NIKE SHOE REVIEWS

Nike Full Force Low

The Nike Full Force Low is a very cool, brand-new Force model from Nike. This shoe might have been one of the best casual releases from Nike in a very long time except for one important aspect. This model is heavily inspired by the original Air Force 3. In this case, there is no Air, but we have a very similar cup sole that houses a foam midsole, that can be seen poking through the shoe’s sole. This allows that foam to compress as you walk, for added comfort. There is no denying this is a great-looking shoe, but the material quality isn’t good. The front half features very cheap leather, and the back half is all synthetic, which is unfortunate. Price: $95

Nike Air Penny 1 Stadium Green

This version of the Nike Air Penny 1 is another good non-original Nike Air Penny 1 in terms of build, but the colorway is somewhat polorizing. The shoe is very well constructed, however, it is done up in some lackluster, synthetic materials. As far as tech goes we have everything you would expect from a modern Air Penny 1 (including the smaller Air Max Unit in the heel. In terms of sizing they fit true to size, but if you are planning on playing in them, you may want to go down half a size. Price: $180

Nike Air Penny 2 Atlantic Blue 2023

This shoe originally dropped in 1996, and this OG colorway has been retroed frequently over the years. They are very similar to the original version of the shoe with some minor changes. Tech-wise we have the same thick, outdoor-ready traction pattern, forefoot zoom air, and air max in the heel, and a carbon fiber shank plate for torsional support. As far as the materials go, the leather featured on this model is comfortably above average and the build is excellent. As far as fit is concerned, go true to size. Price $200. 

Nike LeBron Witness 8

The Nike LeBron Witness 8, as the name would indicate, is the 8th shoe within LeBron James’ budget signature line. The Witness line has been pretty solid, not elite, but solid, and has stood out as one of the best-cushioned budget models out there. The LeBron Witness 8, however, has taken a step back in this sense. It is still a very comfortable shoe, but all we have is a foam midsole and a heel Air Sole unit. Everything else on the shoe is basic yet functional. The one stand-out feature is the traction setup which looks like it will be a good outdoor option. In terms of sizing, this is one of those shoes you will want to try on in-store. If you are buying online, we would suggest going half a size up. Price: $110

Nike LeBron 21

The Nike LeBron 21 promises to be a beast on court. It can be described as a remix of the Nike LeBron 20, and, that shoe was amazing, and in fact the best basketball shoe from last year. Barring any unfortunate surprises, this will be one of the top models this year, one of the most versatile, and one of the most comfortable on court, as well as an attainable Kobe substitute. Read the full review. Price: $200

Nike Vomero 5

The Nike Vomero 5 is the ultimate dad shoe, LeBron James‘ favorite shoe in 2023, and easily one of the most comfortable casual shoes ever. This shoe was originally released back in 2011 and was, at that point, a performance running shoe. Nowadays it is considered simply a lifestyle shoe, but a great one.

These bad boys are equipped with a very interesting outsole that combines Nike’s Duralon in the forefoot and their BRS 1000 rubber in the heel and perimeter of the shoe. In terms of durability, it might have been a better idea to switch up this configuration, but for comfort, this can’t be beaten. In terms of cushioning, we have a full length cushlon midsole with heel and forefoot Zoom Air units. Hard to beat. Price: $160

Nike GT Hustle 2

The Nike GT Hustle 2 is the successor to, and an enormous improvement on the Nike GT Run and might just be one of the better performance models we see this year, but it’s definitely a niche basketball shoe. The very low-profile cushioning system, the minimal support features, and the traction could make the Nike GT Hustle 2 one of the best guard shoes of the year, but it might not be enough for bigger players with a more power-based playing style. The GT Hustle is a top-notch performance model, maybe just not for everyone. Read the full review. Price: $170

Nike Sabrina 1

The Nike Sabrina 1 is a great first signature shoe for Sabrina Ionescu and is one of the best basketball shoes Nike has to offer in 2023/24. It’s a shoe that visually, and in terms of performance, could easily be a Kobe shoe, so if you’re looking for a shoe that will give you that “Kobe” feeling on court this one is a safe bet. The Sabrina 1 is a top-notch guard-style shoe that will give you great traction (indoors), a speedy and reactive cushioning setup, along with elite lockdown and support. Read the full review. Price: $120

