In 2008 we saw our fair share of quite a few original colorways via the much hyped Jordan Countdown Packs. [As well as some perhaps forced colorways we'd rather forget.] Namely, the much anticipated ‘Carmine’ VI finally released, and everyone was able to get their fix with the Black/Cement Grey III’s and IV’s. There’s still quite a few original Jordan colorways that we haven’t yet seen get the Retro treatment though, so to kick off the year, lets take a dip into the Sole Collector Archive to check out colorways of the first XV Jordans yet to be retroed, and let us know which colorways YOU want to see brought back out!

I’m absolutely dying for a pair of the Black/White/Indiglo XIV, and I really hope the Regional X’s will see a return soon, though I can wait for 2010 and their 15th Anniversary.

Original Jordan colorways yet to be retroed:

• Air Jordan I:

Black/Grey

White/ Carolina Blue

White/Metallic Red

White/Metallic Purple

White/Metallic Green

White/Metallic Blue

White/Hoya Blue

White/Purple/Yellow

White/Natural Grey

• Air Jordan I Low:

White/Metallic Blue

White/Metallic Red

White/Natural Grey

• Air Jordan II Low:

White/Black/Red

• Air Jordan VI:

White/Infrared/Black

Off White/New Maroon

White/Sport Blue/Black

• Air Jordan VII:

Black/Light Graphite/Bordeaux

Black/True Red

• Air Jordan IX:

White/Black/Dark Powder Blue

Black/Dark Charcoal/True Red

• Air Jordan X:

White/Black/Dark Powder Blue

Black/Dark Concord/Metallic Silver

White/Black/True Red

White/Black/Kelly Green/Yellow Gold

White/Black/Royal Blue/Metallic Silver

White/Black/Royal Blue/Orange Flame

• Air Jordan XII:

White/Varsity Red/Black

Obsidian/White/French Blue

• Air Jordan XIII:

White/Black/True Red/Pearl Grey

Black/True Red/White

• Air Jordan XIII Low:

Black/Chutney

Navy/Metallic Silver/Black/Carolina Blue

• Air Jordan XIV:

White/Black/Oxidized Green

Black/White/Indiglo

• Air Jordan XIV Low:

Varsity Royal/Black/White

White/Obsidian/Columbia Blue

Light Ginger/Black/White

• Air Jordan XV:

White/Columbia Blue/Black

Flint Grey/White

Obsidian/White/Metallic Silver

• Air Jordan XV Low:

White/Deep Red

White/Midnight Navy

Black/White/Metallic Silver

words_Nick DePaula

images_Zac Dubasik

For the third year in a row, Nike Basketball has introduced a shoe secondary to LeBron James’ annual signature edition, and unfortunately for the Zoom Soldier II, it appears as though its performance abilities fall into the category of just above average. LeBron James? Not so average I’d argue. The dude has been absolutely dominating teams so far this season and throughout his career, and it’s easy to argue that he should deserve the absolute best in terms of fit, support and cushioning that Nike can put together. It’s hard to call out precisely one glaring flaw with the Zoom Soldier II right off the bat, as there’s such an intuitive and functional design approach taken by Ken Link, Design Director of Nike Basketball, and the shoe does feature a few bright spots, but, when a shoe dons the King James name, shouldn’t it perform to the highest of standards across the board?

At first glance, you’ll notice that the upper of the Zoom Soldier II has a straightforward and sloping overlay that dominates most of the shoe. It’s this panel that aims to offer up enough support for guards on up to those of LeBron’s stature. (Not that anyone out there measures up in frame to LeBron of course, and if so, your agent is severely slacking.) Rather than an inspiration born from a singular object, or a design language carried over from a blazingly quick car, the Soldier II came to be simply from the movements of the game of basketball. “Most good designs base a lot about just function, right? So, the idea is just to create a seatbelt for the foot and keep the foot on the footbed,” describes Link. “That’s why you’ll see some common DNA in a basketball product that’s good, because, what happens is, you’re naturally drawn to a functional thought to get somewhere.” That function is the way in which the overlay hugs the heel to try and provide some lockdown and also extends around the forefoot to allow for lateral support. It’s basically all you’d need in a shoe, if not for the sake of being a bit plain. The shoe comes in a few variations, as the upper’s overlay is either made of perforated synthetic leather or a Tough-Tek abrasion resistant material, helping the shoe stay long-lasting and sturdy enough for any setting. “It’s indestructible,” says Link. I found the perforated synthetic leather overlay of the White/Black/Varsity Crimson/Metallic Gold colorway that I played in to be extremely supportive and durable, and along the team based ‘Elite’ colorways, the Hickory Street pattern is even more durable, a worthy material selection for a shoe that High School squads might be depending on all season long.

Above: In this profile shot, the shoe’s overlay support rand makes up most of the upper.

As the support panel is surely just that, the upper of the shoe can also feel a bit bulky at times. On the Black-based colorway I played in, the perforated white leather support rand has a layer of silver film just below for some visual effect, but it also gave off a crunching sound at times at the toe. It’s made up of multiple layers, and while its durability can be attributed to the thickness of the shoe’s paneling, it’s also at the expense of some added weight and clunkiness. The Soldier II weighed in at 21.6 ounces in my size 13. That’s five ounces heavier than the insanely light Hyperdunk and generally two to three ounces heavier than most other shoes on the market. For someone of a larger frame, the difference in weight might not be that noticeable, but for a guard or slashing small forward, the shoe’s lack of out-of-box transition and weighty feel may definitely deter you.

Like both the Soldier I and Zoom 20.5.5 before it, the Soldier II is also double-lasted, allowing for the shoe to sit lower to the ground for greater court feel. The main overlay hugs the foot over the footbed in this lower ride, and a definite bright spot of the Zoom Soldier II is its court feel. Because of the shoe’s double-lasted construction, though, the molded upper takes a good two or three wearings to break in and is stiff to start, and by that time, you’ll have already become fairly frustrated with the shoe’s marginal fit and breathability.

Above: Durability is one bright spot with the Zoom Soldier II, as it features double and quadruple row stitching.

