After spotlighting the “True Blue” Air Jordan III a week ago, Sole Shots is back with another round of general sneaker photography. Leading the pack for this installment are a couple models from the Nike Skateboarding range, including the newly released Koston 1. Also giving love to a newer release is whoryder, who shows us two colorways of the adidas adiZero Crazy Light. Jordan Retro shoes remain a popular subject, as does the Nike Zoom Kobe VI.
Look out for all of these shoes and more in this week’s edition of Sole Shots.
If you’re interested in submitting your photos for Sole Shots, e-mail us at [email protected]. Please include your name and location with your submissions. You also have the option of providing us with a link to your online photo album or website to link back to when we post your work. You do not have to be a registered member of Sole Collector to participate.
Jordan Fly Wade | Supportive, stable, and pretty light too.
words // Zac Dubasik images // Nick DePaula
When Jordan Brand Creative Director Mark Smith began work on the Fly Wade, it wasn’t even the Fly Wade. “The shoe started out actually as the AJ 2011,” he explains. And while the Air Jordan 2011 project would eventually move in the direction of modular cushioning, the Fly Wade retained that design’s original direction. “We really had one goal with that, which was to create the lightest Air Jordan.” Weighing in at 13.7 ounces, the Jordan Fly Wade is in fact the lightest option out there in performance hoops from Jordan Brand.
That said, the first thing to examine in evaluating the Fly Wade is its weight, which has been billed as “impossibly light.” In recent times, the lightest weight, and most advanced materials, haven’t been what Jordan Brand has been about. In terms of their performance kicks, they’ve been much more likely to use thick leathers, and plush liners, giving their kicks a more handcrafted than high-tech feel. And in comparison with some of the more luxurious of those examples, the Fly Wade is in fact a major step in weight reduction. By current benchmarks though, the weight of the Fly Wade is not mindblowing by any means, and very “possible.” The fact is, there are shoes out there now approaching a full four ounces lighter than the Fly Wade. But that’s not to say that the Fly Wade isn’t a good shoe. It definitely hold its own, and even surpasses some of those lighter shoes in other areas.
The primary method the team at Jordan Brand employed to reduce weight was through careful attention to the upper materials and construction. “It really started with a very simple inner bootie that was as light and breathable as possible, then we started adding skins for support,” explained Smith. “Knowing that we couldn’t use the skins all the way up [the collar], because of the ability to hold his foot in, we put some synthetics and key support elements in the upper portion.” Throughout the midfoot, the upper creates a true one-to-one fit when tightly laced. The combination of shape, materials, and the underlying bootie feel outstandingly secure.
Adding to that security is one of my favorite Jordan Brand support elements: their often-used molded collar notch. “We call it the dog bone,” explained Dwyane Wade, at the media launch of the shoe. “It’s the same element from the [Air Jordan] 2010 that I felt locked my ankle in.” A rock solid heel counter rounds out the shoe’s lockdown. “One of the other things we did,” says Smith, “was took the internal heel cup, and we exposed it on the final version.”
By way of this exceptional heel lockdown, the ankle is fully stabilized – so much so, in fact, that the collar height is largely unnecessary. It’s also one of my two biggest complaints about the shoe. I found the collar’s cut and shape, despite being asymmetrical, to be too restricting, and at times even uncomfortable. The collar padding above the aforementioned “dog bone,” is very thin. Thicker socks helped with the comfort issue, but definitely not with range of motion.
My other major, and stronger, complaint with the Fly Wade also deals with the upper. While the midfoot fit was superb for my foot, I found the toe box had too much volume. The bottom two eyelets, when laced tightly, pull close together, which in turn creates an unnatural flex point in the forefoot. The awkward angles, coupled with the rigid “skin” synthetic used on the upper, pinched on both the medial and lateral sides of my forefoot, causing constant discomfort. Thicker socks provided some relief, but not enough to remedy the problem. Breathability is pretty standard fare for a more supportive shoe, which means not spectacular, but completely acceptable.
