A.I. puts on a show of his own on game nights. Is it the shoes? Read the review and find out.

by Professor K, originally posted November 2, 2000

Before we get started, just to make our position clear, we don’t believe that the shoes make the man. Just like MJ could have lit up the League in a pair of Chuck Taylors, A.I. could score at will in a pair of old school Pumas (with the fat laces, no less). Shoes, no matter how fancy or expensive, don’t make you a better ballplayer, only hard work and practice can do that. What the right shoes can do, however, is help you to play at your best, and the new Reebok Answer IV DMXs will do just that for players that fit a guard or small forward profile.

I have to admit that, going in to this review, I was not a big fan of Reebok. Ever since the whole aerobics thing I could never really take Reebok seriously, but with the high level of reader interest in the Answer IV DMX we had to take a closer look, and we’re glad that we did. Since we’re in the full disclosure portion of this review, I’ll also admit that I thought that the Answer IV DMXs were not very easy on the eyes. I’m still not a big fan of the design, but it’s starting to grow on me, slowly. So now that we’ve made our confessions, on to the review.

figure 1. Clearly visible above is the image of Iverson on the heel portion of the outsole of the Answer IV DMX. What might not be visible is the text running above his image, which reads “Only the strong survive”. The unique pattern on the outsole provides excellent traction.

Going in to the review, I thought it a bit curious that Reebok decided to use the I-Pak version of their DMX cushioning technology in what is currently their flagship hoops shoe. I-Pak is basically the budget version of DMX, made up of two air pods placed on top of the midsole (at least that’s how Reebok describes it). So, unlike some more involved versions of the technology, such as DMX 10, which involves 10 air pods with air moving between the pods, DMX I-Pak based shoes can be built on a more traditional (i.e. lower cost) base. Any concerns I might have had, however, were erased as soon as I put on a pair and started warming up. In a very clever use of cushioning Reebok employs a two-tiered cushioning system in the Answer IV DMX. The DMX pods in the midsole absorb higher impact forces from big landings, but for low-impact cushioning Reebok makes use of a foam based “shock pad” that is contained in the sockliner (see figure 2). You really feel the cushioning from the shock pad in every step and it feels great. What’s really smart about this two-tiered setup is that it results in a shoe that is extremely well cushioned and comfortable to wear, while still remaining rigid enough in the midsole to provide the high level of lateral stability necessary in a hoops shoe. Very smart.

figure 2. The removeable sockliner contains a “shock pad” in the heel and forefoot. While most shoes include some sort of foam-based cushioning in the sockliner, the cushioning in the sockliner of the Answer IV DMX is quite substantial and is immediately noticeable, even while just walking around.

While the cushioning was the first thing that I noticed about the Answer IVs, after a few intense games, I also noticed that the shoe is very comfortable and fits very well. There is a minimum of foot movement inside of the shoe and no raised seams to cause abrasions or blisters. The shoe also provides a good level of support in the midfoot along with the aforementioned stability. The only thing that I wish the shoe offered a bit more of is ankle support. It’s at about the same level as most of the guard/small forward focused hoops shoes being released these days, but that’s not that great. The only other area in which the Answer IV DMX is only just a bit better than average is in weight. It’s definitely not a brick, but it’s also not as light as some other shoes focusing on the same player segment such as the adidas The Kobe or Nike Air Pippen IV.

figure 3. Interesting use of the footbed for graphics. The printing is very durable and hasn’t faded in three intense wearings.

Two additional test wearings reinforced our initial reactions. The cushioning is awesome and the shoe is extremely comfortable. Something new that we noticed in subsequent wearings was the excellent traction that the Answer IV provides. The shoe really seems to stick to the hardwood on quick cuts. Sometimes it almost seemed to make a suction sound on quick stops. Weird, but good weird. Given A.I.’s quickness off the dribble it’s very fitting that his shoe offers glue-like traction.

Some quick notes on the design. The zipper-based lace cover does not enhance the fit properties of the shoe at all; it’s primarily a design element (although it does help to keep your laces from becoming untied). Unlike the deficient zipper design of the Nike Air Flightposite KG, the zipper on the Answer IV DMX actually stays up during play. Finally, as visible in figures 1 and 3, A.I. is all over the shoe. His face is on the heel of the outsole and the tattoos on his left arm are printed on the footbed of the shoe.

figure 4. While I’m not crazy about the shoe’s visual design, it’s starting to grow on me. Future colorways may enhance their visual appeal.

To sum up, the Answer IV DMX is a fitting shoe for one of the most exciting players in the NBA. It provides everything that you’d want a shoe at this level to provide; excellent cushioning, fit, comfort, traction and stability, and all at a price point significantly lower than that of its comparable competitors. While we wish it provided a bit more ankle support and think that it could have been a bit lighter, the Answer IV DMX is a shoe that we would wear with confidence going in to a big game. Bling-bling indeed.

Who’s Worn It
Allen Iverson (G- Philadelphia 76ers)