Author: jaehooncheon

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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.

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Deconstructed of PUMA FUTURE Z 1.1 MG/PRO CAGE

PUMA has launches a new series, the FUTURE Z 1.1 which is a series of football shoes. The series, with the outstanding appearances and the brand’s reputation, has attracted the attention of many football fans. And here let’s take a closer look at the MG and the Pro Cage of this series and figure out what is the difference between the internal structure of these two shoes.

(The PUMA FUTURE Z 1.1 MG)

(The PUMA FUTURE Z 1.1 PRO CAGE)

Looking at the two shoes from the above, you may be bewildered and may not be able to tell one from the other for they are just so similar in the vamp. In fact, on the left is the PUMA FUTURE Z 1.1 MG while the other is the PUMA FUTURE Z 1.1 PRO CAGE.

In terms of the toe parts, the strip of the MG that is used to increase friction is placed on the Grip Control Pro hot-melt film vamp while the same setup of the PRO CAGE protrudes on the hot-melt film vamp.

As for the inside of the vamp, both adopt the EVOKNIT PRO woven material with the toe part reinforced to protect our toes. For the inner side of the vamp of MG, it is added with a layer of foam and then with white reinforcement layer in the toe, which is very comfortable for us. And for that of the PRO CAGE, the inner side is first covered with a layer of gray film and then with a white reinforcement layer and finally with the lining of the same color with the outer side of the vamp, which is why I felt the vamp a bit hard when I first wore them.

In the picture above is the comparison between MG and PC. The upper one is the MG and the other the PC.

When it comes to the heels of the shoes, we can find that there are actually great differences between the two. Although both adopt the adaptive compression strap in the heel, the techs used are quite different. Printed on the heel of the MG(the left one) is the FUZIONFIT+ whereas that printed on the PC is the FUZIONFIT.

There are also differences between MG(above) and PC(below) in the texture of the adaptive compression straps. But from my point of view, the FUZIONFIT+ is much softer and more comfortable and hugs my feet very nice as well.

The inner lining of the MG(the left) in the arch is designed with air holes as so to improved air permeability. However, when it comes to the PG, I felt a bit disappointed for there is no similar design in the inner lining of the arch, resulting in quite an average breathability performance.

Each of the shoes has a perforated heel lining that is similar to suede and can improve comfort and anti-slipping.

For the insoles, MG uses the NANOGRIP TECHNOLOGY on the surface while PC adopts the woven material.

And then looking at the back side of the insoles, MG’s (left) is made of black material, and the yellow perforated foam is relatively dark while the PC’s is comprised of red material and the yellow perforated foam is brighter.

(The model of the insole mold is TS042-1. )

With respect to the soles, MG is designed with a midsole without any foams and with a triangular hollow at the heel and flannel covering other areas. For the PC, the sole is comprised of flannelette-made midsole cloth, foam-made midsole and the TPU in the arch.

The TPU stabilizer of MG is placed in the arch to enhance the shoes’ supporting performance while the triangular hollow design is adopted in the heel to reduce the shoes’ weight.

PC uses the half-foot foam midsole with a TPU stabilizer in the arch to improve the overall stability.

Besides, the front-foot of PC is also adopted with large groove design, which can not only improve the overall flexibility, but also bring good cushioning.

Here are also some data of the two shoes. The front-foot of MG  of size 42 is about 11.13mm thick and the heel is 14.86mm thick.

And for PC of the same size,  its front-foot is about 12.39mm thick while the heel is about 19.34mm thick.

For the shoes’ weight, a single shoe of MG is 245.4g while a single one of PC is 271.9g.

Overall:

To summarize, MG can be used in a variety of courts; PC has also been significantly improved in the vamp and can as well offer  us a nice experience. But however good they are, it is only you yourself who knows whether they are suitable. So you might as well have a try.

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Deconstructed of the Harden Vol.4

As a fan of the Harden series for years, I have always been looking forward to seeing improvement in its shoes. So when it comes to the Harden Vol.4, it is for sure that I will take a shot. And since I myself was also very curious about the setups and techs of the shoes, I decided to check it out, and here is the destruction of the shoes.

In the toe part of the  shoes,  it adopts the suede material whereas the vamp is in the whole made of mesh material.

For the shoelaces,  it is the elastic nylon material that can enhance the wrapping performance.

Inside the lining of the heel is printed with “Hassayampa 106th Street”. With respect to the words, there is something fun behind it. It is said that it is the  address of a barbershop that Harden frequented.

The leather heels of the shoes, which are surrounded by TPUs  that are also printed with a three-dimensional logo of Harden, can enhance the support performance.

In the TPU, it writes the “DESIGNED WITH JAMES HARDEN”, indicating that Harden was involved in the design of the 4th version.

For the outsole,  it’s patterned with deformed grids that are greatly helpful in offering grip.

