The time has finally arrived… #GameOnWorld.
Traction – I know quite a few of you have their doubts on the pattern used but after checking them out in person, the only thing I’m worried about is the clear outsole. While clear outsoles tend to attract dust, these have widely spaced grooves so that should help alleviate the amount in which dust or debris affects their performance.
The pattern itself faces multiple directions at the forefoot so I’m hoping for some above average traction here.
Cushion – Lunarlon is used full length. I personally love Lunarlon and it feels great in the Hyperdunk. This version also feels a bit lower profile than past Hyperdunk models so you don’t feel as if you are raised too high off the ground. If you wanted to check out the Tech Sheet for Lunarlon just click HERE when you are ready.
Material – The next generation of Flywire is upon us and it feels amazing. By exposing the Nylon cables you reduce weight and it allows the area to have great air flow. It feels as if they have used a Fuse type material throughout the shoe which offers greater flex since it’s about as thin as normal Flywire but strong like Fuse. Minimal break-in time will most likely be the end result of this setup which is something I like.
Fit – Length wise they fit true to size. Nike went with a narrow last just as they did with the Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 so width wise they are narrow… perfect for me but if you have a wide foot you will either want to try them on or go ½ size up. I can’t feel a huge difference between this next-gen Flywire from trying them on but I will update you with how it goes during a performance teaser. All I was able to notice is how unrestrictive they felt which is something usually I have issues with in Hyperdunk models with the exception of the Low tops.
Ventilation – Anyone who has played in the Hyperdunk 2011 knows that they weren’t the most ventilated sneaker available. The Hyperdunk 2012 is vastly upgraded in this department so air flow is abundant making the shoe lighter in weight and less restrictive overall. Team these up with a pair of Nike Elite socks and you should be good to go.
Support – Your typical Carbon fiber shank plate is featured at the midfoot while the external heel cup is slimmed down quite a bit from past models yet remains sturdy enough. The rest of the support will come from the materials and their snug fit.
Inside the shoe is a slightly molded heel bed so this should help keep your foot in place fairly well.
In case you are wondering why I haven’t included any information on the Nike+ system, it’s because I plan on doing a separate review on that altogether. There is a lot going on with this model and since there are two versions – one equipped with Nike+ & one without – it makes sense for me to split the two areas for review purposes so I can focus on one then the other.
My overall thoughts are pretty straight forward at this point… I predict these to be the #1 performance shoe of the year. I’ll confirm this once the review is complete but from what I can see and feel… these just might blow everything else out of the water.
One last thing… what’s the difference between the Hyperdunk+ & the Lunar Hyperdunk? Nothing… only thing the Hyperdunk+ has over the Lunar Hyprdunk is the built-in Nike+ system. Other than that they are THE SAME SHOE so if you don’t ‘need’ to know your personal stats then just grab the regular version and save yourself some cash.
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Is there a way to try them on? I use size 12 so I can’t go a half size up but I want to try these on.
I bought a pair at Footlocker today and was able to try them on prior to buying them.
Wow….. #1 perfomance shoes of the year…. That’s exciting!
awesome… i wanna buy some new shoes, but i really don’t know which i should take. I ‘ve the rose 2.0 at the moment.
Actually i like the adizero crazy light 2 and the hyperdunk 2012… Maybe i know after the performance review, which shoes is better for me.
I wish this color way was available with the normal hyperdunks
i know, now i have to wait for the next colorway run before i can get them because none of the launch colors fit my school. i could id but its more expensive
Do you know how much do they weight¿? They look amazing and I hope that they’ll perform great
I read in the NBA Hoops magazine somewhere its 11.8 oz. don’t quote me on that though.
They were just barely over 12 oz in a sz 9.
Not to burst your bubble but it’s not full length lunarlon and it is only in forefoot and heel. I am disappointed that its not full length
i get why you would be dissapointed. after seeing the tech sheet. the pressure distribution would be limited to the forefoot and heel only unlike when full length, the pressure could be distributed from the forefoot to around the midfoot and the same with the heel strikes heel to midfoot distribution. still at least you get forefoot and hell with these if what you said was right.
i saw a picture on instagram and under the hashtag #gameonworld i saw a picture under the sensors that they were forefoot and heel and then on eastbay there is a picture
Jizzable
I know that the hyperdunk+ has like an actual pressure plate/insole. Do you think it’ll affect the comfort and/or lifespan of the shoe?
We will find out. Its a very thin “plate” so you dont even notice its there.
