2017 Year In Review, Rankings and Awards

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Good riddance 2017

One of my friend’s houses who got hit hard

2017 felt like a non stop cycle of bad news: Mass shootings in the US, bombings in the the UK, crazy wild fires, and of course hurricanes. Hurricane Harvey but particularly close to home both literally and figuratively since Htown is my hometown. Luckily most of my friends and family came out unscathed with only a few friends of mine having any flood damage. A lot of families are still displaced in Houston because their houses are uninhabitable and there just aren’t enough workers to go around to rebuild. In addition, FEMA didn’t come through for everyone so rebuilding will have to wait until enough money is saved. Keep in mind Houston might have gotten all the press coverage but cities up and down the entire middle Gulf Coast got hammered especially Port Aransas and Rockport. You can donate here if you have some spare change.

As grim as late August and early September were for us, the Houston Astros uplifted everyone’s spirits in Houston and really all of Texas (except maybe Texas Ranger fans). Fifty five years of existence, one World Series appearance in 2005 and the Astros win the World Series in seven games the year that Hurricane Harvey decided to take a dump on Houston ? And the final score was 5-1 (Harvey dropped 51 inches of rain on Houston). You can’t write a better movie ending people. Still, there is lots of work to be done in Houston but at least we can call ourselves World Series Champions.

The Best Things I Purchased This Year

‘47 Brand knocked it out of the park. I bought every shirt in this pic from Academy which is a smallish sporting goods store here in the south. Not only are they official Astros sponsors, but they stood by Houstonians and Texans during Harvey by opening up theirs stores for First Responders. Whataburger and will always have me as customers while Mattress Mack and JJ Watt will always have me as a fan because they just stepped up to the plate when we needed them most. There were so many unsung everyday non celebrity heroes during Harvey that they all deserve a serious round of applause.

Capsule X Staple Minimalist Wallet

I got tired of having the same LV wallet that all my friends had and I liked the fact that I could show some sneakhead fandom while not looking over the top. Great leather, a beautiful smart and simple design for $75 bucks. If you don’t know who Jeff Staple is you can’t call yourself a sneakerhead.

Of course in typical sneaker fashion, these are all sold out but Capsule still has a lot of cool options: Capsule Wallets

Titleist 917D3 9.5 degrees, Graphite Design BB 6X.

My first new driver in five years. Not highly talked about but longer, straighter and more forgiving for me than the highly touted TaylorMade M1 or Callaway Epic. Just picked it up and smacked it straight out of the box. Also I went back to the ProV1 and I’m back to being an elevator..getting up and down from everywhere. I love you Titleist.

I’m Training Rip Cones

You’ve probably seen these cones on any training video and I finally pulled the trigger this past month. I’m thrilled with the results so far because these dumb little cones get you to get down low and be explosive. Standing erect is great for posture but not during hoops. I’ll be writing a full review soon. I used soda bottles prior and they work just as well for most cone based exercises but are free versus $10 a piece

Two Tickets to Paradise Kids Free

A much needed break for me and the wife

Too many Loco Mocos in Maui, I’m pretty sure I had about one per day. Hawaii is my spirit state, I just love the vibe. If I lived there I would probably never hoop because the ocean calls my name. I am Moana of Te’fiti.

Anyways, onto the 2017 rankings and awards

My Favorite Off Court Shoes

Nike Free Flyknit

The last pair of Nike Frees I bought lasted ten years but I don’t run so that’s why they lasted so long. One rule of thumb with Nike Free’s that I follow is to never buy at retail. Got these for $65 or so. The design doesn’t change much year to year so there really is no reason to buy them right away. Just a comfortable lightweight sock.

New Balance CruzI really like the design and colors of this pair. Like the Free, I didn’t buy them until a few months after the release date and got them for $47. Nice cushioning, fit and very comfortable out of the box. I’ve always liked NB stuff because they are typically made well and last. My last pairs were 802’s or something like that and they lasted seven years through constant abuse.

Most Beautiful

Simplicity sells simple as that. All the mumbo jump tech speak doesn’t matter if the average consumer thinks it’s ugly.

Most improved

Soldier XI:

Nike improved everything from the X and the XI is solid across the board. No where to really go but up from last year’s model.

Best traction

  1. HD17
  2. Explosive bounce
  3. Kobe NXT
  4. Kobe AD Mid
  5. Pg1 and Curry 4

Most Comfortable cushioning

No surprises here

  1. Lebron XV
  2. Lebron XIV
  3. Kd X
  4. Rose 8
  5. AJ 32

Best Blended Cushioning

WTF is blended cushioning ? It’s my definition for a nice combo of comfort and responsiveness. Basically, firmer yet still comfortable cushioning.

