11-04-2009

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Soldier 3 – Strongest and Lightest Ever?! Breaking Down the Weight. »

We used to say LeBrons are heavy, but there’s a trade off. With some extra materials LeBrons have been offering extra protection, unmatched comfort and stability. However, nowadays the trend is to make shoes as light as possible. Exactly one year ago Nike introduced the “lightest and strongest basketball shoe ever” – the Hyperdunk – but it was their first use of the Flywire and Lunarite Foam and it’s safe to say there’s still much room for improvement (performance-wise). Zoom LeBrons, on the other hand, have been always about what’s best in basketball industry, although it seems they have been affected as well with The Six starting the new wave. Each shoe from the LeBron James Signature Collection is a beast on the court, just like King James. Of course different models fit different people, but there are no let downs, that’s for sure. Read on to find out more…

Their latest creation – Nike Zoom Soldier III – received some early bad reviews based on looks, but as the mysterious design unfolded, people started paying attention. When it turned out the ZS3 features front and back Zoom Air units with Full-grain/Synthetic Leather/Ballistic Mesh upper while staying light… it got interesting. Now after we’ve been able to put them on a scale the results are just as good as the rumors. ZSIII, in size 10, weights 398 grams (14.05 oz) against HD’s 388 grams (13.65 oz). However, according to NikeTalk’s member faithlesshox it’s the other way around in bigger sizes – ZS3 size 14 (480 g.) vs HD size 13 (497 g.). This irregularity shows that in different sizes different components play the key role. Zoom Air is probably the reason why they are heavier in size 10, but once the shoe stretches out, it beats even the Lunar/Flywire combo. There are couple more reasons why it’s worth to try out the latest Nike LeBron kicks. Zoom Air, which is always a winner btw, feels very nice in this case. It’s a highly responsive low-profile unit reminiscent of the one used in Zoom 20-5-5 (our favorite), which is a little better due to the Full-length version. The shoe is narrow, which is a common thing for Bron Bron shoes, feels tight around your foot (straps help a bit here), but you might consider going half size up if you have wide feet. Overall, the first impression is very positive. While some are against the Playoff series of Zoom LeBron sneakers and ditching the main sig for the post-season, we welcome this approach as it provides a fresh breath in the basketball world. Plus it’s nice to see there’s a dedicated line with outdoor durability and performance as its main goal. Expect more info on the new Soldiers once we complete some more tests on the hardwood. Since last year the term “the lightest and strongest ever” was used, all we have to say now is “THERE’S STRONG, AND THEN THERE’S ARMY STRONG!”… Soldier ver. 3.0.