Throughout the past six months, we have noticed Jordan Brand placing great emphasis on “choosing your flight”, and with the official unveiling of the Air Jordan 2012 (a shoe consisting of all three flights) days away, we decided to choose each flight as focal points of our latest performance reviews. Carmelo Anthony, Jordan Brand’s installment for “Fly Through”, was supplied with Flywire, Air Max cushioning and exposed Zoom Air on his latest signature model, the Jordan Melo M8. Did those three elements combine to form a great, dependable wear? Check out our Jordan Melo M8 performance review to find out.

Jordan Melo M8 Sketch

Cushioning: From a cushioning standpoint, the Jordan Melo M8 is very impressive and is arguably the best of any Jordan signature sneaker we have tested. Of course, the large Air Max unit in the heel softens your landing and provides great impact protection, but the exposed Zoom Air bag in the forefoot is what sets the cushioning of this shoe apart from its competitors. The 10mm Zoom Air Bag is placed between the midfoot and outsole, providing the wearer with a soft, plush forefoot surface and toe area. This is an ideal attribute for a player with an offensive repertoire like Carmelo. If you watch Melo closely, you will notice that he operates in the mid post area off of his pivot a lot and uses an abundance of jab steps. Continuous jabbing can ultimately wear a shoe out in the forefoot area over time. Yet, the Melo M8′s Zoom Air cushioning protects that area and keeps the foot stable. The cushioned Zoom Air bag also aids in quick, explosive leaps around the basket. The Air Max unit in the heel obviously provides the wearer with a plush, responsive landing surface. The Melo M8 also possesses a cushioned heel notch, which keeps the heel protected and provides ankle support.

Responsiveness: Along with cushioning, the Jordan Melo M8′s responsiveness level is this shoe’s best performance trait. You can undoubtedly notice the trampoline-like effect in the forefoot and heel of the Jordan Melo M8. It’s extremely bouncy and springy. In addition to the previously mentioned Zoom Air in the forefoot and Max Air in the heel, the full-length injected Phylon midsole provides extreme comfort and cushioning. You can appreciate the Melo M8′s responsiveness when retuning to the ground after explosive leaps. In my time of playing in the Melo M8, the responsiveness never decreased, and I felt really explosive when making a move to the basket.

Support: The large rand of leather that wraps around the entire shoe is not just placed on the shoe for aesthetic purposes. It’s actually one of the bright spots of this shoe and provides great support and stability. The full-length TPU cage actually nestles the foot and helps with lateral stability. When changing directions quickly, I noticed that my foot never slid or moved from the platform of the shoe. It remained in place no matter what jolts and stop-and-start actions I made, allowing me to be quicker with counter moves.

We also must point out the newest addition to the Melo line: Flywire (Flywire initially showed its face on the Jordan Melo M7 Advance). I’ve played in shoes that possess stronger Flywire cables than those incorporated on the Melo M8, but Jordan Brand is moving in the right direction by adding Flywire to the durable Melo signature line. When lacing the shoe up, you can feel the nylon fibers come together in attempt to stabilize the foot and hold it in place. Over the course of a game, the hug and squeeze on my foot weakened though. Again, stronger Flywire would help the support and lockdown factors of this shoe.

Breathability: Despite its lovable characteristics, such as cushioning and responsiveness, the Jordan Melo M8 comes up short in the breathability column. Sure, the mesh tongue and partial inner-sleeve make for a good fit and a little bit of breathability, but the overall wear of the shoe is not breathable. Maybe some gaping perforations here and there throughout the base could help the breathability factor in some form.

Jordan Melo M8 rendering

Durability: In my opinion, Melo’s shoes have always scored high in the durability column. The bulky, wide-based build has stayed intact on my previous Melo signatures, and I expected the Melo M8 to do the same. Melo’s eighth signature shoe features a synthetic leather upper with a patent leather overlay throughout the toe area and above the TPU cage. The Melo M8, like its predecessors, is like a tank. It can take a beating and still be true to form afterwards. Over the course of my time in this shoe, it kept its shape and the materials never showed extreme wear and tear.