The Nike Basketball team built this shoe around LeBron’s unique needs and the desire to simplify things a bit along the upper, and most noticeable in this year’s Soldier interpretation is the departure from the dual-strapped lockdown found in both the Zoom 20.5.5 and Soldier I before it. This time around, simply lace ‘em up and hit the hardwood, blacktop or wherever your game may take you with a five grommet rounded lace set-up. “We felt like we could be bulletproof and at the same time, be really simple,” says Link. In keeping with the goal of simplicity, the lacing set-up is entirely straightforward. For those who instantly worry about the lace-shredding metal eyelets found on the Zoom LeBron III, don’t fret this time around, as the molded TPU eyelets are more gentle and have undergone several weartests to make sure the laces can stay intact. The idea is because it’s a round lace, it moves easier through the eyelets; the geometries line up,” explains Link. “The lace eyelets are obviously kind of industrious and still really utilitarian.”

You’re probably thinking, ‘Only five grommets though?’ Sure enough, the lacing set-up feels a bit short-changed, as you can pull snugly along what’s provided and the shoe still feels as though there’s some coverage along the eyestay that’s missing. While us mere mortals must live with the five eyelets, it was pretty easy to notice that LeBron James was immediately playing in a modified version of the Zoom Soldier II, featuring – you guessed it – an extra eyelet along the collar. Being that I always beat the hell out of my basketball sneakers and relegate them to a huge growing pile hidden away in my basement, it took me all of one wearing to get my O.J. on and knife up an extra eyelet in four spots. These are only hitting the hardwood for me anyways, so why not see what all the fuss with King James’ pair is about? Sure enough, it’s not only the extra added lockdown and ability for a snug fit that comes with those extra carved out eyelets, but the laces also are more likely to stay in place, as they can otherwise easily slide through the rounded grommets and loosen up during play. To Nike’s credit, they noticed the problem after the first few colorways had already dropped (sucks for me), and they modified the pairs that LeBron was wearing and made a running change in production and added an extra eyelet to the Team Bank colorways now available on Eastbay.

Above: Aha, Nike made the quick switch and added an eyelet for the King.

By removing the strap system from the previous two shoes and making for a more basic upper design, the Soldier II doesn’t really boast innovation, but thankfully the team also carried over what keeps Nike Basketball at the forefront of performance cushioning: Zoom Air. The Soldier II incorporates the exact same cushioning arrangement as the Soldier I, relying on responsive, large volume 12mm heel and 8mm forefoot Zoom Air units. “We wanted to take our success and our learnings that we had with the Soldier I and really just kind of translate the same under the hood properties and technical items we had and translate it right to the II,” says Aaron Petrella, Nike Baskeball Developer. If you’re at all remotely familiar with the concept of Zoom Air, you’re fully aware that it just doesn’t get much better than a low profile bag of tensely packed reactive fibers. To Nike’s credit, they’re continually offering heel and forefoot Zoom Air at a lower price of $110 and below, as evidenced by the Zoom BB line as well as the Zoom 20.5.5, Soldier I and now, Soldier II. When you take a look at the Soldier II holistically, it doesn’t scream out or evoke any one reaction like the LeBron II and IV may have, but the sum of its parts makes for an easy-going shoe that does offer some nice responsive cushioning.

Just below the outsole is the biggest shift in the Zoom Soldier line, as the Soldier II ditches the tried and true herringbone pattern from before and marks the debut of what Nike Basketball has coined “Milk Crate Technology.” Now, of course, the outsole’s design isn’t much of a technology by anyone’s definition and is rather just a simple graphic design element, and it also will take quite a few wearings before you’ll get any stickiness out of the traction pattern. Link was inspired by the fact that growing up, LeBron played hoops with a milk crate as a goal, and the design is definitely a nice touch to the King’s earliest days of basketball. While the coverage and contact point of the pattern don’t seem to be the problem, a splash of herringbone in between the “Milk Crate” design would’ve made a world of difference. It seems as though the Soldier II is better suited for the blacktop, as the upper is incredibly durable and the traction pattern would work better on asphalt. If you’re an indoor player, on the cleanest of courts the Soldier II’s traction holds up quite well, but on an even marginal hardwood surface you’ll find yourself hoping for more bite out of the pattern. One bright spot of the outsole is the TPU midfoot shank that creeps up along the medial side, as arch support or longevity is never a worry in the Zoom Soldier II.

Above: The Zoom Soldier II’s outsole features “Milk Crate Technology,” a grid-like traction pattern that also includes a series of flex grooves.

As the upper takes a no-frills approach with an overlay rand that screams out targeted support and cushioning is just right thanks to Zoom Air, another bright spot of the Soldier II is the practical mesh lining. The lining takes its patterning from – you guessed it – a milk crate, and is soft to the touch and never causes any irritation. The shoe’s full leather upper doesn’t help much in terms of breathabilility, and if bulkiness, poor airflow and marginal transition are high on your list of concerns, you can probably rule out the Soldier II altogether. Rooted in simplicity, the Link-created shoe aims for support where you need it, and it’ll be a sign of things to come, as the Soldier II and Zoom BB line will serve to foreshadow a familiar look going forward for Nike Basketball. “For the LeBron VI, we’re gonna get even more simpler. The idea is that we want to take basketball, all of basketball within the category, and our new thing is: Be modern; be simple; be innovative,” reveals Link. “Get after the things that you need and everything else can float away. Just make beautiful shoes, things that are wearable, things that are adoptable. The BB2 is not exactly a groundbreaking, new innovation, but it plays really well and it looks really beautiful, and that’s good enough, right? It has just enough of a twist in it that it doesn’t feel like an adidas shoe; it feels like a Nike shoe. It feels like it has some soul.”

Unfortunately for this first wave of “modern and simple,” the Zoom Soldier II is basically the definition of “above average” in the form of leather, rubber and air. I’m still tremendously drawn to the ‘Dunkman’ colorway, and while the LJ23 logo feels a bit slapped on, there’s something about the basic appearance that I really like, and it’s definitely my favorite Zoom Soldier sneaker from a looks standpoint. But, no shoe will ever get an A from me for being a nice looking sneaker, and the Soldier II’s performance is undoubtedly average. Problem is, LeBron James is hardly so, or at least that’s what I’ve gathered over the past five years during my hoops viewing. The man is a beast, a legend-to-happen, and it’s for that reason alone that he deserves better and the Soldier II falls short. Where buttery transition would be fitting for a King who so swiftly moves through traffic on-court and has Steve Nash calling him the fastest man in the game, the Soldier II is unfortunately as smooth as Big Z in the post. And where you’d demand the best fit and support, the shoe also offers up only slight assurance around the ankle and collar. Court feel is the single greatest flaw of the Zoom LeBron VI (Review coming soon!), and if it’s high on your list of priorities, I’d give the edge to the Zoom Soldier II this fall, as it does have a nice feel underfoot thanks to its double-lasted construction and Zoom Air cushioning.

