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TESH Terrestrial Performance Review

Something new this time around. Never a bad thing…

 

TESH Terrestrial Performance Review 1

Traction – Not sure what the pattern is called, but it’s performance will depend on a floor’s condition. As you may have guessed, clean courts pose no issues whatsoever. But dust definitely has a negative effect on their traction. Even just a little dust will effect things to a degree so you’ll need to consistently wipe and keep the outsole free of debris.

I think things would have faired better against dust had the pattern not been flat. If the channels and grooves had been shaped into a peak then I think it would have created much more friction between your foot and the floor. Not the worst traction, but it definitely could have been executed a bit better.



TESH Terrestrial Performance Review 2 copy

Cushion – TESH utilizes what they call Kinetic Lift for cushioning and I loved it. Kinetic Lift is a layered foam setup that uses their proprietary TFOAM system. Two layers of TFOAM are used; one is an explosion layer while the other is a shock absorbing cushioned layer. Along with the TFOAM system, their insole is what they call GhostFoam which provides additional step-in comfort and molds to your foot shape for a custom-like fit under foot.

What I love about their cushion system — much like other great foam systems — is that it does its job without getting in the way. You won’t notice anything, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The less you notice your kicks the better. It reminded me a bit of PEAK’s foam cushion; it provides plenty of court feel along with enough protection for guards to enjoy. You’ll also receive some super smooth transition, but part of that is due to their LMT Flex Channel that runs through the tooling.



TESH Terrestrial Performance Review 3

Materials – The materials aren’t anything special in terms of having a huge wow factor, but it gets the job done perfectly. The upper is comprised of a textile mesh along with thin Fuse layers in strategically placed sections that offer protection of high-wear areas and structural support. Despite being laced with Fuse, there are no sections of the upper that feel firm or stiff. Everything flexes and moves well with the foot while in motion, and for a new brand that is priced “under budget,” that’s not an easy feat to accomplish.



TESH Terrestrial Performance Review 4

Fit – As most of you know, TESH’s models run big, except for this model. For whatever reason, the Terrestrial fits true to size so that is what I’d suggest. They are wide footer friendly, but not to the point where someone without wide feet would need to size down.

Lockdown is on-par with models from other brands. Midfoot lockdown is solid, as is the heel containment. A small suggestion would be to change the laces. They’re a bit too long, and they’re on the cheap side. So a quick lace swap would be a good look for the wearer.



TESH Terrestrial Performance Review 5

Support – Their support is average. Nothing over the top, and nothing underwhelming. You have a standard TPU heel counter for containment, along with an exaggerated rear midsole section that acts as heel support — similarly to how the Kobe 9 goes about things. The strategically placed TPU sections keep the foot contained and on top of the footbed rather than allowing the foot to roll over upon lateral movements.

Something that is missing is a shank plate. However, that is where TESH’s LMT Flex Channel comes into play. This area allows the foot to flex and maneuver naturally. This aids in transition and during changes of direction upon lateral movements. By splitting the tooling down the center it reduces the blockiness that some midsoles have. I like the setup and think others will too. If you move around the court often — with or without the ball — then you’ll likely enjoy the freedom the Flex Channel provides.



TESH Terrestrial Performance Review 6

Overall – TESH is new to the scene, but their footwear is surprisingly good for their price point – these retail for $69.99. They were able to save on production costs by utilizing the same tooling throughout all of their performance models while still mixing things up a bit with redesigned uppers. I’d like to see some better traction, and once that’s done then I would easily stick these in a rotation — if I had one, since I’m always testing shoes. If you’ve enjoyed other footwear products from overseas brands then you’ll likely enjoy TESH Sports as well. They offer similar performance for less money — which is always the goal in my book — and are the best option available at the most affordable price.

If you’re down to try something new, try TESH Sports. You might just enjoy them.

TESH Terrestrial Performance Review 8

19 comments
  1. I actually just played in the super high-top version (Trigger?) today.
    There was a thick layer of dust on the floor, and I was slipping the whole time. The soft and thick midsole also takes away a lot of court feel.
    Other than the traction pattern, I think Tesh sports did a fantastic job, especially considering this is their very fast basketball model.

  2. Yo nightwing. Since we all know how much potential newer companies have thx to the likes of brandblack… What do you see as far of the future with tesh. Will they get up there with the other big guys or are they going to be and1 level. Or are you working with them on they’re new kicks like with brandblack ?

    1. I can’t predict the future so not sure. It’s up to consumers to vote with their wallet as to whether Tesh or any other new brand stand a chance. I don’t wear-test for Tesh but I’m always down to help out if asked.

  3. I have tried this shoe and on what I thought was a clean court but according to this shoe, the court was dirty because I was slipping. And along with previous comment about the lack of court feel I agree.

    I agree with your review that because the rubber was flat, there’s nothing to dig into the court, which allowed the shoe to slip.

    On the other hand this shoe is one of the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn and I especially love how wide the shoe is. I just kept looking at it when I tried it in at home because it’s so comfy. To bad it just kept slipping when I was hooping :).

    Thank you for your indepth review!

  4. Thanks for the Great review! These seem awesome esp for the price. Good to support local brands too. Did you happen to play with these outdoors at all?

  5. Sounds like a good/great first-outing, I really like the approach, hope they make it to Europe, because I’d love to try them out.

    1. Hey, I am an outdoor baller too and I can confidently say that with the thickness of the traction pattern they do not wear down quickly at all. And the fuse layers protects the upper which is great considering how I do love euro-stepping. I had these just over a month ago and no problems so far.

    1. Check the reviews, that question shouldn’t even be asked. The tooling on the Trooper is the same as the Terrestrial – before you claim the Trooper hasn’t been reviewed. All three of the Tesh models play the same.

  6. To anyone who is interested in Tesh basketball shoes: DSW has them for super cheap. Just bought 2 Terrestrial for $24.94 each.

  7. Hi @nightwing2303. Do it fits like adidas or kobe’s? I would like to score a pair. but sizing confuse me?

  8. Agree with EQT2010: picked these up at DSW for $28 (in the clearance area, San Jose store). Was on the fence if i like them, but were only $30 and reminded me of some Adidas Kobes I had back in the day….

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