Nike Kyrie 2 Performance Review
Written by schwollo
Curve your enthusiasm 
I was not a big fan of the Kyrie 1. Sure, it was inexpensive and looked good, but on court I felt it was lacking. So many people gave it a pass since it was Kyrie’s first sig shoe but I never understood why; it’s not like Nike didn’t have a blueprint for his likes and dislikes. Plenty of shoes with a similar price point outperformed the Kyrie 1 but hey, add a Swoosh and perceived performance increases.
I’m sure everyone has seen Nike’s marketing on the Kyrie 2 and how it is based on the “banking concept”. If you haven’t here is the link
As much as I hate the BS marketing , the shoe itself is much improved versus the Kyrie 1.
Pros: Almost everything improved vs Kyrie 1, Fit, traction, containment
Cons: forefoot cushioning is sparse, heel cushioning firm
Best for: quick guards who like firm cushioning
Sizing: true to size
Price: $120
Weight
Same range as most shoes today.
Does the curved outsole concept work ?
I decided to get this out of the way since this was what interested me the most. I found that I produced more 11.6 pounds of force versus a standard outsole which allowed me to crossover .00035 seconds faster .. That’s a joke, just like Nike’s marketing campaign with these. It seems like Nike spent lots of time calculating force while throwing numbers around and reciting Newton’s laws but where are the numbers with the Kyrie 2 versus a standard outsole ? Immeasurable I presume.
The rounded geometry positioned at the medial heel and across the metatarsals heads allow Irving to redistribute his weight and cut on a dime, without slapping his foot to the court and decreasing his power output.
As we know from Newton’s third law – for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction – the KYRIE 2 needs to support the tremendous amount of force Irving applies to the floor and then return it, permitting the point guard to fly off his edges with intense speed that penetrates the defense.
In case you didn’t know Force is F=mass*acceration so a bigger individual can create just as much force despite accerlerating more slowly so don’t be surprised if tubby Ray Felton has similar numbers
When I read about the curved outsole I immediately thought of my heel test and if I should even bother wearing these. However, after putting these on, my fears were put to rest as Nike put the curved in the right places.
Nike made it a little wider on the lateral side to keep from rolling over
Pardon the kiddie gate. Gotta love the holidays at the in laws . 
I found it took only a little bit of time to get used to it because as you step or cut with the medial side, it rolls a tiny bit more before you can push off but I really didn’t notice a difference in my speed I actual game play. When I was messing around with the shoe at home I felt like I could pivot like a ballerina but come game time, I didn’t find myself anywhere remotely close to using the design. What I did like about the curved outsole was it seemed to eliminate any fat off the outsole, allowing the shoe to feel fast and nimble. Not sure how much of that is the curved design but thats the best way to describe how it plays. Reminds me a lot of how the Rose 3 plays.
Traction
Last year’s Kyrie traction pattern looked beastly and it worked pretty well overall but it could have been better.
Nike improved the traction this year by using a softer rubber and I felt they were great on clean, lightly dusty floors and good on semi dusty and dusty floors as long as you keep wiping. I have them on par with the Clutchfit Drive traction but not quite on the level of the Curry Two, AJ XX8 or Kobe IX.
Here is the traction on the medial ( inside ) of the right shoe. 
Cushioning
Very underwhelming just like the Kyrie 1 but in reverse. This time around Nike put the Zoom in the heel but you can barely feel it (again).
Cushioning in the heel is so lackluster that the Zoom Crusader feel fantastic compared to these.
I found these cut aways of the Kyrie 2 . You can really see how much Phylon you’re getting .
Thanks to thapointguy on Niketalk for these pics
You can see a little shank at the midfoot
The forefoot cushioning is almost non existent and feels almost as minimal as the Crazy Light Boost 2014. Almost is the the operative word, as Nike does have a tiny layer of cushioning vs none on the Crazylight Boost. I noticed that the forefoot has a different layer on the strobel board the rest of the shoe.The brown layer (poron, thanks NW) has a more rubbery feel than the rest of the shoe but it is only about 1mm thick so it doesn’t do much .
The insole is pretty damn cool looking but very thin especially for Ortholite. It is paper thin in the heel. It isn’t the typical thick spongy yellow insole either so that step in comfort isn’t there.
