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One colorway of the low is no longer excluded from Eastbay discounts so for 90 bucks it’s a steal although the color isn’t the best
Clutchfit drive low on Eastbay
I got these today btw. Much “golder” looking than I thought. Still mean looking though
I’m amazed that with all the sneaker reviewers out there that I haven’t seen anyone review this shoe. I know it was pretty hard to get a hold of so that may be why but I’ve been hooping in these since they were released so I guess you can say I was really lucky more than anything. I’ve heard that UA will be releasing the lows this month but nothing 100% positive.
First off, I am not really a lowtop guy typically. My usual goto shoes are mids or highs like my current goto, the Clutchfit Drive.
The low top version is really just that; a low top version of the Clutchfit Drive. Same full length Micro G foam, Clutchfit synthetic upper and same wickedly awesome traction. Traction:
Traction is amazing with this shoe. I play on dusty 24hr and YMCA courts and this shoe sticks to the floor from the get go and takes a quick wipe to get the traction nice and sticky. This is definitely one of the best traction patterns I have ever used. Full length herringbone with no storytelling gets my vote every time. The rubber is nice and pliable which adds to its ability to push dirt away.
Cushioning: I have used and loved Zoom Air almost all my life. I didn’t know what it was or why I loved it so much back in the late 90’s but now with all the shoe blogs that exist everyone knows what it is. Too bad Nike half asses it about 90% of the time nowadays so just because it says Zoom Air, doesn’t mean it is true Zoom Air. The last shoe that had nice full bouncy Zoom Air that I currently use it the Lebron Zoom Solider VI and it is still awesome.
Now off my soap box…This cushioning set up is awesome. I was not a believer in foams until I tried Micro G. My knees feel great and the transition is seamless since it is full length and not targeted like in the Hyperdunk. It is bouncy yet firm and not overly soft like the Kobe 8’s full length insert. It almosts feels like a full length Zoom unit which says a lot about Micro G.
Fit: I bought my normal sz 11 and these fit perfectly. I like to have one index finger’s width btwn my big toe and the end of the toe box. As a reference, I wear an 11 in all Kobes except the I-III and an 11 in all lebrons except the IX which I need an 11.5. The regular Clutchfits fit me like a glove and I have always had problems with lows and heel slippage, especially in my left heel. The only lows that I can safely say kept my heel from slipping were the Kobe IV, V, VIII, and IX. The Kobe VI were terrible for me as were the KD 7 I could literally feel my heel raise up about .5 cm with the KD 7. The CF low’s did a great job locking my heel in place with no slipping. No real need for the higher collar unless you like higher cut shoes. There was no movement side to side either as the Clutchfit material really hugs the foot like a second skin and keeps the foot in place and in the footbed.
Support:
Support was great with these just like the regular Clutchfits. The base is stable with a tiny outrigger at the forefoot. One of my pet peeves with shoe design is how designers will my not make the entire base of the shoe flat to the ground and add a little contouring or beveling around the heel area. I understand that they do this to make the shoe feel more natural feeling but if you land on that little spot as you land from jumping you’re ankle will be toast (trust me I’ve done it twice in the past year with the Lebron X and Kobe IX). A little test I like to do to see how stable a shoe is in case of a freak landing is just trying to roll my ankle as I step on the heel or put pressure on the heel . If it easily rolls in a static position, it is usually safe to say it isn’t going to work from a landing standpoint. I know most of the time you land with the balls of your feet but those rare moments when you do land heel first, you and your shoes better be ready.
Ventilation:
I could give a sh*t about ventilation. I never play outdoors and my runs are 1 to 2 hours. I’ve read other reviews about the poor ventilation of the CF but to be honest I never noticed any excess heat buildup in the past four months since I’ve had these. If I played outdoors in the Texas heat, then yes, I’d probably want something with better ventilation but I don’t so…. No blisters, no excesses sweat, no extra stank so I’m good.
Durability:
I’ve had these shoes for over four months and they look almost like new. The synthetic upper is extremely durable and scuff resistant while the midsole paint hasn’t even chipped or peeled (although I’m sure it will eventually). The Micro G foam is surprisingly resilient and feels just as bouncy as it did on day 1.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for lows you’ll love these. If you love the regular Clutchfits, you’ll love these as well.
Retail is $100 which is bargain considering you get one of the best cushioning setups, one of the best traction set ups and one of the most durable shoes out there. They remind me a lot of the kobe vi in terms of overall feel and ride height but with a better fit and much better traction. On top of all that, UA has fantastic return policy if anything goes awry: Return them for any reason. If you simply don’t like them send them back to UA and they will give you UA.Com credit. They do not put a two year time limit on their shoes like Nike does.
For people even lazier than wanting to read the conclusion:
Get them if you want the awesomeness of the Clutchfit Drive in a low top. I don’t prefer lows but I enjoy playing in these a lot.
Feel free to ask questions or reach me on Twitter @schwollo
the main concern im having is that the outsole mught do what happened to the drose 5 i have. The rim of the outsole keeps chipping off pieces and i dont know if it will happpen for this shoe too
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I don’t play outdoors in any of my shoes so I can’t say what would happen. I use my Adidas barricades to ball outside. Little known fact though , UA will take back shoes for any reason at any time and give you credit or a refund so if they do chip..