As for the shoe’s cushioning setup, Smith describes it as “the best of both. … We’ve got the heel Air, and then the forefoot Zoom – a little bit of Quick and Explosive.” As you might expect, this targets the heel with impact protection, while offering more responsiveness up front. It wasn’t the most responsive forefoot cushioning I’ve ever felt, whether it was because of the bag thickness, or the layers over the bag, but cushioning was still very good. The shoe was also very stable, thanks to it’s wide base and large TPU shank. The base felt so stable initially, that I thought it came at too much of a sacrifice to transition and court feel. After three or four wearings however, the midsole became more flexible, which helped dial back some of those initial shortcomings.
The direction of the Fly Wade may have split from the concept of the Air Jordan 2011’s final direction, but it does share one similar trait. Smith explained that “some of the technical pieces that we took … were developed at the same time as the 2011 game shoe.” In particular, that refers to the performance graphics used on the shoe’s outsole. An inverted and twisted elephant print makes up the traction pattern, and provided reliable footing. I actually found it to be a slight improvement over the 2011’s.
The marketing of the Jordan Fly Wade focused heavily on its weight, but if you are looking for a shoe based on weight alone, there are better options. The Hyperdunk 2010, Hyperfuse and Kobe VI are all nearly two to three ounces lighter. The adiZero Crazy Light from adidas Basketball is nearly four ounces lower. However, if you are a player in search of a fast shoe, with no compromise in the cushioning, stability and ankle support departments, the Fly Wade is worth some serious consideration – especially if your tastes trend away from the low-cut craze. The shoe is much better suited to bigger, stronger slashers and swingmen than point guards looking to go as minimal as possible.
It’s far from perfect, but I’m a fan of the direction of DWade’s first post-Converse signature shoe. It fills a void at the signature shoe level in terms of the player it’s best suited for. While the issues I had were fairly major in terms of comfort, thanks to the pinching toe box, there was also a lot I liked about the shoe after the initial break-in period. Considering that the shoe is tweaks (although very important tweaks), rather than major changes, away from being exceptional, I’m looking forward to the line’s potential.
Grade Breakout:
designer: Mark Smith
season: Spring 2011
best for: Players looking for a shoe that’s as fast and light as possible, without making any sacrifices to cushioning and support; players who don’t mind a more restrictive collar
pros: midfoot fit; stability; cushioning; ankle support
cons: firm collar, excess toe volume creates pinching at flex points
improvements: add padding to top of collar for increased comfort, or better yet, lower collar height; better control flex point through materials and pattern geometry in toe
buying advice: While the Fly Wade is billed as being “Impossibly Light,” there are choices from multiple brands that are far lighter. It is, however, the lightest current option from Jordan Brand, and offers exceptional heel and midfoot stability. If you are looking for a fast shoe, with a greater emphasis on cushioning and ankle support than weight, and you are a Jordan Brand fan, the Fly Wade is worth considering. It’s far from perfect, but a good starting point for DWade’s line to build on.
Earlier this week we took at one of the most easily recognizable sneakers from adidas Originals, the Superstar 2. The timeless all white makeup is quite possibly the perfect summer sneaker. A couple of new colorways are now available that could appease those looking for a bit more color than that simple white on white version.
adidas Originals has recently released the Nylon Pack, which includes two versions of the adidas Originals Superstar 2. Each version features a nylon upper, the first in a bright Collegiate Royal, and the second in a teal-like Aero Reef finish. Accenting the colorful uppers of the classic shell toes, are a white sole, white collar, inner lining and laces.
It’d be an understatement to say that soccer hasn’t quite caught on in the United States, but any growth the sport has shown stateside in the last two decades can partially be attributed to the global appeal of Brazil’s Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima…or simply Ronaldo. One of the best strikers the game has ever seen, Ronaldo ended his storied career in a friendly match-up against Romania on Tuesday night. A crowd of 30,000 gathered to say farewell to the 34-year old, who came on for the final 15 minutes of the contest. Though he was held scoreless on the night, Ronaldo had goal-scoring opportunities that excited the crowd and ultimately left the pitch a winner.