So I replaced it with the thicker insoles from my Rose 4 and cushioning improved noticeably but they really made the shoe too tight for my liking. Sizing up would probably allow for a thicker insole.
I wish there was more foam under the forefoot as my knees have been achy since using these and my neuroma ( irritated nerve) in my foot flared up. My neuroma is my little cushioning whisperer and tells me when there needs to be more cushioning in the forefoot and it pretty much yelled it this time. You know how I got the neuroma? Wearing shoes with inadequate forefoot cushioning.
It’s possible they couldn’t implement more cushioning or some kind of Zoom met bag because of the outsole shape but I believe it’s just Nike being sheisty. I understand Kyrie’s “need”for responsiveness but he’s going to wear down his knees faster then his .49 second jumper with this cushioning set up especially after coming off a serious knee injury. Maybe he likes it that way but he might become Uncle Drew permanently sooner rather than later.
Fit
I went true to size with my normal 11 and these didn’t give me fit issues like last year. My fat a** feet were dying at the midfoot with the Kyrie 1 but they broke in to give a nice secure fit eventually. I was not a fan of the cheap Fuse material either. I also had a bit of heel slip since the ankle collar was not contoured much.
This year’s Kyrie features a nicer Fuse upper that still isn’t premium feeling but isn’t bargain basement crispy like last year’s. It reminds me a lot of the regular Kobe X upper but more pliable .
It forms nicely to the foot with no deadspace on top or sides. There is a little break in time and some weird popping to start but it goes away with wear.
You can see Nike added some reinforcement in high wear areas such as the lace holes ( prone to tearing) and toe cap for draggers. 
Nike also put a nicely padded tongue this time around
One of the unseen keys to comfort is the inner sock that runs midfoot all the way through the toe box just like on the Rose 6.
Most of the time the straps that hold the tongue serve only that specific purpose but by extending the straps into a full sleeve, it gives the shoe a nice one to one feel while eliminating the discomfort of the stiffer Fuse upper.
In my opinion the midfoot and back is where the upper shines the most. Here is where you actually feel some comfortable padding in and around the ankle. Nike really deepened the ankle notch versus last year.
No heel slip at all or movement front to back.
And of course we can’t forget the strap that everyone initially hated because it made the Kyrie look like the KD IV.
The strap does help with lockdown but it isn’t a huge part in locking the foot like the Soldier IX straps.
Support and Stability
There isn’t a ton of support other than the internal heel counter and raised midsole but the shoe itself is very stable overall. Here you can see the general outline of the heel counter and see how flexible the ankle collar is.
It isn’t curved much in the lateral part of the heel so it easily passed my heel test. You can see how built up the “wall” Is on the lateral side to help prevent rollovers.
There isn’t a ton of curvature on the lateral part of the forefoot either so that helps with stability issues.
Containment
With the speed that Kyrie starts and stops and crosses, containment better be good on his shoe and Nike did a great job by extending the midsole above the foot similar to the Rose 5, HD 15 etc.
I’m glad shoe companies are finally recognizing and implementing great ways to contain the foot with more flexible upper materials.
Conclusion
I like the Kyrie 2 for trying to do new things with the curved outsole. It doesn’t do anything detrimental to the stability of the shoe but it doesn’t add much either. I do like the improvements they made from the 1 to 2 though and it is a step in the right direction. Every aspect of the shoe has improved noticeably. And it is a beautiful shoe which is what most consumers will be drawn to, not the performance. We have to keep in mind that shoe nerdists are a teeny tiny percentage of a percentage of the targeted demographic
If Zoom cushioning was in place at the heel and forefoot and was made to feel like Zoom should, then this shoe would be fantastic. But with sub par cushioning, it just takes the fun out of the entire shoe. As I’ve said before, cushioning gives the shoe personality. I don’t buy the theory that Kyrie wanted more responsiveness at the forefoot. He’s used Hyperdunks with Lunarlon before and he’s coming off a serious knee injury. It’s just about saving pennies in my opinion . Don’t think I didn’t notice the Kyrie 2 ID price increase from $165 to $170 this past week Nike. It’s unfortunate that the cushioning wasn’t better because I would have ID’d a few pair because I think they look great. I also find it rather ironic that of all things to skimp out on, Nike chose cushioning, you know the thing that that propelled Nike into the stratosphere. Nike Air, look it up Swoosh.
