Month: March 2021

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Nike Zoom Kobe 6(VI) Protro Performance Review

Talking about the protro shoes, I can only think of the high praises given to them by many fans. There is also a saying that “Not every pair of  protro shoes can still be the best of the year with fewer setups.” In the past two years, ZK4PROTRO and ZK5PROTRO occupied a very high position in the hearts of guards and also received a high reputation. Then when it comes to this retro version of Nike Zoom Kobe VI Protro, can the shoes continue the miracle as the previous versions do? Just take a look at this review.

For the vamp, I consider it excellent in offering me the same feeling also offered by the original version. It is actually made of quite breathable and lightweight material so that it offers quite a superior air permeability.

Simply put, the shoes can also wrap my feet very well with each of the three layers of vamp performing its own function. The innermost mesh can simply hug my feet smoothly and the flywire is also upgraded to improve the shoes’ wrapping performance and strengthen the lateral support; the outermost one with ductility is quite elastic and can work well together with the other two layers.

However, just like ZK5Protro, the last of this Nike Zoom Kobe VI Protro is too narrow, which might not be that friendly to people who are wide-footers and they can feel rather uncomfortable in the toe part. So the suggestion here is that you’d better pick a larger size if you’ve already took a liking for the shoes.

Then in terms of the heel, the cushion there is rather fantastic and the experience it offers me is therefore very nice and unforgettable. But what’s nicer is that there is the larger area of TPU which further improves the wrapping performance. In other words, as long as the ZK title holds, it surely won’t be a bad shoe.

As for the overall stability, I think I’d give it a full mark for it really deserves that. Actually, the extension of the soles, which can be clearly seen, and the height difference of the outsoles both play a significant role in enhancing the shoes’ stability.

It has been a commonly-seen phenomenon that almost every pair of sneaker is installed with the carbon plates and hardly would any brand give the setup the deep six. The reason behind this is that the setup is really excellent and it offers enough arch support.

For the outsole, it requires some time for you to get familiar with it. The first time I wore the shoes to some indoor and dusty court, it turned out that the outsole attracted a certain amount of dust so that its grip performance was also to some extent affected. However, despite that, the fact is so long as you get the hang of it, you are likely to be the outstanding one in your court.

But for the outsole durability, it is quite average, and it is therefore not so suitable for rough outdoor courts.

In the midsole, like the zk5, the front part is the zoom turbo which is much thicker than the zoom air of the original version however.

But the most fatal design of the shoes lies in the heel, the cushion of which is rather soft and will accordingly reduce the overall stability. From my point of view, its would be better if the foam in the heel was changed into the regular one that is much harder.

Another consequence resulted from the heel cushion is that the torsion resistance will be to some extent decreased. Although the torsion resistance won’t be significantly reduced, the experience brought by the shoes won’t be that fantastic ,either.

Overall:

If this pair of Nike Zoom Kobe VI Protro is compared with the many shoes in the market of today, it is still the prominent and outstanding one; but if it is compared with the original ZK6, it’ll only be eclipsed. So for those loyal fans who are attracted by the shoes’ name and are to find the initial sensation in the shoes, you’d better think it over.

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New Balance RC1500 v2 Performance Review

Several years ago, as I was sitting in the office, I found suddenly that my physical fitness has declined greatly with the increase of age and the decrease of exercise. Therefore, I made up my mind at the moment that I’d begin exercising again for the good of  my health although it would be a hard process. And I finally chose the most convenient way: running.

And since I was determined to work out, it was a must to have the suitable equipment. So my friends recommended me the New Balance running shoes, and after learning more about this brand, I had great faith in its shoes, and over the years, I’ve been making the brand as my first choice. Now since I am going to take part in some kind of match, I decided to pick one more pair of New Balance shoes to help me in the match. My final choice was this New Balance  RC1500v2. Here are also my experiences with it.

For the shoebox, it is the bright red in the outside and looks a bit more delicate than many others.

The size of this one is 8 which is the size I usually pick. So as soon as I got to the playground near my home, I just started warming up and then I began my running. But the first impression the New Balance RC1500v2 gave me was that it was super lightweight and brought no burden to my feet.

With regard to the shoes’ appearance, to tell the truth, it is very eye-catching for it has attracted much attention during my exercising on the playground.

