5. FlyKnit
FlyKnit…FlyKnit everywhere. Is this real, genuine, no-glue-attached FlyKnit? That’s the real question. And that’s why I’m so excited to try out the Nike KD 9. From what we can see, the FlyKnit looks thick as hell. Not quite Kim Kardashian thick, more like Serena Williams — thick with a purpose…not just for show. Can’t believe I’m using ass shapes as an analogy. If done right, this could be awesome. Like, really f***ing awesome. Notice there are no TPU strands interwoven within the material as well. Yeah, let’s hope this is amazing.
High hopes for this. Wish they would have went back to the asymmetrical lacing like the 6 but still glad they’re doing something. All the creative minds and tech to play with should be churning out top notch shoes
*Whisper* The Nike KD 6 Elite had the soft materials with the max zoom. The 7 Elite was covered in foamposite with holes in the heel.
*whispers back* typos can happen ?
*screams* NIKE IS KILLING THE GAME RIGHT NOW
I have some feeling that for lebron 14 they are going to use similar technology in cushion … Nike has been producing a lot of shitty models (cushion based) , for past years… since hyperrev with full length zoom , there was no other shoe with smooth transition and good cushion… it is time to step up … not shure about jordan brand with their clunky cushions in AJ 29, 30 , Melo… etc
What do you mean clunky? Ever since JB adapted the flightspeed system in the 28, almost every shoe (29, 30, Superflys, Rising High, etc), were all a hit in terms of cushioning. Only the CP3 series lagged behind due to the lack of it. Flightspeed and unlocked zoom is the best thing that ever happened to cushioning next to Boost. Its in fact way better than the Lebron X’s amazing Max Zoom.
Well for me all AJ shoes that have only forefoot zoom unit have shitty cushion… and departed transition… you need cushion in heel… that is maybe the only place where it has to be… but marketing makes miracles…
I totally agree that jb is for the most part very shitty, nothing with wow effect. Speaking of wow effect, see how many people are drooling after the tech summit, that is what the other brands are missing design wise especially…. The wow effect.
I wonder how the sales for the Lebron 13 elite are going to go and what it’s price will be, it better be cheaper than other elite models in the past or most people are just gonna get the kd 9.
Now I am very seriously considering returning my KD 8 and wait for the 9 to come out.
Love that Nike is lowering prices on most models. Excited that all this tech is coming at substantially lower cost than years ago… The standard lebron X retailed at $180. Now why couldn’t the Jordan 30 pack some new tech? Lol
So this is max zoom and not the regular full length zoom of the 8 but just articulated?
Going by the fibers of the Zoom, it looks like it’s articulated Max Zoom.
We have to get a confirmation on that to be clear whether it is or not.
Competition amongst brands means more choices.
This makes me want to finally pick up a pair of KDs for hooping. The white pair in the Nike promo vid are dope.
$150……wooooowwww. Gotta applaud Nike for going this route. Really haven’t seen anything like this. Funny thing is, I told one of my boys that I’d cop em, but for $150 lol. And u raise a good point, NW, in that other brands may have to react and adjust their strategy with even better materials/tech and lower price points. Applaud Nike, but MAJOR props to other brands for giving us great options. The performance game just gotta ALOT more interesting.
Nothing to applaud them for. They’ve gouged customers for years. Its now catching up to them. These other brands will need to adjust their retail (price) strategies, but their tech is on par – if not better – than what Nike has been putting out.
I totaly agree with that… they made a lot of money on selling average performance shoes , not using enough good materials for cushion and better fit… they owe us some better models…
$150 makes it cheaper than the Brandblack J Crossover 3 ($160)!! This is great news.
I’m excited at the individual pieces. But what I’m looking forward to the most is everything coming together. I want the shoe to be fluid and stable while 100% exhibiting the strengths of each individual performance aspects, i.e. responsive, flexible cushion with good impact protection.
Concept-wise, looks very similar to KD6 elite
High stack height + low top + big air bag just don’t together very well.
They may have greatly increased the psi level in these Zoom bags, but in that case, I’d rather choose a pure foam midsole
work together*
The KD8 was 140 in Europe, could it simply be a price-shuffle, dropping the US-price, only to raise the EU-price?
It also has that 90’s look.
$150… Wow. Big thanks to other brands for giving us options.
Bingo. If it weren’t for people going with the many other options, we would not see a drop in Nike. Prime example that comes to mind is the Lillard 2. I have 3 of them now because of Bang for Buck. At 105 for retail and less with discounts for all that they had to offer, other brands had to think fast about their pricing. It’s economics.
Competition is great and websites like Weartesters spread awareness.
Keep up the good work. I didn’t know anything until I came here.
The flyknit looks like a thicker version of Nike’s first ever flyknit soccer cleat, the Magista Obra, which is comfortable as hell. Same geometric shapes that the flyknit was knitted in here as that cleat, just way thicker.
Nightwing, why doesn’t Nike use that same flyknit tech from the soccer cleats on the basketball shoes? High impact wear areas, tons of multi-directional support, I don’t see why they haven’t used that similar knit for the basketball line. If anything I’d think the soccer cleat needs the TPU strands in the flyknit for support that the force someone can generate from damn spikes in turf/natural field versus a sole on the hardwood. What is your thought on this?!?
Beats the hell outta me lol. They should consider it though.
Even they are different departments and are focus on their areas, it would be good
they take designs aspects ask about that, or get feedback.
Price is really the exclamation point here. It could be an amazing shoe for $200 just because we’re used to that price standard for Nike, but this could in the better in the bunch for much less.
Crazy how far KD’s line has come. IIRC he used to insist his shoes be sub-$100, then he kinda let loose with the 4 when he was finding himself in the contender position. I still have my beat up 3’s sitting around, and man those were basic. Functional, and doing all the right things, but still basic. This is as technologically impressive as Nike has been for basketball for a while imo, which basically makes the price so surprising.
Yeah, Leo Chang did it explain with KD 8, he told KD
additional tech means price increase.
In terms of affordability, that’s why the Trey 5 line suppose to be.
Hopefully all teach features performs in tandem.
Max zoom, foam heel, flyknit forefoot, bootie construction in heel, circular traction, lace loops for speedy lace tie, I assume a inner tpu heel counter.
Looks amazing.
Am I the only one who thinks this looks like the Lillard 2?
Your not first time I saw this I thought it looked a lot like the Lillard 2. I do think it will be more comfortable and better overall than the Lillard what do you think nightwing
Dope article, and you hit all the important stuff I took away from the unveil. What I didn’t dig deep into was how the pricing can change the game for the other brands. That being said, I am excited to play in this shoe, my recent rotation (BrandBlack JC3 and Jordan Melo M12) are due to your reviews. But I’m even more excited to see what else comes from the other brands. I feel that this shoe will really push that envelope in a great direction for everyone! (Praying the flyknit is true flyknit, not glued)
No fuse either
any info about weight? max air bag usually quite heavy
around 14oz would be great 🙂