As Kobe retires this year, I expect more marketing and resources will go towards the Kyrie line and we will see a better sig shoe with more bells and whistles along with a higher price tag of course.
If you want a shoe that plays fast with a low to the ground, minimal cushioning set up, the Kyrie 2 is fantastic . However if you’re like me, and want the entire package, look elsewhere; there are several shoes that perform just as well at a similar price point especially from the past two seasons.
schwollo.com 
Which shoe rides lower to the ground, these or the curry 2? Keep up the good work, man!
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Kyrie 2 . Pretty much feels like you’re on the ground
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schwollo bro please reply should i get these or the curry 2? I love playing in your face type defense and like to be all over the place on Defense. On offense i am a catch and shoot player and shifty player that mostly stays on his feet unless its for a shot. I dont need thick cushioning just enough so that all the impact doesn’t go to my knees. I was wondering if the cushioning and the lockdown were good enough for my style of play. I have the clutchfit drives and like that sort of cushioning. Or what shoe thanks.
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Lockdown is good on Kyrie but cushioning is terrible especially in forefoot. Curry two is a better cushioning set up easily . Better shoe overall imo
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schwollo bro please reply should i get these or the curry 2? I love playing in your face type defense and like to be all over the place on Defense. On offense i am a catch and shoot player and shifty player that mostly stays on his feet unless its for a shot. I dont need thick cushioning just enough so that all the impact doesn’t go to my knees. I was wondering if the cushioning and the lockdown were good enough for my style of play. I have the clutchfit drives and like that sort of cushioning. Or what shoe thanks.
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Great review! Might pick up one of these down the line. I think these would suit my game pretty well. With the court feel and the great traction and all that. If I may ask what is your basletball sneaker rotation now? Just curious…
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Curry two Rose 6/5 Clutchfit 1 and soldier vi
Thanks for reading !
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Thank you for the review. Was hoping for a good cushioning set up at the forefoot because the shoe looks great imo… But I’ll pass again on Kyrie’s just as I did on his first one. Heard that night wing gave the lilLard 2’s a nice first impression. Will wait for your review on that one before pulling the trigger. Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your family. Looking forward to next year on all your performance reviews. Btw, any idea where I can get another Nike zoom soldier vi in size 10? eBay seems to run out haha. Need one more pair my first one has logged a lot of miles already (still on top of my rotation)…
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Yep just got my Lillard 2 snd feels much better out of the box . Merry Christmas snd happy new year ! Keep looking on eBay that’s the only place nowadays !
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Which shoe should I get if I want to be fast on fast break and a great shooter,and for playing tight defence?
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The Kyrie 2 is a good shoe for that but no cushioning . What do you look for in a shoe ?
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Sorry, this is unrelated to the Kyrie 2. Like you, I have wide, flat feet, which would you say are the best shoes on the market at the moment (for a guard)? Your reviews are always good btw, thanks for doing them!
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Thanks ! Curry Two. Does everything well especially traction
https://schwollo.com/2015/12/30/end-of-the-year-review-and-awards/
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Great review!!! Thanks a lot. I was just wondering something. I do also own a pair of Kyrie 2 effect. I personally feel like their traction isn’t that great compare to Kyrie 1. I think 1’s traction was way better. When I make cuts I feel the rubber bones lying down on the floor and slips from time to time. Do you also feel the same problem? or Is your pair gripping on the floor like a gum? Thank you so much for your review again
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Hmm I think the traction of the 2 is better. Do you mean the pattern lays down flat when you’re moving ? Mine stick well overall but I still have to wipe .
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Yeah exactly. The patterns lays flat when making cuts… Do you also feel the same thing?
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Sometimes I do feel it but I stopped wearing them anyways due to cushioning .
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Great review bro, will be coming here for reviews in the future! Glad to see someone give a shoutout to the AJ xx8s they were my fav shoe but unfortunately the stupid zoom problems made me go to the Hyperrevs. I’ve been looking at Kyries since they came out hoping for a zoom improvement but seeing that cutaway and the cushion in the forefoot it made me think again. Appreciate all the time you must have taken in this. Well done!
