Reebok Easy Tone

Have you ever wonder these freak looking shoes in a store?
Easy Tone technology is all about the 2 pods on the out sole of Reebok Female walking shoes
Easy Tone is engineered for ladies to tone up their thighs and buttocks, making you thighs and buttocks firmer
Ladies, it sounds cool right?
My first impression to it is instability
Because the area of out sole that contacts to ground is very narrow(only the 2 pods), unlike the conventional shoes
Even I m a guy, I tried on a pair, and I feel like i would likely to fall if I m walking it them, definitely
It seems a weakness right?
Ironically, this is the selling point of the shoes.
As it makes you off balance it is harder to walk  in these shoes, then the lady is encouraged to tone up her gluts (muscle of thigh and buttock area)
The pods are actually 2 air pockets that features air flowing technology that gives you ample cushioning while toning up your butts
And the spiral patterned out sole give you enough traction for indoor or outdoor walking
I think Easy tone is suitable for workout in gyms and leisure walking, and i don't recommend it for running to avoid Ankle rollover

Nike Air Max Destiny

Okay... this is one of best selling Nike basketball shoes this season.

you can probably get it at around RM 360 in Malaysia

let's start this from the upper 

Yeah. this is a high top, that provides sufficient ankle support to players. Then Nike Flywire is engineered on the side of the shoe for more support as you can see. when the shoes are laced up fully i can guarantee the support is Ok and the stability of  but to me it the shoes is awesome as well. even though it is a bit restrictive to my ankle flexibility.

For Breathability, I think is moderate only. Most part of the upper is made of PVC. However I personally don't think this dimension bothers very much.

Fit, it is quite comfortable wearing this shoes, especially the toe box is not that narrow. Even i have wide forefoot it also fits me pretty well.

Cushioning, technology used is Nike Air Max. The Air Max unit in the heel give ample cushioning for the game. I wanna pin point that, You can feel that the sole is so thin. I can feel that my foot are so near to the ground in the shoes therefore I think the Responsiveness should be pretty cool. And it is said that the mid sole is made of a lighter phylon.

Last dimension is Traction, the out sole is herringbone pattern, my favorite, just simply versatile. I would always suggest Nike's Herringbone pattern shoes, they really grip. And the out sole is made of kind of hard rubber which is very durable.

Overall, Nike Air Max Destiny is a great job of Nike. The weight of the shoes is quite light. Even though i personally think that it is not that flexible as i would prefer, it is still a bargain at its price.

Reebok Zig Sonic

I bought this shoe because the appearance of it is irresistible to me and it is kind of low profile that i like so much. The shoes cost me RM 320 after a 20% discount. This is actually not a pair of basketball shoes. Instead it is a pair of running and training shoes.

Zigtech What is so cool about it is the zig shaped out sole of the shoes. This unique out sole is called Zigtech, an innovation of cushioning by Reebok.

Cushioning, I have nothing to criticize on this dimension, The Sole is so elastic, it totally absorb the impact caused when i am running and release them effectively. This shoes could really make your leg stay fresher and less muscle strain.Cushioning for landing is also awesome in this shoes.

Breathability & Comfort of Zigsonic are very impressive also. Most part of the upper is made of a thin layer of breathable mesh material and this mesh is very flexible. There is no solid rubber or leather covering the toe box and i can easily press the toe box. As a result, it is tremendously comfortable walking and running in the shoes.

Flexibility of this sole is awesome, the zig shaped sole is not restrictive and you can actually twist it easily with your hands and the upper of the shoes is mostly made of  flexible mesh. Therefore it is definitely not restrictive to forefeet movement. Furthermore, the low cut design also contributes a lot to flexibility to ankle movement.

Some Weakness

Firstly, Traction is moderate. Evne though there are some extra hard rubber attached on the out sole to give extra traction and protect the sole i think. However as you can notice on the out sole, you can tell that the traction of it is moderate only. That is why there is a extra layer of grippy out sole for Zigtech basketball shoes.

Wrinkles Once you have worn for some time, you will see some wrinkles appear on the sole of the shoes. I think because the out sole is fully made of some kind of foam that is normally softer and more elastic. Regardless of these wrinkles, the sole is not too soft until a level of getting mashed.