However, what is most surprising and touches me most is the numbers in the outsole. The “0001.9.59.11.12” is the birthday of Harden’s mother. So we can see that however famous and successful Harden is, he still puts his mother first, which is quite moving.

With regard to the weight, a single shoe is about 395g, which I think is of average performance.

Separating the left shoe in the middle, we can see clearly the internal structure and the  full foot Lightstrike cushioning material matched with TPU stabilizer.

And then cutting open the vamp and the sole, we can also see that the inner side of the vamp is made of fabric lining which is comfortable and skin-friendly.

The heel is filled with quite thick foam and surrounded by a TPU, making the heel stability stand out.

The blue insole has also been printed with the symbolic logo of Harden.

And the upper layer of the insole is made of foam material while the lower layer is made of non-woven fabric.

In recent years, Adidas basketball shoes are all equipped with soft foaming material as the midsole cushioning, and it therefore needs a larger stabilizer to reinforce the midsole that can  reduce the deformation caused by the force brought to the midsole.

Because of this, the TPU is so large that it almost covers the whole sole.

Printed on the TPU is the words “SS19 BASKETBALL_N3XTL3V3L”.

Here are the data of the TPU in size 42.5 shoes. Its length is about 208mm; its width in the front foot is about 85.45mm and that of the heel is about 57.47mm.

In addition to that, the thickness of the TPU is about 3.84mm.

Then in terms of the cushioning, the LightStrike is is responsible for the shock absorption and feedback.

Overall:

Although the brand adopts the large TPU to stabilize the midsole and this method has also been imitated by many brands, it just turned out that this can not stand up to the long time testing. Maybe someday Adidas will return to the double-density midsole.

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Deconstructed of the PUMA SKY MODERN EASTER

I‘ve shared my experiences and feelings about this pair of PUMA SKY MODERN EASTER previously. And here I also want to share with you the dismantling of this PUMA SKY MODERN EASTER for I know many of you are curious about the setups of the shoes.

Cutting open the left shoe in the middle, the inside of the shoe looks like this.

And separating the midsole and the vamp, we can see clearly the layers of the sole.

In terms of the vamp, it is made of leather and fabric combined with a variety of other materials, which makes the vamp distinguishing.

Having checked the inner side of the vamp, I found that the bootie was rather soft and fit our feet very well instead of rubbing them.

The lining of the heel is about 3.05 thick, which offers more stability.

As we can see in the picture above, the foam at the heel is super thick, which is designed in such a way to fix our feet and bring us a more excellent wrapping.

In addition, there is the large TPU surrounding the heel, offering quite a lot of stability and fixing our feet nicely but not uncomfortably.

The thickness of the TPU is about 6.04mm. With respect to this, I should say that the materials used are quite sufficient and excellent.

For the insole, its surface is made of fabric while the logo in the heel is relatively eye-catching.

The material used in the surface of the midsole is the EVA which aims at offering more friction with the insole so that the slipping of the insoles can be prevented.

The lower layer of the midsole cloth is non-woven fabric that can hug the midsole more tightly.

As for the cushion in the midsole, it adopts the full-foot PROFOAM tech with an upturned design from the front to the heel for improved lateral stability.

The grooves in the front apart of the midsole are similar to the honeycomb structure, which improves the flexibility of multidirectional movement of the front-foot.

The arch TPU stabilizer is placed between midsole and outsole. And below are the related data of the TPU for size 43 shoes.

Its length is about 100.93mm.

The front end of the TPU is about 54.55 mm wide whereas the rear end is about 39.79mm wide.

The thickness of the TPU is about 3.11mm.

For the outsole, it is not in the least monotonous as do many outsoles of other shoes. The outsole is actually very nice with its assorted colors and its multi-textured design also does a tremendous job in offering multidirectional grip.

The front part of the outsole is upturned, making the stability and protection greatly improved.

I also measured the thickness of the sole. The forefoot (midsole + outsole) is about 16.42 mm thick while the rear foot(midsole + outsole) is about 23.63 mm.

Overall:

To tell the truth, the vamp is really satisfying for me. Made of a variety of materials, it is thick enough to offer excellent protection. Besides that, it is not only outstanding in providing the protection and support, but it has also a superior appearance which matters greatly as well.

To summarize, PUMA SKY MODERN is a pair of basketball shoes whose setups are very practical. All in all, it can meet the needs of most players and will also be of great help.

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Deconstructed of the ANSWER V

Allen Ezail Iverson’s sneakers have been talked about by almost everyone and they are also deeply loved by many people. However, notwithstanding that, the retro versions are criticized by almost everyone, which is quite to the contrary. So are there DMX  cushions in the retro version? Let’s take a look at the structure of the retro version of the  ANSWER V in 2019.