Improvements?

• Incorporate top eyelet similar to LeBron’s player exclusive pair (Fixed for TB Colorways)
• Perhaps include herringbone inset into Milk Crate traction pattern
• Lessen bulk and layers along toe cap overlay

Designer: Ken Link

Price: $110

Colorway tested: black/white/metallic gold/varsity red

Key Tech: combination synthetic leather, nubuck and abrasion resistant textile upper depending on colorway, 12mm heel and 8mm forefoot Zoom Air units, durable lacing grommet system, moisture wicking liner, Milk Crate “technology” traction pattern outsole, heel and forefoot TPU support framing, TPU midfoot stability shank

Use/Position: Forwards

Pros: One thing the LeBron line can boast is its durability, as the Zoom Soldier II breaks in nicely right around four wearings and will hold up for the duration of a High School season or over several months of pickup ball. With its quadruple and double stitched overlays, the shoe carries a nice build quality and has good value at $110. Heel and forefoot Zoom Air units are nicely responsive and shouldn’t bottom out during the life of the shoe.

Cons: If stiffness to start is a pet peeve of yours, then you’ll surely hate the first two or three wearings of the Zoom Soldier II. Coupled with the shoe’s clunkiness, it is also fairly weighty compared to other shoes on the market, making it a tough choice for guards. The lack of breathability becomes more noticeable into the second hour of play, and the laces on pairs without the added eyelet can become loose during play, which of course compromises fit.

Verdict: Simply by association, if LeBron James is to be touted as the future of the league and a one of a kid talent, then his footwear should live up to the same lofty expectations and demands that we hold of James. Unfortunately, the Zoom Soldier II isn’t quite the can’t-miss prospect that LeBron was during the summer of 2003. Clunky to start with a bit of a break-in period, the Soldier II never quite delivers on all that you’d expect from the regality of a shoe in the King James line, as it just misses in key areas of fit, traction, weight and breathability. Buy it if you need a shoe that can last for a 30-game season including daily practices, but for the same price if you’re looking for a more short-term hoopin’ shoe, I’d suggest a white-based Hyperdunk instead.

Who’s Wearing Them?

LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Fairfax High School, Saint Vincent Saint Mary’s High School, Christ The King High School, Ohio State University, George Hill (San Antonio Spurs)

Contact:

Nike Inc.

One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, OR 97005

To buy the Zoom LeBron Soldier II.

Here’s a look at what’s to come from Nike SB in 2009. January’s releases include the debut of the Zoom Air Veloce, the much anticipated purple Blazer and plenty more.

As stated above Nike SB will debut a brand new style, the Zoom Air Veloce. This shoe features a classic upper, clean forefoot and toe down along with minimal layering that’s protected by a stitch and turn toe cap. The upper on these is slim and form fitting complete with TPU details that match nicely with the fast design lines and embroidery. Also some of you may have noticed that the Veloce takes cues from the Zoom Tre A.D., which is there to ensure the tech side of the shoe is covered. Two colorways, a white/black and a black/silver, will be released with the next round coming in March.

Also releasing this month are a couple of sneakers people have been looking forward to like the “Twin Peaks” Dunk High. The inspiration of this Premium Dunk High comes from the popular TV series from the ’90s. It features a zig-zag design on the the insole which people familiar with the show remember from the infamous “Red Room.” There is also an owl logo found on the upper near the ankle which was one of the three mystery clues. The use of different materials including premium and cracked leather along with suede are topped off with green contrast stitching and a clear sole.

Next up is the highly anticipated varsity purple/black Blazer SB. Ever since pictures leaked this past summer people have been waiting eagerly for this shoe to release. Well in January the wait will be over. The all purple suede upper along with a black Swoosh and laces with the traditional white sole make this Blazer a must-have. Don’t sleep on this one because these will definitely go quick.

The last of the footwear styles to release is a new Paul Rodriguez 2. This P-Rod 2 in a black forest/lemon drop colorway is very SVSM-like. They feature a green and gold upper along with accents of cream on the Swoosh, white laces and a white midsole. Don’t forget, there should be the usual quickstrike release as well so stay tuned for info on that.

Along with all the footwear releases above, there will be plenty of new apparel to go with past, present and future SB releases. We have a brown SB baseball jacket that hooks up with the SB Icon mesh back fitted hat. We also have two colors of the SB Zig-Zag beanie which both go well with the Twin Peaks Dunk. There is also another style beanie, the SB striped beanie which will come in two colors and also have a fuzz ball on the top, perfect to take you back to your childhood.

A new belt is also in this list. It features perforated holes in an all black leather belt with gold detailing. The silver buckle is rectangle shaped with gold trimming and the Nike SB logo in the right center. Two colors of the SB full-zip ripstop fleece jacket are sure to keep you warm as are the SB full-zip Icon fleece hoody which will also come in two colors. We will also see plenty of tees this month as well.

There will be five styles of tees coming out with three of them very fresh and new. The classic SB Icon tee will be in two colors as is the SB Sock Puppet tee and the SB Skate Rock tee. The SB Icon Fill tee will also come in a new purple color with unique look inside the Nike SB logo on the chest. Finishing off this month is a new sock for the now classic “Buck” Dunk low.

Lookout for all this at your local skateshops coming January 2009. For more info on the footwear click the individual pictures below. As always stay tuned here and in our forums for all your Nike SB info. Also if you are a fan of SB’s make sure to grab yourself a copy of Sole Collector issue #23 if you haven’t already.

Keys: nike, nike shoes, nike sb, nike skateboarding shoes, p-rod, dunk, blazer, veloce

You probably saw the extra limited Jordan Brand and Rockstar Games collaboration on the Midnight Club: Los Angeles edition Jordan Classic 87 already, but here is your chance to win one of the only 40 pairs made though Sole Collector. If this is your first time seeing it though, here are the details on the shoe. This exclusive, Air Jordan II-inspired Classic 87 features a black patent leather upper with red accents, including the official Midnight Club “Kanji” on the tongue. The Kanji translates to “Bayshore,” which is the Japanese coastal location where street racing got its start. The shoes are packaged in a specially etched collector’s box made of acrylic, and also included is a copy of Midnight Club: Los Angeles. The combined value totals $380.

