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Nike Kyrie 3 Performance Review

The improvements made between the Kyrie 2 and Kyrie 3 aren’t huge, but they’re important.

Buy Nike Kyrie 3

Traction – The Nike Kyrie 2 offered some of the best traction available in 2016, and Nike continues that trend with the Kyrie 3. Aggressive herringbone is featured from heel to toe along with two multi-directional pods. These pods are intended to allow the wearer to grip the court while swiftly changing direction while the herringbone covers linear movements.

Near perfection is the simplest way to describe the setup and while most would applaud a brand for using such a pattern, it only has me scratching my head wondering why this isn’t just how traction is — as in, all the time. Why would you try to tell a story down below where very few will see it when you can just use a setup like this. A setup that works. This isn’t me calling out one brand in particular either. This is me legitimately wondering why a setup similar to this isn’t just a given when it comes to basketball footwear. Yes, there are a few exceptions to the rule — blade traction typically works well. As do nubs when thick enough and places in a circular motion (Kyrie 2). But this is it right here. This sh*t just works. We’re talking about traction — not stories, traction. We’re talking about traction. Just do this. Every time. Trust me. Nobody will be mad at that.

Is this particular setup flawless? No. The area that looks like an “X” placed between the pods takes a little getting used to — especially in the middle. That’s where the tooling “peaks” because it’s rounded. It isn’t aggressive like the rest of the outsole, but I think that was the intent. It’s almost like a pivot point dead center within the tooling. It’s just a little weird when you first put them on, but it gets less noticeable the more you play. The only thing you will definitely notice is that you’re not slipping on-court.

Additionally, dusty courts will require you to wipe the soles clean periodically. But that doesn’t mean that the traction is failing. Your court is. Or the cleaning crew. However you choose to look at it.

Yes, they’ll last outdoors.

Cushion – This is where brand snobs will get mad at me because I don’t sugar coat sh*t. I just tell it like it is. The Kyrie 3 has no cushion aside from the heel Zoom Air unit. Not sure why anyone would be mad at me for that. I didn’t make the shoe, I’m just reviewing it.

Court feel is the primary focus here, court feel at any cost. There are players that enjoy this type of setup, so if that happens to be you, then you’ll likely enjoy these a lot. The shoe’s heel Zoom unit is there in the event that you crash down on your heel after a rebound, jump-stop, landing etc. I rebound more often than I should — for my size — and the cushion wasn’t a major issue. Jump-stops were. I’ll blame that partially on the cushion setup and partially on my aging body. But, like I mentioned, if you require court feel then this is your shoe.

On a personal note, I do feel that court feel and cushion can be met with compromise. Weather it comes in the form of Cushlon, Podulon, Podulite, Lunarlon, and even the OG of “low profile responsive cushion made for a Guard” Zoom Air. This is like OD-ing on court feel to me. Yes, you’ll save yourself a millisecond of time as the cushion under foot isn’t there to suck a tiny bit of your energy up while in motion. Does that millisecond actually matter? No, not really.

Materials – The main difference between the Kyrie 2 and 3 comes from the materials — and I really love the materials. Mesh is the primary feature at the toe and midfoot to heel. Meanwhile the flex zone at the forefoot is a foam reinforced with Flywire. This setup is far greater than the one we received in the Kyrie 2 — fuse shell with mesh glued on top of it — and it actually made the tooling setup a bit more enjoyable on-court. Everything was able to flex and move properly instead of having the materials and tooling work against each other.

Materials can be very hit or miss depending on player preference, but they’re an essential part of a shoe’s build. The materials are the shoe’s build. Without it you’re merely wearing sandals.

While mesh is the main material, Nike added fuse to high-wear areas for extra strength and durability. Along the entire rear section of the upper we have a rubber — Kurim — overlay that acts as a three dimensional design along with a layer of protection against abrasions. Again, I love this setup and feel it aids in the minimalist tooling they have built upon for this particular model.

Fit – The Nike Kyrie 3 fits true to size. Wide footers may find them to be a bit on the narrow side so going up 1/2 size may be required for some.