Separating the left shoe in the middle, the structure of the shoe is clearly shown in front of us.

Then let’s take a closer look at the inside of the vamp by separating the vamp from the midsole. As can be seen in the picture below, there is the thick lining which is connected with the vamp by stitches, making it fit our feet much better.

And on both sides of the tongue there are elastic nylon straps which are used to increase the wrapping performance. This design is quite simple though, it is actually very practical.

Below is the cross section of heel.

With respect to the insole, it is quite meaningful. On the insoles are printed with Iverson’s silhouette, which is monumental.

The flannelette material in the midsole can increase friction with the insole, thus preventing slipping.

In the image below, we can see the so-called DMX airbag that adopts the multi-chamber design, between which the air can flow freely.

The DMX that is made annular in the front is located at the stress position of the phalanges and is connected to the heel airbag through a Y-shaped structure.

The two air chambers are connected, but the middle part is relatively hard, which makes it easier for air circulation.

The DMX airbag of size 42.5 shoes is about 191.86 mm long. It is 74.96mm wide and 5.08mm thick in the front foot, and 43.78mm wide and 7.05 thick at the heel .

The TPU stabilizer in the arch covers a large area and the upturned design brings more stability.

As usual, I measured the TPU and collected all the related data. The outer length of the TPU stabilizer is about 164mm while the inner length is about 126 mm, and the TPU is about 3.83mm thick.

The material printed with the “DMX” is actually a rubber strip that fits together with the TPU.

For the outsole, the pattern designed this way can offer more grip which is essential on courts.

The forefoot (midsole + outsole) is about 17.96 mm thick whereas the heel (midsole + outsole) is about 28.53mm thick.

Overall:

The retro version of ANSWER 5 in 2019 has met the needs of most fans in terms  of its appearance. Although the shortcomings do exist, it is beyond question that this pair of retro version is still nice with respect to its overall  performance. But there is also a problem that is a bit bothering for me. That is the air cushion that I can not feel obviously, which is quite a different experience from the original version. So as a loyal fan for many years, I hope the brand can restore the original setups as much as possible so that more shoe fans can also experience the classic shoes, which I am sure is also heartfelt wish of many people.

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LA SPROTIVA HELIOS 2 Performance Review

I was surfing on the Internet one day and then the advertisement popped up. Out of interest, I clicked it and accidentally, I found this pair of LA SPROTIVA HELIOS 2. And after some search about the shoes, I bought it immediately which was also a birthday gift for myself since my birthday was approaching. The wait for the shoes was long and agonizing because I was expecting quite a lot of it. But it was worth the wait for it did live up to my expectation.

Several days ago, I wore the shoes out to exercise and many of my friends noticed the shoes as soon as they met with me. Some of them joked that it was coquettish while some other said it was very nice. And of course, I have an idea about it in my mind. I think the shoes are eye-catching and breathtaking, and it offers me quite a large amount of energy since I haven’t bought a pair of bright shoes as this one.

During my running process, one of the feelings of the shoes was that it was super light and comfortable. Although I’ve also copped the ascend7 of Mizuno, the WINGS of Salomon, I thought I had to change my opinion for I found this LA SPROTIVA HELIOS 2 was obviously more excellent than the previous ones. Firstly, it is much more comfortable and elastic. And secondly, it also offers a more outstanding grip which is for me very important because I usually go for off-road running.

Talking about the grip, I am quite satisfied with it. When I was running uphill, there were many gravels and sands on the road. But these were never a problem for this pair of shoes. In short, however rugged the roads are, the shoes can still offer me enough stability and nice grip.

However, there is one problem that bothers me most. That is the shoes’ sole which I don’t think is that satisfying. During the whole running process, I once stepped on the sharp stones, some of which just get stuck inside the gaps of the outsole, making me uncomfortable and lancinating.

Then on the way downhill, the condition of the road was very challenging for the shoes. Honestly, if the shoes didn’t have excellent grip and cushioning, I might have slipped many times. But thanks to its nice performances, I could enjoy my off-road running. And on the strength of my experience, I can tell you that you don’t even have to worry about slipping on wet grounds. Besides, the cushion also provides some protection for runners, which is actually a tremendous job done by the shoes.

As a matter of fact, as a pair of good shoes, it won’t attract your attention, but rather, it will make you focus on your running. And the cases is during the whole process, I frequently forgot my errand that I was doing tests of the shoes. But luckily, I remembered clearly all the feelings about the shoes.

Overall:

All in all, the only shortcoming I’ve found so far lies in the outsole which are mostly like to make stones get stuck in its gaps. But if regardless of this point, it still deserves recommending. Personally, Helios 2 is generally great and wears comfortably and also goes well with our daily clothes. From a professional point of view,  it can adapt to all kinds of roads, offers us anti-slipping performance and protects us well. Therefore, you might as well take a shot.