G.T. Cut 1 Performance Review

We are technically on the release of the GT Cut 4, but many absolutely loved the first version so much, we are getting several cw's/retros! How did the EYBL CW perform for me??

What is going on, everyone?? AirJayP is back, and recovering well from that awful ankle injury I had! Today, as you have already seen, we will discuss how the GT Cut 1 performed for me on court. Whether the results were positive or negative, I will say it is a great-looking on-court shoe, and that EYBL CW was one of my faves from the 1, regardless! Let's jump right in!

Traction: 3/5

The GT Cut in this specific cw offers a translucent outsole with a multidirectional traction pattern. I played on a few different courts with these, and I basically had the same results. There was a decent amount of dust pickup, and they didn't perform as well on dusty surfaces as I had hoped for. If the floor is prime, they worked really well, but on a very dusty surface, you will have some issues. This was the same in all aspects, whether it was laterally or vertically. I always love the look of a translucent outsole, but a lot of times, this is the common result with it. These worked for me from a traction standpoint, exactly as I am rating them right in the middle of perfect and not good. They were a little above average for me. I am a stickler for a great sneaker traction-wise, as that means a lot to/for me with the way I play. These may work better for some, but they were pretty much just average for me.

Fit: 4/5

I went with my size 11 as my tts for my hoop shoes, and these gave me the fit I was looking for. I always prefer a little more snug fit than my casual/non hoop shoes, and with going tts, I did get that. If you want more of a casual or loose fit, you may want to go half a size up. I will always recommend you try a pair on initially for your personal favorite fit, but if that cannot happen, then I would go tts with these.

Materials: 3/5

The materials are definitely very comfortable on foot, and a strong point/something that most people will absolutely love with these. There was also a negative with them for me, which we will go over, but first, the positives. You have a multilayer mesh upper with a felt-like toebox area that once again feels super comfortable on foot. The materials are lightweight and also very breathable. The tongue matches the felt-like material on the toe box, and feels nice on foot. The materials are done very well from the main points, and what is wanted from a performance pair. Where I had some issues were with the materials stretching or flexing imo a little too far, which caused me some lockdown issues. I do personally love the feel on foot, but the issues it causes me from a lockdown standpoint were the negative perception I got from these.

Lockdown: 2/5

We will build on the negatives I am describing from the materials to the lockdown here in just a second, but for the initial on foot, lace up, you will feel fairly nice and locked into the sneaker. I expected to have a great locked-in feel once I got on court. You have a nice outrigger for the shoe, which is a great tool with these lower top sneakers. The heel counter and forefoot cage running around the shoe also make you think that initially, we have a great lockdown system. I have absolutely no issues with the setup that was completed here. The issues stemmed from the materials. The mesh flexed or stretched a little too much for me on lateral movements. This did cause me issues on several occasions, which is why I have given such a low rating to the lockdown. We are talking about lockdown, and with that, the setup seems to be great, and with different materials, I think the setup would have worked much better for me. With that being said, though, the materials feel great on foot, and are one of the nicest features other than the way it hinders the lockdown in a negative way for me. We will circle back and tie this all in at the end of this review.

Cushion: 4/5

Starting out with the setup, you have a Zoom Air unit in the heel with a Parabolic Air Zoom Strobel unit with a full-length React drop-in midsole overtop. Now that is quite a bit, from a tech standpoint, and truthfully feels pretty nice on court! I was quite surprised by how springy and bouncy these felt on court. You get a very low-to-the-ground feel to these, offering a great mix of court feel mixed with a nice cushion setup mentioned above. This actually was my favorite aspect of the shoe. I got the court feel I need, and am looking for mixed with a nice comfort feeling that will keep me playing as long as I'd like for my hoop sessions. No real issues or complaints whatsoever from me with the cushion, and as mentioned, I liked the setup quite a bit!

Overall: 3/5

This is one of those basketball sneakers that I absolutely knew I would love, and there would be no question about it. This is also one of those sneakers that just didn't go completely as I planned. That first sentence didn't fully happen. Upon all the tech specs and aesthetics, I had only high hopes, especially for finally being able to get my hands on a pair! When the model was initially released, it was a tough grab for sure, and these are now really just becoming more widely available. With all the shoes I have tested over the years, this is one that I will remember that gave me so many positives, but also so many negatives. What was also odd for me was how the positives in one area became a negative in another area. I truly believe there will be a lot of love for these, and a lot that they won't work for. These will truly be a preference shoe on court, and that works better for some and not so much for others. It doesn't mean they are bad; all the tech aspects sound great! The setup, though doesnt always speak for how it performs, and for the most part, these just didn't work out in all ways I need for my preferences.

I mentioned previously that I would build on what I mentioned at the end of the lockdown category. These were the shoes I was wearing when I got my most recent ankle injury. I drove across the lane and stretched out over the defender, and ended up landing on his foot. This happens often in the game of basketball. When it does, sometimes an injury occurs; sometimes it does not. With that being said, the materials stretched a little too far for me, and that is where the injury occurred. That is why I mentioned that materials feel great, are light, breathable, and truly deserve a high score. When you stack that into the lockdown of the shoe, they deserve a lower one. I think the biggest problem with this shoe was the stretch of the materials. Had that not been my biggest issue, this review could have been turned absolutely around. Is this a bad pair of basketball shoes? Nope, it is just a pair that had a few aspects that didn't turn out to be a preference for me.

Thats the beauty of trying and playing in different basketball sneakers! You have to find the right pair for you!

I Hope You Enjoyed This Review On The Nike GT Cut 1

Have A Great Week & As Always, Happy Hooping!