Under Armour Curry 3ZER0 Performance Review

Is the Under Armour Curry 3ZER0 better than the Curry 3?

Traction — Nothing to see here, folks. It’s just herringbone and solid rubber — the things that make for some beastly traction no matter the court condition. This same outsole was used on the Curry 3 and my thoughts are the same as well. It’s great. Indoors or outdoors, the traction performs well and lasts.

Yes, I’ve heard stories of some consumers that have had horrible traction with the Curry 3. Are they telling a lie? Honestly, I don’t know. Anything is possible. All I know is what I experienced, and that was great traction.

Cushion — The Curry 3ZER0 isn’t leaps and bounds better than the Curry 3. In fact, it’s very similar overall. However, the cushion is the one aspect that has changed a bit.

I am not a fan of firming up UA’s Micro G foam compound in order to use it as a carrier for the softer Charged foam puck in the heel (and I stated that in the performance review on the UA Curry 3). The Curry 3ZER0 though — it feels a little different. It’s Micro G midsole doesn’t feel as lightweight as it did on the Curry 3, but it feels like it has more rebound or bounce. This provided more impact protection and overall comfort.

Again, the Curry 3ZER0 isn’t as light as the Curry 3 but it isn’t something that affects you negatively. Meaning, it won’t feel like it’s weighing you down. Instead, you feel a little more spring in your step, a welcomed change from the 3. If you wanted a cushion that balances stability and comfort then this is the setup for you.

Materials — The Curry 3 featured UA’s knit Threadborne, anaFoam, and fuse overlays whereas the Curry 3ZER0 uses mesh and fuse. Overall, I prefer the way the 3 was built, but that isn’t to say that the Curry 3ZER0 is underwhelming in this category — you’re just whelmed. Granted, this model is a “cheaper” alternative to the 3 if you’re comparing retail prices to one another.

On the flip side, this setup is very durable and worked just fine on-court. You will need to break-in the fuse overlay that sits on the medial toe. This area caused a bit of chaffing because the fuse material flexed into my foot while in motion. It doesn’t take long to break-in so, to me, it wasn’t a deal breaker. I would have just preferred that the fuse rand was located only around the trim rather than most of the toe.

Fit — Much like the 3, the Curry 3ZER0 fits true to size. Wide footers will want to try them on before purchasing but I think most will be satisfied going true to size. Lockdown on the shoe, again, is comparable to the Curry 3, which was solid. The only real change here is the heel area; it was designed to accommodate those that wear ankle braces while playing.

If you wear a brace then going true to size will still work as the collar will adjust to fit around your brace just fine. Those of us that do not wear a brace will be perfectly fine as well as the area fits and feels just like any other shoe once laced up. This type of collar design is really only for brace wearers so those of us that hoop brace-less may feel that this feature is pretty insignificant overall because it doesn’t do anything for or against us. Something I can appreciate when I do wear a brace is that my shoes rarely fit me comfortably, but the Curry 3ZER0 shouldn’t pose that problem.

Support — I don’t like sounding like a broken record, which is why I tend to avoid testing and reviewing redesigned models nowadays, but the support is nearly identical to that of the Curry 3. The TPU wings are gone but that small yellow TPU piece offers similar support and helps keep your foot on the footbed while maneuvering around the court. An internal heel counter is in place, as is the exaggerated midsole at the heel. Albeit, a little less exaggerated than the Curry 3.

Just like the Curry 3, the shoe’s tooling sits wide and stable — built in outrigger included. This is the Curry 3ZER0’s greatest asset if you’re a shooter because you’re always stable, making it easier for you to quickly plant your feet securely in a way that sets up your shot without any lag or delay. This also ties into the balance the midsole foam compound brings. Too soft and you’ll create some instability and a sinking feeling. Too firm, like the Curry 3, and you’ll have the stability that you want but none of the cushion that you may need. Balance is achieved with the Curry 3ZER0 and I hope this means we’ll see a well-balanced Curry 4 in the fall.

Overall — Is the Curry 3ZER0 leaps and bounds better than the Curry 3? No. However, the cushion feels more refined and offers a better balance between stability and protection. Something the Curry 3 was lacking (for me) when I was wear-testing them. That was also what kept me from playing in them again after I was done testing them.

The 3ZER0, on the other hand, I can’t seem to get enough of. I’m already eyeing the Yellow/Royal pair once it hits that $70 mark at retail so I can have a fresh pair waiting for me when I want to wear something I enjoy rather than something I’m supposed to be testing. If you’re a guard or a shooter and plan on trying out the Curry 3ZER0 I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.