Nike PG1 Performance Analysis and Review
Written by schwollo
* sorry Spring Break threw a wrench in my schedule*
Executive Summary: the PG1 is a good all around shoe that does nearly everything well and outperforms a lot of shoes at higher price points. Cushioning isn’t premium feeling but it works fine. Glad to see PG13 finally get his shoe. And glad Nike learned how to design an aesthetically pleasing shoe again.
The PG1 Tackle Box Pack: Shimano Curado, Seaguar InvizX, and Senkos not included
Paul plays basketball, Paul is great player, Paul should have gotten a sig shoe years ago but broke his leg, Paul is back to balling, Paul loves fishing and basketball, I love fishing and basketball, I like Paul. Let’s hit the lake PG13!
My best bass last year, a 7-7.5 ish pound bass caught on the PG1 pack above sans the shoes. Fish was released after pic
PG13 really should have gotten his sig shoe a few years ago but better late than never. The reel question is if the PG1 a good shoe or is it a stinker(bait). Does it kick bass or is it just crappie? It it a keeper or a throw back? Did we get catfished by Nike ? Did we fall for Nike marketing hook, line, and sinker ? Are we hooked on Nike basketball shoes again or is this just a snag?
Pros: traction, fit, materials feel like they should be on a more expensive shoe, support, stability, containment, price
Cons: cushioning feels like firm Phylon but works fine and should be expected at this price point, rides higher than other guard shoes
Best for: guards
Sizing: wide footers should go half a size up, narrow and footers could get away with true to size
Weight
15.5 ounces which is about average for today’s shoes
Traction
Micro Grooves on the PG1 are reminiscent of what we saw on the Mamba Instinct. The rubber is soft and pliable and I had zero issues with traction on any court conditions. While playing at one of my goto dirty courts aka 24 Hour Fitness, I didn’t wipe at all for over an hour while the Curry 3 Low required wiping within ten minutes. *Side note, I’ve said it before but the Curry 3 traction isn’t close to Curry 2, it’s more like the Clutchfit Drive 1*
I’ve had very good success with every Nike that featured micro grooves or one of its variants except for the Kobe XI but that may have been due to the translucent rubber that just picked up too much dust. I feel the grooves are spaced just far enough so dirt doesn’t stick in between them and the rubber don’t pick up dust like glue. Traction on the PG1 is on par with the Mamba Instinct, Kobe AD which is pretty damn good.
Well done Nike!
Ride Height
Usually I don’t talk too much about ride height but the PG1 does sit a lot higher off the ground than normal guard shoes. It isn’t Lebron X high but when you switch from the PG1 to an average guard shoe like the Lillard 2 or Curry 3, you feel like you’re on the ground. You can see the a general difference in height in the pic above. Not a deal breaker by any means but it’s worth noting.
Cushioning
At $110, I didn’t expect much in terms of Zoom and it feels decent overall but feels just like a budget Nike shoe set up to me. The cushioning feels mostly like Phylon (which I expected) and I could feel the forefoot Zoom just enough to notice it. The designer of the PG1 stated that they used a larger Zoom bag in the forefoot but I really couldn’t tell.
If the Zoom wasn’t protruding slightly, I probably wouldn’t have known there was a Zoom unit at all.
If you’ve never played in a Phylon shoe, it feels fairly firm with very little spring or bounce but it’s still comfortable enough. Phylon firmness can vary from shoe to shoe and this set up is firmer than other team models such as the Run the One but cushioned more than the Kyrie 2 or 3. The PG1 one has a lot of Phylon so the cushioning is definitely there. The downside to Phylon, like basic foams like EVA, is long term comfort and durability as it starts to break down. However, the super thick sockliner helps hide the “Phylonness” of the PG1
Curry 3 Low sockliner vs the PG1
There is a lot of the step in comfort comes from this super thick sockliner. It has to be at least 10 to 15% thicker than a normal liner. The thick sockliner probably contributes to the tighter than normal fit of the PG1. Nice segway eh?