This new edition of this long-time favorite racing game features its most customizable cars yet, online multiplayer modes to race up to 16 others players, and features a soundtrack including Nas, Young Jeezy, Nine Inch Nails, The Game and more. Midnight Club: Los Angeles is available now for XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3. Check out the screen shots below for a look at the game’s incredible graphics.

So, what do you have to do to win? Since this is the season of giving, tell us a story about how you are giving back. Maybe it’s a Christmas gift to a loved one, maybe it’s a donation to a charity or maybe its even just giving your time to help those in need. Leave your response as a comment below, and be sure to include your accurate email address so we can contact the winner. The contest will run one week, and the winner will be announced Dec. 24^th at noon EST.

words_Nick DePaula

images_Steve Mullholand

Tomorrow, December 12th, the newest colorway of the Nike Zoom LeBron VI will be hitting stores nationwide in a Black/Black colorway, just in time for the winter season’s harshest times. (Unless of course you live in Baltimore…where these are good to go year-around.) Unlike the first colorway that released last November in Black/White/Red, this version features a comination of ballistic mesh and premium leather along the upper.

As Ken Link, designer of The Six, reveals, this colorway in particular is inspired by one of LeBron’s favorite superheros. “He loves Batman, so we wanted to tap into that,” begins Link. “We tapped into the Batmobile from the movie, which if you look at the shoe, it’s very simple and elegant, and at the same time, it’s very purposeful in what it’s trying to do with durability and strength where you need it.” The shoe’s premium leather support rand overlay and leather midsole work to provide support and longevity after countless beatings, and as always, can withstand the forces of literally anyone as they’re built to house the frame of King James and his explosive style of play. Cushioning comes via a full-length 6mm Zoom Air unit, with another 6mm Zoom Air bag double-stacked in the heel as an added bonus.

Once again in the Zoom LeBron series, we’re seeing an all black colorway, but this time around, Link and James knew they’d have to takes things a bit farther than where their Black/Black shoes have been in the past. “Originally, we were like, we should do leather,” Link explains. “It was like, ‘Well, that’s what makes this kind of feel different. [The mesh] takes it out of the boot zone and makes it feel more made for Batman. It kind of makes it feel more purposeful.’ And that’s the hard thing with Black/Black shoes, I mean, everyone loves Black/Black shoes, but to really make something nice in black, you’ve gotta really push those edges of depth and texture.”

For a closer look at the Zoom LeBron VI with in-depth inspiration details straight from Ken Link, be sure to check out Sole Collector’s Issue 25, which hits stores nationwide next week!

Nothing like some good ol’ logo reappropriation, as this colorway of The Six takes some noted inspiration from Batman.

Breaking News! Out of nowhere Nike.com has updated their Jordan Brand launch dates list. Only this isn’t an update for weeks and months to come, this is a change that will affect almost everyone.

First off, the whole month of December has basically been changed with the majority of the releases for this month all being pushed up from their original release dates. Instead of what we all know and have been planning on for sometime now, this is how Jordan Brand’s release dates schedule will look:

12/13/2008 Jordan Six Rings LS “Nelly” (limited release)

332157 101 White/Black/True Red/Light Graphite

$160.00

12/13/2008 Jordan Six Rings (limited release)

322992 163 White/Varsity Red/Wheat/Midnight Navy

$160.00

12/13/2008 AJF20

331823 001 Black/Stealth/Varsity Red

$155.00

12/13/2008 AJF20

Black/Metallic Gold

$155.00

12/13/2008 AJF20 Low LS (limited release)

332216 261 Dark Cinder/Varsity Red

$140.00

12/20/2008 Air Jordan Collezione 11/12

338149 991 Multi Color/Multi Color

Air Jordan 11 Retro: Black/True Red/White

Air Jordan 12 Retro: White/Black/Taxi

$310.00

12/24/2008 Jordan Spiz’ike (limited release)

315371 091 Stealth/Black/Light Graphite/White

$175.00

12/24/2008 Jordan Spiz’ike “Nelly” (limited release)

315371 031 Black/Citron/Pure Purple/White

$175.00

So as you can see above, nothing has been cancelled but all releases have been pushed up from their original launch dates. To sum it up the Jordan Six Rings are still scheduled to be released on the 13th in both the “Nelly Laser” colorway and one previously not known until recently a white/varsity red/wheat/midnight navy one. Also releasing on the 13th alongside those is three colorways of the AJF20, 2 mid-cut and 1 low-cut LS colorway.

Then the following week on the 20th we have the much anticipated 11/12 Jordan Collezione package releasing six days early. This should be good news to all those who didn’t want to campout and whatnot on Christmas day. Then as of right now the Air Jordan XX3 Premier black/red colorway is still tentatively scheduled for the 23rd but this is still up in the air as is whether it will be released in stores or as an online exclusive. Stay tuned for more info on those as it becomes available.

Last but not least, the two Jordan Spiz’ike colorways have been pushed up from their original December 31st release to December 24th. Both the “Stealth” and the “Nelly” black/citron/purple/white colorways are releasing side by side with the “Nelly” colorway being the more limited of the two. So, did you have enough time to soak all that in?

Well everyone enjoy the news wether it’s good or bad and make sure you budget and plan accordingly to the new launch dates. As always stay tuned to SoleCollector.com and our forums for all the latest and up-to-date Jordan Brand information.

Keys: Jordan, Jordan shoes, Jordan Brand release dates, Jordan retro shoes, Jordan Spiz’ike shoes

The holidays are always a time of giving and sharing, and we at Sole Collector have partnered up with adidas Basketball to give away a pair of limited edition ‘Thanksgiving Day’ adidas TS Creators! Inspired by Chauncey Billups’ roots in Denver and in the state of Colorado, the shoes celebrate his ties to the region and his time as a star guard at the University of Colorado.

Here’s how the contest works: Share with us what you’re most thankful for this Thanksgiving! Maybe it’s the time you got to see all of your relatives in one place two years ago and your Auntie made the best pumpkin pie EVER. Or, was it just a few weeks ago when you got a pair of the new TS Commander for the upcoming basketball season and you went on to hit the game winning shot in them on opening night. Let us know, and the person with the best story will win a pair of the ‘Thanksgiving Day’ TS Creator!

You’ll have a week to share your memories and give thanks, as next Thursday, December 4th at 12:00 PM, we’ll select and announce a winner! The winner will be awarded a pair of the ‘Thanksgiving Day’ adidas TS Creators, pictured below, in Chauncey Billups’ size 13.

(Please also remember to include your correct email address in the comment box so we can contact the winner in order to claim their prize.)