Nike Lunarglide+3

Lunarglide+3 is one of Nike newest running shoes. The shoes may cost around RM 410 in Malyasia. If you are looking for a running shoes, I think this is pretty cool.

The technology used is Lunarlon, Lunarglide+3 features a full length Lunarlon mid sole. Lunarlon is a kind of foam which is formulated to be softer and lighter than the conventional Phylon for better cushioning. The concept of Lunarlon is inspired from the way astronauts hopping on the moon like no impact. And the concept of it is said to make it feels like running on marshmallow. As you run, Lunarlon will spread the impact evenly through the mid sole. The cushioning of this foam is awesome and it gives pretty good stability as well. As you put on the shoes you can feel the foam is softer and it is more comfortable.

Support of heel is pretty firm, you can see there is a strap made of hard rubber covering the heel. Besides the pink color straps on both sides also give extra support to the shoes. The the support set up is engineered to be lighter.

Breathability of the shoes is pretty good also, as you can see most part of the shoes is a thin layer of mesh and beneath it is another layer of mesh with larger holes.

To give traction for outdoor running, there are pieces of hard rubber out sole attached on the Lunarlon. These out sole provides traction and give sufficient traction for runner. And the drains on the out sole make it more flexible for your forefoot movement.

To make you run enjoyable conveniently, you can insert an I Pod in Lunarglide+3 just like most Nike running shoes. You can see there is a compartment to insert I Pod beneath the in sole.

What is Nike Flywire?

Have you ever seen shoes with these striking lines in sneakers stores and wonder what are they?

It is Nike Flywire, a Tech for giving support to your shoes in light weight. It is engineered in the upper of the shoe to make the shoes wrap your foot tight. You can see the Flywire on the side of the upper (the lines that extend from the lace hole to the out sole).

They are cool right? But in fact there are more than just a design, they are some kind of thin cable which they call filament. The idea of it is like Suspension bridge as you can see. when the lace is tied up the upper shoes will fully hug the feet where the wire is attached to the out sole.

Light Weight Support, this is what we can get from this technology. Light wight has become a dimension that is heavily demanded recently. The traditional way of support is increased at the cost of weight but for Nikewire the job is done by this cable so lighter material can be used to make the upper of the shoes and therefore the shoes become lighter. Just like what Kobe says "Speed is Light weight"

I guess now you can take this into consideration for purchase

Share it if you think its cool 

Reebok 48 minutes

"Striking Reebok Logo"

Cushioning

First, cushioning, the technology used is DMX RIDE, that features a movable air pocket and is made of DMX foam. It performs well in cushioning and to me DMX RIDE is really knid of durable sole I have seen friends wearing it for years.

Traction

This is the part that i m not quite satisfied with. The pattern is herring bone however as you can see the pattern is too simple and it is not deep enough. And when i tried to brake, I cant hear the grippy sound "cit cit". I wont suggest this for a player who relies on speed very much. However the out sole is made of hard rubber which i think is pretty durable.

Breathability

I seldom consider this dimension much because I dont think it matters much. Whatever, most part of the upper is made of mesh

that is pretty breathable. 

Fit

Mid top design is suitable for all rounded player and guard also.

I have tried it on, and i felt that it nicely fits to my feet, it covers my foot very well and the toe box is wide and comfortable.

The front part of the out sole is so flexible, as you can see in the pic there are 2 line. It allows your fore foot to move flexibly. It is pretty nice.

Reebok 48 minutes is a training and basketball shoes where you can actually find it in Studio R at RM 224 after 10 % discount. The shoes is pretty durable and it is worth if you want sneakers that serves you long. and for the traction it is actually worse or bad just it is not up to my expectation.

What is DMX RIDE?

You can always see there are many Reebok shoes have "DMX RIDE" on the out sole. Similar to Nike Air, it is one of the cushioning (a way to deal with the impact caused as foot hit on ground) technologies of Reebok. Following is brief info on DMX RIDE

There are 2 elements in DMX RIDE

1. DMX is a movable air-cushion pocket in between the mid sole and out sole. It delivers the air in the pocket to the part the out sole hits on ground and thus absorbs the foot's impact. 
2. DMX Foam is a proprietary foam of Reebok. It is the material used in the body of the sole. DMX Foam is formulated   firmer to promote shock absorption  and softer to maximize comfort. 
   