The lockdown fit my feet perfectly from heel to forefoot. The throat of the shoe is simple, but extremely effective. While the heel is nice and secure and the ankle structure allows for a pain-free fit. There isn’t much else to say. They fit TTS and I felt locked in the entire time without a single issue. Well, a minor nitpick would be the laces. They’re so damn long. Nitpick complete.
Support – The support features are basic throughout. An internal shank is at the midfoot for some minor torsional support while the heel has an internal heel counter. Tooling isn’t flat, by any means, but it’s wide and cradles your foot well. Having the midsole and outsole rounded definitely takes some getting used to, but once you’ve gotten used to it you’re playing as you would in any other shoe. Materials work well and without too much structure.

Except for the toe. Holy hell they fused the sh*t out of the tip of the toe. Why? I have no idea. You can use fuse without it being so hard. Hopefully they try that out with the four because ramming your toe up there was really enjoyable — sarcasm.

Overall – Surprisingly enough, I enjoyed playing in the Kyrie 3. The Kyrie 2 had great traction along with lockdown and containment, but it wasn’t enjoyable for me. These just felt more complete. More…thought out? Not sure how to describe it exactly. All I know is that they played well for what they offer. I definitely need more cushion as my knees absolutely hate me the following day after wearing these, but other than that I think the shoe is pretty solid.

It really comes down to what performance attribute you have as your top priority. If cushion is your main need then you should already know what that means for you and the Kyrie 3. But if court feel and traction are your only concerns then these might be your new best friend.

Buy Nike Kyrie 3
35 comments
  1. NW, greatly appreciate what you do! Great review, as always. Any thoughts on whether Nike will finally listen and put some real cushion in the next Kylie model?

    1. It’s all about what Kyrie wants — supposedly. If the price of the shoe starts to increase and so does the tech features then I’d personally question the whole low to the ground pitch they’ve been using for his shoes these past three models. However, if he is older and requests more cushion bc it’s something he feels he needs then we could eventually.

      1. nw,

        i heard he(kyrie) already has full zoom in his PE shoe. that coupled with orthos rock! keep up the great reviews. tbh, i tried these shoes on and they are alot better than kyrie 2 in that you do not feel like your walking on bricks, these have a bit of cushion in them.

        Mike

      2. What kyrie wants? If I’m not mistaken kyrie had knee tendinitus and needs the extra cushion. Also, kyie plays in a full length zoom. IMO the only reason its like this is because nike wants to save money

  2. This review is on point Chris. I’m about to be a 35 year old guy, but I’m in great shape right now and I’m absolutely LOVING this shoe. Last year I wasn’t in great shape and played mostly in boost equipped models (namely the D Rose 6) which I can’t do right now because once you fell in love with this kind of court feel and the lightning quick response it gives you, there’s no turning back. I love my Crazy Explosives but right now I feel a half step slower on the court wearing them. I feel like the the Kyrie 3 is the evolution of the adizero Rose line (namely the 1.5 and 2.5) which were rockets for your feet with insane court feel and traction. Also, they look gorgeous in my opinion. Grab it if you’re young or in great shape (and don’t have a huge frame). Stay away if you’re a heavy/strong dude or if you have knee problems.

    1. I liked the setup quite a bit more than last years. Materials here made a big difference in the overall feel of the shoe. I wouldn’t play in these daily — at my current age — but I would definitely pull these out for a crucial game where I needed to ensure I wouldn’t slip.

      1. NW,

        i need a nice sharp shooter in my league and want to recruit you bro. you got them Js raining all day long 🙂 keep up the great vids bro!

        Mike

      2. Played in back to back nights after a grueling (but also delightful) first leg on my Kyrie 3s. My legs were dead on the second night. Absolutely D-E-A-D.

        I wish I had my adidas Crazy Explosives on for the second night but I decided to break out my new Nike Zoom Live 17s, which felt great by the way, but I guess no shoe could save me form the negative effect the Kyrie 3s had on my legs from the previous night.

        Amazing shoe, but just like you said Chris, not for everyday use.

