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Pump King Pro TT Performance Review

The EZ editor is finally here and he is here to share with Pump fans the PUMA KING series. So is there any stories behind these shoes? Is there any intriguing things? Which pair of the shoes is the most compelling? Let’s go on reading.

The editor is professional in this respect because he has been playing football for nearly 30 years and paying attention to professional football equipment for nearly 20 years.

He is also very experienced in actual combat and of course, he knows which shoes suit his feet best. In this review he chose this Pump King Pro TT to company him on court. Then how about its performance?

This black shoes are actually the PUMA KING Pro TT, the first Pro football shoe of King series after being updated.

This black shoe uses “half-kangaroo-skin” in the upper. The leather, which is of superior quality, covers almost the fore part of the upper, bringing great comfort and softness.

Notwithstanding the natural leather used in the upper, the shoe also adopts a very modern integrated fabric tongue, which provides excellent wrapping and support for wearers while also prevent colloidal particles from entering the shoe during combat.

The sole is more than suitable for football court. And even if you want to exercise on plastic courts or rugged grounds, the outsole with “nails” can handle them easily.

After checking the shoe with care, I found that there were some details worth mentioning, say, the toe part which has been added with anti-wear suede material so that the durability of the natural leather on the upper is guaranteed while at the meantime player’s potential is not influenced.

As is said by the editor that his experience was fantastic. One of the impressions was that the upper’s wrapping was superb. Hence, I can not resist the temptation to experience it by myself and so I copped one pair of this Pump King Pro TT. Then I should say that the shoe deserves the reputations it enjoys. I feel like that I am just wearing a pair of socks, making it easier for me to focus on my match. 

The outsole has a very good performance on the ordinary artificial grass court. With the smooth ground grip, there won’t be much slippage.

Having said that, the shoe is not perfect. The disadvantages are also apparent: the shoe is slender in terms of its shoe type,  the height of toe is a bit low and the tongue is not soft enough.

Another thing I have to mention is that this PUMA shoe is highly cost-effective. Among the mainstream of TF shoes in the current market, the PUMA KING Pro TT has the best setups whereas its price is the lowest. I think most fans will not let the opportunity slip by.

Overall:

To sum up, I highly recommend this shoe to football players as well as those who are given to sports. Whether you choose this model or not, I am still in the hope that all EZers can stick to their love of football like EZ editor-in-chief and they can find their suitable shoes to company with.

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Asics MetaRide Performance Review

At the first sight of Asics MetaRide, honestly, I can’t help thinking of MetaRun also released by Asics and which was said to be the most powerful unprecedented long-distance running shoes. The Asics MetaRun was, in retrospect, the most popular model that almost everyone was going after in 2015. It was the one that gathered the newest tech of Asics that year; it was also a limited version and the global number was 60000 pairs. So it is no wonder that it gained a great popularity.

Later Asics released another running shoes: the Asics MetaRide. Unlike MetaRun, this Asics MetaRide is, for many people, unforgettable with its futuristic appearance. So let’s check it together.

The Asics MetaRide running shoes, as have been mentioned earlier, is a limited model. With its black shoe box and the special unique colorway, the shoe looks very impressive and also has a strong visual impact. The black and red matches each other very well and the dark gold added a little nobility to the shoe.

The upper of Asics MetaRide adopts the CIRCULAR knitting technology. The fore upper is made of elastic material with strong contraction force and great breathability. So even if you are exercising in hot summer days, you can feel very dry under your feet. As for the outside layer, it is used for protection and prevent the shoe from wearing out.

On both sides of the midsole, the recognizable gold Asics line logo is not only an ornament but also plays an important role in supporting the upper.

The Asics MetaRide uses flat, non-slip shoelaces to avoid frequent needs to fasten the laces. In terms of the actual wearing experience, the lock on the instep is firmer after the laces are fastened. And the tongue is fitted with a lace-fixing hole to prevent the tongue from slipping. Also, the stereo gold Asics MetaRide logo helps identify the running shoe.

There is foam filler inside the tongue, which is ample and makes the shoe more comfortable. But for another thing, it increases the shoe’s weight.