   
   
   

I have never had a pair of DMX RIDE sneakers, however when i test it on my own sorry i forgot what model did i test. I found that it is actually quite low ( the sole is thinner so you feel your foot closer to the ground) and i think it must be pretty responsive. However to me the cushioning for heel strike is moderate only. And one thing is i have seen some friends wearing sneakers with DMX RIDE for quite a long time and he play often also therefore i think the sole is so durable. 

Overall, I think DMX RIDE it is  considered a good job even though there are many new technologies of Reebok like vibetech and zigtech that are being hyped heavily. 

Now is close to year end, and i saw lots of DMX RIDE sneakers in Studio R and Royal Sport House at a bargain discount. Go and get yourself one.

ZOOM KOBE 7

Have a first look at the coolest NIKE ZOOM KOBE 7 which will be released on 22 December 2011(not Malaysia)

Despite the cool appearance, ZOOM KB7 is a highly innovative sneakers for all most types of players.

2 option Mid Sole

Attack Fast If you wanna attack fast there is attack fast insert, a phylon mid sole with responsive Zoom Air it the fore foot and in the heel in super light weight.

Attack Strong If you wanna attack strong there is a attack strong insert with a full length cushion mid sole that give you the best support and protection.

The 2 option mid sole technology allows players to customise the sneakers based on performance needs. We can call it versatile.

Image source from Sneaker freaker forum

Hopefully ZOOM KBVII will be released in Malaysia as soon as possible =)

What is Reebok Zigtech?

Basically it is a new technology launched by Reebok in Its sneakers. what is so special about this tech can be seen easily, the striking "zig-zag" shape out sole. To me, the appearance of this out sole is pretty cool but it is actually more than that. Reebok officially said that this tech will make athletes run longer and faster.

Therefore the slogan of this product is

"Reebok Zigtech an energy drink for your feet"

let's see how can it do so

First you must know how this out sole works. This out sole can absorb the impact caused by heel strikes when you are running and then it converts this impact in to a form of energy. This form of energy is delivered forward through the out sole from the heel to the front of the sole.

Run Longer

The absorption and release of impact caused when we are running helps to minimise the impact to our key leg muscles (glut,shin and hamstring). As a result your legs feel fresher and therefore you can run longer

Run Faster

A wave of energy is converted from the heel strike when you are running and this wave of energy is delivered forward. This wave of energy will propel you to move forward hence they simply put making you run faster. It means, it converts the impact into energy to move forward.

By working and longer and running faster it, it helps you to get your training out of your best.

So what do you think? 

Nike Zoom KD 3

After my Nike Air Flex has spoiled, I have search around for my next sneakers. I need shoes that is suitable for a speedy player so i have been looking for low top shoes with good traction. However most shoes available in Penang stores are high tops and actually these high tops are within my budget (around RM250). I have tried on Zoom Kobe6 but there is only left a pair of UK 8.0, i was so upset because my size is UK 8.5 and consider the price is only RM 320 after discount.
If you face the same situation, please act wisely even though its in best offer or its your favorite please choose the right size or else you will find the shoes life short and injuries on your foot.

NIKE ZOOM KDIII

I will begin by telling you that it is super good for speedy players. I bought this at RM 270 after a 20% discount in Royal Sport House. But it is suitable for players who runs often and relies on speed heavily. Considering it is a pair of signature sneakers and what it brings to you, i would say that it is quite bargain at RM 270

Traction

"role model" of good traction

This is the part that i am satisfied the most with it, the outsole is my favorite herringbone pattern, it definitely grips very tight on cement court and most surfaces.

And i wanna pinpoint that the line pattern in the side edge on the fore out sole is so awesome and amazing for crossover (change of direction) it grips when you change direction.

Then the outsole is made of hard rubber, it is good for players who often plays on outdoor court (like i do) because it is more durable. Try to knock the out sole you will find it really hard and solid.

Cushioning 

In this aspect, to some it may be the only weakness of it. Zoom KD3 only focuses on fore foot cushioning where there is Zoom Air in the fore out sole and there is no cushioning like Air in the heel. However at least there is a softer material that we call Phylon where you can actually press it with your finger  (the grey color part on top of white out sole) in the heel of the shoe. Anyway, since this shoes is built for speed, i think the designer abandon Cushioning in heel for better responsiveness.