Ronaldo was twice named European Footballer of the Year, in 1997 and 2002, FIFA world footballer of the year in 1996, 1997 and 2002 and finished his international career with 62 goals in 97 appearances. In a 14-year European career, he found the back of the net at a rapid pace for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan, before returning to Brazil in 2009.
Speaking of Brazil, it’s his play for the national team that etches Ronaldo’s legacy in stone. He twice won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and 2002 and became the leading scorer in World Cup finals tournaments when he scored his 15th goal at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
To commemorate Ronaldo’s legendary career, Nike Soccer has released a new video clip called “Before & After Ronaldo.” The video showcases how much the game has changed in Ronaldo’s era, while paying tribute to the speed, skill and strength he showed on the pitch. Check out the new spot below.
Adidas has dropped the latest video in their “All In” campaign, showcasing some of the world’s best players of the beautiful game. Names you’ll recognize include Argentine and Barca superstar Lionel Messi, Brazil’s Kaká, David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Juan Agudelo of the New York Red Bulls and Portland’s Kenny Cooper. The clip is describe as not only being a celebration of the game, but a salute to the love and passion displayed by both plays and fans. Watch the new adidas soccer clip below.
Having something uniquely your own is something that many athletes often desire. This is why we are constantly seeing player exclusive models of everything from baseball bats to baseball cleats. Brands will offer their athletes goods in team colors, or have custom lettering stitched on to give them something completely unique.
Koji Uehara of the Baltimore Orioles gets a bit more detail worked into his player exclusive Nike baseball glove. On top of having his name stitched into the glove, he also has the flag of his native country of Japan stitched, as well as a silhouette of himself worked into the webbing of the glove. The silhouette is an outline of Koji’s delivery motion, and with the above pictures, you can see where the designers got it from.
In other MLB Watch action, New York Yankees catcher Russel Martin switched up to a new cleat this week. Martin was seen wearing a player exclusive version of the Nike Hyperdunk cleat.
Check out the latest photos courtesy of Yahoo below.
One of the most popular Nike running shoes of all time is the Nike Air Max 90. The original release over 20 years ago used a eye-opening “Infrared” colorway that had never been seen on a running shoe before that time, and in a way, it seemed to be the turning point in running shoe colorways. Bright colors have become synonymous with running shoes, moving from subtle accents to complete tonal makeups over the years. However, with a sneaker like the Air Max 90 that has turned from performance to casual comfort over time, more reserved color choices are still a welcome addition to any sneaker lover’s closet.
In 2004 a suede and mesh version of the Air Max 90 was released with Obsidian, Stealth Grey and Midnight Navy coloring. Today we have a sneak peek at an upcoming summer colorway that might serve as a replacement for those that missed out on the previous release. With the Air Max 90, the labeling on the outer heel and mud guard have become defining design elements, for this familiar colorway the materials have been switched up to make things interesting.
While you wait for this colorway to drop, be sure to check out the other variations of the Nike Air Max 90.
LeBron James struggled to find himself in Game 4, can the Heat recover?
words // Nick Engvall
LeBron James has been under heavy criticism and watchful eyes since he was about 10 years old. Regardless, with an 8 point scoring outing, and zero points in the fourth quarter of an NBA Finals game, James’ performance last night is begging for criticism. In 90 career post season games, Tuesday was the first time LeBron didn’t score in double digits.
In a game in which LeBron played like he had the flu, it was actually Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki that played through a 101 degree fever. Nowitzki somehow managed to 39 minutes and score 21 points and grab 11 rebounds to lead the Mavericks to a 86-83 victory. Jason Terry scored 17 points, Tyson Chandler added 13 points and 16 rebounds, and Shawn Marion put in 16 in a balanced attack that may have the critics silenced, at least temporarily, regarding Dallas’s toughness.