  3. I kind of want to try these out, as of now ive been playing in super cushioned models (KD 9, Crazy Explosive) But ive started playing in more low profile shoes and actually been liking them more (Curry 3, Harden V1, Rose 7) So maybe these will be fun for me (despite shin splints)

    1. Rose 7 isn’t quite low profile in comparison to the Harden or these, but I think you’ll like these if you enjoy the Harden. The Boost in those makes them a bit bottom heavy (as does the TPU wrap) and these just feel a ton lighter in comparison while still being just as close to the ground. I didn’t enjoy the Curry 3 setup bc the midsole felt as thick as the Rose 7 but didn’t flow as nicely which made them feel denser than they are. The rounded tooling on the Kyrie 3 helps with that a lot. If you pick up a pair I hope you like them.

  4. In terms of comfort, heel to toe transition, and court feel is this the best there is or is there a better option?

      1. Hey, great review. I love the perspective coming from a player whose game sounds to be completely different from my own. It sounds as if this shoe emulates those made before the introduction of zoom air, those that actually bigger players, power players could wear. From your review I am intrigued and may take a closer look at a pair. BTW, stop making excuses about being old, as a I know that I am older than many of you here lolol get in the gym and work in between games! Protect those joints by remaining strong!

        1. I’m in the gym almost every day lol. I still get down most nights. However, those joints no longer have cartilage in them. Nothing can be done other than getting cortisone shots and I’d rather not.

  5. Thanks NW!!! Been wanting this review forever!
    I just wish they would put some quality cushion in. Especially in the forefoot. I’m a guard and I’m always on my toes. I appreciate what Nike is doing with court feel.
    Good price too. If I get these, I’ll probably put in my own sole, probably shock doctors.
    Trying to decide between these, Nike air max infuriate, or brandblack rare metals.

      1. Anon I have both the Hardens and Crazy Explosives. Both are very good shoes, but I would recommend the Hardens a little bit more. The Hardens are the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn and they have great cushion.

  6. Great review! I was just wondering how the traction of the kyrie 3 compares to the traction on the d rose 7?
    Thanks

  7. I’m willing to bet kyrie is getting zoom bags in his shoes. $120 for a shoe with almost no cushion is unforgivable.

  8. Hi Nightwing2303,

    Just a question, do you think the upper material (pointy plastic) seems as if it can hurt someone.

  9. Great review as always! But I just want to know the difference between the normal colorways and the kyrie 3 samurai. Will it have better fit? what are the advantages of the samurais?

  10. Hey NW, I was just wondering what your suggestion of insole would be to add to these Kyries? I’ve recently come back from a meniscal tear and these are the first shoes I’ve picked up since then. These suit me 100% perfectly, but the lack of impact protection is something that I’m a little weary of – at least for the next few weeks.

    Would love your input on this. Thanks!

  11. Thanks for the review NW.
    I’ve played in these maybe 10 times now and the shoe is everything you said it would be. Though I have to say this shoe does wear you down and after a while your feet and legs become TIRED. The throat of the shoe behind the ankle is super stiff and it can dig in and beat on you.
    Maybe I gotta adjust the way I jump or something but this shoe is def. not for every day use. Gonna grab some comfy ass hyperdunks or something for chill days.

    Cheers fam

  12. I absolutely LOVE hooping in these Kyrie 3s, I’m 21 and 255 lbs (muscular frame, so it’s a pretty 255 lol). The court feel on em is ridiculous, I mean it’s insane, I’m a shifty guy so these shoes compliment my game perfectly. One thing I will say is that I’ve noticed that my legs feel dead after multiple straight days of being on the court, I’ve been trying to invest in some crazy explosives because of the reviews I’ve watched by Nightwing2303, just haven’t gotten to it yet, hopefully I’ll love hooping in them just as much as I love the Kyrie 3s.

  13. Hi NW, I’m very like your review about basketball shoes, so I have a question that what is better between Curry 3zero and Kyrie 3? Hope to see your answer soon. Thank you very much, love you <3

  14. I have a quick question. Can you use these shoes to wear outdoors like in your spare time without looking like a fool. I know you’ve said that hey last outdoors but I don’t want to look like an idiot who wears basketball shoes outdoors. The shoe sole doesn’t really look like an ordinary basketball shoe so that’s why I ask

  15. Hi, will the cushion be better if I change an insole?
    And what will it lose in the performance side?

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