For more details about the ‘Thanksgiving Day’ TS Creator, check HERE!

*UPDATE* The official release date for this package has been pushed up from it’s original December 26th date to December 20th. For more information, see here.

The wait seems to finally be over. The long debate about what the final production colorways for the most anticipated Jordan Countdown Package of 2008 is confirmed.

Through all the rumors of Space Jams and Taxis to Space Jams with red instead of royal and white/red XII’s to black and red XI’s and black/red/cement XII’s and so on, and so on and so on, we now finally know for sure which colorways we’ll be seeing. After confirmed word to unconfirmed word to typographical errors, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Pictures have finally surfaced overseas of what looks to be the legit final production colorways for the Jordan 11/12 Collezione package.

Two OG colorways will be released after all, and unlike the 19/4 pack which featured two black-based colorways, these are back to the original concept of things: One black-based model and one white-based model. The XI’s are indeed the black and red original colorway which was pretty much the only thing really confirmed since Nike.com released the colorway description. But the XII’s on the other hand seem to be an enigma all of their own.

Well since I gave you a hint above that one will be white-based and one will be black-based and the XI’s are black and red, you all now know that the XII’s have to be white-based. But what could they be? Are they an original colorway like the Taxis or the white/red’s? Or are they an original colorway with a twist, or something new altogether? You question is answered in the pictures below, the colorway of the Air Jordan 12 Retro in the 11/12 Countdown Package is….the Taxis.

So, all you impatient people out there can stop losing sleep over contemplating exactly what colorways will be in the final package for 2008. All you really have to do is start saving your pennies which i’m sure most of you have been for quite some time no regardless of which colors the shoes are. Well you have just about five weeks to go until you have your chance to get them.

The final Air Jordan Countdown Package the 11/12 Collezione will be releasing worldwide on Friday December 26th and will retail for the usual $310 for men’s sizes and $200 for gradeschool kid’s sizes. Enjoy the pictures below as they should hold everyone down for the time being. As always, stay tuned here and in our forums for all the latest and greatest info on everything Air Jordan.

Images: 52Xie

Keys: Jordan, Jordan shoes, Jordan Collezione, Jordan 11/12 Countdown Package, Jordan XI, Jordan XII, Jordan Retro shoes

Earlier this month, Nike rolled out the latest signature shoe for freak-of-nature LeBron James. [Real quick -- Jon Barry mentioned on Mike Tirico's radio show that LeBron was weighed at 274 pounds with only 5% body fat. Yeeeeesh. Ok, back to the shoes...] The Zoom LeBron VI, retailing for $140 and shown here in the black/white/varsity red launch colorway, is surely a shoe made to fit the needs of LeBron’s size and frame. Over the course of the development process, it underwent a few changes as usual. Follow along below for before and after comparison pictures of the way in which the midsole, toe, heel and several details along the shoe changed over the past few months leading up to the production version that just released last week.

Comparison 1: Profile

The most noticeable shift in the appearance of the Zoom LeBron VI from sample to production is what I like to technically refer to as the shoe’s swag. The sample appears a bit more flat and stale, while the final production version boasts a more sharp and sturdy build and stance. Stitch lines become more precise, parts and overlays line up more accurately, and the collar shape, toe contour and heel wedge are all visibly more defined. The Swoosh is also juuuust a bit bigger. Now onto the details….

Comparison 2: Toe

While there happens to be a huge freaking Swoosh along both the medial and lateral sides, it’s still the toe support overlay in white that I notice first on this shoe. Initially, of course, the Air Force 1 is understandably brought to mind, as both shoes share a similar toe design, but The Six differs as the overlay wraps up and over the lacing eyestay, and in this case, you can clearly see how the toe rand began with rolled edges, and ended up being traditionally stitched in instead. Another cosmetic detail that changed during the process is the addition of two more stitch rows along the leather wrapped midsole. You’ll notice a trend among varying colorways of the LeBron VI, as those with fabric and leather wrapped midsoles will incorporate the three stitched rows arrangement, while colorways that include graphics along the midsole, like the United We Rise LeBron VI, for example, feature a lone row of stitching atop the midsole for reinforcement. The red translucent rubber outsole is also a shade brighter. It’s hard to say for certain that the height of the shoe increased during the development stages without busting out my trusty ruler, but either way the Zoom LeBron VI still sits incredibly high off the ground. [More on that in the upcoming Zoom LeBron VI performance review. A LOT more on that...]

Comparison 3: Collar

Here’s where Nike made sure to fill in some added details and make what I consider to be several welcome improvements. For starters, the production version’s tongue reaches a bit higher, which I hear people enjoy for something called a casual setting that involves jeans. (I happen to like the better fit while playing hoops — go figure.) While the tongue is indeed longer, it also features a newly added triangular (crown?) pattern that ties in to the elastic heel pull tab and the entire outsole’s traction pattern. Well done. Definitely some fluidity there. The laces also get a boost in the looks department, going from the boring black/red sample set to the more pronounced black and white speckled set included in the final version, with a more friendly oval eyelet shape as compared to the tighter circular shape found before. And of course, Nike’s Chosen One would never wear a shoe that has a tonal signature logo — come on! Rightly so, the logo has been changed from a tonal black to a contrasting white, and is now also stitched in along its side borders. Who pays $140 for a subtle signature shoe anyways?

Comparison 4: Heel

Here the shoe’s aforementioned swag gets a serious facelift during the development process. At the heel, the midsole becomes more shaped and sculpted, as the leather wrapped portion extends just a smidgen further out and more closely aligns with the shoe’s upper. You’ll also notice the red border along the top edging of the sample’s midsole has been abandoned on the final version, an attention to quality thing. The biggest shift is probably the shape of the white heel wedge, which has a more defined and molded look to help upon impact while playing. The overall stance of the heel and outsole is also more rounded and radiused for a more natural stride.

So — Are you feelin’ the changes made along the way? Which is better, the three stitch rows along the midsole or the lone row look? Would you prefer the tonal LBJ logo or the color-popped version, and rolled edge or stitched toe cap? Comment away to share your thoughts.

For an even more in-depth detailing of the Nike Zoom LeBron VI, as well as a look at over twenty colorways [Yes -- I said 20!], be sure to check out Sole Collector’s upcoming Issue 25, hitting stores in early December.

