Executive summary: Not a good shoe overall. Mediocre overall traction, sloppy fit especially in the heel, and terrible containment. Go buy something else for $130
Lebron solidified himself as one of the all time greats this season and completed an epic comeback in one of the most disappointing “performance” shoes I’ve ever played in. Lebron, you’re that f’ing good..
As many of you know, the Soldier VI has been in my top 5 since 2012. The Soldier VII was ok but didn’t have that same bounce in the forefoot and was stiff as a board. The Soldier VIII fit fine but Zoom feel was nonexistent. The IX was a great shoe all around but not enough to replace the VI. The X can go back into the box and stay there.
Pros: traction on clean floors, heel Zoom, stabilty, low to ground feel
Cons: below average on dusty floors, nonexistent forefoot Zoom feel, heel Zoom is firmer than expected, very little midfoot support, bad heel slip, terrible containment, cheap materials
Sizing: true to size
Best for: Lebron collectors
Weight:
Feels really light in hand but actually average weight for shoes these days.
Traction
We’ve seen similar patterns like this before on the AJ 2012 and Lebron 8 PS and it is fine on clean floors but it isn’t good on dusty floors.
As I said in my first look, there is zero need for these nubs since we aren’t playing on grass or dirt. Really just raising the sole off the ground ever so slightly.
Once the nubs wear down some and the traction breaks in, the bite gets better but it still isn’t anything to write home about.
Just below average traction overall.
Cushioning
If you saw the pics off Fastpass you probably got all excited like I did. Heel Zoom is pretty good after a longer than average break in but starts off feeling like a hard spot in the heel. Even after break in though it is still firm but feels good if you can compress it. Heavier players should get more benefit and feel out of this Zoom unit than lighter players. Still not the best heel Zoom but I’m ok with it.
As for the forefoot Zoom…I can see it but had a hard time feeling it. There is a little spring to it but not much.
The most disappointing part of the cushioning is actually the midfoot. Sure, usually it is just foam but the Soldier X feels like there is nothing there since the entire midsole is very thin.
Feels a lot like the tendril system on the AJ XX9 but even thinner. Initially it really felt like a balance beam running down my foot but i got used to it. At least the AJ XX9 used plastic to support the midfoot. For flat or wide footers like me, this won’t work.
I will say this is the lowest feeling Soldier I’ve played in and I’ve played in all of them except 1,2, and 5.
Fit
I went true to size and these run true to size.
The fit feels nice when you’re not playing as it is a one piece upper with no laces. Once you start playing, that snug one piece fit feels like a bunch of segments fighting each other.
The first day I played in these, the heel counter was digging into my ankle and my heel was coming up a lot even though I cinched everything tightly. However, after two days of play the rubbing went away and the heel fit improved but never locked in once I started moving.
More padding in the ankle could have helped although I think this is adequate.
The major reason for the major heel slip is the strap system.
When the ankle strap is locked in correctly and you run or jump, the tightened strap has nowhere to go so something has to flex and it ends up being everything below the top strap including the heel counter.
In addition, midfoot/ heel strap should have been angled more toward the heel and been a true wrap around strap and not just a layover.
But the way the straps are set up you might as well wear sandals. Both straps can only be pulled over a hair so not really much adjustability. The forefoot strap seems to just keep the foot from sliding forward on hard stops and doesn’t really provide much in terms of lockdown.
Alos, having two straps as the only method of lockdown gives the wearer a very uneven feeling; All you feel are two straps on top of the foot while the rest of the foot has zero pressure on top. A lace system gives you even pressure across the top of the foot, not to mention better lockdown.
This strap only system is just an overall fail in my book.
Support and stability
Although the Soldier 10 is cut high, don’t expect much support because the ankle collar is super thin and flimsy. It’s really just there for the strap and proprioception.
The internal heel counter does its job but it also dug right into my ankle on cuts at the beginning but went away.
The shoe is stable and plays low to the ground though. The forefoot outrigger helps with stabilty as well
Easily passed my heel test. This might be the best part of the shoe.
Containment
Worst containment ever in a Lebron shoe and might be one of the worst of all time for me
I nearly tipped the shoe in the video and almost busted my right knee because of the containment as I slid out of the shoe. No raised midsole, textile and mesh upper and an unanchored strap system let my entire foot slide out on cuts and changes of direction. Textile and mesh as an upper is comfortable but has nearly zero tensile strength. Not sure why Nike chose to use such weak materials.
