Not a pair that you see everyday, but definitely a pair you could play in everyday! Lets check them out!
What is going on everyone?? AirjayP is back with another performance review and today we are going to be taking a look at the J-Lin 2s from X-Tep brand. Lets jump right in and see how these performed on court!
Materials: 4
The upper on the J-Lin 2s is basically comprised of an all mesh material. The upper or mesh was very breathable and I had no issues from it. The inner lining of the shoe is also soft and that is something I also notice or look for as I like my foot to feel comfortable inside the shoe and these definitely do that well. The materials are also light giving the shoe a lighter feel from that aspect. The materials also were very durable and held up very well for me indoors and outdoors. They did a great job with the material setup on these and I had no issues, but only compliments on these from a material aspect.
Aesthetics: 5
The look of the sneakers were something that I thought was a strongpoint from the first look. When I got them in hand I was in no way disappointed as they probably looked better than I even expected! There are several different color ways or options available, but I do believe this is my favorite color way of all the choices. These definitely stand out on court, and are a shoe that I have been asked so many times, what are those! People seem to really like the look of them. The design, logos, and subtle details on these 2's are great and something that I think any hooper will appreciate when playing in these!
Traction: 4
The traction worked very well for me most of the time on court. The outsole is a full rubber traction setup. The rubber is very stiff or hard; making these great for outdoor use. I literally loved these outdoors, and honestly these have become my go-to for outdoor hooping. The only issue I had with these from a traction standpoint was if a gym was really dusty there would be some wiping needed to get your grip back on the floor. This could be where I played in them quite a bit outdoors then took them indoors as it could have wore down the pattern some. The sneakers from a traction standpoint though worked out great for me and we all know at this point this is my go-to or aspect that I am most concerned or worried about when looking into a hoop shoe. If your an outdoor hooper these guys are no doubt for you! If your indoors only, I would still recommend giving them a try as they are going to work just fine as well.
Fit: 2
The fit on these guys can be a little confusing and one that is very hard to judge because you can't go into a store and try a pair on. When I was initially receiving a pair, I had never had any shoes from X-Tep before and did not really know what to expect from a sizing standpoint. I am a tts 11.5, but with these there are no half sizes. I decided to go down to an 11 instead of going up to a 12. That was definitely the right decision, but they are actually still a little big. I probably could have went down to a 10.5 if that had been possible, but I was not wanting to go all the way down to a 10 as I was thinking they would be to small. The best real advice I can give is definitely go down a size from your normal size. If you are not a half size in the first place going down a full size may just work perfectly to begin with.
Lockdown: 4
Personally I did not really have any issues from a lockdown standpoint, but If you do not get the correct size just like with any shoe this could be an issue. I Liked from the get-go how nice of a locked in feel I got when putting these on. I also enjoyed the traditional lacing system where I was able to get them tightened up to my liking. The shoe also has a carbon fiber plate to help with stability, and something that we normally see on more premium price point basketball sneakers. On the heel area of the shoe there is a heel counter or piece of material that wraps around to each side of the shoe that helps keep your heel locked in nicely while playing in the sneakers. There is also a nice outrigger to the shoe and something I always like so that you do not get that tipping over feeling while in the shoe. Overall I had nothing to complain about from a lockdown standpoint, but only compliments as I thought they did a nice job with these.
Cushion/Comfort: 5
Most definitely the strongest point to the shoe In my opinion was the cushion system. These sneakers are very comfortable on court, or something that this setup would feel very nice even casually. I have found myself wearing these to the gym for regular lifting workouts or running on the treadmill because they were so comfortable! I am not exactly sure the name of there cushion system or setup, nor the tech aspects, but I can give you an idea of how it feels from my opinion or previous experiences. I felt like I was playing in a mix of boost and cushlon foam, and It was a great amount of each. The system felt responsive on the court at all times and comfort was always on point. It seems to be with this shoe the main aspect was around cushion and comfort. The ankle area features padding on both sides that actually feels great while playing and does not rub blisters on your ankles. X-Tep did a great job with the comfort and setup on these from a cushion standpoint. If your looking for a super comfortable basketball shoe, your definitely going to want to give these a try.
Overall: 4
The J-Lin 2's are one of those basketball shoes you get now and again that you do not really have any expectations for because you do not know a lot about them, but when you get them they are super fun to play in and a solid all around performer. As I said before they basically exceeded my expectations in pretty much every category. No doubt though, the strongest point is the cushion and I can't give enough compliments on how comfortable these were for me in my opinion. The traction, materials, and lockdown were all solid and made for a well rounded shoe. As I previously stated these will be my go-to outdoor hoop shoe until something comes along better and knocks them from that spot. Sometimes stepping out and trying a new brand or basketball shoe is a great thing to do! With these you get a great looking, super comfortable, solid performer on court. What else could you ask for??
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