Nike Air Penny 1 Lester Middle School

Finally, we have a good non-original colorway of the Nike Air Penny 1! The Nike Air Penny 1 Lester Middle School is supposed to pay tribute to Penny Hardaway’s middle school. The reason this is such a nice non-original colorway is because it maintains the original color blocking and just substitutes the accent color, giving the shoe a totally new look while maintaining everything you love from the original. Price: $180

Nike InfinityRN 4

The Nike InfinityRN 4 is one of Nike’s best mid-tier runners. The shoes boasts Nike’s new cushioning setup, Nike React X. React X is a compression molded version of Nike’s React cushioning, which means that setup is more dense and less fluffy but also more durable. This configuration, barring your personal taste in running shoes, should be preferable as it will be able to handle a lot more miles than other cushioning builds. The upper is done up in a very nice textile material, but it provides a very snug 1 to 1 fit that might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Price: $160

Nike Air Alpha Force 88 x Billie Eilish

We finally have the Nike Air Alpha Force 88 x Billie Eilish and it is very different to the previous versions of the Nike Air Alpha Force 88 that have been released this year. We have a different box, obviously different colors, and even different rubber used on the sole but where you are going to see major changes is in the upper materials. Instead of full-grain leather, these guys boast synthetic leather which makes them vegan-friendly and closer visually to the OG Nike Air Alpha Force. They still fit true to size and are slightly more comfortable underfoot. Retail price: $140

Nike Zoom Freak 5

The Nike Zoom Freak 5 just might be the best Giannis Antentoukoumpo signature we have had to date. The Freak 5 does away with the visible Zoom units in the forefoot of the shoe, which adds stability and responsiveness to the shoe. The Zoom Freak 5 is a very simple shoe in terms of tech and overall design, but it will offer above-average on-court. Read the full review. Price: $140

Nike KD 16

The Nike KD 16 is another great hoop shoe in Kevin Durant’s signature line. The Nike KD 16 is very different from the Nike KD 15 (which was also an amazing hoop shoe) but there really haven’t been any downgrades. We have a new gear-shaped traction pattern etched into a translucent rubber sole, an excellent cushioning system that combines a cushlon midsole a large zoom unit in the forefoot, and an Air Stroble that covers the midfoot and heel. Materials are nothing to write home about but the mix of textiles and synthetic leather works well on court, as do all the support features in the shoe.  Price: $160

Nike Air Alpha Force 88

The Nike Air Alpha Force 88, is one of the few basketball shoes that Michael Jordan played in that wasn’t one of his own signature shoes (he also wore a Penny shoe which is an interesting story). This shoe was originally going to be a Billie Eilish collab, but that plan seems to have fallen through. Now, even though MJ wore this shoe a handful of times between the Jordan 2 and the Jordan 3, the player most closely associated with the shoe is actually Charles Barkley. This retro is very well done and done up with more than decent materials which is nice to see. Retail price: $130

Nike Kobe 8 Protro Halo

The Kobe 8 is one of the greatest guard shoes of all time. Traction – awesome. Cushion – amazing. Materials – innovative beyond belief. Fit – pretty much perfect. Ventilation – the best it’s ever been on a Kobe signature. Support – plenty.

What else is there to say? If you are a Guard then this is a shoe that you will appreciate. If there’s anything bad to be said about the Kobe 8 it is the upper durability issues on the medial side and the tendency for the Lunarlon midsole to lose compression over time. But, the Kobe is as durable as any other textile-upper hoop shoe, and in the new versions of the shoe, we will have a React drop-in midsole instead of Lunarlon.

Nike Air Pippen 2

The design of the Nike Air Pippen 2, and Scottie Pippen himself made this shoe an icon on the court. The mid-top profile, featuring a mix of leather and synthetic materials, not only exudes a sense of nostalgia but also provides added containment and durability to the shoe. The signature wavy overlays and bold lines evoke a sense of motion, emphasizing its basketball roots. While maintaining the classic design elements, the shoe’s colorways have been updated to cater to contemporary tastes, making it a versatile choice for both on and off the court.