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Good stuff man. I enjoyed your review, thanks for the information. Was looking for a review of these shoes.
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Glad you liked it!
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I wrote come comparative reviews too so I hope you had a chance to read those as well.
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Where can I find that colorway clutchfit drive low elite 24. I try to find it online but no luck. If you have a website that sells that colorway. Let me know. Thanks.
P.S does the clutchfit drive mid in your opinion is better than the low top? Great review.
Thanks,
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They sold out of the 24 back in October or September. They might pop up at outlets but I really think they made a limited amount. I’ve seen them on ebay go for 150 or less
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I personally prefer the mid bc I like higher cuts. The collar is flexible so it isn’t inhibiting movement. Also it only weighs 1 oz more.
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I like playing in the low top because my ankles are not restricted as to mid to high top shoes. Are the clutchfit shoes comfortable and the low profile court feel? I currently play in the drose 3 and I don’t like how it pinches my foot. I know that did some review on kobe 10 and hyperchase. What’s your feeling is the best low top or mid shoe available at a reasonable price?
Thanks.
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Clutchfit mid or low are the best bang for the buck imo. Low profile court feel but still good forefoot cushioning. Flexible but stable . It does everything well. The mid only looks cut high , ankle collar is very flexible
Here this should help: https://schwollo.com/2015/01/29/lowtop-shootout/
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I hope that helps !!
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do they do well in outdoors?
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I wouldn’t use these outdoors. Fabric will tear and rubber will
Wear down quickly bc it is soft. I suggest tennis shoes for outdoor ball. Built for outdoors and stable .
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Is the upper durable from rips and scratches? I’m thinking of using this for outdoor use because the rubber is thicker than most of the shoes today.
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The upper is thicker so I don’t think it will rip but it will get scratched.
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Is this good to use these for outdoors? I play 3 -5 times a week.
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Soles will wear down quickly . Rubber is soft . I suggest tennis shoes for outdoor ball . Just as stable
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Hi there friends, how is all, and what you want to
say on the topic of this piece of writing, in my view its actually awesome designed for me.
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Thank you very much ! Glad you enjoyed it
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Hi bro would you pick these over the cfd 2’s? The UA store closest to me which isn’t close at all haha just stocked these cfd 1 lows this month and i can say conpared to the mid or high version feels better. Feels like it has more padding in the tongue and heel area. Saw the cfd 2’s there too those look like a solid option. I honestly like the materials.
Since Ican’t pick one and you’re the one who has played in both, which one do you prefer?
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I’d take these over the cfd 2. Feels better underfoot . There is a little more padding under the tongue but same around the heel. Cfd 2 are more firm due to charged foam but not by much. Curry two if you can swing it imo
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Thanks for the suggestion. Will probably wait for cfd 2 lows to drop before I even think of getting a pair of the cfd 2’s. Love my cfd1’s but havent been wearing them much sonce I’ve been starting to LOVE lows more and more. Will probably get these or at least try them on.
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Cfd 2 dropped here today . Didn’t like the color way though .
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Would you rather buy these or torch 4? I’ve never played in low tops and I think about switch from high shoes.
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Clutchfit drive low. Better fit overall, no deadspace . Cushioning set up is almost the same (insole is different ) traction is same
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Hi Schwollo, been following your site for a while, love your reviews. I just got into performance basketball shoes and you and Nightwing are generally my go-to for reviews. I have flat and borderline wide feet, and am a 5’8″ 145lb shooting guard. My game has been described by others as similar to Ray Allen’s (not a humblebrag), but I think my style is more similar to a poor man’s JJ Redick / Bruce Bowen (without the occasional dirtiness).
My favorite shoe to play in so far has been the Kobe Mentality 2; unfortunately, I never got a chance to pickup a pair of Kobe 8s or 9s and they’re too much $$$ right now on eBay. I love the traction, court feel, weight, and lockdown on the Mentality 2’s but I find that my knees hurt a little after about an hour and a half of playing. I’m basically looking for a shoe similar to that but with better cushioning. I picked up the Clutchfit Drive Low 1’s recently and hoped they might be it but the arch support was a little lacking and the fit felt a little stiff overall compared to the Mentality 2s. Do you have any suggestions? I’ve tried the Soldier 9s and the Rose Boost 6s and enjoyed the lockdown and cushion in both but am looking for something less “clunky” and with slightly better traction. Thanks and keep up the great work.
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Thanks for reading Ron! You’re kind of stuck to be honest. The mentality/Kobe 8/9 will all offer nice court feel but that lunarlon insole won’t offer the same court feel you’re looking for. Surprised that CFD 1 low didn’t work bc it is pretty flexible. Maybe buy a stick on arch pad to stick under the insole ? I was going to suggest KD ix but arch support isn’t that great either but you won’t bottom out and cushioning is great. Crazylight boost 2016 might work but it does sit higher up off the ground (but traction is great). Rose 7 sits lower in the forefoot than the clb and the crazy explosive sits even lower (too low for me and my 180 lbs ) but might work for you. I hope that helps somewhat ! No shame in jj and Bowen btw !
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