What Did You Ball In Today? Vol. Zoom Skyposite
words_Nick DePaula
images_Zac Dubasik
Shoe: Nike Zoom Skyposite
Size: 13
Wearings: 2
As you can see, our brevity-based performance review spin-off “What Did You Ball In Today” is back!! That’s not because I didn’t want to one day write a multi-thousand word break-down of the Zoom Skyposite, but rather because after just two wearings, I feel like I already have a grade in mind…
I.
That’s right. I as in “Incomplete.” As in I couldn’t even make it to a handful of wearings in them, and never plan to. Here’s how bad it was — I didn’t even give them enough time for the Lunar Foam unit to bottom out on me. Oftentimes I try and wear a shoe in at least ten sessions down at the nearby 24 Hour Fitness to qualify for a full review, with each night’s runs lasting well over two hours. Most shoes work for me right away, and some may need a day or two to break in nicely. For the Skyposite, I couldn’t even make it to a third night of ball.
From the second I put them on and started to move around and warm up for the first game, I could tell they were not only particularly clunky and blocky feeling, but they were also unusually harsh through the midfoot. With each step, there’s a slap-like feel to the shoe that takes a step backwards from where the Zoom Kobe and Hyperdunk lines have tried so hard to advance the out-of-box comfort seen from Nike Basketball. Much of this can be attributed to the shoe’s thicker insole, as not only is it noticeably more beefy than average, but it’s also where the shoe’s cushioning units and cushioning platform is housed. With a heel Zoom Air unit and forefoot Lunar Foam slab affixed directly underfoot, it might seem as though the result would be a more reactive and responsive cushioning system; more lively as a result of the direct contact. As it turns out, the added thickness of the insole made for a stiff and firm transition, as not only is the insole rather dense, but the rigid outsole that wraps up around the perimeter of the shoe is tremendously stiff. As with most Foam-based shoes, weight is an issue too, and the Zoom Skyposite is simply too heavy, expensive and clunky, and offers transition too poor to consider it a serious and long-term basketball option.
Like the Ultraposite and other similarly stiff shoes before it, there’s an all-but-required break-in period that you’ll have to suffer through, and in today’s modern age of more simplistic and intuitive hoops shoes, it’s quite frankly not something I’m interested in overcoming, just for the hope that they‘d then play above average at best. During the second game of my first night of wearing the Skyposite, the pain through the midfoot got to be so harsh, so brutal and so sharp that I, for the first time I can EVER remember, was close to asking for a sub. “It was like there was somebody with a hammer aimed right at my arch…bink…bink …bink…just tapping away with every step,” I’d later tell Zac afterwards, full hammer motioning and all. Just my luck, the score was 6-4, and of course we play games to 11. Having to struggle through the rest of the game, every step was increasingly painful. Once a teammate hit the game winner, I rushed to the sidelines, tore the tandem culprits off and slid into my back-up Zoom Kobe IVs. While the Kobe IV normally feels pretty snug and soft, it was like I had an instant Shallow Hal moment, going from tubby “Skyposite” Rosemary, to “Gwyneth” Rosemary. The Kobe IV never felt sooooo good. [And an analogy was never sooooo forced.]
For what it’s worth, I think the Skyposite is a pretty slick design. I bought them knowing that they’d probably absolutely suck for their intended use, which arguably was basketball at some point. I figured all along I’d get some casual use out of them, impressing elderly women at the grocery store like usual, and at best they‘d be a rotational hoops shoe. Opting for the classic Penny-esque Varsity Royal/ Black version, the sleekness of the midsole and streamlined upper makes it perhaps the most modern looking Foamposite yet. Unfortunately, the way in which the shoe’s unbelievably rigid outsole and dense sockliner work horribly in tandem make for a stiff and unpleasant ride for any player of moderate activity on a basketball court. A pretty easy gauge to read a shoe’s out-of-box discomfort can be had just by looking at what NBA players are wearing, or not wearing, for that matter. Even 7th men off the bench seemingly get a fresh pair every game nowadays, but as is the case, they need shoes that feel good to go right from the start. Formerly-the-Sonics guard Russell Westbrook has worn the Zoom Skyposite only sparingly, often going back to a pair of Zoom Flight V iDs, while bruiser Carlos Boozer has opted for the Hypermax in favor of the Skyposite, which he only broke out for the team’s Media Day.
There’s worse shoes out there, and Nike Basketball has several other models that are industry leaders in their own right, but at $160, you’re better off relegating the Zoom Skyposite to strictly casual use, and going with another option for the hardwood. ‘Incomplete’ seems like a perfectly fair grade, and I can assume the longer I played in them, the more likely the grade would have been a first letter of my choice words during play. Luckily, the ‘Incomplete’ term will only open the floodgates for all of the other shoes that are too poor to make it to a full ten wearings that I’ve neglected to review, so expect more I’s and figurative L’s from around the industry soon.
Tags: KICKSOLOGY, nike, nike basketball, performance reviews, skyposite, wdybit, zoom skyposite
18 Responses to “What Did You Ball In Today? Vol. Zoom Skyposite”
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Thats a shame, I had really high hopes for these. Loved the design and thought they’d have performance to match, but looks like they don’t. Thanks for the review!
Not surprised… I had a feeling these would get a review like this.
If I had have balled 2day I would have balled in my Air Jordan retro 13s
Wow, you weren’t kidding.
Yea.. I tried the on at work and they felt HORRIBLE!! Not surprised by the review….
that’s exactly what i gave the shoe. i didnt even give them two wearings. i bought the black carbon fiber joints and they were terrible. i didnt even play ball in them. i just wore them to work out in. the shoes were stiff and clunky. do not buy them. i returned them to my local niek outlet for another unfortunate soul to buy.
I picked up the Yi PE’s in Hong Kong… haven’t played in them yet but they feel quite clunky even for casual wear…
I was considering ordering these online because they look so nice.
After reading this short review Ive obviously decided to look at something else.
Thanks for this Prof k, you just saved me 160$!
You know as soon as I saw them, the first thing I thought is “Wow those are either going to be absolutely great or horrendous.” Sadly, they suck. Can’t say that I’m still not curious. Horrid reviews always make me want to try the shoe out myself.
These look awful in person. I’m glad to hear that they don’t perform well, so I can skip them. Thanks for the review.
yeah but i had this problem with the flightposite 1′s, and eventually after about a week of uncomfortable basketball (the sharp pain in the midsole) they became great. they are now my favorite shoes, but the break in period was terrible, the skys
could be the same
I have to agree. Nike Posite Series are suppose to cater to customer’s fitting and not about the look. From my point of view, this reminded me about the Fightposite III’s? The one’s with Garnett’s name on it. Nike, Please remind yourselves to listen to the customer’s input. I have always believed that the Posite Series is all about the player’s performance and the dependence of the player’s equipment. I remind everybody that not every player can get in the NBA. It is an exclusive club. The performance and the dependability of equipment that makes the player good. Hopefully Nike does on put franchise names on the Posite Series. If makes this an UNREASONABLY high-priced shoe. I know Nike lives in another. Peeps, please stay ground. Nike, Please make Posites reasonable for everybody! Peace.
I played ball today in these…and the mid foot is exactly how he put it…you almost have to ask for a sub…and for the price you mines well get the lebrons
How do they fit?
^ Pretty true to size length wise…and like most Posites, a bit narrow through the midfoot
I like this shoe a lot. Fits good, looks fly
^Where can i get a pair?
try ebay, thats where i got mine