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Thanks ! Yea kyrie 2 looks great fits great but than cushioning is rough.
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Schwollo bro, will the outsole of kyrie 2 last long on outdoors?
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I only wear indoors and I think it will wear down fast bc it’s pretty soft rubber
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Thanks man 🙂
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Np
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Great review bro! I just have one question. I bought the Kyrie 2 Christmas edition with the translucent sole and I seem like I’m not getting very good traction I wipe constantly and it still does not stick well. Any advice on breaking in the traction or what to do ?
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That’s odd mine were good from the start. Try walking around outside to wear down a little.
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Hey man! Great review. Kobe 9 has better traction, right? Just wondering which sits lower to the ground? Kobe IX or Kyrie 2?
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Yea Kobe IX is better. . Kyrie 2 feels
lower by a hair but cushioning is better on Kobe IX.
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its so slippery.. very poor tarvtion:(
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I found cheap kobe 10 elite lows but I’m debating wether to get them or these what do you reccomend?
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Would you recommand this shoe for a Volleyball player (light weight) ? i am looking for responsiveness because Volleyball is a very explosive sport. I am actually playing with AJXX9 the cushioning is awesome but i was looking for more responsiveness… Should i get a pair of Kyrie 2 or Curry 2 will do everithing better ? I really like how the Kyrie 2 looks like and i am not that fan of the Curry 2 but it seems to be a killer shoe regarding performances
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For volleyball (in my limited experience ) you want responsiveness as you said. Kyrie or curry would work well since both have firmer set ups (kyrie is firmer). Tennis shoes might work well for volleyball as well since lots of lateral movements. Or volleyball shoes 🙂
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So did you buy the Kyrie 2s ?
And if so, what did you think?
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I’m not even going to answer that question
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So did you buy the Kyrie 2s ? And if so, what did you think of them in volleyball, Marvin?
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Oops that makes more sense now my bad
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It’s absolutely OK, it was actually badly phrased by me
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Do you think adding a shock doctor court insole would help a lot with the cushioning?
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Yes it would help but it’s still only a few millimeters more of cushioning. If you go that route go up half or a full size due to thickness of the insole.
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I have lose ankles and tend to roll them while wearing lebron 12s. What are somethings I could do to prevent that from happening. How are kyrie 2s regarding ankle protection.
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#1 Do band resistance balancing exercises and other ankle exercises to strengthen your ankles. The Lebron xii is a stable shoe but the protruding zoom in the heel makes it a little unstable. Kyrie 2 isn’t any more stable. Curry two is very stable if you want a more stable shoe
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After four months of wear, total of five holes in the pair of insoles. Couple of them measure 2″ X 2″ in the heel and ball of foot. Not great quality for the money.
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Damn that’s pretty bad. I don’t wear mine enough to comment on durability
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What shoe has the best traction plus cushioning in one shoe.
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Hyperrev 2016, soldier vi, rose 6 to a lesser degree. Curry two amazing traction but a little harder cushioning. AJ xx8
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Do u have LeBron 13 lows?? I gotta go up .5 size to wear them coz they’re narrow, are these Kyries narrow too?
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I do not have the lbj 13 low. You’ll probably want to go up half a size. I could have gone up as well but I ordered 11 and I fit it better than the kyrie 1
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So they are kinda narrow ??? Coz I couldn’t fit the size 9 LeBron 13 lows i think my feet are kinda wide that’s why
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A little narrow but not like the first kyrie. I’d go up half a size for comfort sake
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one problem tho, on my kyrie 2s, i have the translucent soles…and I haven’t even been using them often on the court, but some of the rubber soles are being stretched and pulled out when I stop on sprinting or pivot.
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That sucks. Those little blades seem like they could be ripped . I haven’t played in mine in almost a year lol
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Ima a huge cushion guy. I had to say I didn’t like this shoe. The traction is beastly tho I give it that. But there were more cons than pros. Never getting the kyrie line again. Even the old school KDs perform well than the kyrie 2a
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Yea same here I like a more balanced set up than the Kyrie
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Which one runs the lowest ? Kyrie 1 or 2 or Kobe NXT 360 or the Mamba Instinct/Rage. Can’t seem to find them in store anymore. Only on the Internet. 😦
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Nxt 360
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