Asics MetaRide is equipped with external stabilizers at the heel which is named METACLUTCH by Acics. But different from the average heel stabilizers, METACLUTCH covers a big area of the heel, so it fits and sticks to the wearer’s feet very well.

The multi-layer midsole of this shoe is the essence of this Asics MetaRide. The upper layer adopts FLYTEFOAM which originally appeared on Metarun and over the years, we can see it on Asics shoes because gradually it becomes more and more popular. In terms of performance, the FLYTEFOAM is hard as well as lightweight. Honestly speaking, from my perspective, it is, to a great extent, to my satisfaction. So you might as well have a try if you want to experience it in the flesh. For the lower layers, the shoe uses the FLYTEFOAM PROPEL, which is softer, more resilient than upper layers.

The Asics MetaRide equips some ace cushioned material REARFOOT GEL between the two heel layers, providing enough protection for the heel.

After Asics MetaRide was released, a new concept of the GUIDESOLE technology has been put forward, which is an essential difference from traditional ones. However, it should be pointed out that Asics MetaRide’s sole 31 mm thick. During the period of exercise, by reducing energy consumption at the ankle, the ankle fatigue at the ankle can then be reduced.

Another tech Asics adopts is the 3D GUIDANCE LINE in the sole. The mechanical design, on the once hand, ,makes the walking or running process more flexible, and on the other hand, reduces the shoe’s weight greatly.

When it comes to the outsole, the new Asics GRIP SOLE outsole, which had a strong grip, but the problem is the grip is barely satisfactory in rainy days or on wet grounds.

In terms of insoles, Asics MetaRide is equipped with highly springy 3D insoles for soft fit and comfortable experience.

A shoe weighs 299 grams or so. From my point of view, this is an average job done by Asics.

Asics shoes are said to have excellent wrapping. But of all the Asics shoes that are lying in my shoe cabinet , I like this MetaRide best for it has nice wrapping. However, I am a wide footer, so the outside of  the toe part causes a slight pressure.

Overall:
Asics MetaRide is a combination of a variety of materials through mechanical and physical structure design. The impressive appearance, the excellent midsole and new tech are all inviting for we running shoe fans. It is a bit expensive though,   it is still worthwhile trying.

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Mizuno WAVE ZEST Performance Review

Mizuno is a sports brand founded in 1906 in Japan and has a history of more than one hundred years. Also, it has now become the world’s leading  manufacturers in clothing, shoes and sports equipment. Particularly, its professional status in the field of running shoes is well-known. Over the years,  Mizuno has spared no effort in doing its best and serving its customers so that it can have the achievements we see today. The WAVE ZEST I am going to talk about today is a continuation of mizuno’s WAVE technology and it also combines the ancient style with modern tech, which is very inviting for many runners.

When I got the shoe, I got quite a start because the blue shoe box was really nice. And as soon as I opened the box, I got startled once again. To tell the truth, I have seen a lot of splash-ink paintings, but never has I seen any shoes with splash-ink vamps. So this Mizuno WAVE ZEST is unique and is special for me. The colorway of this one is black and white. With the silver logo at the side, the shoe, as a whole, is very striking.

The fore part of the vamp is loose and is very friendly to wide footers. Like Asics shoes, this one suits most of us. The mesh vamp adopts the AIRmesh tech, which is widely seen in our life and whose breathability performance is similar to that of the average shoes.

And then it comes to the tongue. There is nothing special in it. Printed on it are some basic information of the shoe. And for the insole, it is pure white with a black logo on it and made of a foam and two layers of suppressed mesh cloth. For many runners, the insole is something of a shoe that really counts because it is the insole that directly touches their feet. Besides, the softness of the insole have a great bearing on the foot feeling, so it’s on wonder that many people, especially long-distance runners, have high requirement of the insole. However, it is highly suggested that the insole be ungraded for I can not see any advantage or feature of it. In that case, there isn’t any difference between the insole and the others.

The outsole is one of the most impressive part for me. Its appearance is very nice and above all, tt performs not bad. The X10 wear-resistant outsole contains abundant carbon element, greatly increasing the durability. This has been embodied in my experience: the shoe has been my companion for some time and even after intense exercises, the sole remained intact.

