Introducing the Harden V1.5. I guess I should have rearranged the lineage differently. đ
While some shoe companies are making stories about astronauts and eject buttons and somehow not getting laughed for the the absolute ridiculousness of the concept and idea, Adidas has quietly created a great shoe that is almost totally devoid of tricks and gimmicks.. and for that I say thank you Adidas. Btw Jordan brand you should have cross promoted the Aj 33 with the first man or Ryan Gosling if you really want to go hard with the astronaut idea.
There is no asymmetrical lacing system, no âarticulatedâ forefoot that did nothing. This is a straightforward normal laced shoe that plays well right out of the box. If you were a fan of the Vol 1, youâll really love the V1.5 V3
Pros: traction, cushioning, fit, stability, containment, more flexible than the V2
Cons: some break in time required to minimize heel slip. Heel fit is pretty good but could be better.
Sizing advice: half size down for best fit. Wide footers can go true to size
Best for: any position
Buying advice: the Adidas cool, new, and different factor has cooled off. I’m sure MAGA Kanye didn’t help. The Harden V2 were selling for $42 on adidas.com. Wait as always, these are very plain Jane and I canât say the V3 are 3 times better than the 42 dollar V2. Fair is around $100, low around $42? Letâs hope
*this just popped in my inbox Itâs the perfect time to stock up. For two days only get 20% off footwear, apparel and accessories at adidas.com.* From 10/29/18 â 10/30/18 use code OCTSALE at checkout. Exclusions apply.*
Weight
LIGHTEST HARDEN EVER … by half an ounce. Sorry for the bad pic. 16.5 ounces. Harden V1 was 17 ounces while the V2 was 18.5. Crazylight it is not.
Traction
Remember when Adidas told us about all the measurements and mapping that went into producing a Fibonacci pattern for the V1? đ
Adidas went with traditional herringbone set up and it’s easily the best traction on a Harden yet. Very tacky when clean, some wiping needed on dusty floors even with this translucent outsole. I really wish I had time to test between solid and translucent again but I found these worked pretty damn well.
Thanks for cutting the BS Adidas! Well done!
Cushioning
These feel a lot closer to the v1 than v2 cushioning set up. They have a little more give to them like the v1 without being overly spongy and are lower to the ground.
V3 measures about 20mm while the V2 is about 23-24mm (foot sits below the Boost line on the V2). Heel measures approx 27 and 30 respectively. Not a big deal either way so Let It Go
I was really surprised by the measurements because I never felt the V2 ran high off the ground at all. It’s numbers are about average while the V3 is what I consider low to the ground like the Curry 4, Kyrie 3 Etc…
This is the most âuncagedâ Boost set up that we’ve seen on a Harden with only this tiny forefoot lateral piece caged.
While the V2 was touted as having the âmost Boost everâ (probably true), it really wasn’t all underfoot and it felt firmer overall than the V3 and 1.
Both the V2 and V3 use the cloth strobel so it’s really surprising how different they feel
I don’t have much to say about the cushioning which is a good thing. Overall, the cushioning feels very similar to the V1 and it’s a nice balance of comfort, court feel, springiness and fun.
Great job Adidas!
Fit
These run almost as long as the V1 (almost a thumbnails width at the toe)so Iâd advise half a size down for regular to narrow and true to size for wide footers. Half a size down would have really helped the fit for me but my feet are too flat and fat and I had a lot of arch pain with half size down in the V1. If you can try them on in store do it. You can fit more than one size believe it or not.
Everything feels better/tighter than the v1 out of the box which should help the shoe be a little more adaptable to different foot shapes. If youâre trying them on in the store, be aware that the fit will feel slightly sloppy because the materials donât really conform to the foot right away. It does goes away after about an hour or two of play. I had some minor heel slip to start but it went away for the most part. Still some very minor slippage which is due mostly to the lacing set up getting loose as I dorsiflex and loosen those laces during play. I’d like the top eyelet a touch higher or further back with flaps that come over the ankle like the CLB or every Kobe. I think the flaps would really help with heel lockdown.