The traction pattern on the outsole provides a decent grip on the court, aiding in quick cuts and sudden changes in direction. Within the foam midsole, we have an encapsulated, articulated Zoom Air Unit in the forefoot and an Air Max unit in the heel, which, even in 2023, is a great cushioning set up. While it may not offer the same cutting-edge features as contemporary models, the Pippen 2 is still a beast on court.

Nike Zoom Generation Court Purple

This is the third version we have seen of the Nike Zoom Generation. This shoe was LeBron James’ first signature shoe and was originally released 20 years ago. The shoe was designed by three legendary Nike designers and is a top-notch performance model as well as a nostalgia overload.

This colorway is actually a LeBron James PE, that has never been released. The Nike Zoom generation is equipped with a beefy solid rubber outsole with an aggressive outdoor-friendly herringbone traction pattern. We have a phylon midsole with a heel Air unit and a forefoot Zoom Air unit, which are extremely comfortable, and on top of that a really great insole. The upper combines synthetic leather and Cordura mesh which is great for those of us who appreciate 2000-ish shoe builds. Lastly, the Nike Zoom Generation fits true to size. Price: $180

Nike Terminator Low

The Nike Terminator was a model that was released alongside the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike Dunk, which is why those 3 look so similar, but each offers slightly different tech specs. In this case, we have a more traditional-looking traction pattern, that features full-length herringbone, a hollowed cup sole (no air unit), and a leather upper that in this case is nicer than the high-top releases we have seen. They also come with extra laces, and they fit slightly big, so you may want to go down half a size. Price: $130

Nike Mac Attack Retro

The Mac Attack is a cult classic for sneakerheads, and the retro does a bang-up job of paying tribute to the original model. The Nike Mack Attack was actually the signature shoe of the “bad boy of tennis” John McEnroe, and similarly to the banned Jordan’s this colorway was created to break the dress code of the major tennis tournaments. We have a similar traction pattern to the Air Jordan 1, just adapted for tennis. Within the rubber cupsole, there is no Air unit, as this is a Nike product and not a Nike Air product. Materials and overall build are on point as well, and the shoe fits true to size. Price: $120

Nike Air Flight Huarache 2023

The Nike Nike Air Flight Huarache 2023 is the basketball version of an iconic running sneaker and were made famous by Michigan’s Fab 5 during the early 90’s. The shoe was co-designed by 2 legendary Nike designers: Tinker Hatfield and Eric Avar. In fact, it was the first basketball shoe Eric Avar worked on for Nike. The shoe beefs up everything that was great in the running version to make these apt for playing basketball. You have a great durable traction setup that will work well both indoors and outdoors, forefoot and heel encapsulated Air units, and that classic lightweight deconstructed upper. Materials are also on point in this version of the shoe. The Nike Air Flight Huarache 2023 fits true to size, but it does fit very snugly, so keep that in mind. Price: $130

Nike Cosmic Unity 3

The Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is a very interesting performance basketball model. It is made with at least 20% recycled materials, it’s equipped with a very tough outsole, and it comes with a drop-in midsole. That durable outsole seems like it will hold up very well outdoors, but that drop-in midsole cushioning is on the neutral side, which isn’t ideal for outdoor use. The shoe is also equipped with a pretty substantial TPU shank plate that keeps the shoe stable and zippy, and the recycled upper does its job well. Price: $170

Nike Zoom Pegasus 40

The Nike Zoom Pegasus 40, as the name indicates, is the 40th iteration of this model, and if a shoe has hung around so long it’s for a reason. The Pegasus 40 is tremendously comfortable (the shoes feature a react foam midsole and a forefoot Zoom Air unit) and offers really great, webbed traction. The main issue with the shoe is the fit. The Pegasus 40 fits rather narrow and has a rather narrow forefoot. So first off, this might not be the best option for wide-footers, and the more narrow last doesn’t help in the stability department. These two details might not effect everybody, but it is something you should keep in mind. Price: $130

