Floppy Divac's Basketball Shoe Reviews

Adidas Superstar 2G Basketball Shoe Review

Today we have our first Adidas basketball shoe to be reviewed. This is the Adidas Superstar 2G model (not to be confused with the II model). Here's an excerpt from the product description: 

 

Adidas' Superstar 2G is a versatile basketball shoe for the court or street. The high-traction outsole and excellent midfoot support will take you in any direction. Features include a full-grain leather upper for comfort and a soft feel, a compression-molded EVA midsole for lightweight cushioning, a Torsion System for midfoot integrity and superior stability, and an Adiwear outsole for durability in high-wear areas. Putting points on the board and tough defense never go out of style, and that's what every generation of this classic player's shoe has always been designed to do.

Comfortability/Fit: This is the feature of the shoe that I love the most. It is extremely comfortable. I'm pretty picky when it comes to the comfort of my shoes since there are times in my job where I do an extensive amount of standing. The cushioning system provides a good amount of support for your feet. Furthermore, it only weighs about 13oz so it is extremely lightweight.

score: 18/20

Safety/Support/Stability:

This shoe features a rubber shell toe, which sets it apart from some of the other Adidas Superstar models. Going from side-to-side on defense, this shoe gives adequate  support/traction for guard players. For all those big men out there (forwards, centers), I'm not sure how well this shoe will hold up since it does provide the same amount of ankle support that a low-top basketball shoe provides. 

score: 16/20

Durability: I have an old pair of these similar shoes from 2-3 years ago. Surprisingly, it's still pretty durable and has now developed a cool worn-out look. However, I mainly used the shoe for casual wear and not for playing basketball.

score: 19/20

Style:The key design that attracts me (as well as others) to this shoe is its relatively simple and clean design. Sometimes people just want a nice and simple shoe that is not drenched in flashiness. There's something elegant about a shoe with a standard three-striped Adidas logo. I just can't put my finger on it. 

Another nice feature of this shoe is the dozens of colors/designs that it comes in, in which you'll most likely find your perfect style. In this case, I grew up as a Bulls/Magics fan so I decided to get a Chicago Bulls version of this shoe.

score: 18/20

Value:The price of the shoe usually varies around $50-60. It's a reasonably priced shoe that will last you for several years, regardless of what you use them for. 

score: 17/20

Pros:

• Decent price (~$50-60)
• Simple, clean design
• Lightweight, comfy
• Designed for all-around use (i.e., casual, basketball, etc.)
• Good for guard players

Cons: 

• Limited styles/colors for the 2G model compared to the II model
• Limited ankle support (sorry, big fellas)

Final grade:  88% B+
Adidas Superstar 2G Basketball Shoe Review

Upcoming basketball shoe review: Adidas Superstar 2G

Howdy everyone (or the 3 people out there who actually read my blog). Our agenda for this week will be reviewing the Adidas Superstar 2G basketball shoe. This is one of the more popular shoes out there, especially for people who wear it casually. It features the "Torsion® System for midfoot integrity". I'll post a review ASAP after I test it out on the court. So stay tuned for the review some time later this week. So to keep you occupied, here's a hilarious clip of Shaq having a dance-off with Lebron and Dwight at the all-star game. I DARE you not to laugh.

The Greatest Basketball Shoe Commercials

I think a lot of us can trace our obsession with basketball shoes simply based on our favorite basketball players advertising them in memorable commercials. I still remember the first time that I saw the Air Jordan commercial where Michael Jordan was hanging out with Spike Lee. From then on, the commercials have evolved throughout the years.

Here's the old school Spike Lee/Air Jordan commercial that catapulted the Air Jordan brand:

Here's my current favorite shoe commercial (Air Jordan XX2). It's certainly an epic commercial that undergoes a wide range of emotions. It's a feeling of Deja Vu because I was actually involved in one of these types of games (on the losing end, sadly). Plus, Mozart's Lacrimosa seems to be the perfect choice in terms of background music.

This is another one of my favorite commercials featuring the Nike Freestyle orchestra. I have to admit that I practiced dribbling the moves to the beat for countless hours after watching the commercial.


Who knows what great shoe commercials will be coming up next. The Jordan brand always puts out high-quality commercials, and Nike has its stud superstar Lebron James under contract for several more years.

Reebok Reverse Jam Mid Sneaker: Basketball Shoe Review

Alright everyone. After a long delay, I finally got another review up. This time it is the Reebok Reverse Jam Mid Basketball shoe. 

Comfortability/Fit: This shoe is relatively lightweight (approximately 2 lbs). The only issue I have with this shoe is its narrow width, which made it feel rather tight on my monstrously wide feet. Lacing system is pretty good and stylish. Arch support is great while ankle support is good with proper lacing.

score: 14/20

Safety/Support/Stability:The only thing that bothered me the most about the fit seems to the narrow fit of this shoe. I have a slightly wider than normal foot so it took a while for the shoe to break in. Arch support is pretty good, and ankle support is adequate for a mid-cut shoe.The main selling point for the shoe is the Hexalite cushioning material. In case you didn't know what hexalite is, here's an excerpt from the product website:

What is Hexalite?
"Hexalite" is a lightweight, honeycomb-shaped cushioning material that provides enhanced shock absorption in areas of peak pressure. The Hexalite technology is 4 times more durable than EVA foam and absorbs up to 23% more energy than the equivalent amount of EVA Foam. Tough urethane film combined with the structural integrity of the honeycomb linkage make it one of the most durable cushioning systems used in footwear.

score: 16/20

Durability: Reebok Hexalite has been around for a few years so the cushioning material  is proven to be durable so don't worry about the shoe's durability. It has a decent track record. 

score: 15/20

Style: This is one of the main features of the shoe that attracted me. The retro design that encompasses the shoe is pretty sweet. This shoe reminds me of the old school ballers and their short-shorts. In addition to the standard Reebok logo, a Hexalite logo and a "Reverse Jam" logo is tattooed on the shoe.

score: 17/20

Value:The shoe retails for around ~$75 or so, but you should be able to purchase it for considerably less. The price fluctuates periodically so I was lucky enough to purchase it for $25 or so. You can purchase the shoe from here: Reebok Men's Reverse Jam Mid Sneaker

score: 18/20

Pros:

• Relatively low price.
• Durable Hexalite material
• Lightweight
• Good arch support

Cons: 

• Not for those with particularly wide feet
• Not everyone loves the retro design/feel

Final grade:  80/100
Reebok Reverse Jam Mid Sneaker B-

A new basketball shoe review will be posted soon...

Sorry for not posting lately. I've been swamped at work lately. I believe that I may have fallen into the 70% of people who are unhappy with their jobs ^_^

Pinky swear...I'll get a review up real soon. It's a old-school Reebok basketball shoe screaming with retro style.

P.S. I also managed to donate 5 pairs of my shoes that I don't wear anymore to Soles4Souls. I can't believe I spent ~$100 on a pair of Saucony running shoes when I know that I hate running. Man, I'm dumb.