Top eyelets are set about where they should be which really helped with slippage. I think adding some “flaps” that cross over the ankle slightly would have improved the fit even more.
I still feel the V2 feels more secure than the V3 and V1 but maybe thatâs just due to the feeling of the inner bootie design of the V2.
This is not the same “cat tongue” material as the Rose 6. Feels more like a terry cloth/Velour like the CLB16 (neither really helps with lockdown imo)
Overall, I had no side to side movement and some very very minor heel slip. Much better than the V1 not quite V2 level though. Still a very good fit out of the box and gets better with wear. No issues here and I’m sure if I could fit half a size down, it would have worked even better.
Materials
Adidas states âtextileâ as the materials which is a really generic term. These feel somewhat like ballistic mesh but thinner and with a tighter pattern but at the same time it has some thickness and strength than other simple mesh materials to give it a more premium feel. It is also backed by nylon so it doesnât feel flimsy and cheap. Add in a little glitter and you have $140 materials đ. Adidas has really learned how to upgrade inexpensive materials to make them feel premium. Just don’t raise the prices.
Support and Stability
The extra tall Achilles really isn’t needed but oh well.
These are a low so support is minimal and comes from the fit and heel counter. No issues here at all.
Midfoot support is great with the same shank as the V1. It isn’t super stiff midfoot and back like the V2 and flexes just enough with that shank.
Stability is excellent on the V3 with a lower ride than the v2 with a nice wide flat outsole like the V2.
I really love the stability on these. Adidas should consider bringing this exact set up to its tennis line.
Well done Adidas!
Containment
No issues here. Youâd think this strap had something to do with it but itâs just an slim elastic band.
Da real MVP is the raised caged portion (as seen earlier)
Remember those thin years before I came along and companies (and reviewers) didn’t even address this? Thank you Adidas and you’re welcome sneakerworld.
Conclusion
I think Adidas did a great job with the V3 as it returns to a feel more similar to the V1 than V2. Improved fit from the V1 and traction ? Yes please.
Some people may feel that Adidas took a step back (get it) in the looks department but oh well. It is a bit plain Jane looking but nobody will care if you’re getting buckets.
How does this compare the the v2?
Hurray! Two Hardens within one year. Next thing you know weâll have new models quarterly. Shoe companies canât keep that buzz up for a year I guess with 30 colorways yearly (see UA Curry 4,5, and 6 coming soon) I digress…
Iâm not sure which pair I like more but I do know this. The V2 fits better for me while the traction is slightly better with the V3. Cushioning is also firmer on the V2 than the V3 and V1. If you liked the V1 and wanted to love it, you’ll probably really like the V3. If you liked or loved the V2, you probably don’t need to switch unless you want a little better traction. But once again wait, you’re not getting paid to win those big time games at 24 Hour Filthiness and Harden prices will fall hard (en) . Speaking of pricing.. .
Pricing
Should you go out and buy the V3 now? Heck no. Adidasâs cool factor is dying in a hurry, and Adidas prices fall like rocks now. Kanye and his MAGA hat plus new BFF definitely hurts the three stripes core demographics. I picked up the V2 for $42 last month on Adidas.com. Iâll gladly take an excellent shoe at $42 versus another excellent shoe at $140. (I paid 119 btw thanks Adidas burner email accounts.).
I expect these to drop in price quickly because
A) they arenât that appealing looks wise
B) neither is Harden.
These could be the best b-ball shoes in the world but 90% of consumers don’t buy shoes for their actual use. Expect these to go on sale in a month or two and add on some coupon codes to get to the $100 price point. $80 ish will be up for grabs for sure and bottom will be around $50. And that’s assuming that Harden and the Rockets have a good year. đ
Overall, I’m going to give this a first team rating . Great traction and a pretty good fit while keeping the shoe fun with Boost done right plus it’s light less heavy. Sign me up Scotty!
schwollo.com 
These look so plain compared to the 1st 2 models but glad to see they still perform well.
