Looks like Athletic Propulsion Lab aka APL has caught on to the knit phenomenon that performance shoes have been converting to with the APL Blade.
The last time APL released a new basketball model was the Vision Low, which was a low top version of the APL Concept 3, and that was back in 2014. Now, fast forward to 2016 and we have the APL Blade which features a knit upper of what the company calls TechLoom. While TechLoom is nothing new to the company, it is a new technology in their basketball models. Although the shoes feature a knit upper it is not a full knit as it features what looks to be a synthetic overlay for added support and stability. The APL Blade also features the Load n’ Launch technology, the main technology APL is known for, along with a newly designed midsole for added comfort and response.
APL’s models have come a long way from how its shoes were designed and how they performed. The Concept 1, Concept 2, and Concours were all very similar in design and materials — which were heavy and cumbersome. The Concept 3 was a redesign of the shoe and put the company in good standings as the model performed well. The APL Blade looks to be the new vision for the company and where it is headed. Hopefully they feel great and perform well as they share the same midsole and outsole tooling of the Vision and the Concept 3.
At the price point of $225 is the APL Blade worth the price of just an upper change? If you’re interested in picking up a pair you can head to APL.com.
These are so sick but I’ve never tried an APAL shoe and I don’t think I can start paying 225 for my first, sadly BC I really like these but wouldn’t pay more than 150 to try them and that’s even steep imo!
Agreed
Heel lockdown looks questionable, but looks can be deceiving. $225 is a gamble though.
And take away the 1st and 5th synthetic overlay stripes and boom, it’s adidas.
Obviously the heel lock down could still be solid but if they just angled that top Cage piece more towards the heel th lock down would at least be perceived to be way better.
I really liked the concours, playing in them was solid was they were ridiculously comfortable to just walk around in as daily shoes
These are dope! Especially those black ones! Look like they’d perform great on court. Btw, didnt APL get banned from the NBA because of their load and launch tech?
Black one is dope, but max I’ll pay for those is $150
There nice but that price… I’ll pass
They look like they have poor lateral support.
Like that cage is too minimal in the mid foot.
Great look, very premium-pricing though.
The ankle is very much exposed based on the pics,
I do agree that 225 is rather expensive.
My first thought was that they liked like a top notch budget shoe, like $100-125.
$225 they better make a 36 year old white guy like me dunk like Aaron Gordon.
Does it still make you dunk, and worried heel slippage is a problem..
225 I’d rather pay for a Beverly hills shoe across the street sell 1500 fashion shoes that don’t do anything but ‘lifestyle’
Not gonna lie. This are fresh AF. Not loving the synthetic side panels but the woven material looks awesome. But that price…. Holy crap. I was expecting $120-$140. If Adidas can offer Boost and Primeknit for $130 I dont know what the hell APL is thinking. Seems like many of these lesser know brands (Brandblack, Li Ning, and now APL) aren’t even trying to garner attention from the average consumer anymore. Looks like they just want the trendy people with deep pockets who want “premium” and “limited” and “exclusive” crap. I will see them at Ross in a couple months so its all good
Their pricing policy is a joke.