  1. Rose 8
  2. AJ 32
  3. Kobe AD Mid and NXT
  4. Explosive Bounce
  5. Dame 4 and HD17

Fit

  1. Crazy Explosive 17
  2. Dame 4
  3. PG1
  4. Kobe NXT
  5. Jordan 32

I had the Curry 4 in here but I had to knock the Curry 4 down a notch because it is too “one size fits only one”. If you don’t fit your normal size you have to adjust to it not the other way around.

Support

What’s this category? Only a few shoes offer some additional support nowadays.

  1. Rose 8
  2. AJ 32
  3. Kyrie 4
  4. Curry 3Zero

Containment

All the usual suspects

  1. Curry 4
  2. Dame 4
  3. Kyrie 4
  4. Rose 8
  5. AJ 32

Best Lowish Top Shoe

Since Nike is calling lows mids now so I decided to make the category count anything I felt constituted a lower cut. I’m not really low type of guy but all of these worked great for me.

Best Lowish Cut

  1. Kobe AD Mid
  2. AJ XXXI Low Solid
  3. Kobe NXT
  4. PG1
  5. Dame 4

Best Performing Signature Shoe

  1. Kobe AD Mid
  2. AJ XXXI Low Solid
  3. Kobe NXT
  4. PG1
  5. Rose 8, Dame 4, AJ 32

I had a hard time trying to decide where to put the NXT and the XXXI Low, so I went with the one I thought performed better due to traction. I threw the Dame 4, Rose 8 and AJ 32 in together at the five spot because they all do some things very well but they also have some glaring weakness. The Rose 8 is probably the most well rounded out of the three though.

Best Budget Shoe

I wasn’t really sure what I should make the cutoff for what counts as budget. $100? But ten bucks more gets me a PG1 but then ten bucks more gets me a Kyrie..but then ten bucks more gets me the Curry 4. Do I include shoes that are under $100 due to sales ? In reality I should do it that way since the purchase price is the actual paid price not the retail price but that just opens a whole new can of worms. I’ve noticed price cuts and sales have been coming faster and heavier this year so just wait a month or two and everything ends up in the budget category.

In the end I went with $115 but it doesn’t matter because the Explosive Bounce wins anyways due to the best on court performanceand the lowest price. Not to mention they are on sale for $70 now on Adidas before any promos. These almost took the top overall spot.

  1. Explosive Bounce
  2. PG1
  3. Dame 4
  4. Mamba Instinct

I’d put the Instinct at 3 if it didn’t roll up like a ball.

2017 First team (in order of preference)

Pic courtesy of the Score

  1. Hd 17
  2. Explosive bounce
  3. Kobe AD Mid
  4. Air Jordan XXXI solid outsole
  5. Kobe NXT

Nike React Hyperdunk 2017

The React Hyperdunk took my top spot for the year around mid July and hasn’t let go. It’s always been a jack of all trades and it continued to do that this year as well. Traction really stood out for me and is tied for the best the year with the Explosive Bounce. React foam worked great for me and is a nice balance of springiness, impact protection and responsiveness. Flyknit or mesh, it doesn’t matter, the HD 17 flat out performs. Nike is artificially keeping the price of the FK high on their website but you can get them at a discount on Eastbay or Finishline. The mesh versions are all discounted heavily everywhere. A little patience saves a lot of dough my friends.

Adidas Explosive Bounce

I can’t get over how generic this shoe looks but damn, it plays great. If it’s good enough for average height ultra quick guard Yogi Ferrell and the Process (sometimes) I can assure you it will work for you. It could use some more midfoot support but the balance of excellent traction, cushioning, and stability makes it a favorite of mine for the year even if it isn’t sexy or full of latest and greatest tech speak. It just plays like a shoe should. Too bad I can’t swap the outsole with the Dame 4..

Kobe AD Mid

Another performer that seemed to go under the radar for some reason. True, the materials aren’t the best looking but everything else about it is great. Great traction, fun cushioning, and very stable with a full range of motion. Best of all they are sitting and are being discounted. If The Kobe brand had an official ambassador like Jordan brand, these would spark some more interest…well that and better color blocking. Just say no to monochrome.

Air Jordan XXXI Solid Outsole

Don’t buy the translucent outsole because it’s just as bad as the mid. I tested out my friend’s pair and sure enough it was Yamaguchi time just like the mids. This is the Zoom BB I reborn. If you want some bang for your buck, pick these up now since they are super cheap.

Kobe NXT

If you like drop in insoles, you’ll love these. I keep flip flopping between which one I like more between the NXT and AJ XXXI Low. I like the cushioning more on the AJ but the traction is better on the NXT. Oh poor me I can’t pick between two shoes to play indoor basketball in. Wtf is wrong with me?