Responsiveness

As compared to shoes with Air in the heel, zoom kd3 is comparably more responsive and stable. With the responsive zoom air in the fore out sole, the sneakers become a weapon for speedy players undoubtedly. Unfortunately for better responsiveness often you need to give up on cushioning of the shoes.

Unique Features

"User friendly" tongue

The "hole"

The Tongue, as you can see there is a hole in the tongue of the shoes where you can put your finger into it, I like this feature so much for it's so brilliant. This special feature has made it easier for me to adjust the tongue by hooking and pull it with your finger. And now I have make it a habit to pull the tongue so often.

Even though this is considered a mid top, but the perfect traction and responsiveness make it a pair of  best shoes for runner. If you feel that a mid top is restrictive to your ankle (limit your flexibility) I have a solution for you that i always do. Just don't lace the shoes too high instead lace the shoes below your ankle level. The effect is pretty good for me. So by adjusting the lacing you can actually customise your sneakers to your performance needs.





 If you find this review useful please share it with your friends and i am also interested in your experiences with this shoes as well.

How to choose a basketball shoes?

Basketball shoes is not a sign of fashion, but it is a weapon of a player on court. So when choosing basketball shoes, Brand popularity and appearance should not be you main criteria. You should choose the most suitable shoes for you. But keep in mind that it wont elevate your performance in basketball. Following is suggested way of choosing your sneakers.

How Do You Play the Games?

Before anything, first you need to know the style of your play e.g center or guard. Because the needs of different types of players are different also. There are basically 3 types of player.

                                                    Speed Demon

 

Low Top

If you rely heavily on your speed and running, you need excellent ankle flexibility, thus a low top will serve you the best. Next and the most important, to you traction or grip is crucial for you to make sharp drive, cross over, sudden brake and pick yourself up. Therefore you need badly for out sole with good traction, and herring bone pattern out sole is always my suggestion. If you are a Nike fans for impact absorption, Nike Zoom Air will be the best option to you because it is the thinnest Air which is very responsive and so enhance your agile plays.

Herring Bone Pattern

                                                   
                                                    Power Player

High Top

If you are a power player,  you will need heavy protection because you will do a lot of jump and land, and because usually this type of players have a heavier weight so cushioning is very crucial to you. Shoes with good cushioning (impact absorption) is important for you, therefore nike shoes with Nike Shox or Nike Air or Zig Tech of Reebok will serve you the best since they are especially good at absorbing the impact caused by a heel strike (when you land). Ankle support is also very important to you since you perform a lots of powerful moves and rebounding because you have a better chance for ankle rollover, therefore high top shoes is good for you

                                                    All-around player

Mid Top

If you are a swing man who plays front court and back court, you go for fast break, 3 pointer, post play, rebounding, dribbling etc then i will suggest you a pair of shoes with all the above features. Mid top shoes will do for you, it gives you ample ankle support as well as the flexibility to your ankle movement. Besides, you also need shoes with impact good absorption like Air and Zoom Air to minimize the impact of heel strike. Out sole with good traction is also important for you to perform your speed for fast break and catch and shoot. For traction, out sole with herring bone pattern is the best option.

Which is the Most Comfortable to You?

After knowing the types of shoes that suits you, the next step is to choose a pair which is the most comfortable to your foot among all the brands. There are several popular yet competent producer of Basketball shoes they are Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Converse and And1. However the first 3 brands are recommended. I and personally think that Nike has the best functions and most of the Adidas shoes are usually more durable.

However when choosing, you should totally forget about the appearance of the shoes. Basically all these basketball shoes giants are doing a good job. Therefore, all you need to consider is whether you are comfortable in a shoes. So when you are in a store don't be shy, put on both shoes and try to run, leap and jump in the store. Even though, it looks weird in public but it is worth consider the price of the shoes usually cost few hundred ringgits. And also don't forget to wear your socking when you visit a store trying on shoes without socking is foolish. If you visit big outlet like Al Ikhsan or Royal Sport House, you will find that the sales assistant will allow you to do so. And other smaller shops owners are usually so nice to you.

