the toes and the ergonomic collar helps with natural movement and ankle stability Again, not perfect with the toe box volume and some front to back and side to side movement within the sneaker

Materials: as stated earlier the combination of synthetic/fuse materials on the upper combined with the heat gear moisture wicking lining helps to keep the feet dry by pulling heat away from the foot throughout the perforated upper panels.

Overall the UA Supersonic was a great sneaker for its time. Under armour was a good 3rd option for major Sportswear/Athletic brands in the U.S. & global market. 

Decent fit, materials, comfort, support, cushioning, traction, color stories & design made for a fun and responsive in game and off the court experience. UA has had some changes since these originally released. eBay, thrift stores, and online retailers shops, may be your best bet at finding these pairs today. Under Armor still offers some quality footwear across multiple Categories that do there job well. Find what you want/what works for you and purchase the best pair for your activities.