The Harden line has been a rotation staple for me the past few years and glad to see this one still plays well even if I don’t really like how they look
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Yep!
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This or the protros? đ
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Protros better fit overall but not as flexible as V3
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Call me dumb but as much as I’ve been tempted to get his past shoes based on the shoes themselves, I can’t get myself to buy them. I just can’t get myself to support a player with so much talent and yet, relies on such bs tactics to get fouls on a nightly basis (hooking people’s arms all the time, hopping on people’s backs, etc.). if they were team models instead of Hardens, I would have doubled up on the v1s and gotten a pair of v2s (or better yet, if they were Dames)
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And thatâs one big reason harden isnât loved. But hey adidas likes polarizing people so they got that in harden
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true, too bad even after his MVP his shoes sat…I mean, there really isn’t anywhere else to go except for down from here
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Unless rox win it all and harden goes bonkers lol
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lmao sorry bro that’s not happening, especially after what just happened last night with gsw vs chi
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Lol I know and rox are awful right now.
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Completely off topic, but I assume you have a field day every time Nike releases marketing material for new products, and today’s Kyrie 5s are no exception
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I enjoy reading them bc I love a good laugh. Kids might fall for it. At least itâs a bigger zoom surface area rather than a tiny rectangle. Flytrap lacing might even out lace pressure but once again nothing ground breaking .
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I just hope the zoom’s gonna feel nice cause it looks pretty thin in the marketing material, we’ll see lol
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Looks like itâs about as thin as quilt lol. And thatâs a drawing lol but yes weâll see
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Another great review Schwollo. I grabbed a pair of the Cosmos off adidas.com because I didn’t want to wait for reviews and knowing that I try them out risk free for a month with the adidas return policy.
My performance thoughts. Your review of the shoes is very similar to my experiences. Traction is very good after a little bit of break in – I wish companies would just stick with herringbone because it works. Cushioning is great. It’s a nice balance of court feel and impact protection. Definitely feels like a slightly springier version of the V1 setup and I like how responsive it is. There are definitely days my older knees like the extra boost in the V2s. It’s just the reality of getting older and feeling like I need a little extra cushioning on back to back days. Heel to toe transition is very good. Materials feel good even though they aren’t premium. Containment was surprisingly good. The elastic band does nothing for containment as most of us anticipated. I had no fit issues going with my true size 10 (I wear a 10 in the 2s and 9.5 in the 1s). Shoes broke in quickly and I got very good lockdown front to back and side to side and no heel lift. This is better than the 1s for sure. The 2s feel very snug to me with the bootie construction and I feel totally locked into those. The 3s don’t feel as snug as the 2s, but I still feel locked in. Stability is very good and I have not had any issues in this area so far. Overall, this is very good performing and one of the best shoes of the year.
Some non performance thoughts. Design of the shoe is ok but could have easily been better. I’d prefer rather less branding and the high heel/achilles area is unnecessary and looks goofy. Also colorblocking so far have been pretty unspectacular with the exception of the purple Drew league colorway. It will be interesting to see what the mi adidas options are going to be. I got my Cosmos for 0% off at adidas.com. $128 is way better than $160, but still too much when you can easily get V2s for ~$70 or less. Once these start hitting the $100 or less range I will grab another pair or two. No reason to pay full retail when these will drop and there are other great performing shoes for far less.
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I agree 100% with everything you said. I love doubling up on discounts and this year we really learned adidas is discounting hard. A lot of my Nike die hard htown friends bought the v2 bc of the crazy low prices. Iâd wait for $85 ish before buying another (I like checking Eastbay Adidas Fl if they are still FSR so I know if they are even moving when discounted). Itâs fun saving money haha
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You know your kids are probably looking for the ruler. Do you think they will let it go? đ
Again another well written review man! Also when are you going to update on the LeBron Boost? đ
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Lol frozen will never die in my household.