Fit
To me, the fit is the highlight of the shoe but you need to get the right size or your forefoot might get uncomfortable. I tried on my normal size 11 and my neuromas were firing because my toes couldn’t spread out at all. Part of the reason is the previously mentioned super thick sockliner. I opted for half size up and all was better though. One other option is swapping the sockliner for a thinner one (still a tad tight for me). I had zero movement side to side, no dead space, and minimal heel slip from the get go. Heel fit improved after a few wears to near perfect for me. Why can’t they all be this simple?
The PG1 is a one piece mesh upper made up of mesh and nubuck on the lateral side as well as around heel for support and strength (and looks).
In addition there is a forefoot strap that does its job by narrowing the forefoot when you pull it tightly. I had no need to tighten it since it’s already a narrow shoe for my wide feet. I could feel the Flywire on the medial side when I pulled tight but it wasn’t an issue.
Lastly, the heel is very padded and contoured which is a refreshing change.
I was so excited to wear them I didn’t take the sticker off
There is a deep notch that is hard to see but all the padding just gives a nice one to one feel. I’d say it took two wearings for the padding to really learn my foot but it was solid from the start.
Well done Nike!
Materials
What is this space age material? FlyLthEr? Nope it’s just nubuck and mesh. It’s a nice blend of old and new school materials that really gives the feel of a much more expensive shoe. I have a feeling we will see more of this type of set up as Nike tries to capture more of the lower price point customers.
I like this strategy, keep doing it Nike!
Support and Stablity
Support comes mainly from the fit, heel counter and countered raised midsole. It kind of looks like a low top but I feel like it is high low top or a low mid top. No issues with the support at all. Midfoot support is also very good thanks to a stiffer than normal cushioning set up as well as an internal plastic shank.
Stability is fantastic on the PG1 thanks to a large forefoot outrigger and flat outsole.
Add in the firmer cushioning set up and you have a solid stable shoe.
Well done Nike!
Containment
The PG1 does a very good job on containment thanks to a raised midsole similar to the Hyperrev 2016’s. It does flex a little bit on hard cuts but it’s better than most which is good enough for me. I can’t believe I single handedly brought back containment the past few years.
Conclusion
Expectations, value, and looks on this $110 sig shoe is what will probably win over a lot of buyers and it’s a great strategy by Nike to steal back some customers from UA and Adidas. Almost everything about the shoe is great and the cushioning, while not premium feeling, does a good job (Nike had to cut costs somewhere right?). I really liked the throwback feel to a padded lined interior.
Should you jump on it at the $110 price point ? I feel it is worth $110 but look around enough and you can find them for $90 with coupons. I used a Dick’s Sporting goods coupon to get these for $90. And if they are at Dick’s they are everywhere. Don’t fall for the online sellout tricks.
Overall, the PG1 is a great start to a new signature shoe, far better than the Kyrie 1 in my opinion. I actually think the bow tie logo is a fantastic and creative design (I think the Kyrie and KD logos are lazy and uninspired). Cushioning isn’t the best or very fun but it works fine while the rest of the shoe performs very well. Personally, I have the PG1 and Curry 3 Low as my top two shoes in 2017 but neither is really in my top 10 rotation but overall you can still say the PG1 kicks some BASS.
schwollo.com 
I was looking forward to those but the Phylon-feeling cushioning is a bummer for me. sad because I love how this shoe looks – it is something I can go to the gym, to work and so on… But now I also will not hurry for a new shoe as I ruptured 3 ankle ligaments and maybe broke something in there too lol
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Oh dang! Get better Jangoux!
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Nice review. I feel like Nike is starting to make some better looking basketball shoes IMO. Probably won’t pick these up because typically I like a bouncy set up but still nice shoe. What shoe are you reviewing next? Thanks Schwollo!
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I’m not sure actually nothing really interesting to me right now. Thanks for reading !