The shoes weigh 550 grams. Studies have found that every 100 g of  weight reduce of shoes will reduce the wearer’s metabolic rate by 1.11%.  So thanks to new material of Mizuno WAVE ZEST, the shoe is light and enough and the cushioning is far better. 

In the first several days of getting the shoes, I would wear the shoes wherever I went. It was a bit hard under the feet, but after a few days’ getting along with it, I became more familiar with it.

You can elicit a conclusion that the shoe looks very nice from every perspective and it can also match with various dressings.

It is worth mentioning that the tongue of this shoe is very comfortable and soft. It is a bit longer than average ones, which can be a wrapping-enhancer after fastening the shoelaces.

By some  testing, I found that the shoe has excellent cushioning and gripping, which may be resulted from the support of mizuno tech. However, the shoe is never a good choice if you want to run in mountains or rugged grounds.

Overall:

After checking the performances of this shoe, I think you must have had a choice in your brain. It is  undisputed that every shoe has its cons and pros and so does this Mizuno WAVE ZEST. As a pair of running shoes, it is more than suitable for jogging and it is to most people’s satisfaction. Anyway, however good the shoe is, the decision is live to you. 

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New Balance FuelCell Impulse Performance Review

Nowadays in the world full of various shoes brands, New Balance still remains true to the original aspiration and is striving hard to its ambitions. Founded in 1906 in Boston, the American city of marathon, New Balance  is known as “the king of running shoes” and one of the top four running shoes. On November 4, 2018, the New york marathon, one of the world’s six largest marathons, kicked off as scheduled. Albeit I wasn’t on the scene, I still felt lucky enough to be given the opportunity to test this New Balance FuelCell Impulse. If you want to know whether the shoe agrees with you, then just gon on checking with me. 

A single shoe weighs 232 grams. I have to admit that this is a tremendous job New Balance has done and it seems never did it fail me in this respect.

The appearance of New Balance FuelCell Impulse, from my point of view, differs from many ordinary ones in that it adopts the black shoe body, making the whole somewhat “mysterious”. You can see in the vamp, the tongue and the shoelaces the glittering  NYC logo. And if you do not like this colorway, there are still other options for you. I am sure there must be one that fits you.

The vamp consists of two layers: the outside layer is the breathable TPU, offering support while the inner super-thin layer brings you comfort and nice wrapping experience. The  fabric upper makes the shoes to be very breathable and light,  allowing in extra air. And the sides having not printed logos this time, the shoe looks very simple but it is practical in fact.

As the New Balance FuelCell Impulse adopts the one-piece inner boot design, the wrapping is very good, avoiding the situation that the tongue of the shoe goes off during exercise. The shoe tongue is printed with the gold logo which is also indispensable in the insole. In hot summer days, the thin and breathable insole can perfectly fit your feet and help dissipate heat when you are running. Besides, the toe part has a certain extent of elasticity and support and meanwhile protects your toes from injury.

The midsole is made of RevLite EVA foam and FuelCell nitrogen with the former supporting most part of the midsole and the latter just a thin layer. Actually, it is the foam that offers nice response and feedback. Having tested the shoe, what is most impressive of the shoe, for me, is the tech in fore part, which gives me efficient cushioning as well as sufficient rebound.

The rubber is used in the heel and the forefoot, the fore part a novel design. As for the heel, it is surrounded with rubber for it wears out easily. The LOGO of “New Balance” is printed on the parallel line and the foam of RevLite is in the middle.The reduction in rubber made the shoes lighter, bringing less burden to wearers. 

The feeling that the shoe is breathable and comfortable always remains in my mind however long the time has passed. If asked to sump up the shoe in a word, there is only one word surging into my mind: nice!

In the first trial of running, my experience was that the shoe rubbed my feet and caused some pain at the heel because the shoes were new. But later the pain disappeared. And during the whole process of running the shoe wrapped my feet superbly. That impressed me a lot. Then even after 5 miles of running, I did not in the least feel any sweat under my feet and the rebound effect is not degraded after running for a long time.

When I was running on slopes, the fore part of the shoe gripped nicely so that it reduced shock, preventing my knees from injuries.