Nike Air Foamposite One Penny PE

Sneakerheads rejoice! we finally got this colorway of the Foamposite, a colorway that we have been waiting for since 1997. It is not exactly like the original PE but it’s pretty darn close. We have all the Penny branding you could want, full-length herringbone traction, a giant carbon fiber spring plate, and that classic Foamposite upper that molds to your foot. One change we find is a new eyestay area that features not-so-great leather instead of nubuck, and we have no blue stripe down the middle either. We have a double lasted midsole with full-length zoom air plus an added unit in the heel. Price: $250

Nike Air Max 1 “Big Bubble”

Now, this is storytelling! The Nike Air Max 1 “Big Bubble” is an excellent retro model. The Nike Air Max 1 originally dropped all the way back in 1986, and it originally dropped exactly as we see in this model. we have a VERY comfortable polyurethane midsole, the sleeker toe box, and that giant air bubble in the heel. We also have an encapsulated zoom air unit in the forefoot. The reason why this shoe looks slightly different from the Nike Air Max 1 we all know and love, is because that version was defective and re-designed later. As far as materials go we have a fully synthetic upper (which is true to the OG) that combines textiles and synthetic suede. An awesome little piece of Nike history. Price: $150

Nike Zoom Generation

The Nike Zoom Generation is LeBron James’ first signature shoe and was originally released 20 years ago. The shoe was designed by three legendary Nike designers and is a top-notch performance model as well as a nostalgia overload.

The Nike Zoom generation is equipped with a beefy solid rubber outsole with an aggressive outdoor-friendly herringbone traction pattern. We have a phylon midsole with a heel Air unit and a forefoot Zoom Air unit, which are extremely comfortable, and on top of that a really great insole. The upper combines synthetic leather and Cordura mesh which is great for those of us who appreciate 2000-ish shoe builds. Lastly, the Nike Zoom Generation fits true to size. Price: $180

Nike JA 1

The Nike JA 1 is Ja Morant’s first signature shoe with Nike and it is a shoe with a lot of potential to be an excellent on-court performer, but at the same time is not an automatic home run. On foot it feels a lot like a Kyrie shoe. We have a nice reactive cushioning setup that combines a Phylon midsole and a smell rectangular zoom unit in the forefoot. The shoe’s traction looks aggressive, and the rubber is relatively tough and tacky which is a great sign, and this will most likely be the shoe’s best feature. Materials are the shoe’s weakest feature, but also, you cant expect much out of a shoe at this price point. Read the full review. Price: $110

The Union X Jordan AJKO

This is the very first low-top AJKO, and these are way nicer than we could have expected. This is the second colorway of the shoe and this version of the shoe has really great materials. The outsole and midsole are built with the same rubber, and unlike a traditional Air Jordan 1 low, there is no air unit for cushioning.

AJKO stands for Air Jordan Knock Off and traditionally AJKOs come in canvas. These come in some really nice textured leather. Really nice. They come with interchangeable Nike swooshes and the shoe fits true to size. Watch the full review. Price: $180

Nike Flyknit Invincible Run 3

The Nike Flyknit Invincible Run 3 is one of the most comfortable shoes ever, and that’s because of that thick slab of Zoom X. Zoom X is Nike’s best foam cushioning system and in this model, there is a ton of it. Now, these might not be the most stable shoes out there, and therefore, not the best option as a runner, but casually they are a dream. You also get web traction, which is very reminiscent of the adidas Utraboost, great torsional support, and an ok Flightnit upper that is covered in plastic which doesn’t allow the shoe to completely conform well to your foot. This is one of the bounciest shoes we have tested since the Nike Zoom GT Jump. Watch the full review. Price: $180

Nike LeBron Nxxt Gen

The Nike LeBron Nxxt Gen is the takedown version of the Nike LeBron 20 and it is an excellent takedown model. Budget versions of signature shoes can be pretty disappointing tech-wise, but that is not the case with the Nike LeBron Nxxt Gen.