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Aw, this is a bummer! I always look forward to your reviews… even when I’m not really in the market for anything—haha! But I feel you on not being interested in anything new at the moment. Anything on the horizon that you’re looking forward to? You gonna mess with the KD IX elites?
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I’m going to check them out and see if they improved anything and decide on the elite or not.. don’t worry I gave plenty of other older shoes to write about lol
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WOO-HOO!
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How does the cushion compare to the Kyrie 3s? Thanks
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It’s much softer than the Kyrie due to the sockliner and the amount of Phylon they use
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Nice review schwollo. I hope they have full length zoom options on nike id soon. The colorways are nice too. How does the pg1 traction compare with the kobe 9 or curry 2?
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I doubt the change the cushioning for Nike ID since it isn’t a drop in insole but who knows? Traction is pretty close to Kobe 9 curry 2 just not quite as grippy by a hair. Still better than 95% out there.
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Hmmm just a thought, if the phylon breaks down enough in the soldier 10, would the zoom bags be felt?
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based off how u said that phylon breaks down over time
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By break down I mean feels more dead. I don’t think the Zoom would feel any better after the foam breaks down
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oh i see, thanks 😀
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what are the cushions that have the best durability in your experience?
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Boost, full length Zoom, regular zoom depending on model, Micro g, bounce, charged.. all pretty good
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Boost will feel the most similar from day 1 to day xxx
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thanks again ma 😀
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How would you compare these to the Kobe line? Especially the 4, I see a lot of similarities between the two.
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Kobe’s have typically been lighter and flexible yet stayed supportive..pg is a little stiff and more protective feeling. Cushioning wise, Kobe of course have lunarlon or Zoom so a better cushioning set up.
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I’ve been waiting quite a while for you to review something. Contemplating on getting the PG1 but I feel more colorways will come out and they’ll have a Nike ID option. Glad to see you back schwollo
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Its always good to see a budget shoe with great performance freatures, sometimes by the silhouette of the shoe one can tell the fit its going to be great
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Nice review,as a fan of a firmer cushioning this is a must have for me
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Ohh forgot to mention ,any chance on reviewing brandblack future legend??those thing intrigue me,while nw already review them ,i feel like i could not get a clearer picture on how the actually perform/feel(one of reason why i prefer a good detailes writtem review
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I really doubt I’m going to review them unless I find them for under $50 which is possible I guess lol
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Well sir ,i do hope you find the right deal!!as i would love to see what you think of them
Im a fan of eccentric looking shoes
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Haha to each their own!
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How is this not one of your top shoes? What else is worse than the Curry 2 besides the traction? Is Charged that much better than thick Phylon?
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It’s one of my top 2 for 2017 but not in my rotation bc it has 20 years of shoes to contend with. It doesn’t do anything better than the Curry 2 (or really any of my top 10) so no point for me to switch. Charged isn’t a ton better than Phylon but I like it more than what’s on the Pg1.
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Thanks for responding. We share the same tastes in shoes. I guess I will get another Curry 2.
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97 on ua.com ycmc had a pair or two for 65
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Great review as always. I was able to grab a pair before general release but haven’t gotten around to actually playing in them yet but just walking around in them they fit my foot great( I have skinny narrow feet)and I love the materials especially for the price. I can personally really feel the zoom unit and I’m a low top guy so these are pretty cool. Are you going to test the KD 9 Elites? I’ve played in them and love them slightly more then the original which was my number 1 shoe. Traction was better in my opinion rarely did I have to wipe. Thanks for all your reviews.
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I checked the elites out this weekend and I’m going to see if can I get a pair on the cheap. Seems to run shorter than the regulars kd ix which is a good thing and I like the sturdiness of the “lace loops”..
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At last Nike made a well constructed basketball shoe with very nice design and at low price. It took Nike a long time to release a sig shoe for PG13 but better later than never. Overall it’s much better than the first Kyrie. Once again a very thorough review!
