I usually don’t do this but so far I’m not super stoked about the Harden Vol 1. This review is going to taking longer than normal because there are a few issues that I hope break in time helps eliminate. I plan to use them in a tourney this weekend to get more feedback (only if the opposing team isn’t that good though lol)
I’ve been playing in them for the past five days and if you have flat feet like me, you may find the Harden uncomfortable and tiring out of the box. I have tried orthodics before and my feet ached liked crazy every time I used them. My doctor suggested to just stop using them because some people just can’t wear orthotics comfortably and that happens to be me. The odd thing is that there isn’t a lot ton of arch support in the Harden but it’s just enough to make me want to take the shoes off after ten minutes. I’m hoping that this feeling goes away as the plastic shank breaks in.
Weight
17 ounces…for a low. I usually don’t care about the weight but these feel heavy especially coming off the Rare Metals which are almost 5 ounces lighter.
Traction
Clean floors, these work fine but whenever dust was around, it needs wiping. A lot of wiping. I swapped these out after my feet tired with the Rare Metals on the same day same court and surprisingly, the Rare Metals stuck much better than the Hardens. Maybe traction needs break in so we will see.
Cushioning
These play lower and more firm than the Crazylight Boost 2016. They don’t have the distinct slope from heel to toe like the Rose 7 and Crazy Explosive either. It feels like they just shaved a little off the CLB cushioning to make it ride lower and thus more firm. I don’t bottom out in these like I did in the Crazy Explosive either.
Fit
Although these fit better out of the box than the Crazylight Boost 2016, there is some heel slip in my normal size 11. I bought a 10.5 in the Pioneer colorway and it helped improve heel lockdown a lot but they are too narrow for my wide feet. Heel slip in the size 11 has improved the last few days so I’m hoping the trend continues. And no, I haven’t figured a place to add extra holes due to the dual hole lace set up.
Speaking of which, the laces suck. Thin and waxy, they hurt to pull tight and come undone even after double knotting. You have to pull tightly to get a good fit.
Materials
No difference performance wise between the Primeknit and regular. Both are backed by the same synthetic so the only difference is the texture on the outside of the shoe.
I do like the leather on this toe box though
Support and Stability
Best part of the shoe. No issues here
Containment
No issues here.
Crazylight or Harden
I know a lot of people are debating this.
Cushioning, traction (so far) and overall out of the box comfort goes to Crazylight easily. I didn’t notice the 16 oz of the CLB which is weird since the Harden is only one ounce more.
Fit is better out of the box with the Harden but not by much. I’d also take its stability over the CLB since it sits lower.
Price: well CLBs are on sale now for a lot less than Hardens so duh
schwollo.com 
I’d suggest heating up the TPU shank so it’s a little softer then start wearing them around to form/mile to your feet. I did this with foamposite ones back in the day to mild the posite around my ankle bones.
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Sounds like a lot of work but we will see if inneed to resort to that
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Heat gun it then slip it on.. but because of the boost material it might melt it or catch on fire like napalm. I have not heat gun boost before so please be the first lol.
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lol I’ll stick a metal spoon in the microwave while I’m at it
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Yeah if it comes to it… just direct a hair dryer at the shank for 5-10 mins, slip em on, and jump around lol
PS I did the CLB16 extra eyelet and it worked marvels. Only trick for me is I can’t tighten the last set of laces that right or I get lots of lace pressure on the ankle. Great tip tho cause now I can keep them in rotation!
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Yea you can’t over tighten because it puts pressure right on the front of the ankle. But it makes it so much better you just have to find the right amount of pressure. I’ll try the hair dryer trick next week if things don’t get better
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DRose 7 still your go in the 3 stripes line?
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Yep
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Do you have any issues with the boost bottoming out? Waiting for the PK version to have a solid out sole to give them a try.
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No issues with bottoming out
Pk doesn’t make a diff on this pair bc of the backing behind it. Same stiffness in both. PK does look better though
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Kind of like the look of these. Looking forward to the full review. I’m just hoping that heel slippage issue goes away. Recently got the CLB16 for $69.99 at an Adidas outlet that was having a 30% off sale. And I like it, but it definitely has an issues with heel lockdown.