Lockdown: As mentioned in the ‘Support’ writeup, the Flywire cables could have been stronger, and would have really helped lock the foot down. Also, an increased lace pressure would have helped in this area. If you tie the Melo M8 tight enough, you can feel some initial lockdown, but it does weaken later on in the wear.

Traction: You really can’t say anything bad about herringbone traction. It works perfectly on the hardwood and you don’t have to continuously wipe your feet during every dead ball. I noticed the lateral flex grooves too, which do help multidirectional jabbing, something Carmelo loves doing in the mid post area as mentioned earlier.

Jordan Melo M8 Performance Review Scorecard

Jordan Melo M8 Designer Justin Taylor

Overview: It’s been a long time since we have seen a high-profile signature shoe debut for a New York Knick. Jordan Brand brought one of the better performance basketball sneakers to the Big Apple market for Carmelo. The Jordan Melo M8 is easily one of, if not the most cushioned Jordan sneaker on the market, currently, and is ideal for the player that relies on explosiveness in the mid post area and under the basket. A very responsive wear, the Melo M8 provides the wearer with that bounce and springiness one covets in today’s athletic game.

The Jordan Melo M8 is now available at retailers for $135.

Read the rest of Performance Review: Jordan Melo M8 – Fly Through

© George Kiel III for NiceKicks.com, 2012. | Permalink | 6 comments |
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Performance Review: Jordan Melo M8 – Fly Through

Nike Zoom Kobe VII System
Black/White-Wolf Grey-Cool Grey
488371-001
February 4, 2012
$140

© Brett Pickert for NiceKicks.com, 2012. | Permalink | 6 comments |
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Nike Zoom Kobe VII Black/Wolf Grey Available Now

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade wearing new colorways of the Nike LeBron 9 and the Jordan Fly Wade 2, respectively

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in new colorways of the Nike LeBron 9 and the Jordan Fly Wade 2, respectively

Dwyane Wade shooting in a new Jordan Fly Wade 2 and LeBron James wearing a never-before-seen Nike LeBron 9

Michael Beasley shooting in the Air Jordan 13 "Playoffs"

Rajon Rondo attacking the rim in the Nike Air Huarache Basketball 2012

Courtney Lee dunking in the Air Jordan 10 "Chicago"

Trevor Booker facing up in the Nike Air Max Barkley

Jonas Jerebko and Luc Mbah a Moute in an iD version of the Nike Zoom Uptempo V and the adidas Crazy Light, respectively

Lance Stephenson and Delonte West in the Under Armour Micro G Funk and the Nike Air Max Uptempo 2 "Duke", respectively

Amar'e Stoudemire and Kevin Garnett in the Nike Air Max Sweep Thru and the Anta KG2, respectively

Ricky Rubio in the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011

Source: Yahoo

© George Kiel III for NiceKicks.com, 2012. | Permalink | 16 comments |
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Kicks On Court: D-Wade & LeBron James Debut New PEs in Philly

RELATED: Bow-Kicka-Wow-Wow: 1 on 1 with Mike Posner

Air Jordan 13 Black/Varsity Red-White

Mike Posner: “They are crazy comfortable and look good with jeans for the winter time.”

Read the rest of My 5: Mike Posner’s Sneaker Rotation

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My 5: Mike Posner’s Sneaker Rotation

We continue to “choose flights” in preparation of the Air Jordan 2012 unveiling later on this week. Following yesterday’s Jordan Melo M8 performance review, we now take a closer look at the latest footwear for Dwyane Wade, Jordan Brand’s installment of “Fly Over”. On the Jordan Fly Wade 2, Flash was supplied with Lunarlon foam, Fuse technology and an unmatched lockdown system. Is the combination of Lunar and Fuse durable enough to stand rigors of playing basketball on a consistent basis? View our Jordan Fly Wade 2 performance review to find out.