Honorable Mention

I really wish MiAdidas added more speckles. I guess I’ll do it myself

I really really love playing in these but not when it counts. I played in four tournaments this year (won two, finals of another and went 0 Fer in the last one…don’t drink and ball kids) and you know what I reached for every time it was championship time? The Curry 2 or HD17 just because I trusted the traction that much. If traction were a little better on dusty floors I’d definitely include them in the top 5 but the rest of shoe’s greatness can’t be ignored. If you play on clean floors or don’t need top tier traction, these are for you.

Sorry Dame, always the bridesmaid. Can we still be friends ?

Scroll to the 2:30 mark. Hooper, Rapper and Actor, Golden Globes look out!

Second team (also in order)

Pic courtesy of SI

These are all great options but I just didn’t get excited about them for one reason or another.

Rose 8

I know my review wasn’t super enthusiastic about the Rose 8 and that’s because I have the Rose 7 which is very similar but with better traction. If you want another all around great performer, go for the Rose 8 especially as it gathers dust on the virtual shelf. I haven’t seen these in any store, is it just an online exclusive ? Once again, materials might feel cheap but they break in just fine. Another alternative of course is to just buy the Rose 7; just because the calendar year is over doesn’t mean you can’t buy shoes from last year. Pretty much why I don’t like yearly lists. Hmm I might have to write a best of for the past five years.

Nike PG 1: very good at everything, great traction and fit, boring Phylony cushioning, sits a little high. Crazy cheap now.

Dame 4: Technically, it isn’t on the first team so I’ll just stick it here. Fix the traction for us common folk please Adidas. At least they are under $86 already at Finishline.

Air Jordan XXXII: the 32 does everything well while doing nothing badly although I find it a little clunky and too shoeish. I think a few tweaks to the shoe really would have made this great. Lots of tech specs doesn’t always translate into an exceptional shoe and this feels shoe still feels like a shoe after break in.

Crazy Explosive 2017: traction and outsole durability didn’t improve and I still feel the forefoot bottoming out. I loved the fit, stiffer upper and the looks though.

Third Team (somewhat in order and more than five but who cares at this point)

Pic courtesy of the Undefeated

Curry 4– Seth Curry parts, Steph Curry name. I could put this on the 2nd team due to its great fit and traction but its very average EVUA cushioning *this description was changed this week* hahah

and sharp lace pressure put it into the 3rd team. It’s over precise fit also helped knock it down a notch because if you’re not exactly a certain size, you have to adjust to the shoe, not the other way around. I’ve never had a shoe where half a size matters this much so while it is good for some, it is a lot of adjustments for everyone else. It is sexy though.

Nike Mamba Instinct: Areally good shoe especially for the price. I’ve seen them around fifty bucks lately and there is ZERO reason to get the 2018 model, the Mamba Rage. It does need more midfoot support since it can roll into a ball but it does everything else well.

Nike Lebron Soldier XI: A jack of all trades. Very good traction but did nothing outstanding for me.

Nike KD X: traction slightly worse than the IX after break in, containment improved slightly still not great, nice materials. Great cushioning just like IX after you break it in. Felt very bottom heavy for me, more so than the IX and I can’t figure out why. Sorry I didn’t have time to write a review.

Curry 3 Low: my favorite of the Curry 3 line. I really wish the Curry 3 had the Curry 2 traction. Good shoe all around but nothing outstanding and does nothing better than the Curry 2 Mid. Traction isn’t nearly as good as the Curry 2.

Curry 3Zero: better fit than the 3, plays better than the 3 Mid due to improved heel fit and less padding. Actually heavier than the Curry 3 despite what the marketing materials say. Same traction as the Curry 3, 3 low and very similar to the Clutchfit Drive 1 set up as well.

Nike Kyrie 4: not the best or worst at anything. Okay traction and decent cushioning. Take the Kyrie name off and nobody would care about this shoe let alone pay $120 for it. Even Kyrie doesn’t care for it and he gets paid to wear it.

Adidas Dame 3: lots of lace pressure, a little clunky, very good traction. I found some at the outlet for $29.99 so I can’t complain about the price now. Adidas basketball shoe prices fall like bricks and will continue to do so until an Adidas player is holding a championship trophy. No pressure James Harden.

Tropics

Pic courtesy of ESPN. Corn dogs anyone?

Adidas Ball 365: even though it was released last year I’m counting it for this year. The Ball366 was a major disappointment: Painful lace pressure, some heel sli, same materials as the Dame 3, and a Climawarm lining that retailed for $130? Regretted the purchase almost immediately.

LBJ XV: just not for me. Nice cushioning and materials but easily the worst traction of the year and sits way too high off the ground. I’d rather wear the Lebron XIV, KD IX Or X if I wanted cushioning or the Soldier XI for a more complete shoe AND have some extra cash in my pocket.