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That’s a good fair price. Add the extra holes like I did and it will help a lot
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Curious to see if the traction improves, other reviewers thought it was great so it was not a weakness in the shoe I was expecting.
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Traction is the performance aspect I weigh much more heavily than others. I probably grade harder with traction than other people too. Will let you know though. Easily worse than Crazylight Boost 2016 and Rose 7 traction though, no doubt about it there.
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I tried them on in store and they fit me perfectly – so hopefully the traction is there…other than the Harden my next pair will probably be the D Rose 7. Hey Schwollo another question if you have time – I also recently got the KD 9 and the traction was weak – did you find that you had to break it in or is it just not very good?
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Traction isn’t top tier but it’s good enough as long as you wipe. No I did t need any break in w the KD 9 just wiping in dusty floors. I think KD 9 traction is better than harden fwiw
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Have a feeling these run a bit too low to the ground. They’re comfy enough when just walking but after a while of playing in them, my feet do feel a bit sore which has not happened before in any Boost-cushioned basketball shoe.
I might end up selling my pair or maybe just keep em for casual use (they don’t look too bad casually). Rose 7 is still easily my favorite of the 2016 adidas models (when the first reviews came out I thought I would like the CE0
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I like the low to ground feet but arches still getting me. Not as bad though
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I switched it up and played in my Lillard 2s instead a few hours ago and they just felt so much more comfortable lol.
I’ll play in the hardens again tomorrow and then make the decision as to whether or not these become casual sneakers or not. I might even sell em if I can get a good price.I dig how they look though so might be tough to part with them.
I kind of like them but they’re not really going to be making my regular rotation of hoop shoes so might as well just unload.
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You gotta give them at least a week. Still won’t be the most comfortable but it improves. I still have arch pain even after two plus weeks. Not recommend for long sessions bc they get hot too
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This is a bit out of topic but is there any chance you can review the Nike Air Monarch (not kidding)? I can’t seem to find any serious reviews of the shoe and how it performs on a basketball court. I don’t get why they keep making fun of the shoe.
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Well it isn’t a serious hoop shoe. The Monarch is really the official Nike shoe of old people. Just go to the mall library or grocery store and look down and you’ll see why. For the $55 price you can get a lot of great hoop shoes at discount stores. I don’t really know why it gets so much old people love lol
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My theory is becuase it is sold at department stores like Sears, The Bay, etc where old ppl shop more at vs Footlocker, Champs, etc.. The colorways are your basic all-white which is good for old people so they can see what yucky stuff they been stepping on (I am a health care aide btw). And maybe its tooled towards old people feet? So when old people try it on they are like damn these feel good. I bet if department stores had some boost or Zoom basketball shoes and old people try them on they would fall over.
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It’s definitely the simplicity of the shoe. Lol
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Just curious what keeps it from being a good hoop shoe? Is it the support and stability? traction or cushion? fit? By the way I’m from the Philippines so there’s no stigma attached to wearing a pair of monarchs lol. I just wanted a shoe that I could play outdoors with and use for running at the same time. In basketball all I do is shoot shots from the perimeter and the only time I drive to the rim is on a fastbreak where I get easy layups or play 1 on 1 and play some defense.
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Im sure you could hoop in them but there are lots of better options for the same price that’s all. If you’re looking for a running /hoop shoe get a low top cross trainer or tennis shoe. If you like how the monarch looks go for it though.
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Oh and I’ve got flat and wide feet too so a lot of shoes are out of my consideration. I tried playing in the AJ xx9 and my ankles hurt like hell (possibly from over-pronation).
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thanks!
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Do you still dislike this shoe? When I tried these on in store they fit my wide feet perfectly but concerned about the traction. Barring the arch problem (seemed okay for my feet) do you prefer this to the clb 2016. Looking forward to your full review.
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I like them a lot more after playing in them and breaking them in but I don’t love them. Traction not nearly as good as clb on dusty floors. Clean floors it’s fine. Cushioning is right up my alley as it works well even though it’s lower to the ground. It’s taking me a lot longer than normal bc I’m trying to work all the kinks out to see if I can work out issues with shoe.
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