Overall:

To summarize, the fabric upper makes the running experience unforgettable, which is resulted from its lightness and breathability; in terms of the appearance, it is simple but graceful; the cushioning is also an excellent setup: the combination of Foam and FuelCell nitrogen is a work of originality; what’s more,  its strong feedback can cope with a variety of problems; the upper also sticks to your feet nicely whatever kind of action you do. So just believe it and you will get surprised by its performance.

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Adidas UltraBOOST 19 Refract Performance Review

I remembered in 2015 when Adidas UltraBOOST 15 was launched, lots of people were dreaming to get one pair of the shoes including me and my intimate friends who were quite into sports. Then four yeas later, Adidas released another new cushioning shoes which can be on top of other models concerning the cushioning respect. Luckily, I got one pair of  this UltraBOOST 19 Refract  and be here to give the review and share with you my experience.

To begin with, I want to talk about the setups at the heel. Just imagine that how fantastic it is to wear a pair of shoes with neon effect at the heels. Awesome, isn’t it?! Now it is not a dream; the UltraBOOST 19 Refract can satisfy you. The 3D heel with stable structure is a highlight of the shoe. The heel of this limited colorway is designed with many thin, three-dimensional neon lines with hollow holes, as is shown in the images below.

The design in the above picture is to  increase the stability of the heel:  it maintains the pace of the normal dynamic and makes landing more stable.

IN terms of the vamp, it is a one-piece knit upper: the Primeknit 360. The different colors of the upper make the whole shoe somewhat striking in appearance. The upper extends from the toe to the heel, making the shoes like a pair of socks.

The Primeknit 360 is some kind of  a stretchable and breathable knitting technology that will not press your feet. Another merit is that the vamp is super breathable and elastic, so when there is stiff breeze, you can even feel it under your feet. However, this advantage may become a disadvantage on rainy days,so the shoes are not recommended under the circumstance. And simple as the upper looks, the craft is said to be quite complex.

By observing the UltraBOOST 19 Refract carefully, you will find that there are two kinds of densities in different parts of the vamp.

The craggy knitting in the vamp can enhance the three-dimensional feeling of the shoes. And the protruding white part and the dark red part, and the green and blue dazzle color line form a contrast with distinct convexity and concave.

The edge of the shoe is densely woven, and the weaving is also different from the vamp weaving technology. In contrast to the rough upper, the edge of the shoe is smooth and delicate. Besides, the compact weave supports the entire shoe and the internal setup called support shaping patch helps make a more excellent wrapping.

Observing from the observe, you will see that the red line is to the shoe what a “punchline” is to an awesome  essay”. But for the red lines, the shoe would look very monotonous. 

UltraBOOST 19 Refract uses the Stretchweb tech in the outsole as well. Benefiting from that, the sole can handle different kinds of floors easily; the Stretchweb outsole has been tested for years to be able to handle both wet and dry floor. Even if in the face of rugged grounds, it still performs nicely. But what is bothering is that the sole is white, which gets dirty easily.

With regard to the midsole tech, UltraBOOST 19 Refract uses Optimized BOOST 20% more than the first version. Thanks to that, many reviewers also observe that the midsole is far softer than other  UltraBOOST shoes and the bounce it offers lasts longer.

 

Here I also make a simple comparison between energy boost and UltraBOOST 19 Refract. You can see from the pictures that the Optimized BOOST in the forefoot and the heel have been both increased.

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However, this Optimized BOOST is somewhat different from the usual ones: this new Optimized BOOST sole eliminates the small bumps and replaces them with denser dots.

In the process of running a single shoe can provide excellent power support passed through the Torsion Spring which is a anti-twist system.

The Torsion Spring is embedded between the  Optimized BOOST and the outsole. It is much lighter than the previous Torsion Syestem, thus bringing less burden to wearers.

Instead of the hollow thick and hard TPU, the newly upgraded soft and transparent TPU feels nicer and sticks to your feet better.

When I was testing the shoes, there were some other surprises. I found that the short plush on the insole is a slightly tilted horizontal arrangement so that it can effectively prevent the occurrence of slippage .

 

 

Here is an attention tip: do wear light-colored socks because the lateral plush on the insole will rub down the fluff of the dark-colored socks.