After stressing team and brotherhood throughout last year’s regular season and building from the success of the TS Litespeed and TS Pro Model, adidas will launch their newest Team Signature offerings on the feet of seven of their greatest assets this upcoming NBA season, with their other endorsed athletes wearing team colorways. Rather than have players of all positions wear one individual shoe as they did with the TS Litespeed, this time there are two models being worn, one for guards and forwards, the other for power players and centers.

Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets), Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix Suns), Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons) and Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards) will be seen in the TS Creator, while Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics), Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) and Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic) will rock the TS Commander, all in jersey specific colorways and with each player’s signature or personal touch along the heel of their shoe. Guys like Josh Smith and Michael Beasley can also be seen in the TS Commander, while #1 pick Derrick Rose and fellow guards like Devin Harris and Jerryd Bayless will be showcasing the TS Creator.

Similar to the TS Pro Model, the Creator and Commander feature adidas’ Select System, which allows the wearer to select between two insoles: Select Cushion, upgraded with adiprene+ inserts for added response, and Select Clima, full of perforations for greater breathability. The sculpted sockliner is also entirely removable for those who rely on a personalized orthotic. Both shoes also retail for the team friendly price of $100.

The Creator, aimed at guards and swift forwards, implements the familiar three stripes along the upper as a forefoot support overlay integrated into the outrigger. The shoe is also treated with a modified return of Formotion at the heel, which aims to provide low-to-the-ground court feel as well as improved transition. Unlike Formotion’s original medial podular configuration first seen in the Gil-Zero and TMac6, a singular piece of the working system can be found on the medial side of the heel in the TS Creator.

The Commander offers a rubberized herringbone patterned ankle strap to support those with larger frames hitting the hardwood, and also features a wider base for the big man. The version worn by KG en route to his first ever NBA Championship during the 2008 NBA Playoffs features a gradient fade along the upper — pretty hot. Both the Commander and Creator share an abstract flowing pattern along the midfoot, a nice added design detail, as well as a stitched reinforcement pattern along the toe to help prevent blow-outs.

For now, it appears Gilbert Arenas will be sticking to his preferred low-cut height, though it looks like he won’t be cleared to hit the hardwood til as late in the season as January after undergoing a minor cleaning out of some excess debris in his left knee. (Sounds like a terrible operation.) Agent Zero will be wearing the TS Creator Low next season in his familiar Wizards colors as well as a black/white/gold Retro Nights colorway.

There’s several other offerings aside from the TS line-up from adidas this basketball season, like the more casual friendly Chillrahna and the 2G08 Workout. The definite gem is the Lux Mid though, and I can’t wait to see The Three Stripes take this silhouette further into the casual realm with some buttery leathers and rich suedes as the model has tons of potential. Be on the lookout for the ensuing shoes to begin hitting your nearby adidas retailers like Foot Locker and catalogs like Eastbay beginning in the middle of October, and the models will also be available on adidasbasketball.com in the very near future.

TS Commander (Tim Duncan) - Available Now

TS Commander (Dwight Howard) - Available Now

TS Commander (Orlando) - 11.1.2008

TS Commander (Kevin Garnett) - 11.7.2008

TS Commander (Kevin Garnett) - 11.28.2008

TS Commander (Boston Red Sox) - 12.1.2008

TS Commander (In-Line) - 12.1.2008

TS Creator (Tracy McGrady) - 11.7.2008

TS Creator (Leandro Barbosa) - 11.7.2008

TS Creator (Chauncey Billups) - 11.7.2008

TS Creator Low (Gilbert Arenas: Retro Nights) - 11.28.2008

TS Creator Low (Gilbert Arenas) - 11.28.2008

Lux Mid - 12.1.2008

Commander TD - 1.1.2009

Commander TS - 1.1.2008

Commander TD - 1.1.2009

Chillrahna - 11.1.2008

Chillrahna - 11.1.2008

Pro Low 08 - 12.1.2008

Pro Low 08 - 12.1.2008

Elemental Formotion TD - 11.1.2008

Supercush 3 - 12.1.2008

Supercush 3 - 12.1.2008

BTB Lux Mid - 12.1.2008

BTB Lux Mid - 12.1.2008

2G08 Workout - 11.1.2008

2G08 Workout - 11.1.2008

2G08 Workout (Kids Only) - 11.1.2008

2G08 Workout (Kids Only) - 11.1.2008

words & images_Nick DePaula

(As published in Issue 24: The 100 Greatest Kicks)

As the U.S. Men’s Senior Basketball team recaptured an Olympic gold medal this summer for the first time in eight years, it’s also the first time in eight years that Nike embarked on their latest, most talked-about and frenzied technological innovation since Nike Shox. It was in 2000 that Vince Carter leapfrogged a seven-footer in his white and navy Shox BB4s, sparking a retail rush when the BB4 conveniently released a few months later. Even before its initial worldwide launch, the Nike Hyperdunk has already been the beneficiary of Nike Basketball’s most integrated marketing campaign to date, which includes ESPY cameos, limited Marty McFly-inspired releases, countless print and television ads, and even a fictitious Hyperdunk Recovery Center website and hotline for victims to receive treatment. This time around, there’s no doubt that Nike’s corporate brass was hoping that Kobe Bryant and his Hyperdunk-wearing brethren could carry out the collective goal of collecting gold this summer in Beijing, helping to elevate the shoe into the upper echelon of Olympic footwear among the likes of the Air Jordan VII, Air More Uptempo and Shox BB4.

As Bryant and his Team USA teammates showcased the Hyperdunk this summer, they did so in a product offering from Nike Basketball that features two technologies in their infancy, each with equally bold top billing. The two most heralded innovations that Nike created specifically for the Olympics are Lunar Foam and Flywire technology—one a cushioning element; the other, an upper material. Developed in conjunction with NASA engineers over the past few years, Lunar Foam is a resilient, high rebound, spongy foam that is actually used in the seats of NASA’s space shuttles. While Kobe Bryant might demand a light shoe that allows him to explode 40 inches off the hardwood for a crowd-silencing dunk, NASA’s space shuttles must reduce weight wherever possible in order to leave earth’s orbit – quite a difference. So, to create Lunar Foam, Nike mixed Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA for short) with Nitrate rubber, allowing for a foam cushioning unit that Nike says is 30 percent lighter than Phylon, which Nike has been using over the past decade. Lunar Foam’s responsive properties stem from the rubber compound included in it, and the lower impact and cushioned ride along with a lighter weight are certainly a welcomed innovation, though I’d argue Zoom Air is still superior. (More on that later.) In the Hyperdunk, Lunar Foam is implemented in much the same way that Air-Sole and Zoom Air units have been in the past—as a sculpted unit embedded in the midsole just under the ball of the foot.

