Sole View: GT cut Academy review

 Sole View: GT cut Academy review

Fit: 9/10

Cushioning: 7/10

Traction: 10/10

Support: 9/10

Materials: 7/10. Indoor: 9/10, outdoor 0/10

The Original GT cut was/is a great performer that comes with all of the bells whistles and tech that a signature sneaker would have. The Greater than series has been putting a lot of inline shoes to shame in terms of technology and performance, however a great sneaker is a great sneaker. And Great sneaker that provides the same performance at a buffet friendly price point is even better. Value chain footwear from the Major Performance Sportswear company has usually been a durable Sneaker that can last as long as a year or season. They usually feature A durable outsole, A cheaper but more durable mesh/knit or textile upper and a combination of synthetic leather, genuine leather and/or PU skins, fuse or hot melt. They might not have all the bells and whistles but value or mid chain footwear is usually a great entry way into a popular brand and enjoy a good and well built/designed shoe with some decent cushioning and some entry level tech.

As a designer, Developer or product line manager it can be challenging to release a good sneaker at the entry level price point because of budget constraints, competition from the other brands on the shelf, and cost restraints. Cutting corners on materials, tech and cushioning can be the first approach, but being able to accomplish everything you need from the design brief while saving the brand/company money (in cost)

And giving the targeted customer the best product for them can be an Art in itself.

The GT cut Academy is a great sneaker with an even better price point. The Fit is great with or without a custom insole/orthodic. The materials a light, breathable and durable enough for competitive indoor play. The Cushioning is a combination of phylon (proprietary EVA), renew foam, and an effective forefoot zoom air unit. The support from the fit, upper and internal heel counter do a good job of keeping my foot upright and on the footbed. The aggressive herringbone traction pattern, solid rubber outsole, and sole geometry/outrigger all contribute to a great overall experience. I wouldn’t recommend these for outdoor hoops as there are other more durable options, but The GT. Cut academy is a great sneaker for indoor hoops that should hold up into the end of a regular basketball season. 

Fit: 9/10: the fit on the GT cut Academy was great. Especially for the price point and catergory. the fit on these held there own and were just as secure as the upper tier models. A secure heel counter, comfrotable insole, well padded interior and lightweight beathable upper keep you secure and locked in throughout all the dynamic movements on the court. Simple and effective. 

Cushioning: 7/10: The cushioning got the job done well especially for the pricepoint and category. the budget/value chain models that were usually tied to specific retailers such as dsw, carnival, jcpenny, sports authority (back in the days), models and others. usually used tougher materials (meshs, synthetic or lower grade (but durable) leathers and harder more durable rubbers for outdoor use at that entry level or more affordable pricepoint. the Cushioing was rarely top tier which was one of the distinguising factors or the higher tier or Snature Sneakers that many younger players, fans or budget friendly parents couldn’t or wouldn’t afford. the cushioing for value chain or specialty retailers was rarely top tier (it would eat away at the business model.) the Great thing about the Gt Cut Academy is that the Cushioning was just as effective on the cut as it’s more loftier model member the GT CUT. While the GT Cut did not pull an stops with full length Zoom Stroble adition zoom units react, TPu cages and so on the GT Cut Academy got the job done on the court with feeling as if your were missing out on anything. Phylon midsole with renew and forefoot zoom air unit are more than enough to attack the basket mercellously while getting boards, stops and wins. It’s not always the shoes, but he player in them. thankfully the cushioning on the GT cut academy didn’t get in the way of that.

Traction: 10/10: peaked herring bone with spacing and groves worked great on clean indoor courts. the soft rubber held up well indoors but may not be the best for outdoors. I believe there are versions with XDR rubber that would be better, but at this pricepoint you can afford to be a little rough with them if your wish. 

Support: 9/10: the support was great on these as the upper and tooling all worked together to keep your foot, secure and upright without hindering natural moment making you more prone to unnecessary injuries. the internal heel cut, fit, torsional stability, flared outsole, out rigger and additional forefoot support all allowed me to play me game without hesitation, discomfort or fear. which is something you want in a basketball sneaker regardless of the price.

Materials: 7/10. Indoor: 9/10, outdoor 0/10: The metarials are perfectly fine for indoor hoops especially for the pricepoint, the mesh & synthetic leather upper while not premium got the job done well. Not looking for fashion, lifestyle or looking good with denim (even though they do like fine of of the court or in street clothes (to each his own lol). I appreciate all aspects/parts of the shoe working well and in unison to contribiute to a great performance basketball experience. Regardless of the pricepoint if the Sneaker doesn’t allow your performance your best in your given sport/even or at least not get in your way then it wouldn’t be a great sneaker regardless of the Price, story, Endorsement or technology. At this point, budget and experience (especially from a designer, developer, and experience perspective) I really enjoy being pleasanlty surprised. A budget/value chain position model that would have been in the take down/entry level category left nothing to be desired especially compared to its pricier tech laden peer. These should hold up over the duration of the season as long as they are used indoors. i wouldn’t reccommend these for outdoors as there are more durable options for that.

Overall, the Nike GT Cut Academy is a great performer at any pricepoint, but a real breath of fresh air for those who are budget conscience or looking for the best value without compromising comfort, fit, cushioning or performance. grab a pair or two if you can still find them. A great option for indoor hoops at any level.