Posted on

Deconstructed NIKE KD 13 EP

NIKE KD13 uses full-length ZOOM STROBEL with extra ZOOM Air cushion on the forefoot sole. This kind of configuration is rarely appeared on NIKE basketball shoes, especially the excellent resilience of forefoot sole. What’s the specific configuration? Let’s see the details by deconstructing.

NIKE KD13 “THE PLANET OF HOOPS”

Splitting the left shoe from middle

We can see the construction of insole from the side section

The forefoot sole uses double layers of ZOOM Air cushion

The arch supporting plate

It’s semi-transparent from backlighting

After taking away the vamp, we can see that the inner sleeve can fit the foot very well.

The hot-melting front lining of inner sleeve improves the supporting performance and protection

The shoe-pad of shoe heel is printed with “THE PLANET OF HOOPS”

The full-length ZOOM STROBEL air cushion under shoe-pad has dents, which can improve the flexibility

The length of EUR42.5 full-length ZOOM STROBEL is about 276mm

The width of EUR42.5 full-length ZOOM STROBEL is about 86.17mm

The thickness of EUR42.5 full-length ZOOM STROBEL is about 7.80mm

After taking away the ZOOM STROBEL, we can see the extra independent ZOOM AIR cushion and hollow-out insole.

The independent ZOOM Air cushion cling to the full-length ZOOM STROBEL. It’s very comfortable.

The length of independent ZOOM Air is about 54.27mm

The width of independent ZOOM Air is about 82.16mm

The thickness of independent ZOOM Air is about 7.30mm

The thickness of double layers of ZOOM Air cushion is bout 14.83mm. That’s why it’s soft and elastic.

The TPU plate on the outboard of forefoot and arch part can stabilize the shoes.

We need to test to see actual effect of TPU.

The length of EUR42.5 arch supporting plate is about 93.5mm

The width of EUR42.5 arch supporting plate is about 38.6mm

The thickness of EUR42.5 arch supporting plate is about 2.22mm

Under the condition of depression, the thickness of forefoot insole and outsole is about 16.25mm

Under the condition of depression, the thickness of rear insole and outsole is about 24.59mm.

Let’s have a look at the difference of KD13 and KD12 insole structure.

KD13

KD12

KD13(above one) uses double layers of ZOOM Air cushion, the independent ZOOM Air cushion on forefoot sole has replaced the Phylon insole. The arch position adds TPU supporting plate. The insole is hollow out.

KD12(bottom one)uses double layers of ZOOM Air cushion. The independent ZOOM Air cushion of rear sole is closed to outsole. It has several punching holes on the PHYLON insole.

KD13 (left one) insole cushion supporting parts

KD12 (right one) insole cushion supporting parts

Deconstructed Report

Vamp: KD13 uses four axial Flywire mesh fabric vamp which is similar to KD12. It’s reinforced with leather and hot-melting material which improve the durability.

Insole: KD13 uses double layers of ZOOM Air cushion. It’s very comfortable and has good resilience. The arch supporting plate can stabilize the shoes well.

Overall: KD13 is the upgraded version of KD12. It makes up the disadvantages to improve the performance.

Posted on

Nike KD 13 Performance Review

Today we want to talk about the performance of NIKE KD 13


Suited Court: Indoor and outdoor court
Suited Players: both of light weight and heavy weight players
Suited foot type: all kinds of foot type, if you have high instep, we suggest to choose half size bigger.
Advantages: light, durability, air permeability, comfortable, high cost performance


We have played basketball with KD13 more than 10 hours, today we want to share our performance review of KD13 with you.
I think that the shoe tree of KD13 is the most perfect one comparing with other KD signature shoes.


I used to wear KD4 and KD9, the shoe tree is too narrow for me. So it’s hard for me to accept the shoe tree of KD series shoes.


But I feel comfortable when wearing KD 13.


When moving, my toes are pressed. So it’s better for me to choose half size bigger.


The vamp of KD13 is more concise than KD12. It doesn’t have double layers vamp and four directional Flywire. The vamp material looks cheap. But the fitness is good when moving. The unilaminar vamp has good air permeability.

The irregular outsole pattern has excellent traction performance. I haven’t slipped when playing basketball.


Comparing with KD12, the durability of KD13 outsole is better. We haven’t found any abrasion on the outsole after one week. It’s a big improvement. Although I haven’t tired on outdoor cement court, but it should be no problem to play basketball on outdoor court.

My most expected part of KD13 is insole.
Many guys doubt if the cushion performance of double air cushions on forefoot sole is good or not.


The cushion performance of double air cushions on forefoot sole is excellent. As it doesn’t have insole fabric, so the feedback is more obvious.

KD13 is suitable for light weight and heavy weight players.


Although it uses double air cushions on the forefoot sole, but it balances the center of gravity well.


The shoe-pad of KD13 is thick and stiff. To feel the ZOOM cushion performance more directly, it cancels the design of insole fabric as KD12. The cushion performance of KD12 insole is unexpected excellent. But the problem is that the insole is too soft. The starting speed is dilatory.


With the stiff shoe-pad, the feedback of KD13 insole is fast. Even if it has double air cushions on the forefoot sole, but the starting speed is still fast.

Comparing with KD12, the insole of KD13 is added with a piece of anti-torsion plate, which improves the stiffness. The anti-torsion performance is excellent, and it also improves the protecting performance.


After cancelling the hexagon ZOOM air cushion of rear sole, the cushion performance of rear sole hasn’t been reduced obviously. The stiff Phylon insole, thick shoe-pad and full-length ZOOM Air cushion keeps the excellent cushion performance.

But KD13 also has a disadvantage, that is, the anti-rollover performance.
The extension of forefoot sole is not obvious. Although it has a plastic plate, but the overall anti-rollover performance is bad.


If you have high request to the anti-rollover performance, we don’t suggest you to purchase KD13.
Overall Comment:
Fitness: 9 scores
Supporting performance of vamp: 9 scores
Feedback of forefoot sole: 10 scores
Cushion performance of rear sole: 9 scores
Anti-torsion Performance: 10 scores
Anti-rollover performance: 6 scores
Traction Performance: 9 scores
Protection: 8.5 scores
Supporting Performance: 9.5 scores
Stability: 9 scores
Overall: 89 scores


Till now, I think that the overall performance of KD13 will be the TOP 5 or TOP 3 shoes of 2020.


The appearance is not bad. And it has excellent cushion performance, traction performance and durability. It’s a pair of basketball shoes which is suitable for all positions. Maybe anti-rollover performance will be a hidden danger, but it’s a pair of signature shoes, the design is for satisfying the request of Kevin Durant. The recent KD series shoes don’t have good design for improving the anti-rollover performance.