The Hyperdunk and Lebron Soldier have been two of the most popular lines of team shoes in recent years. Some years the Hyperdunk has outperformed the Soldier while in other years the Soldier has had the upper hand. Although this year’s models have a clear cut winner, the Soldier IX, I decided to compare each aspect of the shoe to help others decide for themselves
Here are my original reviews:
Traction
I felt that the HD15 had better traction after a clean wipe or clean floor while the Soldier IX was consistent regardless of surface but didn’t provide the same level of bite that the HD15 had. Don’t get me wrong it was still great but I’m willing to wipe for more bite. This is the only thing that I felt the HD did better than the Soldier.
Winner: HD15
Cushioning
Both shoes feature the same targeted Zoon set up on paper but the Soldier IX just plain feels better. I had a hard time feeling the Zoom in the HD15 even though I could see the Zoom inside the insole. I think the problem is three fold
- Not enough foam
- Foam is too firm
- Zoom is too small
I find it weird and dumb that Nike wouldn’t provide us with a desirable cushioning set on an ultra popular line like the Hyperdunk.
Luckily the Soldier IX picked up the slack with Zoom you can actually feel in the forefoot and heel. It does ride higher than the HD15 thanks to
- More foam
- Softer foam
- Bigger Zoom
Or just the opposite of the Hd15
Winner: Soldier IX
Fit
The HD15 has a minimal upper, meaning it is devoid of any interior cushioning aside from the interior heel collar. I actually don’t mind the upper feeling so plasticky but I wish they lined it like the did on the HD15 low to make it less “cold” feeling. It’s like having a hot girlfriend that has man hands.
Below: interior of the HD15
Below: lining of the HD15 Low 
The Soldier IX is plush compared to the HD15. Not quite 90’s plush but just right. I love the mix of mesh and fuse.
I had no issues with the fit on the either shoe although the laces would get loose near my calf on the Hd15. And it was a painful break in especially on my outer ankle . The Soldier IX required no break in time and felt great from the get go and the straps provided additional lockdown.
Winner: Soldier IX
Support and Stability
Just to get this out of the way, the high collar on the HD15 doesn’t add any extra support, it’s really there for aesthetics (or what’s the opposite of aesthetics ? Ugliness? )
All the support and stability comes from the lower ride height, fit, and the flatness of the outsole.
The Soldier IX’s support and stability come from its fit, flat flat outsole and the one piece foam “frame” that includes the large lateral wing and goes under and around and behind the entire shoe.
I really loved this part of the design because it really hugged the foot and kept it in place. The Soldier has always provided a good balance of support and freedom and the IX continues that trend.
Containment
Containment is a strength for both shoes although they achieve it in different ways.
The HD15 achieves excellent containment by extending the sole up and all the way around the shoe as well as using extra reinforcement at high pressure areas at the forefoot.
The Soldier IX achieves excellent containment with extra layers of fuse and the huge lateral wing.
Both shoes really did a great job containing the foot .
Winner: Tie
Conclusion
The Hd15 isn’t a terrible shoe but the lack of cushioning and cold minimal upper really ruins the fun. I feel that the cushioning of a shoe really gives it personality and life so to skimp on one of most popular cushioning set ups on a popular performance line really us all down.
As unattractive as the Soldier IX might be, it just feels miles ahead of the Hd15 (and most shoes in fact) in terms of pure performance. When you break it down on paper it isn’t that large a chasm between the two but feel plays a large part in how a shoe is perceived.
If you want a lower, lighter ride, look at the Jordan Super.Fly 4
Personally it was my favorite out of all the summer releases. Its cushioning set up is excellent despite only having foam in the heel and it does everything the HD15 does just as well for $10 more (expect these to hit sub $90 quickly).
schwollo.com 
fyi
I have checked the products and firstly whilt the structure of each shoe is very similar with the same type of responsive cushioning and outsole patterns for traction, the Premium version is a more updated version of the shoe, with the addition of higher side walls. Also this has the HAGR rubber, whilst the LE does not
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You suck
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Thanks !
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Have a great day !
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Hey Schwollo! I have been reading your reviews for quite a while and really like what you are doing.