Lebron Boost project good but havenât had time to get around to right shoe. Heel Boost great forefoot Boost is only ok bc Boost needs that volume to feel good (I may have replied to you before about this lol). But overall it feels good just wish I glued it back together better haha
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I was just gonna say..I can totally relate!!Frozen is going strong in this household too!! Even my Hoyle playing cards have been replaced with a ‘Frozen’ one..SMH..
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Let it go is the jam!
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Adidas has really done a nice job with Hardenâs signature lineâŚCLB 16 ( I know not technically his sig), Vol 1 & 2âs were all really amazing performers so Iâve been looking forward to reading your review on the Vol 3âs. Out of all the shoes that released this past year I think the 2âs are my favorite low and they just might be my favorite performer overall I thought they were that good. As usual with Adidas itâs best to wait for discounts, but itâs nice to hear thoughts from those who have a pair in the meantime. Btw Schwollo did you ever try the Harden B/E? I always pictured those as the âMamba Rageâ of the Harden line. They were dirt cheap on Adidas at one point I passed but havenât seen too many reviews on them so was just curious
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Funny story with the BE2 I bought them dirt cheap at 33 bucks with that 40% off Played in them a few times they felt really firm but low to the ground (bounce needs volume too ). Great traction decent fit meh cushioning. Didnât really feel like they were worth 33 bucks haha
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your sock game is strong
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Also, I wonder what’s the most flexible shoe (in the forefoot/midfoot) you’ve played in this year.
For me it’s the Lebron 16, the articulation concept really worked.
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This year? Kobe 360 nxt curry 3zero2, mamba instinct from last year. Too flexible imo but some ppl like that. Iâm sure Iâm forgetting something haha
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Lol stance losing NBA let me get a bunch of socks on the cheap
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Have these uncrowned the ProTro?
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Haha no
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I knew it lol!!
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Takes a lot to unseat 12 years of good memories with a great shoe!
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I didn’t like the V1..I think I got the sizing wrong when I bought it. Plus it was hella firm. I sold it after only wearing it once. That being said, I remember you suggesting the Rose line to have the most plush feel. still haven’t tried those out. #boostisntlife at least for basketball.
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I thought the v1 felt pretty soft but then it could have been adidas quality control. Rose 6 specifically the softest out all the adidas shoes for me. .
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Trying to decide between these and kobe protro… I got both for the same slightly discounted price so I’ll just return the one I enjoy the least. Obviously the protro look much much better
Memories aside, do you think one shoe is much better than the other?
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Kobe protro is stiffer overall underfoot (softens up w break in) but has a slightly better fit. Traction is about the same and cushioning is just preference so the rest is up to you
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Thanks for the info
Was the huge heel puffy tab thing pushing on your Achilles at all?
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No itâs soft anyways lol
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Hi my man. Congrats on yet another stellar review. Iâve recently shed some weight and Iâm back to my 154 lbs frame from when I was 30 (ages ago). Iâm feeling more DeâAaron Fox than Ray Felton on the court these days and that has me pulling out foot rockets like the Curry 2 and 4 (which is the new king in my rotation) while shoes like the Lebron 16 make me feel like I love wasting money (boy do I feel slow in them). Surprisingly, I loved the looks of the Harden 3 (black cw) and went for it but still hasnât played in them. With cushioning playing a very small role im my game right now, do you think Iâll enjoy it over the Curry 4? Also, Kobe 1 Protro is being released in my region. Do you fell I should return the Harden 3 in favor of them? Thanks!
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Hahaha Ray Felton fat jokes never get old. Hmm if cushioning isnât that big of a deal you probably wonât like it more than the 4. Doesnât fit any better or have better traction.
Protro or Harden? Youâd get better fit w the protro. Would you rather feel like a five ring player or a playoff ghost ? Thatâs what it really boils down to.
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Hahaha. I already love my Harden 2s and I want to know how it feels to play on some Kobe 1s (I have the complete set of the FTB Pack but they wonât see any playing time :-). I guess the Vol. 3 might get the short end of the stick…
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Ha ftb worth too much . Wait on the harden 3 if they arenât going anywhere unless harden is big in your country lol
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What does Adidas burner email accounts mean?