You get almost everything you get in the LeBron 20, just at a considerably lower price. Considering that the Nike LeBron 20 is one of the best basketball shoes of the year, that is high praise. Watch the full review. Price: $160

Nike Penny 2 Football Grey

The Nike Penny 2 Football Grey is a pretty excellent retro model from Nike. It is always great to see Nike bring back the Penny 2, and this version is great. This Penny 2 is part of 2023’s all-star pack. Nike released all-star versions of their main signature shoes of the year and several mid 90’s models.

Even though this isn’t an OG colorway nor does it feature OG materials. OG Penny 2’s don’t feature leather, but the leather on these is more than decent, and the all-around design is sleek. Nike also didn’t skimp out tech-wise like in other retro models. We have a zoom air unit in the forefoot and Air Max Unit in the heel. If you actually wanted to play in these, you definitely could. The shoe is very pricy though, but it is almost worth it to get your hands on this classic silhouette. Watch the full review. Price: $200

Nike KD 3 All-Star

The Nike KD 3 All-Star is back! we are not exactly sure why they chose to retro this particular model, but hey, it’s a great shoe, so no complaints. This shoe was originally part of Nike’s All-Star pack back in 2010 and it was a pretty decent on court performance model.

The KD 3 comes equipped with the exact same tech specs as back then (no matter what Nike says in their product description). We have a very nice and grippy outsole, a forefoot zoom air unit, a phylon midsole, and synthetic but functional materials on the upper. The phylon in this model feels much better in this pair than on the OG version which is a nice upgrade. Watch the full review for the complete breakdown. Price: $130

Nike Dunk Jumbo

The Nike Dunk is one of Nike’s most iconic silhouettes and it just got a major upgrade tech upgrade. We are finally getting modern-day tech in all sorts of retro models. But, in this case at least, it comes at a pretty hefty cost. And the fact of the matter is that these are horrendous looking.

But at least we get some nice authentic leather and that full-length air unit. So, if you dig the look, these will be a nice pick-up. Price: $120

Nike Basketball

Nike KD 15

The Nike KD 15 is a great performer, just like its predecessor. The same tech specs that we came to love are back. The foam midsole is Cushlon, which is soft and plush, and on top of that foam is the full-length Nike Zoom Air Strobel that feels like springs under your feet. The materials have changed slightly, though they’re still breathable and flexible. It’s an excellent follow-up to the already great performer, the Nike KD 14. See the full review. Price: $150

9.5/10

Total Score

Buy Nike KD 15

Nike Training

Nike Metcon Turbo 2

The Nike Metcon Turbo 2 packs a lot of attractive aspects. First is the cushioning. It’s sort of the cross training version of the Nike GT Cut 2. We have a removable React drop-in midsole with Zoom Air in the forefoot. Second is the shoe’s stability. The wide base keeps you stable for most movements, especially lateral ones. The third is the traction. The rubber outsole does not have any gaps. It’s rubber everywhere. Wherever and whenever you land, you’ll grip the floor. Read the full review. Price: $150

Reasons to buy: Awesome cushion, broad base, excellent traction

Reasons not to buy: Lack of arch support

8/10

Total Score

Buy Nike Metcon Turbo 2

Nike Running

Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16

The Nike Air Zoom Vomero 15 never got a wide release in the US, but the Vomero 16 did. It feels like a more plush, more comfortable, and more accommodating version of the Pegasus 38. The shoe features a ZoomX core, a durable outsole, and a comfortable upper. If we add in the top-notch support features (beefy heel counter & wide base), we have a winner of a shoe. It’s on the more expensive side, so that’s something to consider.  Price: $150

9/10

Total Score

Buy Men's Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16

Nike Volleyball

Nike Lebron 20

The Nike Lebron 20 is an enormous shift in the Lebron sneaker line. The days of huge Air cushions and heavy, cumbersome designs is over. Lebron wasn’t even wearing the Lebron 19s on the court. The Lebron 20, on the other hand, is extremely popular, and for good reason. The best part: they perform just as great on the volleyball court.

With the LeBron 20 you get amazing traction, elite cushioning, and the years best fitting volleyball shoe. The LeBron 20 is a bit pricy but this is one of the rare occasions that the shoe is really actually worth the price. Price: $200

9.6/10

Total Score

Buy Nike Lebron 20

LeBron James Shoes

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