As Charles would say #turrible.
Conclusion
I know Cavs fans and collectors are scrambling to get the Championship Soldier X but for folks who just want a great shoe to play in, these are not the way to go. $130 isn’t a bad price but there are a lot of shoes in this price range or less that easily outperform the Lebron Soldier 10. As my mom always says, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. So the Lebron Soldier 10…
schwollo.com 
Thanks for the review. I was initially tempted to try them out, but when I tried them on in the store the fit seemed terrible and cushioning didn’t feel right. Then I saw you were reviewing the shoe so I thought I’d wait and see if you said they got better after break in. Glad I waited because these sound like a pretty lame pair of performance shoes. I’ll gladly pick up the CLB 2016 and/or KD 9 instead.
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Prior before Reviews: MAN THIS SHOE LIT! AS GOOD AS THE SOLDIER 6? LETS FKKING GOOOO
After reading this review: …bruh
What you said about “Heavier players should get more benefit and feel out of this Zoom unit than lighter players.” saddens me. I don’t weigh a lot so it hurts to see that. Speaking of which, is it possible to get lebron soldier 6s still?
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The vi and X shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath.
eBay and Amazon still have soldier vi..usually around 89-129.
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They are bottom of the barrel. KD 9 or clb easily better in all aspects
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checked these out in the store, definitely seem lame lol. btw, i remember you saying you had the hyperdunk 2013, how do you think that performs against the soldier 6? i just started getting more into performance shoes in 2013, and i had the choice between the HD 2013 and the soldier 6’s lol. the 2013’s served me really well, and im actually thinking of getting another pair in the future, but am just wondering how they compare to the soldier 6.
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Ha I liked the hd13 a lot but lateral containment was its one weakness. Not that it’s bad but it could be better. Soldier is stiffer overall vs hd13 but also more supportive . Zoom cushioning is firmer yet bouncier than lunarlon . Traction about the same between the two. HD 11-13 were all great. And soldier 10 just riding Lebron championship which is to be expected.
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Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your sacrifices so that the rest of us don’t have to waste our bodies and money on this overhyped model lol.
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Haha you’re welcome
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Yes, thanks so much Schwollo. I wanted to like these, but man… not ready for prime time. Appreciate you taking one for the team.
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Haha np
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Very disappointed…….so guess I’ll wait for the hyperdunk which hopefully is wide footer friendly
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Hyperdunk so far isn’t bad at all.. Wide foot might want to go up half a size bc I feel it’s a little tight up top (I’m a wide foot but not super wide).
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Nice!!!!!! Appreciate the work you put you in man. Thanks
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Thanks !
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Hey I have a question unrelated to the review.
For my next shoe I have been looking at the curry 1 low, curry 2 low, cfd low 2. I’m a slasher who looking for solid cushion and traction. Also a comfortable upper. I tried the curry 2 low in store and had zero heel slip. Which do you think I should Get? The cfd 2 is on good sales do you think theirs any big difference between that and the curry shoes.
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Sometimes you can get good lockdown in a store by once you start playing it doesn’t stay so not sure if you’re good or not. Curry 1 low has better heel lockdown but traction and cushioning isn’t as good. Cfd 2 has better lock down but traction isn’t as good. Its a solid shoe but I still prefer cfd 1 low . Good luck !
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Dang… I thought these were performers, expecially after Lebron wore them. Thanks for the great reviews once again.
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No problem thanks for reading !
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when are you going to finish hd review?
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Mid to end of the week. Good all around shoe not worth 140 though since all Hd hit clearance
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how is traction compare to dliliard 2?
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Worse on clean and dirty floors.
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There are so many fakes now, how can you tell which are legit authentic for Lebron Soldier 10’s?
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Which colorway are you looking for ? Most team colorways are sitting
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The gums, whites, and even the Finals Gold. Ali… and dhg… are probably the most known and I think it makes it perilous to buy from 3rd parties especially when Nike, Footlocker, Amazon, Eastbay, among others run out.
I’ve scoured the net and no one has ever bothered checking the newer Soldiers.
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Yea don’t risk buying off unauthorized sellers.
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Will you recommend this to me? I play on the post but I also sets play for my teammates.
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I don’t recommend them to anyone . Lots of better options out there in terms of performance and price
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