Then from the vamp, I can tell that the shoes are born for running. It is made of the breathable and thin material which is to ensure enough air ventilation and help dissipate heat. Because I am wild about exercising in summer days when it is rather hot and the air is relatively moist, it is of great importance that my shoes should have excellent breathability performance. And it is also great to see that this New Balance RC1500v2 can meet my requirement in this aspect.

In terms of the shoes’ outsole, it is actually superior. Made of rubber and patterned with many rhombuses that correspond to that in the midsole, the grip offers me a very nice grip as well as the anti-slipping performance. And on the strength of my experiences, it performs equally nicely even on wet grounds, thus saving me some energy during long-distance running.

In the insoles there are also many air holes which enhances air permeability.

And with respect to the cushioning, although I am a bit heavy, weighing 78kg, it is enough for use even for me. The cushions are comfortable and elastic, but it is never too soft to affect our performance. And with the lightness of the shoes, I can always maintain a feeling of comfort and energetic both during the process of  jogging and fast running.

And even if I sometimes come across some rugged road, there is no need worrying about being injured by the impact of shock for the excellent and stable supporting can help protect my feet. In short, it is quite reliable and I am also confident in its performance.

As can be seen clearly that the toe of the shoe is upturned which also protect our toes from violent shock. And looking at the inside of the shoes, the tongue is integrated with the soles so as to avoid its slanting to the side during the running process. As for the shoelaces, they are professionally designed. They are very flat and long, which can prevent the laces from coming loose during running.

In addition to the shoelace buckles on each side of the tongue, there are another two buckles near the uppermost one. “All things in their being are good for something.” and this is just the case for the two buckles since they can adjust wrapping for those who have high requirements in this respect.

Overall:

To sum up, the New Balance RC1500V2 is an excellent running shoe that offers both breathable stability and nice cushioning. And the cushioning and stable support are also ideal for long-distance running; with its protection performance, I think I can just be engrossed in my exercising.

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A Close Look at New Balance Kawhi 1

Following the OMN1S, Leonard’s first truly signature shoe, the New Balance The Kawhi 1, has finally arrived at the appointed time. And the first-released colorway is the blue, black and gold one which is fantastically cool. And to share with you some more detailed information about the shoes, I’ve checked it carefully, and let’s get underway.

As a matter of fact, the New Balance 1 has been worn and attracted lots of attention at the All-Star Game earlier in 2020. Designed by Kawhi, this pair of New Balance Kawhi 1 is actually endowed with extraordinary significance.

For the shoebox, it is white with a simple design, a NB logo in the middle and the signature. And in terms of the shoes, it is mainly blue and black in the vamp with the gold part serving as a decoration which has become a classic mark of Leonard and is particularly bright.

As regards the name of the colorway, some of you might have learned about it previously. Actually, as the first-released colorway, the origin of its name is also widely talked about. It started with Kawhi Leonard’s game-winning shot at the end of the game on May 16, 2019. It was a legend in NBA history and was really amazing. Therefore, in order to mark the occasion, New Balance teamed up with Leonard to release this remarkable pair of signature basketball shoes.

Then for the materials used in the vamp, there are actually a variety of materials. But what is nicer is that while reducing the shoes’ weight, its wrapping and protection are further enhanced. Besides, the toe of the shoe has been added with 3M reflective material that is visually impactive.

In the upper there is also the grain of crocodile skin which matches the blue vamp so well that the whole shoe looks rather characteristic.

And in the shoe tongue there is also the iconic gold K logo of Leonard with a tiny “2” in the top right. Also, the gold leather in the middle of the vamp is printed with the number “2” and the leather is sewn with blue thread, which makes it conspicuous and delicate.

In fact, to ensure a comfortable wearing experience, the collar part of the shoes is filled with thick foams that is skin-friendly and soft. And at the heel, it is covered with a large area of TPU to provide adequate support and protection for our ankles and heels. But with the signature of Kawhi Leonard, the shoes are set to get a lot of attention before people knowing about its excellency.

In the midsole, the FuelCell technology used in OMN1S series is again used in this pair of shoes for the midsole cushioning. And objectively, speaking, the feedback is quite obvious and the setup can be of great help in start-up. So, in this aspect, I will give it a full mark.

When it comes to the outsole, its durability is absolutely not a desirable. It is true that the outsole grips nicely on indoor courts, but there is no denying that it also wear somewhat easily.

