After NIKE KD7, the cross strap design hasn’t been used again in the further KD series shoes. It’s a pity for the shoe fans. KD14 bring back the cross strap design. The design inspiration comes from the nickname of Kevin Durant—Slim Reaper.
KD14 EP
The shoebox is black. The design is concise. The front side of cover is printed with KD, and the side of cover is printed with KEVIN DURANT XIV. The side of shoebox has Kevin’s signature.
The side shoe tag of shoebox
The vamp of KD14 is amazing. The air permeability of mesh is good, and it’s durable. The vamp uses jacquard weave technology.
The embroidered SWOOSH logo
The cross strap of KD14 is attractive, it increases the fitness. Actually, the KD2, KD4 and KD7 has the cross-strap design.
The inspiration of cross strap comes from the scythe shape of Death. The inspiration slim Swoosh logo comes from NIKE BRUIN.
The inner side of cross strap has Kevin Durant’s signature.
The design inspiration of this part comes from NIKE PRESTO. It combines the retro and modern. The 14 death paw marks work in concert with FOURTEENTH EDITION.
The mesh fabric shoe-tongue has KD logo. It uses contrast color design.
The stacked shoe heel pattern improves the strength and offer better supporting performance. The V shape shoe collar fits the heel tendon well, it’s comfortable.
The insole uses Cushlon cushioning foam. Comparing with PHYLON foam, it’s lighter and the resilience is better.
The outboard TPU plate on the vamp offers better stability.
The inspiration of yellow semi-transparent TPU comes from the fibril of ZOOM Air cushion, which works in concert with ZOOM STROBEL air cushion.
The insole of shoe heel is widened. It improves the stability.
The colorful outsole has hidden skull pattern. The forefoot and rear foot pattern draw the outline of skull pattern.
The TPU stabilizing plates on the arch part are the eyes. The yellow part with Air Zoom is the nose. The forefoot track pattern is the teeth.
The outsole has several patterns. The widened pattern offer multi-directional traction performance. The track pattern inherits from KD13.
XDR material is suitable for kinds of courts.
The arch TPU stabilizing plate is stiff, it improves the overall strength.
The shoe-pad has grooves to fit the ZOOM STROBEL air cushion.
The length of EUR42.5 shoe-pad is about 272mm.
The width of EUR42.5 shoe-pad is about 93.54mm.
The thickness of EUR42.5 shoe-pad is about 7.81mm.
The thickness of EUR42.5 shoe-pad (the thinnest part of groove) is about 6.64mm.
The groove of ZOOM STROBEL air cushion are designed to accommodate the moving direction of foot, it improves the overall performance.
The unit weight of EUR42.5 KD14 is about 402.4g.
Overall
NIKE KD14 is designed by the designer of Kyrie series shoes-Benjami Nethongkome. The return of cross strap design is attractive. The insole uses Cushlon foam with ZOOM STROBEL air cushion.
The size is standard. The shoe-tongue design is convenient for putting on and taking off. The width of forefoot sole is moderate. After fastening the shoelaces, the fitness is good. I can feel the feedback of ZOOM STROBEL air cushion obviously when jumping and running.