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Email I use for coupons only
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Nice review Schwollo! Is Harden V3 in your top 5 roaster now?
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No. Great shoe overall though and one of the best of the year.
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lol so it falls behind Kobe 1 proto right? I haven’t wear my Kobe 1 yet and am excited about the on court feel!
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Yea still
Behind the Kobe i for me lol
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Hey Schwollo, any updates as far as comparing between vol 2’s and 3’s? Lot’s of BF deals this weekend, and I have my eyes on a pair of discounted 3’s but I haven’t pulled the trigger just yet. The vol 2’s were great for me…except the forefoot boost felt a little more thinner than I like but a quick insole swap fixed that (adidas mods ftw!).
I also picked up a pair of PG 2.5’s for a very good price (haven’t played in them yet), how would you say that shoe compares to either of the Hardens?
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Tough decision there btwn 2/3. But same as I stated in my review. If you want more flexibility softer boost and a little better traction go w the 3. If you want better fit go with the 2. Both are really good just different.
Havenât tried the pg 2.5 but Iâm guessing it plays almost exactly like the 2. Which plays a lot like the harden vol 3 but with a better fit. I like the crazy sales on the pg2 lol
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Thanks for the feedback Schwollo! So I just tried on both the Vol 3 and the PG 2.5 at the same time and you’re right they do feel pretty similar….same narrow/snug fit and similar bouncy forefoot cushioning (Harden’s kinda feel zoom-like) and both feel pretty flexible. The padded ankle collar of the PG feels awesome, whereas on the Vol 3’s the ankle area feels okay but even going half size down I can feel some minor heel slip just walking around. As many lows as Adidas produces, it’s weird how they haven’t quite mastered the fit in the ankle area yet…but to their credit they’ve come a long way from the CLB 16 though haha.
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Bingo about the feel. V3 gets better with play as it breaks in but it isnât as solid and snug feeling as the v2 . Good deals on the V3 with cyber Monday but adidas has jumped the shark so if you can be patient youâll see a lot lower prices. But man itâs hard to resist lol
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Schwollo what is the difference of the crazy explosive 2017 with the Harden V2
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Schwollo what is the difference of the cushioning of the crazy explosive 2017 with the Harden V2
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Crazy explosive is softer heel to toe. Too thin for my tastes in the forefoot though
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Hi, I just tried these shoes since your review looked good. I have tried quite a few shoes trying to get some kind of fit. I know that new shoes feel a little rough at first, but I can’t even play for 5 minutes in some of the shoes I’ve tried without bad burning and pain. My pain is always on the outside of my foot and usually between the heel and forefoot. Ive tried the Kyrie 4 which was so bad that I couldn’t do anything after 5 minutes of just shooting around in them. Ive tried the Jordan Fly Lockdowns which seemed to have a great combo of cushion in the heel and forefoot, but after 15 minutes of playing in them that same area on the side of my foot seemed bruised. These shoes were comfortable except for that one spot. I am a supinator and I have a little wider foot than most. I have tried the PG2 also since they were cheap, and they have surprisingly had the least amount of pain. They are a touch narrow in the forefoot and toe area, and the heel doesn’t have great cushion, but they seem satisfactory, and the zoom in the forefoot truly works great and has helped my shin problems along with jumpers knee. I just tried the Harden 3 tonight, and they again hurt that same area on the side of my foot although they were better than everything except for the PG2. They also felt good in the heel, but had no cushion in the forefoot, and honestly felt very cheap. I could feel every jolt on my jumpers knee when I jumped so I don’t consider them or the kyrie 4 to have any sort of forefoot cushion at all.