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Def better than the first Kyrie..I read Nike is aiming for the “lower end ” market so don’t be surprised to see better value on cheaper shoes
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I just copped the ivory pg1s but I dunno when I’ll play in these. Size 14 fit me perfectly but these are so gorgeous I dunno if I wanna mess em up by playing in them.
I might end up getting multiple cws of these like I did with the harden 1s.
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Get two pair of colorways you really like or buy a colorway you don’t like to ball in lol
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Hi schwollo,
Ive got an ankle that is prone to ankle sprains; could you recommend me a good basketball shoe where my heels are really low to the ground?
Other types of ankle support would be appreciated but I favour heel lockdown/height most. My shoes prior, ce 16, kd 9, d rose 6, whilst padded, all rode very high and didn’t give me the control I need. I’m a 5″11 pg.
P.S I live in Australia where it’s hard to find older bball shoes and only latest models are sold (direct from Nike/adidas)
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Kobe 8, Mamba Instinct and Mentality 2 come to mind for Low to the ground. I think stability is most important when it comes to ankle protection so you might want to try the Curry 2 or Curry 3 Low (I like it better than the mid). Pg1 rides high but feels “safe” as well.
In the meantime I suggest balancing on one leg with your bad ankle to strengthen the muscles around your ankle. It really helped me a lot, more than any shoe fix.
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Thanks for that info!
Unfortunately, they don’t stock the curry 2 or 3 lows over here (they only have the standard 3).
What about the d rose 7’s? For ankle?
Yep yep I’ve been doing those exercises, just need the extra protection on my shoes so that I’ll feel “safer” going up for that rebound/drive as it’s as much as a mental problem as it is a physical one.
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Rose 7 sits a little higher in the heel but yes very good ankle support . Peek at my top ten rotation bc I like shoes thst do everything well. Curry 3 mid is good overall I just prefer the 2 or 2.5 (shocked they aren’t over there). Feel free to bounce other shoes off me
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I know you only review ball shoes, but can you review the ultra boost, also tennis shoes like the adidas tennis energy boost or barricade boost
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If I had time to play tennis I would review them but unfortunately I don’t. I did try the energy boost on and it’s only ok..very thin Boost in the forefoot and doesn’t feel quite right for some reason. Barricade Boost is decent but I still like the regular older barricades. Check out tennis warehouse or tennis express for some good reviews. As for ultra boosts, I bought some recently so I may do a write up but I don’t run or anything so pretty useless in that regard (they are comfy though lol) . Lots of serious running shoe reviewers out there just google it.
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Thanks for the review as always! I’m about to grab a new pair of shoes, but I’m having a bit of trouble deciding between these or the Curry 3 lows. I’m a pretty small guard (5’7″, 135lbs). The traction on the PG 1 seems like it would win me over, but I’m not sure if I’m gonna like how it sits higher off the ground than the average guard shoe. Currently, I’ve been rotating between the Kobe X and HD low 2016. If you were in my shoes (no pun intended), which pair would you get? Thanks!
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You’ll get used to the ride height with the pg1. Id take the traction of the pg1 over the curry traction however I like the curry 3 Low a little more than the pg1 mainly bc the cushioning feels better to me and I do like the lower ride height. Can you try them on anywhere?
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Unfortunately, there aren’t any curry 3 lows in stores here, but I have tried the pg1s and the first thing that came to mind when I put them on was how high off the ground they felt. With that said, based on what you are telling me, it doesn’t seem like I can go wrong with either pair, so I might go for the curry 3 lows then because they are on sale right now so they are even cheaper than the pg 1s. Thanks!
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MyFitnessPal/ua has some 40 off 100 coupons floating around FYI so even better than before lol
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I wish those coupons worked here in Canada =( thanks for the heads up though still!
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I can overlook the lack of heel cushion on these, but lateral containment is just no bueno. They made the forefoot tech exactly backwards, lol. They should have reinforced that lateral side, not the medial, and the velcro strap should be going the other direction. It’s shame because it’s a beautiful shoe in black and very comfortable. Maybe if you have a wide foot, you fill it out better and containment improves.