Flywire pertains specifically to the lightweight containment provided by the upper. No matter what sport an elite athlete is participating in, reaction time and the ability to change direction are crucially important, and basketball may arguably call for the most protection and support. After examining the history of bridge designs, Jay Meschter, Innovation Director of Nike’s Innovation Kitchen, noticed advancements in bridge construction that would go on to shape the development of Flywire. After studying everything from more traditional brick structures that didn’t age well, to our more modern cable suspended bridges that can support not only the weight of a bridge across vast distances like in San Francisco, but also the weight of massive daily traffic, he discovered that a shoe’s structure can become more supportive when it is designed with long strands for support along the side. Meschter realized that by creating a cradle for the foot in a similarly arranged alignment along the shoe’s lateral and medial sides, any given sport’s unique and unpredictable movements could be better supported for quicker reaction time. The result is Flywire.

With a thin film of Polyurethane providing the structure of each Flywire panel, the thin strands that provide the support are made of a material called Vectran. Over six years ago, Meschter first aligned strands of nylon along a shoe last as he conceptualized Flywire, and after much deliberation over several materials, Vectran proved to be the most supportive material to fit the project’s needs of support, light weight and flex resistance. It was actually down to Kevlar and Vectran as the strand material of choice to be used in Flywire since Nylon and several other fabric strands proved to be far too flimsy. In Vectran’s favor, when Kevlar is flexed, it can lose up to 25 percent of its strength, compared to zero percent strength loss in Vectran. In products like athletic footwear, any strength loss is crucial to athletes who depend on tenths and hundredths of seconds in competition.

Another major factor in deciding upon a material for the groundbreaking upper construction was also the measured breaking strength between the two. Vectran boasts a higher breaking strength than Kevlar, requiring more force to compromise the high-performance multifilament yarn. What is most clutch is also Vectran’s ability to not only allow for weight reduction in Nike’s products, but also the fact that the liquid polymer-based material is naturally very thermally stable. In an extreme climate like that of Beijing, which was being forecasted to host a sweltering summer nearing triple-digit temperatures with 70 percent humidity, it’s also very important that Vectran can perform in any environment. While it seems like lots of tech talk and the material to the naked eye may appear to be just a thin layer along the shoe with nicely placed weaves, there’s in fact quite a bit of technology and research that goes into constructing something as performance-fused as Flywire.

Deep in the Kitchen of the Mia Hamm Building, innovation never stops, and famed Hoops designer Eric Avar was hand-picked to design this latest, and perhaps greatest offering from Nike Basketball. Inspired by the classic Tinker Hatfield created Air Mag from the 1989 movie Back To The Future II, Avar began working on the Hyperdunk over two years ago. He set out to create a shoe that carried over similar ideas from the Huarache 2K series that he designed, and he also hoped to implement Flywire Technology in what would be the lightest, most supportive shoe designed for the Alpha Player. In this case, Nike was able to tap into the perfect subject – Kobe Bryant. “He is a very demanding athlete when it comes to his product,” explains Mark Parker, Nike’s CEO and President. Whether he’s fading away for another jumper or splitting a double-team and heading straight to the rim, there’s nobody quite as skilled and efficient on-court as Bryant, and there is also no one who places quite the amount of lateral forces and strain on his footwear.

The goal for Kobe is simple. “[That] I don’t lose seconds,” he says. “For me, it’s all about reaction time.” And so, Avar began designing the shoe while simultaneously working on the Zoom Kobe III, both with the aid of regular input from Bryant himself. “I want a shoe that’s light, helps my reaction time, and is comfortable,” Bryant definitively says. “It just better not be ugly.” It’s been no mystery that Kobe has long heralded the Zoom Huarache 2K4 as his favorite game shoe, and in the Hyperdunk you’ll notice a similar silhouette, down to the assuring collar height and pronounced lateral outrigger. His needs have varied annually, from the Zoom Kobe I that he wore after a summer filled with two-a-day strength workouts during which he gained 20 pounds of muscle, to his current need for a lighter shoe after weighing in at just 200 pounds, his lightest weight since 1998. “The Kobe I was a little heavier than the 2K4,” says Bryant comparatively. “That was done intentionally because I did a lot of running the summer before, and I wanted more cushioning that season at the expense, maybe, of some weight. It changes every year based on my needs.”

Where the Hyperdunk luckily excels is in its light weight and unparalleled amounts of lateral support, allowing for the re-sculpted Bryant to be more swift and nimble in a half-court set. It weighs in at just 13.0 ounces in a size nine, over a full ounce lighter than the Zoom Kobe III, which was already the lightest yet of the Zoom Kobe line. In my size 13, the Zoom Kobe III weighed 18.5 ounces, while the Hyperdunk weighs 15.6 ounces – obviously a noticeable difference on-court. Bryant, doing his best Gallagher impression, even joked that when he first saw the Hyperdunk in person, he naturally tossed it up into the air, uncertain if it would ever come back down. (Yes – the corniness of that joke was hilarious to the crowd of 300 media members.) While lighter usually can mean flimsy – dare I remind those of you who played in the Hyperflight – in this case, the Hyperdunk arguably offers more support and stability than ever before, thanks to Flywire technology. “Lightweight containment is something that people want to have,” says Yuron White, Nike Basketball Product Director. “You’re going to see [Flywire] continue in our stuff, and they are looking to use it in all the other categories.”

The Hyperdunk is full of its own thoughtful design cues from the legendary Avar. The boldly molded midfoot and heel counters offer stability and lock the foot down, and the shoe’s upper is purposefully designed with an abundance of Nike’s revolutionary Flywire technology. With precisely placed strands of Vectran aligned over the thin and breathable Polyurethane paneling, Flywire allows for the shoe to weigh in dangerously low, yet also offers enough support for even a brute’s frame. Carlos Boozer and several other bigs wore it throughout the Olympics. Another immediately noticeable difference in the Hyperdunk is its insistence on going strapless, unlike the Zoom Kobe II, Huarache 2K4 and 2K5 before it. To its credit, the lacing setup is linked by a hidden ghilley eyelet that helps marry the midfoot to the ankle, as compared to the Huarache 2K5, where the eyelets worked almost independently and at times created a sense of instability. Another sharp design touch from Avar is the eight dimples that can be found on the toe, midfoot and heel counter – an ode to the Beijing Opening Ceremonies held this summer on 08/08/08. Even the naming of the shoe appears straightforward, referencing the game’s single most exciting play. “The lighter the shoe, the higher you can get up. We thought the name played perfectly to that,” explains Archie McEachern, Nike Basketball Category Footwear Leader.

