When Ewing Athletics unveiled a 33 Hi constructed with a nearly seamless woven upper, I knew I had to get it on my feet. The latest
Growing up in Queens Ewings were a staple, stretching high up to the calves of hoopers everywhere. Boots for balling, they were supremely padded, rugged as hell, and winners off-court in almost any color combination.
Following the trend of knit and woven production in footwear and apparel, Ewing Athletics released this 33 Hi Weave in ‘White/Black/Gum’ for its April collection. After wearing the shoe for about a week, I have some first impressions.
A long-time lover of Ewings, I have accepted that these sneakerboots are heavy, worn mostly for the look and nostalgia, and are only moderately comfortable underfoot. However, the 33 Hi Weave fixes the former issue; these are much lighter than the leather or suede 33 Hi builds! The weight loss is noticeable pulling these out of the box, and after walking around in them for a few hours my feet weren’t as fatigued as they normally are when wearing the original 33 Hi. Thankt he SpeedWeave upper for that, and the removal of the additional Achilles padding unit.
If Boost is what you’re used to then the PU midsole used here won’t feel as bouncy, but it’s definitely viable. With its supremely cushioned ride and bounciness, Boost has given many high expectations of cushion. I have worn these for a few miles and never once regretted having them on-feet; the comfort is here, and the firmer ride was refreshing.
Finally, we get to the aesthetics. The 33 Hi Weave sits atop a gum bottom that I adore. It’s thick and durable, and sets off the tonal woven upper brilliantly. The upper is almost pinstriped with its unique two-toned build, and it’s textured in a way I’ve never felt before.
Salute to Ewing for embracing modern footwear construction — it shows that even a nostalgia brand can stay relevant. I can’t wait to see what the brand does with this woven tech…
The Ewing 33 Hi Weave ‘White/Black/Gum’ is available now at EwingAthletics.com for $125.
Photography by Katherine Stoutenburgh. Art direction and modeling by Noah Goldowitz. All rights reserved.