What would you recommend for someone that plays the 3-4, a wide and flat foot, and has cushion as a main priority. Thanks
I’m not Nightwing but I am also a guy that plays the 3 n I have a wide foot. I find LeBron’s one of the best and the ones I have been using since the LeBron Zoom 2’s. I would wait a bit till the P.S. Elite 9’s drop in price and get them. Usually hyperdunks don’t hold a candle to LeBron’s but this might be different. You can also check out the Fly Wade 2 EV if you want lunarlon and it will accommodate your wide foot.
If you truly have a wide foot you certainly dont want to waist your money on the Fly Wade but I totally agree with BW the Lebron 9 Elite will go to sale and that’s what you need.
hey NW. got myself an aj2010. i know understand why also you gave the aj8.0 a 10 for cushion. they feel almost the same as the aj2010. fits almost the same too with the forefoot side panels. now i’m looking for the aj2010 outdoor. thanks for the old info.
where do u live, i cant seem to find aj 2010 / 2010 outdoor anymore
im from the philippines. got my 2010s from a filipino buy and sell site. the outdoors i’m trying to bid one on ebay US.
interesting first impression. really looking forward to this one. only thing that concerns me is that they are narrow again. hopefully not as narrow as the crazy lights 2 from adidas. lol
Same here I bet I wont be able to wear those, hopefully I find them ugly as fuck
Do you or anyone else know if this colourway will be dropping in the regular hyperdunk? or is this colourway specific for the Nike+ edition?
What type of insole do they have? Ortholite or just a regular?
Its really thin. Not like the insoles they usually use.
Can you pass the data of the Nike+ sensors to the computer like you do with the Iphone or Ipod¿?
Not sure yet. It will sync to the cpu when you charge them so i assume data can be transferred.
Is this the only hyperdunk Nike will be releasing? Or will there be a model with zoom air or something?
At first I found those exposed flywire cables weird (because how durable can that be?), but now I’m pretty excited for these: looks can be deceiving but I find the overall design very cohesive/ convincing and smooth that I pretty much expect them to offer a smooth ride. Happy that they got rid of that external heelcap.
I wasn’t impressed by the first colorways, but they are already on NikeiD (with XDR option 🙂 so you can click up your own, for example OKC flavoured Lunar Hyperdunk.
damn…. my plan was hold on to my rose 2.5 and wait for the Melo 9. but after holding these in my hand they are so temptating!!
What to do ? What to do??
Where are you nightwing? Why are you no longer answering questions on comments?
I was on vacation for two days.
Good to have you back NW. Since we already hit july, can we now have your top 5 performance shoes for the first half of 2012 based on your personal choice and not with the scores?
Possibly… wait until I’m done with the Hyperdunks and we will see.
hi, I’m from Argentina. sorry, my English is not very good. products of shoes sent to Argentina by mail? I would like to know the costs of Nike Lunar Hyperdunk 2012 +
This colorway. The black and blue is specific to the Nike+ system. The data gets transferred via Bluetooth to your phone then sync online to your Nike+ account online. I don’t think it goes to pc when it’s getting charged but I’ll check. Shoes feel extremely great on court. Grip is very very good 9/10 dust can build up kuz of clear sole. You can’t feel the sensors they are very thin and not noticeable. The data it gives you is nice tracks how many jumps each session or game you do and the vertical from each one it also averages your vertical overall. Has a quickness measure called steps per second and of course Nike fuel (basically how active you are) furthermore you can download Nike+ training and do workouts in the shoes. They are quick challenging workouts to help with core and explosiveness. It’s a great shoe and the Nike+ gives you raw data to help analyze your game.
do you think the new lebron 10 kobe 8 and the KD 5 will have the Nike + in the shoe as well
LeBron 10 will for sure but I’m not sure about the Kobe or KD.
Hi Nightwing! As always on top of the game i see.Great. Tell me sir , from your first impression standpoint. Those Hyperdunks will perform better than AJ 2012 ? (i mean court feel, grip, Fit?) Because i have an option to buy the AJ 2012 Year of Dragon, and for me it looks like i can pay 250$ for HD+ 2012 and get all that TECH or pay 200$ for those AJ’s and get that beautiful package with inserts, boots , bags. You know what i mean? If the performance is the same but with less package and only that TECH seems AJ are better option. But i need your advice on this. Regards Sneaker Guru God Bless !
Well you can easily buy the HD 2012 for $140 without the Tech which is a better choice overall IMO. You dont use the box on the court.
So you are saying that Hyperdunks 2012 perform better than AJ 2012 ? Thats big. I was thinking about it but i love that CW of Nike+ , so sad that the “Normal: HD’s wont be in that colorawy. Nike please do something ! What colorway u like most Nightwing from those Normal HD’s ? Happy 4th July to you btw !
To Nightwing2303
I was hooping in Huarache 2k4’s for about six years.
