This is (almost) how it should be done…
When adidas decided to beat the game by having the lightest basketball shoe ever, we laughed. Yeah, right, sub-10 ounces for basketball? But they did it. Then the next year, they beat that. Then, again, it went lower. But after three years, lightest didn’t mean much anymore – the race was won, so what next? Enter the first basketball shoe with Boost, the game-changing foam cushioning that is at least top 3 in the industry, if not higher (Micro G and JetLon may have a say in that argument). Honestly, the Crazy Light Boost was… not that good. Too little Boost and too little traction made for a slappy, sluggish shoe.
Thankfully, in NYC for All-Star 2015, I saw the future, and it was good. PrimeKnit. Boost – again, heel only, but look at it. The Kim K of Boost shoes. Traction pattern that would grab a runaway train and hold. And a true low cut. for 5 months. I had to wait. 5 MONTHS!!!!! (okay, a little over the top). Well, it is over. LET’S DO THIS…..
MATERIALS – Like I said above, PrimeKnit. Soft, pliable, form-fitting, and (so far) durable, PrimeKnit wraps and molds right out of the box. Tighter weaves in the forefoot, around the pinky toe and the ball of the foot, supply lateral stability, keeping your foot over the footbed, while the wider weave lets bad air out and good air in. Very, VERY small areas of Fuse, just aorund the toe box for drag and the lace holes for pull-durability, but honestly, no stiffness anywhere at all. The collar is a synthetic sueded material that adds a little fit and support help but overall continues the soft is better idea. The midsole includes adiprene+/EVA in the forefoot and big Boost in the heel, but that comes later.
FIT – After a slight improvement, dead-on. Length was true ( if you have to, you can go half size down, but there is a better fix). The toebox has a little dead space above your foot but overall a very compact fit. The tighter weave in the lateral and medial support areas give way to more open mesh on the midfoot panels, which are great for ventilation, but suck for support and wrapping. Good thing behind that open weave there is the lace straps. Much like the Jordan FitStraps, the nylon loops run down into the midsole and allow the lacing to pull the foot into the midsole and the shoe to pull up and around. Like a Snuggie, and you get two per order. So, locked in there.
The heel… well, the heel has a little slip. The tongue is a burrito wrap, pulling from the inside to the outside, so if you don’t lace tight you will not get complete lockdown, especially in the rear. Lace to the top, tie them tight, and the heel slip goes away in about two-three games.
CUSHIONING – My favorite part of the shoe, and my least favorite part of the shoe. The heel, as you can see, is Boost. BOOOOOOOOST. Lots of it. Bouncy, cushy, responsive, stable – best foam on the market. It compresses to its limit and then bounces right back. If you haven’t tried Boost, you’re wrong. A huge heel puck goes from the back to just to the arch/midfoot, where we get… adiprene+ with an EVA carrier. Which, honestly, isn’t bad. It is low-riding, absorbs impact well, has some form of feedback for quicker players. It just isn’t Boost. I know full Boost in basketball is coming in October, but we saw the Response runner with a heel and forefoot slab, so we know it can be done. This is the shoe for the non-sig Three Stripers this year, so c’mon, quit holding out. In case you were wondering, the adiprene+ of the Lillard this is not, either, but it does feel pretty good after a couple of games.
My real problem? Again with the paper-thin cheap insoles. Maybe it is meant to be thin to feel the Boost working, but the forefoot needs a little more. If you have an old Rose insole, or even a Micro G or thicker polyurethane insole to go in, you will lose the extra room in the toe and the forefoot goes good. Not bouncy, but absorbs and stays solid for takeoffs and speed. great fit, smooth transition, and low-riding makes for a fast shoe, with or without bounce.
TRACTION – I would say squeaky clean, but you can see, it ain’t. Keep in mind, these were used on ONLY indoor courts at 24 Hour Fitness. You KNOW they never, ever, EVER sweep those courts. And I stuck. Redneck – in – mud stuck. Meek Mill looking for freestyle stuck. My feet slid into position and never moved, even when being pushed while driving hard or playing post defense, they stuck. I loved this. Best adidas traction since the original Crazy Light, which is funny, because they rubber and the pattern both seem eerily similar. Some bad, of course – the pattern is EXTREMELY shallow and will NOT last outdoors, so don’t even try it. You can see in the pic that some of the toe pattern is peeling from mine and again, indoor wooden floors only. The heel black portions are a little more durable, but if the forefoot goes smooth you are screwed anyway. #2, they pick up dust like a Hollywood starlet. Keep wiping and stay in front, young ones.
SUPPORT/STABILITY – I guess by now I shouldn’t be surprised, but support is outstanding. The huge heel counter rolls into the StableFrame through the midfoot, holding the shoe together. The midsole also has the same X-Bar that runs the edges of the midfoot between the Boost and the outsole rubber for flexion – a little extra pop when your foot flexes and the shoe rolls back into shape. There is no outrigger in the forefoot, but if a shoe fits this good and rides this low an outrigger is really overkill and can make a fast shoe feel sluggish. I did worry about the soft material around the ankle, like the Lillard, and how it would hold up to lateral forces and rolling over, but no worries – the lacing system wraps and supports perfectly. And last but not least, the tight-woven areas around the forefoot do actually hold your foot very well. It is funny (to me, anyway) – I am wearing a Curry low on one foot and the CLBoost on another as I write this, and they both fit great, but the CLBoost would seem to be a little worse, because I can’t feel the shoe holding my foot like the Curry. However, when playing, I did actually notice my foot push against the upper and the upper hold me in.