Nike Lebron XIV: excellent cushioning, sloppy fit, too tippy in the heel for me though. Two Lebron sigs within ten months is one too many. Space it out better Nike!

Conclusion

There are a lot of good shoes out there, probably more than ever so just because it didn’t make my list don’t think a shoe is garbage. Anything from my First to Third team is more than playable but there are little details that may or may not work for you. If you like how a shoe looks or it’s a shoe of your favorite player, just buy it, you won’t regret it since you already have an emotional attachment to the shoe. It’s okay to be shallow when it comes to shoes just don’t be that way with people. #proverb42018

I try my best to give an honest assessment of every shoe that I buy so if I miss something or I’m not in tune with another review, don’t have tunnel ears, do your research and look on Niketalk or use YouTube/Google to help you decide. And if you still don’t have answer you like, go buy a pair yourself to decide if the shoe is right for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, I’m always happy to answer questions because I will inevitably miss something. Always speak up and ask questions..hey another proverb to live by.

Bring on 2018!

Oh btw, I was so busy this year that I didn’t even get to talk about NCAA shoe gate and how dirty sneaker companies but I hope to get around to it this year. Happy 2018 everyone!

Posted in Sneaker Reviews

78 Comment on “2017 Year In Review, Rankings and Awards”

  1. celtics12 January 8, 2018 at 4:10 am

    So relatable with the LV wallet; seems to be part of the uniform for asian bros around the country

    How often do yall scrub down the outsoles of your shoes? Is it a good idea or bad? I usually never do but I decided to do a deep clean on a pair of my shoes which left the traction feeling amazing the next time i played. For 15 min.. afterwards the extra grippiness seemed to pick up even more dirt than when it was mildly dirty already. Wondering if leaving it be and just hand wiping is the way to go

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. schwollo January 8, 2018 at 2:56 pm

      Hahah the black epi leather LV wallet? Lol
      I use dawn periodically but usually I don’t take my shoes outdoors at all. I don’t think it affects the traction but that’s just my personal experience

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      Reply
  2. DonWong23 January 8, 2018 at 3:44 pm

    Really nice write up Schwollo, especially the beginning and the ending of the article.

    Can’t wait to see what 2018 brings – hopefully only good things (with the real world and sneaker world)

    Congrats on a successful 2017

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. schwollo January 8, 2018 at 5:47 pm

      Thanks Don! Hope 2018 is great in Canada as well!

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  3. Joeyy January 9, 2018 at 2:27 am

    Hey schwollo! This might be a bit confusing, but, out of all the nike shoes you’ve ever played in, which one offers the best combination of traction, fit, and containment?

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    1. schwollo January 9, 2018 at 3:53 am

      Look at my top ten pinned on the menu. I don’t really sub in newer shoes unless they are better. Kobe IV is still in my rotation bc of all those attributes.

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      1. Joeyy January 9, 2018 at 4:43 am

        Thanks! Great reviews btw 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Faris 'Imadi January 9, 2018 at 5:46 am

    One hell of a mixtape this one heheh. Well done schwollo!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. grittyman January 9, 2018 at 6:21 am

    Just got a pair of FK Hyperdunk 17’s this past weekend for $57 from a Nike clearance store. Thought I was done buying shoes for a while after getting the Kobe ADM’s but couldn’t turn down these performance beasts at this price. Still looking for a some Explosive Bounce’s at a discounted price and that’s it I swear…lol

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. schwollo January 9, 2018 at 3:14 pm

      Damn that’s cheap! Don’t worry nobody is buying the explosive Bounce so they will hit outlets for super cheap.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. fariz January 17, 2018 at 3:16 pm

        i wouldn’t mind a pair in size 11! Anyone wanna help me out a brother?

        Like

  6. tazzari14 January 9, 2018 at 7:47 pm

    Nice piece, Schwollo. Seems like 2017 was really eventful for you. Hope 2018 brings you and your family better things. Keep up the good reviews and thanks again for all your help, I’m sure your readers appreciate them a ton!

    P.S. I also think it’d be nice to hear your opinion on things not shoe-related like the NCAA scandal, just so we get to discuss things like that on here as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. schwollo January 9, 2018 at 9:44 pm

      Thanks Tazzari! I hope 2018’treats you well as well

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      Reply
  7. Bojan January 10, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    why do you prefer kobe mid over xxx1 low?

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    1. schwollo January 10, 2018 at 5:21 pm

      Traction is a little better. I had a hard time deciding between the two and I just saw I wrote the opposite of what I ranked them (I fixed it, thanks for making me check) I think both are great but for different reasons.

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  8. GreekSneakCollector January 11, 2018 at 5:42 am

    And the award goes to…!!! Happy New Year!