Overall:

Anyway, the above are my personal views based on my experience. But to get some more details about its overall performances, I have to test it more. And if you’ve already took a liking to it, you can also learn some more about it before taking a shot.

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A Close Look at Jordan One Take 2

I‘ve shared in an article about the Stepback2 previously and also I received much feedback from many shoe fans which made me reflect a lot about the shoes. But here I am  going to talk a bit about another pair of shoes, which is the Jordan One Take 2.

For this pair of Jordan One Take 2, it looks somewhat fancy and actually a bit eye-dazzling from the outside. But anyway, let’s take a closer look at the shoes’ setups that really matter.

My second impression of the shoes, besides the first impression of its appearance, was that the shoes were super light. A single shoe of size 9 weighing 358g can be said to be an excellent job done by the brand. Compared with ZK6 Protro 9 of the same size which weighs 350g, this Jordan One Take 2 is really an excellency. In other words, it was on par with one of the lightest shoes of its day.

There is also the lightest one among the many versions of Westbrook Signature shoes. That is the Westbrook 4 which weighs 374g, making it very suitable for people who are relatively light.

Therefore, from the above facts we can tell that Jordan has really done a tremendous job in controlling the weights of  its combat shoes and is always making self-improvement. What’s more, the shoes’ lightness doesn’t come at the expense of the reduction of setups, which is obvious to all.

In terms of the shoe type, it is a middle-top version which is also the case for Westbrook 4. Besides, there  is the iconic outsole which can distinguish the shoes from others.

As for the vamp, the materials used are actually diverse. The vamp has adopted a large area of common engineering mesh whereas the two sides of the front foot uses the rubber that serves as reinforcement.

The rear part of the vamp is made of leather material, which is more than suitable for you if you take a liking to cool as well as spirited shoes.

There are entirely 5 sets of shoelace buckles. However, I haven’t got the hang of it yet for I think it requires some more time to get used to it. But with the fact that many shoes’ wrapping performance failed me in the past several years by having too few shoelace buckles, I still hope this One Take2 could dazzle me by its overall performances.

The two large straps in the middle part are the most prominent feature of the vamp, but they do resemble the design of the DAME6.

When it comes to the lining at the heel, it is thick enough that I am sure it  can offer a nice wrapping performance.

And as can be seen from the picture, the upturned outsole extending to the vamp can at the same time provide a certain extent of support.

As regards the midsole, the fan-shaped Zoom in the front part and the full-foot Phylon is quite a Westbrook-style design. In addition, the grooves on the outsole clearly show the area of the air cushion which is larger than that of the Freak2, a pair of signature shoes.

For the outsole, it is made of the commonly-seen XDR rubber, quite a wear-resistant setup.

Overall:

Way back in the days when the One Take1 has just been released, I’ve been told that this series was among the most brilliant ones, and now this One Take 2 has again proven it to us. Actually, from my point of view, both the design and setups of the shoes are superior, making the shoes rather cost-effective. You can also take a shot and surely it won’t fail you.

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A Close Look at PUMA DISC REBIRTH

It seems to be a trend in recent years that the traditional shoelaces are being disregarded while the automatic lacing system is highly thought of and widely adopted in many sneakers. For example, the Fast Fit of Nike is quite a popular design and has also attracted lots of fans. However, the fact is that way back in 30 years ago, there has been a shoe that equips with the similar tech. That is the Puma Disc Rebirth, the protagonist of today.

But just to be clear, the shoes I got here are not from 30 years ago; PUMA DISC REBIRTH is actually a retro version that is also a perfect tribute to Puma.

In fact, the PUMA DISC REBIRTH was released right after the DISC Technology was invented. And of course, the highlight of the shoes is the DISC tech which has been there as early as 1991. It not only replaces the traditional shoelaces which makes much easier for us to put on and take off the shoes, but at the mean time offers us an excellent wrapping.

(The PUMA DISC Blaze is also shown here.）

(On the picture above is the DISC WEAPON.)

The Puma Disc Blaze was one of the most iconic shoes of Puma. And before long another model was launched. That was the Disc Weapon which was also quite impressive.