The problem is, I can’t seem to find shoe that fits me.
Currently I’m looking at Jordan super fly 3 po and super fly 4, as well as nike hyperdunk 2015, soldier ix and even kobe xii.
I’m 6’5 and 165 pounds. I like to play different positions, from 2 to 4, which means i like to cut, cross, run, post and shoot. You know, all around. Which should would be best for me?
I really like how jordan super fly 3 po looks, but isn’t it heavy? Would it be suitable for 3 position? What do you think?
BIG THANKS !
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Dang you’re tall and lanky . Super fly 4 or soldier IX would fit your needs well imo. Hyperdunk isn’t terrible aside cushioning but I like the sf4 more . The sf4 is lighter and lower than the sf3 Po. Kobe xi I’m checking out right now . Does that help ?
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Haha, yeah, lanky indeed : D Thanks for reply!
Oh, I meant, kobe vii , my bad.
Little more about my play style:
If really, I like to to crash boards, go for the rebound, run the court so I think i need responsive, but not too light material shoes, so that my foot would be contained and not to heavy, so that I could actually run the court. The things I need are: traction ( really important), ankle lockdown, so that I would feel confident when crashing boards and not narrow (not too wide, just normal) forefoot.
Does Super Fly 4 really do that? If it sits lower, wouldn’t it cause leg, knee pain from all the jumping? Because I have read some reviews, especially on nike.com and some say that it might be narrow.
As for Solder IX, there are no sizes left, so sadly, that goes out of question.
I also saw that here, in Lithuania, we have under armour Torch 4 shoes for 85 euros ( my budget is 120 and that’s what Super fly 4 costs, while Super fly 3 PO is 115 euros. and HD15 PREMIUM are 107 euros)
P.S. I have also tried Hyperdunks 14 in store, and they didn’t give me enough ankle support/lockdown too feel confident on court ( maybe they need break in time ? )
It’s a real headache to choose shoes, when there are so many of them…
To conclude, my choices are: Super fly 3 PO, Super fly 4, Under armour Torch 4. I really like how the 3 PO looks, and it doesn’t seem too narrow, but I think it may be too bulky, heavy for me. What do you think about ua torch 4?
Sorry for long post and thanks for your time.
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Kobe VII has terrible heel slip so that’s a no
Sf 4 sits Lower so it is a trade off in terms of how much cushion I had no problems with it . It’s sits about hyperdunk low.
Sf3 is great it isn’t too heavy and cushioning is great . I think the soldier IX fits the bill as well
I really liked the torch 4 but the fit in the forefoot is sloppy ( see my review)
No adidas d rose over there ?
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Also, what can you say about HD 15 collar? Does it really dig into foot and cause discomfort? If so, then it would be out of question for me.
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It bothered me but it goes away.
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Alright Alright. I don’t really like how d roses look and they are a bit heavy, so I wouldnt consider them.
So the winter sales recently started, I have found some really interesting options:
Nike kobe X pain and vino (not flyknit) and adidas crazylight boost 2015 with some kind of strap over ankle. How would these shoes perform next to jordan super fly 3 po? I have read that adidas come with shitty insoles and leaves bit of dead space and I don’t want that, especially when getting shoe for premium price.
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What are you looking for in a shoe ? The SF Po and Crazylight at two very different shoes
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Thats the problem, I dont know. I need to be mobile, able to run the court, defend 2-3-4 position guys and crash boards, i guess I need everything huh 😀
I want the shoe to have excelent traction so I could defend like i should, containment, also not too heavy
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I guess I have to ask what’s your build ?
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Also, does sf 3 po run true to size? Because im ordering them online, so I don’t have the opportunity to try them on
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I’m ~ 6’5 and 166 pounds
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Oh yea sorry I forgot lol
I think soldier IX will work well . Not sure how light weight you want to go .
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Yeah, we don’t have Solder IX here in Lithuania anymore, at least no my size.
I ordered Hyperdunks 2014. What do you think?
I also tried hyperrev 2015 and kd vii and i think hd14 felt best.
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You’ll be fine . HD series was great until 2015. Only concern might be Lunarlon durability as it breaks down. Let me know how it goes !
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