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  9. Happy Fan January 11, 2018 at 2:41 pm

    How long before lunarlon on kobe ad mid bottoms out?

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    1. schwollo January 11, 2018 at 6:03 pm

      Depends how often you play but I’d say 8 -10 months if you played 2-3 times a week . It is thicker than other Kobe’s

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  10. Alvan January 11, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    Thanks for all your work this year! I’ve tried a few pairs this year (not as many pairs as you, I’m not balling out of control like someone), and my personal top shoe would be the Jordan 32 lows. I would have actually given that to the HD2017 FK, but I think I’m too light to actually activate the foam properly, as I’ve also seen quite a divide of opinions between react cushioning, and most of the people that don’t like react tend to be on the lighter side as well. With that said, the HDs get a very close 2nd on my personal list, though if I absolutely need the best traction, the HDs are definitely the way to go for me. I like the Dame 4s but traction really isn’t good enough, which is honestly baffling in this day and age. The curry 3 lows were alright, nothing too exciting, but the seam at the tongue gave me some uncomfortable pressure. Finally, the shoes that I REALLY wanted to like were the PG1s, since they were one of the best looking Nikes in a while, but the fit was just too snug and was killing the side of my feet (the bone that’s the widest part of the foot, whatever that’s called). When I went to try the Kobe AD NXTs in store, it felt super snug too so I didn’t want to repeat the PG1 situation and ended up not getting them, even though I like the zoom/lunar cushioning set up and they have good traction (plus, the asking price was just dumb initially).

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. schwollo January 11, 2018 at 9:41 pm

      Haha I wouldn’t call what I do work. Glad you found a pair in 2017 that worked for you ! I agree you can’t charge 200 for a Kobe when Jordan is charging less.

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  11. pkiloj January 12, 2018 at 4:33 am

    Hey Schwollo! What are/were the pros and cons of the jordan superfly 2s?

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    1. schwollo January 13, 2018 at 4:12 pm

      Didn’t buy the 2 so can’t say

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  12. Johnnyboy January 12, 2018 at 11:21 pm

    Best year end write up out there – Bravo!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. pacberry January 15, 2018 at 10:54 am

    Interesting that the adidas CE 2017 only appear in the fit department and in the second team.
    I’m looking for a successor of the D Roe 6, especially when it comes to support and cushion. Do you have any suggestions? The CE17 don’t seem to fit my bill apparently.
    -pac

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    1. schwollo January 15, 2018 at 3:43 pm

      Forefoot cushioning is firm in CE. Rose 6 is plush from heel to toe. Depends what kind of cushioning you want . Aj 32 is good cushioning but it’s firmer than rose 6.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. pacberry January 15, 2018 at 4:07 pm

        Thanks for the reply. Is there any shoe out there that has the same amount of forefoot cushioning the Rose 6 has, but is as stable as the 6?
        -pac

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      2. schwollo January 15, 2018 at 5:24 pm

        Clb16 but it’s a low. Rose 7 and 8 if you put a thicker insole is pretty close as well but still a little firmer .

        Like

      3. pacberry January 15, 2018 at 9:58 pm

        Rose 7 – I have those. Not a super fan. Cushion is okay. Support is acceptable. But on the right ankle, medial side, I feel a strong pinching pain while wearing them. Hm. Maybe it’s time to try the DRose 8.
        -pac

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      4. schwollo January 16, 2018 at 4:56 pm

        Where is the pinching pain? You might try working that area with your hands to soften it up . Try end extra insole as well.

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  14. Mranswer2q January 21, 2018 at 5:46 am

    Hmm, so I actually decided to measure the length of my foot and got 26.5 CM. According to Nike, I’m actually an 8.5 in length then, when i’ve been buying size 9.5/10’s lol. I definitely have wide feet then cause I still had pinching when going a full size up.

    My new years resolution for shoes would be to actually get shoes that are my actual size now lol. I actually was skimping out on a good fit by going up so many sizes.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. schwollo January 21, 2018 at 10:10 pm

      Using a standard is good but it comes down to preference so you have your own standard. Finger width is what’s recommended by most doctors and that’s what a size Xxx is supposed to give you. Wide footers like ourselves have a whole nothing dimension to worry about. Lol

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      1. Mranswer2q January 22, 2018 at 1:52 am

        Oh I see. Yea, I’ll probably size it down as good a fit as possible without it being too squishy. Will also go for mostly wide foot friendly shoes.

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      2. Mranswer2q January 22, 2018 at 11:02 pm

        Ok, so I went to the store today and used their brannock device. heel to toe measurement gave me a 9.5. You ever use it before? I’ve read online that it’s legit. So I’m guessing my true to size is actually then 9.5 then? Which isn’t my actual heel to toe length

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      3. schwollo January 23, 2018 at 3:58 pm

        Haha of course I have. 9.5 is your measured true size which is what most shoe companies go off of. Brannock measures from your heel to toe so I’m not following ?