The Right Size

This is the tool to measure your leg. Ask for it.

After you have make up your mind about which model of which brand you wannna purchase. Now you need to know the actual size of your foot. The right size is a must for basketball shoes, if the shoes are too small to your foot it will cause injury and corn to your foot and shoes that is larger than your foot will be a burden when you play. It is always advisable to ask the store to measure for you because the size will change sometime even after puberty. Stores like Royal Sport House and Al Ikhsan actually have professional tool to measure your foot size, but just the case that you need to request yourself because the salespersons in these stores are usually passive. In fact if a shoe fit your feet, you will still find some space between your longest toe and the front of the shoe. And you can test it by pressing the space with finger.

Find the Price

Now, you come the stage of bargain hunting.As i said basketball shoes are not cheap and usually cost around RM 250 for a decent one so it wont be wasting time for you to visit you a few store for the price of shoes that you want and you will see the difference.

And i personally don't advise to buy signature shoes of the Stars like Zoom Kobe and Zoom Lebron, because they charge you more than what the shoes have just because it is a signature shoes of Lebron. I know you understand me. When these shoes are in a sales promotion or discount, there is a good chance that the sneakers may be kept for years and in this case the out sole will easily detach from the body, you can often see this happen in Nike shoes. However, i always crave for those shoes because I m a big fans of NBA. Lastly, to maintain your shoes please play more often and you will find your shoes more durable, Believe or not?  It is a magic.

Why do we need basketball shoes?

Why we dont wear ordinary cover shoes when we play basketball?
and why we wear basketball shoes where their cost are usually higher?
There are a few reasons why we need it. Judge them yourself.

Protection

First and the most important is it gives you the protection you need in the game for example like ankle support to prevent ankle roll over where most ordinary shoes dont have. And impact absorption that protect your joints includes your knees and your spine. Basketball shoes giants like Nike, Adidas an Reebok have done a lot of research in this aspect and their products are good at it. When you land from a jump or leap an impact is created to our body, if it is not handled properly after a long time it will bring bad effect to your joints and spine.

Performance

Before that please dont get it wrong that a pair of basketball shoes will escalate your skills and your play. On the other hand, basketball shoes will bring the best of you on the court because they are specially designed for the game. The research on basketball shoes is run for many decades, therefore please dont be too doubtful to the effects that could give you.

The shoe Bottom (out sole) of basketballs shoes have excellent traction (grip to the floor) that we need for drive and crossover. Good traction is always the first consideration when i choose a new pair, if shoes dont grip it is impossible to make good drive or cut in. Next, the cover of these shoes also makes you feel that as if their are your bare foot, and this gives the responsiveness that you need in the game.

Nowadays, there are even technologies in basketball shoes that will increase your physical ability like Nike SHOX and Reebok Zig Tech where they claim that they can help you run faster.

Shoes Life

This is what i did to my badminton shoes 

In this aspect, i strongly think that if you are serious with the game please dont ever play in other shoes, if not you will pay for it. I have an experience of spoiling 2 pairs of shoes in 2 weeks they are a pair of jogging shoes and a pair of badminton shoes. I usually like cut and layup in my play therefore i love shoes with good traction and usually badminton shoes grip very well on most surfaces. But the out sole of badminton shoes is usually softer and in a typical yellow color. Often my badminton shoes only serves me for 3 to 4 months and later on i will find a hole in the bottom. However the out sole of basketball shoes are made of hard rubber which is more durable, and you will see the pattern of the out sole gone after 1 1/2 or 2 years. These all because basketball requires a lot of powerful movements like sprint, brake and jump therefore ordinary shoes cant bear it. Ya, i also always find the out sole of my basketball shoes detach from the shoe body. So it is definitely more bargain to invest in basketball shoes if you are serious with the game 

An intro to Versatile Sneakers

Hi, peeps

Welcome to Versatile Sneakers a Blog spot of basketball sneakers in Malaysia. This blog spot is created as a platform for all the basketball fewer of Malaysia to share their experiences and information of basketball shoes and to assist you in your purchase of new sneakers. I will also update my thoughts and reviews for sneakers and also my personal experience with basketball shoes. New shoes and shoes available in Malaysia will also be updated as well. So peeps enjoy.