But for the PUMA DISC REBIRTH I got here, it is simplified in the its design compared with the one 30 years ago. However, I think the shoes attract most by its DISC  tech for I can adjust the shoes’ wrapping simply through the rotary knob whenever I want. In addition, on the inside of the vamp there are instructions for the DISC. So with such a considerate design, there’s no need worrying about not knowing how to use the tech.

As is shown in the picture, there is a red Velcro at the side, which strengthens the wrapping of the arch part.

As a matter of fact, even before the shoes were officially released, there has been a lot of related products, most of which are designed with the concept of practical and fashionable.

Objectively speaking, many Puma sneakers of today are made and upgraded on the basis of the previous Puma shoes, and this pair of PUMA DISC REBIRTH is no exception. However, notwithstanding that, from my point of view, the PUMA DISC REBIRTH looks more rounded and somewhat lovelier.

As regards the details, I think the classic logo which resembles racetrack is characteristic and noticeable. Made of rubber, it not only enriches the use of vamp material, but also shows the unique identity to the shoes.

When it comes to the midsole, it adopts the widely-used full-foot ProFoam and also the upturned and thickened design at the heel.

At the outer part of the front-foot is a large TPU which is to improve the shoes’ overall stability.

With respect to the outsole, it is patterned with the relatively refined rhombuses. Although its performance remains more testing, I deem that it can’t be inferior with such well designed pattern.

The hollow design of the midsole reduces the overall weight of the shoes, through which we can see the support plate embedded in the midsole.

Overall:

It’s safe to say that the shoes are all surprises, and I just kept “wowing” in the whole process of checking the shoes. But since I haven’t got the hang of it, I am expecting some more surprises of it. Anyway, let’s wait and see.

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A Closer Look at Salomon Sonic PRO

I first bumped into Salomon when I was browsing a BBS about running. Although I’ve had several years’ of running experiences at that time, I was still unfamiliar with many running shoe brands for I thought it was my physical and will power that really mattered during exercising. But before long I realized I was wrong and then I also began seeking one pair of shoes that would be most suitable and great help for me. And after I learned about this French brand, I decided that I should have a try. So I picked this pair of Salomon Sonic PRO.

For the shoebox, it is quite an ordinary box and on the side are printed with the basic information of the shoes.

Upon opening the box, I was refreshed by the shoes’ colorway and appearance. It just seems like a cool breeze of summer which can be very nice and appealing.

But since I happened to got a pair of Salomon SLAB-wings here, I’d also like make a brief comparison between the two shoes.

In terms of their outsoles, they are actually quite similar. The only difference lies in that the front foot of the Sonic Pro has been changed into ContagRip that is much more wear-resistant. And thanks to that design which seems a bit negligible though, I am able to enjoy a more excellent grip.

Another point making me rather satisfied with the two shoes are they both adopt the highly acclaimed QuickLace which is of great help both when I put on and take off the shoes.

Besides the outsole, it is somewhat surprising that the two shoes are also similar in their shoe type and appearance. And from my point of view, they are both eye-catching and each of them has also its own merits.

For the Salomon SLAB-wings, its core techs are the LIGHTWEIGHT ENERGYCELL+ which is used in the midsole to provide consistent elastic feedback, the ENERGY CELL used as the midsole cushioning, and the 3D RIDE that can be especially helpful on rugged roads. And when it comes to the Salomon Sonic PRO, the CONTAGRIPR® in it can be more than suitable for all kinds of urban roads and at the same time offer powerful grip. What’s nicer is that it is highly wear-resistant so that it can stand up to various kinds of tests. And in the heel, the ENERGY CELL+ is very soft, aiming at relieving shock brought to our feet.

With regard to the insoles, it is obviously seen that there are improvements. And since the shoes adopt the Otholite insole, it is said that the insoles can wick away moisture. For this part, I think it needs some more testing. But if asked about the softness of them, I have to say that they are really very comfortable from the inside out.

As for the shoes’ weight, there is only a slight difference between them which is about 21g. And I don’t think this would matter that much in terms of the shoes’ performances.

Overall:

Actually, inheriting the excellent design of S-Lab Sonic classic running shoes, the shoes did bring many marathon lovers very nice experiences and delivers the design concept that everyone can create PB (Personal Best). There is a saying that “Everyone deserves having a pair of Salomon Sonic PRO”. In fact, I think for running lovers, the shoes also deserve your trying.