When I was testing the shoes, it was dirt cold outside. However, the Optimized BOOST soles did not fail me：it protected my feet from wintry weather and freezing temperatures.

 

The shoe is overall to my satisfaction. It is not only cool in the appearance, but it can go with any outfit, quite simple and nice. To sum up, it is reliable model and worth your trust and try. If you want to get one pair, then you’d better take action now for it is a shopping-rush goods .

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Adidas Dame Lillard 6 Performance Review

To begin with, the most impressive setup of Adidas Dame Lillard 6, from  my perspective, is the cushioning which has been equipped with Lightstrike technology. Compared with that of the Harden 4 and N3XT L3V3L, the cushion of Adidas Dame Lillard 6 is rather soft but causes no bother because it offers the right amount of feedback. So if you are interested in cushioning and attach great importance to it, then I highly recommend it to you.

There is a saying that if you care about the cushioning, then just consider shoes with Lightstrike technology; if you care about cushioning and foot feeling, then consider this Lillard 6.

It is no exaggeration that Lillard 6 can bear comparison with the Ultra Boost which once enjoyed a high reputation. But there is a fatal problem: the durability of Lightstrike of Adidas Dame Lillard 6 might not be as nice as we had expected. As for the detail concerning this respect, I will talk about it later. 

What is interesting is that none of Adidas’s signature shoes this year use boost technology while the lillard and harden models adopt full foot LightStrike.

Having learned some details about the Lillard 6 , I know that Adidas is trying to find a reasonable price that matches for the setups. So when it comes to the shoe’s wrapping, I would like to share with you my experience. When I got the shoes earlier, I had high expectation of it and so I wore it out to do some testing. The first feeling I’d got was the wrapping was nice except that the forefoot was a bit spacious; in other words, there was extra room in the fore part. Many reviewers also observed that that was a fly in the ointment of the wrapping. 

Like harden 4, the shoelaces of Lillard 6 can not control the tightness of forefoot and the vamp is not elastic enough, causing the wrapping insufficient. But from my point of view, Lillard 6 has done a far better job than Harden 4 which makes you feel you are wearing nothing. So for those with slender feet I won’t recommend this  Lillard 6.

The four pairs of lacing holes seem to make no difference in enhancing the existing wrapping  while the only merit of the vamp is the heel lock.

Seeing the “tail” attached to the heel, some may be wondering what functions can it bring?

Well, do not expect too much of it: the “tail” is just something of a decoration. But the “tail”  is made of soft material, so you do not have to worry about being stuck.

Then it’s time to talk about stability of the shoe which is said to be the part with the most flaws.

There are mainly three elements consisting of anti-rollover performance: moderate gravity, obvious rollover angle and reinforcement in the outside. Having tested the shoe, I found the shoe has no reinforcement. But it does not mean terrible midsole stability, it is still enough for average players.

But like the city’s 8,kobe 360, the lillard 6 has also a spherical outsole on its heel. I’ve always been trying to explain this special design which has never been seen in previous editions. For my money, the spherical outsole in the heel indeed brings more flexibility and more outstanding cushioning performance.

A fatal problem of the shoe is that with a spherical outsole in the heel, lillard 6 has a high center of gravity in the rear part and with the changeable Lightstrike, it is likely that there will be rollover phenomenon.

Albeit there are some complaints about this design, the good news is that Adidas is ready to walk out of its comfortable zone and try new things. Under the circumstance, we can get some more surprises one day.

With regards the traction, Lillard 6 performs not bad, at least far better than Harden 4 which causes much slipping. As for durability of the sole, it is not as nice as the traction. Made of soft  rubber material, the sole can not stand the “torture” of the cement ground.

Overall:

To sum up, the shoe’s wrapping is not so striking and the shoe is more than suitable for wide footers; the durability of both the sole and the vamp is moderate. But having said that, the shoe still has eye-catching merits: the cushioning is fantastic and feedback is sufficient and responsive. Then when asked about the durability of Lightstrike I mentioned at the beginning, I want to say that the only word surging into my mind is nice! If you want to buy this model, there is another word for you: wait! The price at the moment is a bit high, so you can just wait some more days.