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Mranswer2q January 24, 2018 at 1:40 am

        Hate how I can’t respond to the latest comments sometimes on wordpress lol. But in response to your reply down there, yea, I guess 9.5 is my TTS then, which I was right about before.

        Oh yea, sorry to confuse, but yes Brannock measures the heel to toe length. What I was trying to say though was that it only shoes the shoe size but doesn’t give the CM or inches. What confused me at home though was the conversion charts and even my shoes. So with pencil and paper I measured it out myself, and got around 26.5 CM and 10.5 inches for my heel-toe length. A few conversion charts said that having a 26.5 CM length means that you’re a size 8.5 US, which I know by now is wrong. And also my shoes having the CM on it is wrong. On all my nike shoes, it’ll have a sticker on the inside which gives the length of the shoe.

        So an example would be US:9.5 UK 8.5 EUR 43 CM 27.5 on the sticker. this confused me because I thought I would’ve had to get a size 8.5 shoe for it to be CM 26.5, but I guess that’s not the case lol.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. schwollo January 24, 2018 at 6:00 pm

        Haha best to try on if possible that’s the lesson learned

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Mranswer2q January 24, 2018 at 1:48 am

        Btw your TTS is the most convenient lol. 11 inches in heel-toe length = size 11

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Mranswer2q January 25, 2018 at 1:17 am

        Oh yup true. Guess TTS is a good guideline, but always best to try them on at the store.

        Liked by 1 person

      8. schwollo January 27, 2018 at 4:33 pm

        I think in general Nike is true to size sometimes half a size up. Adidas is half a size down sometimes true to size and almost never half a size up. UA is also usually true to size and on occasion half a size up.

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  15. iceonmyveins January 22, 2018 at 5:59 am

    I have been a fan of this site for a while because you are a lot more accurate than the Sole Bros. and this article was very well put together. I have been wearing Lebron 13’s for over a year and a half, and I think it’s time that I get a new shoe. I have been reading almost all your reviews, and I just can’t seem to choose one because every shoe has its cons and I don’t live near stores where I can try on shoes easily. I am a 5″9 point/shooting guard, and I need a shoe that is pretty good at dealing with mid-range jumpers. Do you have an idea what shoe should I get because I saved up enough money to where the price is no longer an issue? Thus I am open to any shoe in mind. Preferably not the Hyperdunks FK 2017 because I personally didn’t enjoy the cushion as others did.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. schwollo January 22, 2018 at 3:46 pm

      No shoe is going to help you with mid range jumpers you have have to work on that yourself. What’s your playing style ? What do you like about the Lebron 13 and what do you wish was better .

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      1. iceonmyveins January 22, 2018 at 10:18 pm

        No shoe is going to help you with mid-range jumpers you have have to work on that yourself.

        (ANSWER) I didn’t mean that I need a shoe that will make me score my mid-range jumpers, I meant a shoe that can deal with the jump stop that occurs right before the jumper, so I guess a shoe with traction and impact protection?

        What’s your playing style?
        (ANSWER) Rolling of screens, I generally play point guard/shooting guard for my high school. Offensively, I typically run the offense, create off the dribble, catch and shoot, and drive the lane. Defensively I guard the perimeter and the ball handlers. If I’d compare my playstyle to an NBA player (minus the skill), I’d say DeMar DeRozan, Devin Booker, or Bradley Beal.

        What do you like about the Lebron 13 and what do you wish was better?
        (ANSWER) I loved the traction, ankle protection, and durability of the Lebron 13. Cons would be heel slippage, challenging to run in them, their laces, and poor ventilation.

        Like

      2. schwollo January 22, 2018 at 11:06 pm

        Do you still want that high of a cut like the Lebron 13? If you don’t like Hyperdunk 17 the AD Mid, NXT is good. Curry 2 (still on ua website) but you might not like the cushioning. Adidas explosive bounce, Rose 7, ClB16 all would be good traction and cushioning wise. PG1 would fit the bill as well but the Pg2 sounds promising with a thicker zoom unit. Pg1 are on sale everywhere now. I’d say dame 4 but traction is iffy. If you’re tight on funds, check out Marshall’s and ross they have pretty good shoes on occasion. Oh HD16 aj xxxi low would work for you too. Hope that gives you a list to work off of. Check eBay also

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      3. iceonmyveins February 5, 2018 at 8:57 pm

        Do you think the Rose 7’s perform better than the Rose 8’s?