RELATED: Performance Review: Jordan Fly Wade| Performance Review: Jordan Fly 23 + Fly Wade Comparison | My 5: Dwyane Wade’s Sneaker Rotation | Performance Review: Jordan Melo M8 – Fly Through

Jordan Fly Wade 2 Collection

Lockdown: The lockdown/fit of the Jordan Fly Wade 2 is the shoe’s best attribute by far. Actually, the Wade 2 scores as high as any other shoe in this department that we’ve tested. From heel to toe, this shoe totally grips the foot and holds it tightly in place. It’s possesses the true feeling of oneness between your foot and the shoe. Words cannot stress enough how much the Fly Wade 2 clenches your foot. Even before you lace it up, you notice the secure fit around your foot. On the heel, you can really feel the internal heel pads on each side of your Achilles, which keeps that part of your foot from slipping while hesitating or quickly changing directions on the court. You can also credit the full inner sleeve and mesh tongue for this shoe’s snug, comfortable fit. Lastly, the Jordan Fly Wade 2 is an overall narrow, sleek wear, which means there is not a lot of excess materials, horizontally, in the toe area. It is a nearly perfect lockdown fit for the foot.

Breathability: For a shoe that fits so securely, the Jordan Fly Wade 2 has an amazing breathability factor thanks to the introduction of the three-layer Hyperfuse construction on Wade’s signature line. As stated earlier, I was amazed at the lockdown and fit of this shoe, but even more astonished by its ability to be so ventilated despite its extremely snug fit. The exposed mesh and perforations on the side panels are great sources of ventilation for the foot in this shoe. I played for at least two hours every time I wore the Fly Wade 2, and my foot never profusely sweated. Also, the mesh-like inner sleeve is extremely thin, which allows a nice circulation of air to seep through the perforations. The Fly Wade 2 is a definite upgrade from the Jordan Fly Wade in regards to breathability. At the Jordan Fly Wade 2 launch event, Wade said, “I sweat a lot, so I’ve went through about three shoes in one game.” With the aforementioned exposed mesh and perforations, the Jordan Fly Wade 2 undoubtedly alleviates this problem for Wade and consumers who perspire a lot.

Cushioning: In the same manner as the player-friendly lockdown and fit attributes, the Jordan Fly Wade 2′s cushioning level will assuredly catch a wearer’s attention from the first time he/she slides their foot into this shoe. Many sneaker enthusiasts are truly in love with Lunarlon right now and rightfully so. Jordan Brand’s decision to add it to a high-profile signature basketball shoe was risky, but well worth the gamble. Lunarlon is heel-to-toe in the Fly Wade 2′s construction and provides you with a super soft, plush and supportive footbed. Factor in the molded Ortholite sockliner, and you have one of the most comfortable shoes to play in on the current market. After playing in the Wade 2 about five times, the previously mentioned sockliner noticeably began to take on the form of my foot, and it became more comfortable with every wear after that. It doesn’t take that long to benefit from the Wade 2′s comfort level though. The Fly Wade 2 is highly cushioned, comfortable and ready to go on the initial wear. It’s one of the only shoes I’ve laced up that doesn’t warrant a long, drawn out break-in time.

Jordan Fly Wade 2 Lunarlon cushioning

Responsiveness: Besides being extremely plush, soft and comfortable, the Fly Wade 2′s cushioning is super responsive and bouncier than the Melo M8′s combination of Air Max in the heel and exposed Zoom Air in the forefoot. If you shift your body weight vertically back and forth (standing still), you can actually hear the squeaking and springiness of the Phylon/Lunarlon combination in the heel.

Traction: The Jordan Fly Wade 2 was not horrible in the traction department by no means, but it had its lowest ranking in this column. The outsole features two very unique traction patterns and a pretty nice sized outrigger. Specifically, the traction pattern on the medial side of the shoe features flex grooves that are widely spread apart, while the traction pattern on the lateral side of the shoe is more compacted. I was able to stop and start quicker on the lateral side’s traction pattern than on the medial side’s traction pattern. A couple of times, I had some slippage when launching off of the medial side. Maybe, incorporating the smaller flex groove pattern throughout the entire bottom would have performed better. As stated earlier, the traction was not bad by no means. We’re just being picky. This shoe is really that good.