 

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Nike Kyrie 5 VS Kyrie 6 Performance Review

If you are a fan of Nike Kyrie, you must be very familiar with the Kyrie 5 and even if you are not, you also might have learnt the popularity of Kyrie 5 because it had aroused  heated debates in  the society before it was launched. So when Kyrie 6 was released, people all had high expectation of it. Then how about its actual performance?

The heel, the velcro strap, the front part, the tongue and the upper are respectively made of 5 different materials, all of them much more solid than that of PG3 I wear oftenest. Besides, the texture of the shoe feels rather nice especially the heel part. What’s more, for my money, it is the plastic reinforcement of the fore part that attracts me most, bringing less pressure to my feet.

As regards the wrapping of Kyrie 6, it is excellent. Those having been used to the wrapping of Kyrie 5, certainly, will perfectly adapted to Kyrie 6’s wrapping. A highlight of the shoe is the asymmetric shoelaces which is designed to enhance wrapping.

For the cushioning, Air Zoom Turbo performs no worse than that of the Kyrie 5. Since I chanced to have both Kyrie 5 and Kyrie 6, I think I have a say in this respect. Based on the ground of my experience, the cushions of the two pair of shoes are fantastic and they are advantages of the shoes.

Kyrie 6 starts up very quickly, which is more than suitable for some players seeking speed. However, you had better choose a suitable size with some efforts because the size of Kyrie 6 tends to be a bit smaller than really is. And if you by mistake have bought a unsuitable size, you’ll feel the fore part somewhat spacious. So here I highly recommend you go and try the shoe on store.

It is widely said that Kyrie 6 continues to maintain the nice anti-rollover performance of previous versions. For this part, I haven’t come across any related problem but you can as well expect something of it. Some users comment that the shoe is very stable and the tusklike anti-rollover design is evidence. So whether on court or out of court, we can see that Nike has always been sparing no efforts in improving Kyrie series.

It is normal that many people will concern about the durability of the shoe and the outsole. After all, it is the sneaker that will accompany us on the “fierce” courts. So when it comes to the durability, I always attach great importance to it. The outsole is made of XDR and after 6 hours’ playing, it showed no scratches or wear. This is a reliable partner you can fall your back on.

To sum up, Kyrie 6 is a far cry from the previous editions. It has been upgraded greatly. The appearance is nice and there are some other colorways for you to pick up. Over time many people will ask me a question, “Is there any model that attracts you most?” My answer must be Kyrie 5 and Kyrie 6 because it is they that are the most reliable and helpful companions fore me.

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Converse All Star Pro BB Performance Review

In the middle of 2019, Converse released  a basketball shoe, the All Star Pro BB, which is a very limited version and whose retro appearance set off a heated discussion. What is stunning is that both the black and the white colorways were sold out in “one second”; thus it can be seen that the shoe is quite popular. Learning this, I  felt my words failed me because I was just shocked by the fact.

But today I wanna talk about the Noctural colorway which is the luminous Christmas version. You might have found some similarity between this Noctural colorway of All Star Pro BB provided by Converse and Kobe’s Christmas colorway. But anyway, let’s take a look at its performance.

The cushion of All Star Pro BB is the React that can be drawn out and after you wear the shoe you will feel your feet “stuck” in the groove formed in the midsole, which can enhance stability . I myself have a very deep impression of React because it offers me a really nice experience. For example, the Superfly MVP and Kobe AD NXT FF both have React cushion and they are my favorite ones as well.

In fact, my first experience with All Star Pro BB, from my perspective, is memorable for the feeling was authentically nice. Whether you’re walking or jumping around the field, you can feel the reaction, which is very elastic, giving feedback that is neither too hard nor too soft. However, the durability of the reaction, which is often a concern, may need some more time testing.

The outsole of All Star Pro BB is a grainy glow-luminescent crystal outsole which is more than suitable for indoor courts. Though  it looks a bit unreliable because of its weak appearance, it just turns out to be excellent.

Since time is limited for me, I can not precisely describe the durability of the sole. But for me, I am still expecting some more surprises of it.

Honestly,  I’ve only worn this  All Star Pro BB for three times on basketball court, each time lasting for about 30-45 minutes, however, the torsion resistance of the shoe is far worse than I expected.