OVERALL – Best adidas basketball shoe in a LONG time. I did really like the Rose 5 after some time, but straight out of the box, this is the shoe. I know, I griped about the insole and forefoot, but if I didn’t know Boost could be in the forefoot, I have no problem. The cushioning is great, fit is almost perfect, materials are next-level, traction is stuck, and stability is not Ektio/Hyperposite but is good enough to let you flow with no worries. One thing I missed – transition. Closest thing to a running shoe adidas has made for the court. No lag in heel – to – forefoot roll at all. adidas listened, which is what we all want to see. Improvements across the board from last year – it’s like Robbie went back and completely erased 2014. adidas may have found there stride with this great first step.
Great review Duke, must say, it’s the first video review I’ve watched of yours. Totally didn’t realize you’re actually an older guy. Props for giving us a review from your perspective and i look forward to your next review 🙂
Any chance you will trying the LBJ Soldier 9’s?
Hey – that’s about enough of that “older guy” stuff. Kidding – I am one of the oldest doing this. I prefer “veteran”.
I probably won’t be doing the Soldier 9 – actually thinking of doing a Lebron XII now that the prices are where people who play in them can afford them.
No offence intended, I’m not far off haha.
Thanks for the update.
Great review Duke! In terms of cushion, which do you prefer, Boost or Micro G?
Tough call since we haven’t really seen what Boost can do with a full foot implementation. I would say they are easily my top 2 with Jetlon being a tight 3rd. For now, Micro G for ball, Boost for running, until the Rose 6 comes out and we see how those play.
Thanks for the reply! How about when it comes to impact protection, which is better, Rose 5 or Curry 1?
Depends again – if you want an absorbent feeling then Rose 5. If you want solid and push back, Curry. I prefer the Rose 5 myself.
Duke, will you be reviewing the Micro G Torch 4?
Trying to get my hands on a pair now.
Awesome review, I hope adidas takes notice, that if they don’t skimp on the details(like insoles) and are a little more generous with Boost, they could really be scoring big with the CrazyLight line(especially if they keep including PrimeKnit).
Isn’t d rose 6 going to be heel + forefoot boost instead of full length?
WUT?!? No more full length Boost?
I guess adidas can implement primeknit better than how nike does with fflyknit.. Side question tho, primeknit or flyknit?
Primeknit – way more flexible and so far has been used better than FlyKnit.
Your reviews are informative and funny… you must be the Jason Kidd of your team… lol
Yeah, but I never bleach my hair or take my wife’s fries.
“Meek Mill looking for a freestyle stuck”
Should have ended the review right there lol.
Great review, informative with excellent often funny references, facts and humor blend well. Sounds like you really enjoyed wearing and testing the shoe and its not just anofher review. Alas another great review, thanks for your time and info. I often do the one shoe on each foot test to compare.
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+1 for the Meek Mill reference. Great review as always, Duke. WT’ers is lucky to have you.
Good review. When I picked up the walls and dames I was shocked / pissed at the insoles they dropped in them. I love the basic spenco comfort insoles, someone needs to use that material. When I went to swap mine out (and those Adidas insoles were razor thin, I use mine to dope chop and cut lines for guests(joke)) I went to the same one you called out, tried the crazy quick swappable set (the fat orange top) then ended up rolling with the UA insole from a black ice pair so I had a hint of micro G to add to the the set up. They need to just drop boost units like zoom units and fail in that direction because doing nothing is retard and you never go full retard
Great review Duke, thanks. You’ve seen a primeknit version of the Rose 6?
Yes, no, maybe so?
Supposedly the Christmas version will be.
Supposedly the Christmas version will be. Or the Chinese “year of”. Can’t remember which exactly. Friends in Philipines/China showed me some pice.
How many pairs of socks did you wear with these?
With shoes of the lighter fair such as these, I find myself needing to wear two pair of socks, when I usually on rock with one thick pair in the more substantial shoes.
Also, did you try and use the old Adidas combo insole in these?
I have, and the bounce becomes downright ridiculous, which is fun, but I am a bit nervous about playing with that much activity in my shoes.
Sec – I just wore my Team Speed and Traxion adidas socks but could see addin a thinner no show over them to take up the space. I used to wear two socks at all times but when socks got better I quit that.
I do have a pair of the bottom loaded adiprene+ insoles from the old TS Commanders. That will be tried this week.
Great review as always!
I was looking at these or the D Rose 773 IV for my workouts. Would the crazylight boost be the better option for cushion or is the new Bounce cushion on the 773 IV better?
Thanks
Haven’t gotten the 773 yet but the runner I tried with Bounce felt, well, bouncy. Not as controlled as Boost.
Hi Duke, I play the center and feel pain in my heel after I play. What shoe would you recommend with good heel cushion? (please recommend more that 1) Thank you!
overall, curry 1 low or these?
Mine arrive tomorrow. Can’t wait
I wanted to like these so much and they are extremely comfy shoes on foot, low to the court feel is next level. But as soon as I start playing in them I get debilitating foot cramps in my arches. I wear orthotics for fallen arches but this kind of in game pain from only 20ish minutes has never been a problem for me before. I guess I’m going to stick to the xx9’s.