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I agree 100% lol lateral containment isn’t bad at all just there are other shoes that do it better
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How do you you feel about these vs the kobe AD been looking for a good lowtop for a while
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I like the AD a lot except for the annoying outrigger . Cushioning feels good to me overall , better than the PG1. I like the nxt ad the most but it’s a big jump in price ESP with the AD going on sale now .
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Man, I really want to try these but I’ve got too many shoes that I don’t even wear anymore and am trying not to buy anymore until I get rid of some of them.
One thing that’s giving me pause on the PG’s is you said they feel high off the ground compared to the Lillard 2’s. Well, the Lillard 2’s feel high off the ground compared to the Kobe 11 EM – the only shoe I’ve been hooping in all spring! That aspect might make the shoe not be for me. Though I love the sounds of everything else, so maybe after some adjustment time I’d be ok with that feel.
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You get used to it quickly. Just wait and try when they hit clearance
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That’s probably what I’ll end up doing. Though moreso than spending money on them, it’s just the fact that I have quite a few pairs of kicks that get zero use anymore that makes me not want to pick anything else up right now. I should probably donate or sell 6-7 pairs first, and then I’ll be ready to cop something.
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Haha I can’t talk at all I have hundreds just sitting in their boxes. Been chipping away at selling some but it’s a long process
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Hi! Have you tried the drose 7 low? If yes how does it compare to the pg1?
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It isn’t out yet in the US so no I haven’t
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I’m 175 cm, 75 kilograms, I mostly play outdoors and need a little bit support and impact protection. Should I get a pair of this? I’m in love with the design and its reasonable price xD
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It’s a good shoe overall. Cushioning isn’t the best but if you like the design go for it. Forefoot upper might get beat up outdoors since it is mesh though.
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Do these have removable outsoles and will they work ok with superfeet orthos
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Yes you can remove the insole it is very thick. Go up at least half a size if you’re replacing the insole maybe even a full size from your regular size . Try on is best though
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Pg 1 vs kyrie 3 what’s better I have no clue can’t make a decision!!!
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I’d take the pg1. Better everything for a little less.
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I cant believe u were kidding when u said flylether and now theyre actually making flyleather 😂
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I just found the article about Fly leather hahahahah couldn’t come up with a better name ?
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Hi Schwollo, I just bought a pair of these in my regular size 10.5 us, the only trouble was the fit. When I put them on, it was super tight, uncomfy and hurt my soles as hell no matter I loosen the strap and the laces. Nightmare. So should I go up half a size? Or just patiently waiting for the materials to break in?
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Half size up at least . They are just plain tight
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Yo Schwollo! I’ve been really wanting to get a pair of kobe 5s for nostalgic reasons. However, the prices on them are quite steep. I’ve been leaning towards the Pg 1s instead, as I read another sneaker reviewer’s review and he said the PG 1s had a similar fit to the kobe 5s. Do you think the Pg 1s and Kobe 5s fit similarly? Also, What are some other similarities between the 2 aforementioned shoes?
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No exactly how that conclusion was drawn since the shape, construction, design and materials of the shoes are very different. Both have a very good fit but they are very different shoes. Pg has a bootie set up so it will feel like a sock . The Kobe v is flyskin and although it’s lower cut, fits the heel very well. It’s also extremely light (around 10 or 11 ounces ) while the pg is 15.5 ounces. Cushioning is great on the Kobe V with very prominent Zoom feel while the pg is very Phylony. Pg1 traction is better than the Kobe v though. Kobe V is really fun to play in though and sits lower to the ground. Hope that helps.
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Wow, you’re the goat when it comes to sneaker reviews. Thanks so much!!!
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btw, is there a shoe from the past 2-3 years that play like the kobe 5?
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I can’t think of one off the top of my head. Everything has gotten bulkier and thicker since the V. Look for a barely used pair is probably your best bet (GOAT app or eBay ) usually 130 buck range
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