There is no torsion resistance design between the midsole and the outsole. So this, in my case, caused some scratches. This is quite a pitying part.

Now let’s look at the wrapping of the shoe. The wrapping was, in retrospect, not bad. All Star Pro BB is designed for people with slender feet, so the wrapping is nice for me but not so friendly to wide footers. But some other people may feel slippery inside the shoe due to their slender feet. Even under the help of shoelaces, they still feel slippery. This differs greatly with my personal experience, so I think that had something to do with foot type.

The vamp of All Star Pro BB is Quafit. In other words, it is only a very thin mesh fabric. So due to its thin and lightness the shoe’s vamp support is very limited. However, there are foams around the heel reinforcing wrapping but without TPU at the heel.

Notwithstanding its high-top design, the shoe’s protection is insufficient. So do not expect too  much of it and with respect to this, you should have some precautions to protect your feet and your ankles.

Overall

For the size, here I highly suggest that you should choose a bigger one or you can also have a try on stores.

Well, the All Star Pro BB is such a nice shoe that some may consider it as specious, but the fact is that it is suitable for average basketball players. Actually, in the second half of 2019, sneakers of this type were increasing. I am sure each basketball player must have copped his/her own shoes and for me I like this Converse All Star Pro BB most. But on the other hand, the shoe needs some improving. Besides, it is said that Converse is releasing new models in the near future, so let’s wait and see.

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BROOKS RAVENNA 9 Performance Review

I’ve had some experiences with BROOKS series and I myself also copped several pairs of BROOKS shoes including the RAVENNA 9 , hence, I think I have a say in introducing the details of BROOKS RAVENNA 9.

First of all, in addition to the continuation of some of RAVENNA 8’s excellent functions, RAVENNA 9 has also been significantly ungraded in its performance, of which you can expect more fantastic experience.

The RAVENNA 8 was awarded Runner s World’s most worthwhile purchase award in 2017, and RAVENNA 9 also won the Best Runner s Buy award again in the march issue of Runner s World magazine. So before testing the shoe, I had been more convinced that the new model would surprise me in some way.

To tell the truth, I was more than astonished the moment I opened the shoe box and saw the shoes because it has changed in its appearance quite a lot compared with RAVENNA 8 which is right now lying in my shoe closet. Judging from the appearance, the changes can be clearly seen: the upper is completely changed into breathable mesh material,  less synthetic though; and for the colorway, it is monochromatic fluorescent green with dark blue; in addition, the weight has been greatly reduced, from 311 grams of  the previous version to  269 grams of this RAVENNA 9;the sole is also changed a bit.  I am sure all these details been tweaked to make the RAVENNA 9 less of a burden on runners overall.

In terms of the midsole, of course, it has inherited the exclusive cushioning technology, BioMoGo DNA from BROOKS. The dynamic cushioning tech can provide shock than is expected and more importantly, double the feedback of kinetic energy. This is an obvious phenomenon on general courts. You can feel the stability of the shock absorber and kinetic energy feedback. 

In particular, the inserted Diagonal Rollbar (DRB) stabilizer give runners enough stability and support to apply force while running. It can also improve the situation of excessive internal rotation instability in walking or running. The s-257 durable midsole is used in the whole sole to strengthen the elasticity. At the same time, the Omega elastic groove design is used to enhance the flexibility of the forefoot and shock absorption performance which can perfectly disperse the pressure when landing.

The outsole uses HPR Plus rubber to prevent slipping. The durability of the outsole is at the meantime guaranteed, so there is no need worrying about the “longevity” of the shoe. The soft inflatable rubber and Flextra elastic grooves are used in the forefoot to allow full and appropriate absorption of the impact of shock brought by your body.

Adopting the light mesh material, the large hole design, the vamp is super breathable and  can maintain more ventilation compared with the 8th edition. And the eliminated synthetic leather reduces weight and increase air permeability.

Since the PU track will absorb some feedback, it is recommended that you run on general road wearing the RAVENNA 9 because the stability and shock absorber of this RAVENNA 9 are enough, which can highlight the excellent function of it.

