The KD 14 Could Very Well Be One Of; If Not The Best Basketball Shoes Of The Year!
What is going on everyone? AirjayP is back with another performance review for you and today we are going to take a look at how the KD 14s worked for me on the basketball court. Before we begin these sneakers were only tested on an indoor court or gym.
Traction: 3
Lets go ahead and start off with what I have told you many times I care about most on basketball sneakers and that's the traction. The traction on the 14s performed well near perfect for me and I had no issues or complaints at all. The pair that I tested is comprised of basically an all rubber outsole with several different grooves and patterns for the traction setup. The court that I was playing on is normally in pretty nice condition, but it can get a little dusty at times. The shoes gave me no issues no matter the floor conditions and I didn't really ever notice myself having to wipe the bottoms free of dust or anything the pattern had picked up. There were no issues for me laterally or vertically! Overall they kept me feeling stuck to the floor, safe to make any movement I wanted, and able to start or stop on a dime which is what I'm looking for! That is why these get a perfect score from me from the traction standpoint.
Fit: 2
This is one of those sneakers that the fit can be a little tricky. For me they worked well as I prefer my basketball shoes to have a snug fit. I went true to size and from the initial try on I felt they were a little tight and maybe going up half a size may have been best. After continuing to play in them and get thru the break in process I am happy with going true to size. They are still a little snug, but as I said this is what I prefer for shoes I am playing basketball in. If I was buying these just for casual wear or use I definitely would suggest going up half a size. regardless my recommendation on sizing would be just to go to your local store if able and try them on to find the best fit or feel that you are looking for.
Cushion: 3
The more I play in basketball sneakers that feature the full length air strobel setup the more I love it and truly believe its my favorite cushion setup of all time on court. I have said in several reviews that I truly prefer court feel over a super cushioned feel, but I can say this setup makes it tough to not enjoy! Not only do you get a full length air strobel setup, but you also get a cushlon midsole as well. This setup offers you a very comfortable feel. I will say that the setup on this pair feels a little more cushioned than some other air strobel setups I have played in, but I do still like it a lot. It definitely is responsive, but also gives you the comfort you are looking for to help you play longer and not feel as sore after you are done. The cushion on the KD 14s as I said is very comfortable and will for sure not disappoint!
Materials: 3
I must say that the materials do not only look awesome and give a really nice touch from an aesthetic standpoint, but they actually feel very nice performance wise on court as well. The materials used are described as a "multilayer mesh" from Nike, and to the touch feel almost like a knit type material. They feel light weight on the court and in my opinion work very well together with the shoe. One thing I initially was worried about was whether the materials would be breathable or not. To my surprise they definitely were and they didn't feel super sweaty after playing in them. I also feel that the materials will be durable and hold up over time as well. I must say though my favorite part about the materials is probably the aesthetic standpoint because I feel they could make some awesome color-ways from the colors, etc that could be used on the materials.
Lockdown: 3
The lockdown on the shoe was something that I noticed no issues with. I felt completely locked into the shoe and had a nice snug fit for the court at all times. Whether I was cutting, driving, or coming to sudden stops I never noticed myself ever feeling at a risk of injury or feeling as if I was so to speak coming out of the shoe. There is a small outrigger on the shoe as well. I have definitely seen larger ones on basketball sneakers before, but it still has a nice little one to help you feel more balanced and helps eliminate the tipping over type feel as well. The sneaker definitely works hand in hand with the fit, and traction to give this nice locked in feel that you are getting from the shoe. You have also heard me say several times if you can find a basketball shoe where the traction, fit, and lockdown work together like they do on the KD14.. Your going to get a great basketball shoe!
Strap: 2
So, in the past I have said straps do not really bother me and this one is no different, but I do prefer when a strap is serving a purpose. On the 14s I feel like the strap is more just of an aesthetic piece then something that is actually tightening or loosening you sneaker. I mean sure you can feel it somewhat, but overall it really is just there and serves no purpose really in a positive or negative way in my opinion. the major pro to the strap though is or that I like is that you do not have to undo the strap to tie the shoes. You can basically leave the strap at the same tightness and just tie or untie them at your pleasing without ever messing with the strap.
Overall: 3
From initial images to unboxing these, to getting to play in them I just knew these were going to be a great shoe! KD sneakers over the past several years have had some really good models and have become a real fan favorite on court. These 14s are no different and are going to be no question one of the best of what I am calling the 2021/2022 signature basketball sneaker releases. The shoe offered me no issues and was one of those shoes you could not wait to get to play in again, and again! These were definitely no disappointment for me, and if you are looking for a new pair of basketball shoes these are definitely a pair you should take a look at!
I Hope You Enjoyed This Review On The KD14!
Thank Your For Checking It Out!
Have A Great Week & As Always Happy Hooping!!
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