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      4. schwollo February 5, 2018 at 11:02 pm

        Yes superior traction same cushioning. I had no issues with the 7 fit but the 8 might be more forgiving for overall fit

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  16. grittyman January 23, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    Hey Schwollo,

    Did you ever get a chance to try the HD 17 low? I love my FK’s, curious whether if there’s any differences between the highs and lows. Had some minor heel slippage in the HD 16 lows so hesitant to pull the trigger on this year’s version

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    1. schwollo January 23, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      I’ve only tried them on in the store and I had no slippage. Sorry couldn’t be of more help!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. grittyman January 23, 2018 at 6:19 pm

        No worries, appreciate it buddy!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Hassanchop January 23, 2018 at 4:26 pm

    Hey Schwollo,
    I’ve looked at all your reviews and need some help with a shoe.
    The most important factor is traction and then some cushioning so it’s easy on the knees. I play point and do a lot of cutting and stopping.

    What would you recommend for traction, comfort? Not sure what other things I should be looking for but those would be my top two. Here are the list of shoes I was considering with traction being high on my list:
    HD 2017
    Rose 7- hear it has great traction and cushion.
    KD9- Traction and zoom bounce.
    Kyrie 2- Hear it has amazing traction but not much cushion.

    If nothing on this list what do you recommend?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. schwollo January 23, 2018 at 5:36 pm

      Rose 7 traction and cushioning are great. Some readers of mine have said they couldn’t get locked in enough but I had no issues.
      Kd9 has great cushioning and good traction not as good as Rose 7 or others on this list. Fit can get sloppy over time containment isn’t very good over time either.
      Kyrie 2 Cushioning is not really there
      I’d also look at the Kobe ADM and Explosive Bounce if you’re looking for something from last year. Also peep my top ten list (haven’t updated ) but it’s big on traction . Curry 2 still a great shoe but a little firmer cushioning than most

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      1. Hassanchop January 23, 2018 at 7:35 pm

        Thanks so much for the response. It doesn’t have to be last year’s shoe but a lot the reviews were mentioning these.

        Okay looks like I need to figure out between the KD9 or the Rose 7. Not sure if it matters that I will be wearing ankle braces with these.

        Will one be easier on the knees than the other?

        I know that the Rose 7 is in your overall top 5. If I’m purchasing the Rose 7 is there a particular stye I should get. Not sure if they are made with different rubber and stuff.

        There are SO many shoes out there. Hard to narrow down and find one. Last time I bought a new pair of basketball shoes was back in 2015 so trying to figure out the best option for traction, comfort but yet doesn’t slow me down.

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      2. schwollo January 23, 2018 at 10:47 pm

        If you cut a lot you won’t like the kd 9 or 10
        Bc foot slides off the footbed bc of the upper. Both are nice on the knees. Ankle brace might be tough to get on a kd9. If you get the Rose 7 get the solid outsole it works better. Primeknit does feel better on foot but during play no difference. If you think of other shoes you’re interested in feel free to ask.

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  18. StricklyDanStuckie January 24, 2018 at 3:43 pm

    Been meaning to thank you for this rundown. Ha, had been checking for it daily around the turn of the new year! Good stuff as always! I like how you rank not only by overall performance but also by specific performance aspect (and props on the helpful Blended Cushion category!).

    You were speaking my language with the “just say no to monochrome” line—haha!

    Finally scooped XXXI lows when Eastbay had a sale recently (don’t understand why they still have the HD17s priced so high… so but still biding my time on them). I warmed up in them on Sunday, and they killed my left foot—same pain as I had with the NXTs. Think it has to do with having them too tight across the widest part of my foot, although I feel the discomfort on the bottom of my foot. Loosened the laces, but still hurt. Switched back to (new pair of) CLB16s, but I’ve been wearing XXXIs around the house trying to break them in. Gonna give them another shot tonight—fingers crossed.

    Anyway, hope you’re well, man. Thanks for droppin’ knowledge!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. schwollo January 24, 2018 at 6:19 pm

      Thanks for always reading bud! Hope the 31 works out for you. Monochrome is so boring I don’t get it lol

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      1. StricklyDanStuckie January 26, 2018 at 3:09 pm

        Hey, my pleasure!

        Got to play in XXXI low Wednesday evening, and it went much better—wore ‘em for entire 1.5-hr. run—so I’m feeling optimistic about them. Left laces little looser than I usually like, and the underfoot discomfort never manifested. Eventually felt some numbness in left forefoot, but suspect that, as I continue to break them in and figure out the best lace tension, that’ll subside. And aside from that numbness, they played great!

        And speaking of boring monochrome uppers, too bad the only solid outsole options for the XXXI have boring monochrome uppers—hahaha! Oh well.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. schwollo January 26, 2018 at 5:43 pm

        Hahah at least the lace loops and jump man are colored !!