When  you are running you do not have to worry about unstability because of the foot arch stability setup.

It is some kind of weird feeling to run on the sidewalk because the road may be undulating. But it is on such ground that the stability, the cushioning and supporting of the shoe become more prominent.

When you running on the sidewalk, even if the road is rugged, RAVENNA 9 will not cause pronation.

BROOKS has always been striving hard in pursuing its goals and seeking a better “BROOKS”.  It aims at making its shoes more professional.

In short,  the shoe is nice in both the appearance and the performance. After I tested the shoe, I can not praise it too much and I think I will highly recommend it to my friends who are in need of such a pair of shoes. And I think you might as well have a try.

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Nike Kyrie 6 Performance Review

On the basketball court, In addition to the fantastic dunk  that receives much popularity, the changeable Crossover is also a big point of interest that catches the audience’s eyes and can win their applause. At this point I guess you might have thought of Kyrie Irving. And in order to suit the style of Kyrie Irving, Nike has also released a brand-new pair of signature shoes: the Nike Kyrie 6.

As can be seen in the picture that Nike Kyrie 6’s  toe design is relatively flat, so I have to pick a bigger size and here I must suggest you all that you had better go to stores and have a try in case you buy a unsuitable size in one go and then you will get bothered.

The Kyrie 6 is overall a comfortable shoe. The interior part of the shoe is filled with foam lining and so is the case for the shoe tongue.

The upper is mainly divided into two parts by the mesh in the forefoot and the leather in the rear part. The mesh in the fore part is a bit hard though, it needs some time to be softened and as soon as you get used to it, it fares quite smoothly. In terms of the rear vamp with a padded collar, it is soft, improving comfort and support. With the enough thickness of the vamp and the shoelaces, the shoe offers a nice wrapping for wearers.

The back part is designed not only to provide support for the ankle but also flexibility, thus making it suitable for the majority of people who want some ankle protection but don’t want to feel restricted.

What has to be pointed out is that the velcro strap is a beloved setup for some while it can also be a hindrance for others. 

In this Nike Kyrie 6, the Velcro extends from the inside to outside, which as well provides some support on the inner arch of the foot. On the other hand, the Velcro strap is smooth and compatible, bringing no any discomfort. To sum up, the Velcro strap not only enhances wrapping of the overall shoe, but the overall support and stability.

Parts of the Kyrie 6 shoelace buckle have been modified: removing the Flywire design on either side of the toe. By the means will not the tight laces cause any discomfort as the previous Flywire designs have been known to make the toe too tight and uncomfortable.

The forefoot of the shoe adopts the same kind of design from the previous version, the Nike Air Zoom Turbo. But Kyrie 6 differs from Nike Air Zoom Turbo in that its  ZOOM TURBO in the midsole can bounce back significantly when pressed and it responds quickly as well in terms of emergency and start-ups.

However ,it is sad that Kyrie 6 does not improve much with respect to the cushioning in the rear midsole. Compared with the previous ones, the midsole foam will be a bit softer but when it comes to the cushioning performance, then it is not that satisfying.

Because Kyrie 6 is a signature shoe, it has its own features that can not be seen in other shoes, say, the grip system. The outsole pattern characterizes with an all-seeing eye and multi-angle flytrap leaf design to provide excellent and multi-angle grip. With the addition of XDR durable rubber, no matter in indoor or outdoor basketball court KYRIE 6 can rise to the occasion.

Well, some of you must have found a number of details that inherits from the previous editions, say, the Hamsa, All-seeing Eye and  his motto, Hungry and Humble, indicating his personal style and belief in his family.

Some people must feel the shoe rather familiar. Well, this is quite normal for the design of the Kyrie 6 was also inspired by and referenced in detail by the NIKE AIR YEEZY 2 which is also one of Kyrie Irving’s favorite shoe.

Overall

To sum up, the Kyrie 6 is a nice companion on court. It offers excellent grip, sufficient wrapping and support. The forefoot AIR ZOOM TURBO cushion responds nicely and the velcro strap to some extent increases the level of the appearance notwithstanding the midsole foam that requires more improving. You can just have a try or if you happen to be  a fan of KYRIE IRVING, then I am sure it will win over your love easily.