We must also mention the welcoming presence of an outrigger on the Jordan Fly Wade 2. It really helps with leverage on quick cuts, sudden change of directions and overall lateral stability.

Support: Although the Fly Wade 2 is considered a lightweight sneaker, it has its fair share of reinforced, weighty support, specifically in the heel. Actually, the heel was the most stable part of my foot in my time wearing the Jordan Fly Wade 2. The majority of the Fly Wade 2′s build consists of a very flexible Hyperfuse construction, but the four layers of material on the heel definitely provide structure to this shoe. Also, the 3/4-length TPU shank and the aforementioned outrigger aid in the Fly Wade 2′s stable support.

Durability: Incorporating Fuse technology on Dwyane Wade’s signature was an exceptional move by Jordan Brand considering Dwyane Wade’s style of play. Fuse is ideal for the player who possesses a rugged, physical style of play like Dwyane Wade. The outer shell, which is comprised of TPU film, is very flexible and sturdy. The materials never weakened, and from my first time playing in it to the most recent wear, the shoe maintained its sturdiness, stability and strength. Fuse is here to stay.

Jordan Fly Wade 2 Performance Review Scorecard

Overview: Dwyane Wade’s signature line is still wet behind the ears, but Jordan Brand has made vast steps and improvements in engineering a quality shoe for one of the most unique players in the game in so little time. The unique combination of Lunar foam, Fuse technology and a super secure fit makes the Jordan Fly Wade 2 one of, if not the best performance basketball shoe on the market. You can’t find a better fitting sneaker, and the Fuse upper is ultra flexible and durable to say the least. This shoe is ideal for the player who relies on athleticism above and/or below the rim.

The Jordan Fly Wade 2 is now available at retailers for $145.

Read the rest of Performance Review: Jordan Fly Wade 2 – Fly Over

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Performance Review: Jordan Fly Wade 2 – Fly Over

The Nike Air Foampsite One is one of the best Nike shoes ever released. for it captivates everyone’s attention to it, with its beauty and with eager look of its appearance, no doubt that everyone is eager to get and to have one of these shoes. Wearing this type of shoes will emphasized the eager of winning the game for this Nike shoes has the popularity and the power of winning. With the colour that indicates strong and superb, just like the Nike Air Foampsite One.

Wearing this Nike Air Foampsite One will let you feel fresh and look fresh with this shoes. For it made up of  black nubuck and mesh and an icy outsole. By wearing this shoe can easily mach up with your style of get up. But this will  be astounded if you will wear this on court yo will really look like a varsity one.

Purchase your own pair of Nike Air Foamposite One – Metallic Red right now!

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Nike Air Foamposite One – Metallic Red

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Weekly Wallpaper: Nike Air Foamposite One “Metallic Red”

George Kiel

I really like the entire Nike “Black History Month” collection, but the LeBrons are my favorite. The subtle African motif hints compliment the black and grey base nicely.

Nike LeBron 9 “Black History Month”

Read the rest of Nice Kicks Staff Picks

© Albert Lin for NiceKicks.com, 2012. | Permalink | 12 comments |
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Nice Kicks Staff Picks

These kind of sneaker comes in several types of shoes, some of this are design in high cut type of shoe and some are in low cut type of shoes. This was first introduce and became the trade mark for basketball and it was named after the named of Chuck Taylor who was once a basketball player during that time and became popular until this time..

And as time goes by converse was re invented to be more eye catching and more saleable to the consumer. converse shoes already comes through different style, different genres and already categorized by  gender and by aged. This is already free for everyone, young and old, boy or girl and children of all ages. Converse shoes are already part of our daily life’s and part of our everyday activity. Which means this can wear not only through sports but to are casual mode of activity.

Converse is made up of  classic. That’s why these All Star basketball shoes come in dangerous, out-of-control colors. They can match your mood or casual wear. Canvas upper with a vulcanized rubber midsole and a rubber outsole.

Purchase your own pair of The Legendary Converse Sneakers right now!

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The Legendary Converse Sneakers

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Celebrity Rewind: Kanye Debuts “Net” Yeezys on The Ellen Show