To clarify my foot pain, it is exactly where the bottom of my foot and the side of my foot meet. Id call it the bottom side, outside edge of my foot and its an inch forward of my heel and goes forward just before my forefoot. Different shoes hurt in a little different areas. If a shoe has any raise at all on the outside edge, my foot will find it, and cause me major pain. The PG2 has worked ok, and maybe I should just give up and use them, but their has to be a shoe that’s better than these. Can you recommend a shoe that may help me in the areas I am having trouble with. I am not quite 40, but can definitely feel better cushion. I am now 200 lbs and I am a guard. My last shoes are very old and broken down, but nike used to make a full length cushion that was low to the ground and had a wider forefoot area. I can’t seem to find anything quite like my old worn out Nikes that worked. Thanks in advance for any help or recommendations.
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It sounds like you have a foot problem that should be looked at by a doctor if you have that much pain. Iâd also advise doing some PT for that jumpers knee (check out athletic truth group and the pre hav guys on IG I really like their exercises). In the short term I would advise going up half a size to a full size to accommodate your foot pain and double sock or wear moleskin on the outside bottom of your foot and add an aftermarket insole to add just a little more cushioning. The Pg2 is very adaptive so going up a half size or full size wonât hurt. The PG3 which Iâm trying now is softer in the heel bc the foam is softer overall. Fit is similar but Iâd go up half a size or a full size for your needs. Check my 2018 review, I put a list out for best cushioning and the KD XI might work for you. If you want to save some money the KD IX and X would work as well. Pretty much pure zoom. Rose 6 is also very very plush all around . Hope that helps
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Wow just got these in and trying them on, they feel like the shoe I have been longing for sometime now. My first adidas basketball shoe since the rose 3, I may or may not have been a little too brainwashed by nike since
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Haha nice ! Let me know how it works out !
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I wore these twice so far, at a game and at the ymca. I don’t have to think about these shoes when I’m playing which is great. However I’m very skeptical about the boost in the forefoot area. My foot sinks into it all the way as it’s really plush, but I’m not feeling any “energy return” that’s in the description on adidas.com. It’s not like zoom where it propels me back up, it’s kinda dead. It’s also really thin, I couldn’t imagine harden playing in these. Just a little pressure from my 145 pound frame and I have fully sunk into the boost.
I could be wrong though as it’s my first boost sneaker and I’m not familiar with how it feels
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There is no actual energy return itâs just a smidge less energy lost vs a regular foam. It is pretty thin up front so you arenât going to get that same feedback as the heel. Harden is a size 15 so there is more boost for him vs a normal size shoe. Boost responds and bounces back pretty nicely but Zoom is still the feel I like the most. Just right amount of everything
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Do you want to build a snowman? ;D
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Hi Schwollo, thanks for the review. I got some flat-ass feet and I went true-to-size. Feels good on my feet but I was getting serious arch pain when playing, and that was after 3-4 days of playing in them so they should be broken in. Do you think I need to size up? Or will tying them less tight remedy the situation?
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I had a similar issue with the harden v1 when I went half a size down. Trying half a size up should be ok but of course try loosening your laces first or wearing thinner socks .
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All right I’ll try that. Thanks!
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Hi, I love how you do your reviews man. The realest of them all…anyway, what are the chances youâd review the byw x? Preferrably the colourway they released this month…I got a feeling they fixed the rubber compound issue they had with the older colourways… thanks and more power!
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Not really interested in those do chances are low
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Hi Schwollo
About the fit, i am asking.
If you compare to marquee boost low?
Is it longer ?
Usually i am 11 in Nike but 10.5 or 11 in Adidas
But with the marquee boost low i was betwenn 10 and 10.5. Great containement in 10 but a little small.
Can you tell me what you think about comparaison betweem Harden vol.3 and marquee boost?
Thanks
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I didnât try the marquee boost low but the mid was super long more like a full size long. Harden 3 is true to size maybe a touch long but not enough to go down
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Thank’s for your answer.
In your test you evoke that maybe one half size down could be good, that’s why i allowed to ask you;
Adidas, mainly, are often with hell slip and I HATE hell slip !!!
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You can probably fit half a size down I would try on in store if you can to make sure it isnât too tight
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