On-Court Kicks Off-Court with Bob

Hello, one and all! Bob From Hydra here, longtime reader, first time contributor, and I’m excited to bring you my first ever review on a subject very near and dear to my heart… basketball shoes.

I love all kinds of basketball shoes; Nike, Reebok, Jordan, adidas and I even have a pair of L.A. Gear from back in the day. You name it and I’m likely a fan. However, I don’t play basketball…well, to be honest… I can’t play is more like it. You see, I have a back condition which makes me unable to play the game. Nothing serious, just a crooked-ish spine resulting in one leg being a few centimeters shorter than the other. It’s not horribly bad, just inconvenient. I know that there are better shoes for me to wear or – so says my Doctor – but they’re too bulky, too heavy and to be honest… they make me feel like a 90 year old man. I don’t eat dinner at 4 in the afternoon and I have all my own teeth so until the day comes where I need help to the bathroom… I’ll stick to sneakers.

Today, I’ll be giving you my thoughts and opinions on the Nike LeBron 11 and how I feel they are off-court. Every year my son and I get the same shoe and the Hornets colorway is the one he picked out. This will be coming from the perspective of someone who uses shoes casually and with a purpose; comfort and support. It’s something I like to call On-Court Kicks Off-Court. I doubt my opinion will help you choose a better shoe for actually playing basketball but maybe it could help you in choosing your next off-court shoe & if not… hopefully you’re still be entertained. So, with that being said, to steal a phrase from Nightwing, let’s get right into it.

I wasn’t excited to walk around with these in public because they are extremely purple. They remind me of something Jem and The Holograms might have worn back in the day. The fuse upper felt very stiff to me, upon my first wearing, but I eventually got used to not being able to move my toes. I like the Hyperposite panels as they do an amazing job of keeping my foot contained and secure which normally isn’t a big deal to me. I don’t curl around many screens or perform a huge amount of jab steps so it’s no big deal where my foot sits but these do keep my feet in place and that, as Martha would say, is a good thing.

There is almost no air flow in these but I’m a 90’s kid and anyone who played ball in the 90’s can put up with sweaty socks so it’s not something I would complain too loudly about. Did I mention how purple these are up close? If I were going to dress up as The Joker for Halloween this year, I’d rock these and no one would even notice.

The cushion… is freaking awesome! That may be a bit dramatic but, I have to tell you, I could walk a straight 20 miles in these and my back and knees would be just fine with it. I love the zoom air unit. It’s very mushy but responsive at the same time. I can feel it propelling my foot forward even without running or jumping which I’m able to do in these with no hesitation. The Lunarlon in them really makes the zoom feel that much better and I think it actually helps the zoom work better as well. That being said, my only complaint is that the midsoles are removable. Nike has been doing that with shoes over the past four or five years now and to me – with this shoe especially – it’s completely unnecessary. They also squeak a ton while walking around – moisture buildup and removable midsoles don’t mix. I have the Graffiti & Diffused Jade, some other pairs as well, and every one of them sounds like I’m crushing the Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers with each step.

Last, but not least, is the traction. I‘m extremely hard outsoles… with one leg being shorter and all. However, after wearing these every day for the past two weeks, I haven’t even dented the pattern. The rubber is soft and pliable but it’s stronger than a lot of other shoes with similar setups.

Overall, I cannot think of a single bad thing to say about them other than it sounds like I’m squishing squirrels or some other form of critter every time I make a step. Regardless, I really do enjoy these shoes and I know my back and knees have thanked me for spending the $200 dollars on them.

Hopefully some of you guys enjoyed a review on a pair of shoes from the perspective of a casual wearer. Until next time, keep your soles down and your heads up!

– Bob