The Hyperdunk’s original outsole (pictured above) included solidly blocked channels, while the production version (pictured below) features recessed grooves and a herringbone pivot point in the forefoot for improved traction.

While the lightweight support story in the Hyperdunk is perhaps seemingly the shoe’s highlight, the cushioning embedded in the tooling is also a first in basketball, though a bit for the sake of marketing. At the heel is a standard eight millimeter, large volume Zoom Air unit, which offers an obscene level of responsiveness and impact protection. The forefoot debuts Nike’s new Lunar Foam cushioning, which can also be credited for helping with the shoe’s weight reduction. Lunar Foam is 30 percent lighter than Phylon, but provides a bounce-back cushioning feel almost comparable to Zoom Air. “I think it’s more spongy and soft,” says McEachern, when comparing the two. The outsole is comprised of a solid rubber traction pattern that underwent quite a few changes through the development process. What began as a solidly blocked outsole configuration was soon altered to include forefoot grooves for greater traction on the final production version, as well as a herringbone inset at the pivot point. There is also a radiused, decoupled heel for smooth transition upon impact. At the midfoot resides one of Nike’s most welcomed commodities: a nicely sculpted chunk of Carbon Fiber for added support. But, enough about what the shoe boasts…

So – Does It Perform?

After an initial run at the Bo Jackson Fitness Center’s courts on the Nike Campus with other members of the media last April, I had to endure a three-week wait to get my pair back. Right away, I had one goal in mind, and that was to beat the hell out of them. Never before have I seen such a widespread marketing campaign and so much faith behind a shoe that, in my opinion, has little casual appeal, and so I knew that this shoe deserved more than my standard 10 wearings before I could come to a verdict. By the end of my testing, I’d worn the Hyperdunk nearly 30 times, on both indoor hardwood as well as on the asphalt outdoors, in both the synthetic leather based White Olympic colorway as well as the nubuck-based Black/Anthracite general release colorway. Throughout the duration of the test, I was most comfortable lacing them up tightly one short of the top eyelet, and immediately while moving around for the first time, I could feel the shoe’s benefits come to life.

Along the upper, the first perceptible difference between the Hyperdunk and the three shoes in the Zoom Kobe line before it is the height. This shoe is certainly more of an extension of the Huarache 2K series than the Kobe line, taking on a sleekly defined collar and molded heel counter for maximum lockdown. For three years, the name Huarache consisted of strapped team shoes drafted off of the 2K4, aimed for every position in mind. This year, with the advent of the Hyperdunk and the Huarache 08, you can expect to see the lineage of the 2K series in the Hyperdunk line, and the minimal and lightweight sandal-inspired aesthetic live on through the Huarache name. In this first installment of the Hyperdunk, Nike is off to a great start, using their two-year advance product timeline to create a worthy premiere.

At its strongest points, the Hyperdunk blows past the competition, but when it strikes its low points, there’s definite room for improvement. In utilizing Flywire along the upper, Nike has found an excellent material that they can brand as their own and build off of well into the next decade. It’s what makes Nike … Nike. While adidas has taken on the adage of “Another year, another Pro Model” up until this year with the intriguing new Team Signature offerings and other performance brands have all but halted their innovation initiatives, I’ll commend Nike for at least trying new things and looking beyond their current product for solutions in footwear, especially when they’re already on top with little push from the competition outside of The Three Stripes.

After countless wearings, when the shoes are tied tightly, I can safely say that Flywire does keep you slightly locked in more than a rand of leather would, but it’s the difference in weight that makes me comfortable in calling Flywire an innovation. When wearing the shoe, I purposefully shot less 3-pointers than normal, hoping to attack the basket and place enough strain laterally on the shoe on each drive to get a good gauge on the claims of Flywire, and sure enough, there’s a noticeable difference. Your foot simply doesn’t budge from side-to-side, and I’ve never felt a shoe where the support was so firm, and yet there was absolutely zero inner discomfort. While the Air Jordan XX3 locks your foot in wonderfully, there admittedly are some inner chafing issues due to its harsh at-times midfoot chassis. With the Hyperdunk, you’re afforded great support, gleefully soft inner comfort, and most of all, insanely light weight. I wasn’t lying earlier, as my size 13 in the Zoom Kobe III, which everyone argued is the lightest shoe of the season, indeed clocked in at 18.5 ounces. In the White/Midnight Navy/Varsity Red Kobe Olympic colorway, the Hyperdunk was 15.6 ounces. That’s a ridiculous difference for a basketball shoe, especially when you consider the other shoes I’m playing in now for reviews are all in the 18.5-19.5 ounce range, with the Zoom Soldier II most heavily clunking in at 21.6 ounces. Where the Hyperflight, which weighs 16.0 ounces in a size 13, offered the lightest possible weight at the time of its 2001 debut, its lack of support was disastrous, offering perhaps the worst lateral fit I’ve ever experienced. Because Flywire is such a thin paneling and can offer the same, if not greater support than traditionally used materials, I’m excited to see Nike take the material even further and specifically aim to sculpt the upper more closely to the contours of your foot, just as the XX3 did.

Flywire obviously makes up most of the story along the upper, but the purposeful design and noted inspiration from the Air Mag of two decades ago allow it to be a great performer. The two most noticeable design cues on the shoe, aside from Flywire, are the molded heel and midfoot wedges that are drafted off of the Mag. While a piece of TPU has been sculpted around the heel in past 2K series shoes, the foam used on the Hyperdunk offers comparable support and lockdown, but at a lighter weight. You’ll begin to notice that every single panel and componentry involved in making the Hyperdunk is the lightest of its genre. The tongue is insanely thin, reducing weight at the slight expense of some lace pressure if you, like me, tie the laces overly tight. There’re also very few layers that make up the shoe, as the tongue extends into an inner sleeve, while the Flywire and toe overlays comprise the rest of the build. The ankle collar is equally thin, ditching previously used materials like Sphere Liner, memory foam and dual-density padding for the sake of keeping the lowest possible weight the focus.

For the most part, each component of the upper serves its purpose of being light without detracting from the overall performance of the shoe. I can’t say the same for Nike’s Lunar Foam cushioning,