I then switched it up to Hyperdunk 2008’s, my knees started hurting after playing in them for awhile (no cushioning) and I’ve never had knee problems. I figured I’d buy something with Air Max technology so I bought the Fly Wade 1 because of the good reviews, Zoom Air in the forefoot/Max Air in the heel and also being light. My knees felt better in the Wades but they are very narrow in the forefoot and my feet started hurting bad after breaking them in. I tried to go back to the 2k4’s but they just don’t feel right anymore because the Hyperdunks were so responsive and low to the ground.
I was hoping the Hyperdunk 2012 would be the ticket but a half size larger and still narrow. Nightwing2303 can you suggest a wide shoe that’s light, responsive, with good cushioning for the knees, I’m a 5’10” combo guard weighing about 170 pounds and I’m constantly running like RIP & Reggie nonstop.
I’m a guar too and I had the same problem, right now I really like my Melo M8 but if you play indoor the AJ 2012 are great.
To Rémi
I read about the Melo M8 and they seem to be somewhat similar to my Fly Wade 1 but weigh a little more plus I heard they have bad ventilation but I’m guessing there a wider shoe then the Flys since you listed them.
The AJ 2012 look bulky and the weight varies from 15.5 oz. to 17.4 oz. depending on the midsole. These shoes feel responsive and light to you? The Hyperdunk 2008 was 13.0oz & the Wades were 13.2 oz.
Actually the AJ 2012 somewhat do, no wonder NW ranked them #2. If you compare them to the wade which are very lightweight or the hyperdunk it could not appear so but it is extrem and the downside is those shoes run very narrow (the Wade II and EV). I agree for the lack of ventilation on the M8 but that’s not a big issue in my view since I used to play in a lot of leather old shoes.
You could also go for the adizero rose 2.5 or wait for the 3 that would certainly be a good option -responsive and light- but I dont really know if they run narrow or not, never took the time for them. You should definitly go try them on.
For the case of the AJ 2012, I somewhat prefer Jordan brand, my bad, you can check the Air Jordan 2012 Lite Batman colorway Light Graphite/Taxi-Black which I find really really dope.
And of course if you want responsivness and lightness you want zoom air…
Thinner, lighter and more ventilation… that’s what the Air Jordan 2012 Lite will offer you in comparison to the original AJ2012
http://weartesters.com/air-jordan-2012-lite-july-2012-lineup/
To Rémi
I did try on the Adizero Rose 2.5, they are very narrow and there was a plate or something of that nature that stuck into the side of my feet towards the middle.
I guess you can’t have it all because most of the shoes with zoom that are responsive, are narrow or have no cushioning for the knees.
I also tried on a half size bigger Lebron 9 and the arch in middle, gives it such an awkward feel that I can’t play in. They say the Lebron 9 elite’s are true to size and Nike fixed all the problems with the regular 9’s, so I need to try those on. I also read the good reviews on the Hyperdunk Supreme Elite 2011 but I’m assuming there going to be narrow also.
I’m wondering if the AJ 2012 Lite is sacrificing since they are stripping them down. The color way you list is the best one out of all of them, but that glossy finish is tacky like something Mase & P.Diddy would wear in music video in 98.
Outlets around me have the Air Jordan 2011 for a decent price, have you played in those and are you saying AJ 2012 all the way for indoor hooping?
Lol that’s Batman latex finish 🙂
That’s what I thought about the Rose but I wasnt certain…
For indoor hooping and “wide” feet (I wanna say normal feet cause I find this vogue of narrowness a bit too exclusive) it seems to be the best option, in my view and also based on what Mr Nightwing reviewed. Like he said the 2012 are a big improvement compared to the 2011 but if you can have those at a good price it’s your call… I like the Kobe Vs too if you like low tops, it would be better to try a pair too.
I wouldnt myself play in Lebrons, being a guard, even the Elite ones, cause they are basically dont meant for me, type of cushion that is far from the ground in particular and lack of flexibility.
I think the Hyperdunk Supreme Elite 2011 arent too narrow but there’re sure distant to the ground too. Plus the low top form would be better for range of motion.
Let us know what you choose and how that works for you!
… perhaps NW 2303 will answer when he gets back 😉
If you can get the 2011 Q Flight at a good price it might work just great…
What is the specific name of those 3 color nike elite socks?? love them !
Nike elite 2.0
I wish I could have those shoes.They are really AMAZING.Whoooo!
I just bought these HD 2012 + without the sensor. Only comes with a plastic piece. Know of anywhere I can purchase the sensors?! Thanks!
I saw these at the nike outlet in Orlando for $80 I wanna get them soooooo bad