Although LeBron’s lack of play was the most noticed part of the Heat’s game, Dwyane Wade did his part to help carry the team, scoring 32 points and coming up with 2 big blocks down the stretch. Chris Bosh added 24 points but with just 2/3rds of the ‘Big 3′ the series now sits at a 2-2 lock.
Check out the Sneaker Watch coverage from Game 4 courtesy of ESPN below.
Converse is pretty much a standard for everyone who ever wears sneakers. With a trio of long-time favorite designs like the Jack Purcell, Star Player and the Chuck Taylor All-Star, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like at least own of those styles. More often than not, it’s the warm weather of summer that inspires us to wear these casual classics.
With summer upon us, the Converse Jack Purcell has been reworked to make it more appropriate for the warm weather. The Converse Jack Purcell LP, short for Low Profile, is now available in a vintaged saltwash edition. The thinner sole lightens it up and the laceless slip-on design also makes it the perfect beach accessory next to some cold drinks and sun tan lotion.
Continuing our look at player edition Nike baseball cleats for some of the best in the big leagues, we now bring you a first-hand look at this PE edition of the Air Max Diamond Elite exclusively for Matt Holliday. Holliday began his career after unexpectedly breaking onto the major league scene in 2004 as a member of the Colorado Rockies due to injuries to several Rockies major league players at the time. Now a member of the N.L Central power house St. Louis Cardinals, Holliday has been one of the most productive offensive forces in the league ever since he first made a name for himself as a key-component in the Colorado Rockies 2007 World Series run.
Currently in his second-full season as a member of the Cardinals, Holliday looks to pull through his current disabled list stint and continue to lead his Cardinals to yet another N.L Central divison title, where they currently hold a 2 game lead over the Brewers. Holliday will lead the Cards alongside Pujols and their flawless pitching in this PE pair of the Air Max Diamond Elite. Suited for both the Cardinals home and road uniforms, they work in a combination of red, white and blue throughout the upper. Personalization for Holliday is seen throughout, with ‘MH 7′ taking place on the tongue and heel tab, and a unique Matt Holliday logo stitched into the heel.
Enjoy a closer look at Matt’s player exclusive below, and look for him to continue to lead the Cardinals to victory in this exact pair of the Nike Air Max Diamond Elite.
Ryan Sullivan aka h00p0h0lic, Seattle, Washington
King Photography, Southern California
David Tufino aka WhoRyder, New York City
a1425, Indiana
Koji Uehara wearing his PE 
Another look at Koji Uehara wearing his PE Nike baseball glove.
Bronson Arroyo’s leg kick is easily recognizable, as are his 
Johnny Damon got some new player exclusive cleats from 
Kosuke Fukudome wearing 
Dan Haren winds up wearing the 
A close look at Jose Reyes’ 
Freddy Sanchez makes a tag wearing the 
Ubaldo Jimenez sports some purple laces in his PE cleats from New Balance.
Heath Bell digs his 
A good look at Kyle Drabek’s 
Russell Martin in the Nike Hyperdunk inspired cleat.
1280 x 1024
1800 x1200
LeBron James struggled to find himself in Game 4, can the Heat recover?
Dwyane Wade in the 
Jason Terry in the 
Mike Miller shoots a jumper in the 
Shawn Marion in the 
Jason Kidd in his Peak signature model.
LeBron James with an awkward shot wearing the 
J.J. Barea with an easy bucket wearing the Converse Star Player EVO.
Dirk Nowitzki with an open jumper wearing the 
DeShawn Stevenson celebrates a 3-pointer wearing the 
Chris Bosh with a monster dunk wearing the 
Mario Chalmers gets a bucket wearing the 
Is that a new adidas Furry Light that Champ the Horse is wearing?