        Like

      3. StricklyDanStuckie January 26, 2018 at 11:08 pm

        Mere accents! Haha! I prefer some more substantial interplay. But I’m sure glad they dropped the Swoosh from the mids—that double branding made me cringe!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. schwollo January 28, 2018 at 3:53 pm

      FYI hd17 flyknit on Nike for 101. Plus Ebates 10%. Kobe adm and Kd X for 70 lol

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  19. Hassanchop January 24, 2018 at 8:28 pm

    Schwollo, thanks so much for the advice.

    I went in and tried the KD9 and I see how it can be hard to get the ankle brace on. Same with the explosive bounce because of the sock like top. Went to Footlocker and FinishLine. Neither had the Rose 8 to try on but I’m going to pull the trigger on the Rose 7’s flyknit.
    I tried on the Kyrie 3 and they felt pretty stiff (not much cushion) along with the curry’s. Maybe that’s just me.

    I’m thinking of getting one more shoe so I can rotate. Is there another shoe that you recommend that’s light, got a nice bounce to it and decent traction that would work with ankle braces? I think you mentioned in your reviews the weight doesn’t matter much. Also read the Rose 7 makes you feel like you’re sitting higher off the ground. Is there one that that’s give you a feeling you’re closer to the ground with bounce or zoom?

    Thanks again.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. schwollo January 24, 2018 at 10:00 pm

      Jordan xxxi low Solid or Kobe adm. Nice bounce pretty good. CLB 16 as well can be had for cheap on eBay but might require an extra eyelet.

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  20. NLTP January 27, 2018 at 4:13 am

    What would you recommend for a shoe to someone around 5’9-5’10 160~, play style similar to Westbrook in not a lot of fancy handles and more just driving it home? Been using the CLB but want something with a better fit. For reference tried my friends Dame 4 but the the cushion left my legs pretty hurting the next day; though they werent ultra broken in at that point. The HD2017 looks promising but the cushion worries me for my legs.

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    1. schwollo January 27, 2018 at 4:19 pm

      Crazy explosive ? Sits a little lower on forefoot still comfortable cushioning. If you didn’t like the bounce on Dame 4 you won’t like hd17. Westbrook why not might be a good option although I haven’t gotten a pair yet. Kobe AD NXT or adm would also be very good options .

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      1. NLTP January 27, 2018 at 5:09 pm

        I’ll look into the crazy explosive then, the ad mid material durability concerned me a little bit because i’ve seen pairs where the material was already tearing from a few runs. Thank you for the response!

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      2. schwollo January 27, 2018 at 5:20 pm

        You might try double socking with your CLB or adding the extra eyelet like I did if you haven’t already

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      3. NLTP January 27, 2018 at 5:39 pm

        I have the PK version, which has the laces seemingly a bit farther back than the regular so I wasn’t sure where to add the extra eyelet yet.
        Was looking into the XXXI since it seems like a well cushioned low, the stability just worries me

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      4. schwollo January 27, 2018 at 8:03 pm

        Ah with knit it will
        Be a little tougher to make and eyelet since it might unravel ..lol
        XXXI might feel tippy standing still but during play no issues .

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      5. NLTP January 28, 2018 at 4:47 am

        Thanks for the info! I’ll take a look at the options, I did quite enjoy the bounce in the Dame 4, my legs just didn’t after haha.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. schwollo January 28, 2018 at 1:59 pm

        Your knees or your legs hurt?

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      7. NLTP January 28, 2018 at 6:49 pm

        Legs, maybe knees to a lesser extent but it was more the quads and calves

        Like

  21. Jason April 15, 2018 at 12:12 am

    Nice article! How did the Nike Free Flyknit and the NB Cruz last till now?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. schwollo April 15, 2018 at 2:31 pm

      They’ve held up great but they are just casual/gym shoes

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      1. Jason April 15, 2018 at 10:48 pm

        Yea I’m looking for a casual shoe to wear every day, so I would need lots cushioning (or a decent one that won’t make my feet hurt after a whole day of walking ), comfortable upper, not expensive and last. I was waiting for the eqt 93/17s, zoom all outs for a while now and they don’t seem to drop (I’m in Canada lol, not even in big cities like Toronto…), and I don’t want to pay retail… never… prices are going crazy now.

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      2. schwollo April 16, 2018 at 5:42 pm

        Yea the NB fresh foam is decent. Has a nice spring to it but feels kind of dense. Adidas looks wise has lost my interest entirely everything looks the same or way too out there for me lol

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      3. Jason April 18, 2018 at 2:39 am

        Yea I tried on the NB in store, the heel feels thick, but the forefoot seems thin tho

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      4. schwollo April 18, 2018 at 9:23 pm

        I didn’t find it too thin but there is some heel toe drop

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