Hard to believe the year is almost halfway over already. Five months in and there have been some really great basketball sneakers released. If you wanted to know which ones you should try on the next time you're out sneaker shopping then take a look at The 10 Best Basketball Sneakers of 2013 (So Far).
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No. 10 - K1X Anti-Gravity
Built for the blacktop but plays great on hardwood. The K1X Anti-Gravity is a shoe with the 90’s in mind but utilizes todays best synthetics and foam cushion systems. You can hoop in these indoor or outdoor and they’re durable as well so grab a pair, lace them up and have fun.
No. 9 - adidas Rose 3.5
The adidas Rose 3.5 didn’t truly enhance anything specific in terms of pure performance but there is no denying that it is a solid shoe to hoop in. Built with a compression molded EVA midsole and SprintFrame, cushion and support are adequate while the synthetic upper will keep you locked in and secure. Add full length herringbone to the mix and you have a well-rounded pair of sneakers.
No. 8 - Ektio Breakaway
Ektio only has three models under its belt but it didn’t take them long to make a great performance shoe. Equipped with full length herringbone - that is great for any court - decent cushion and a durable synthetic upper. They almost sound like every other shoe on the market until you realize they offer the lockdown and support unmatched by any other sneaker currently available.
No. 7 - Nike LeBron X Elite
The LeBron X is already a great shoe and the LeBron X Elite is no different. These were given some additional support with the Carbon Fiber plates but everything else plays just like the regular LeBron X so we had to add them onto the list.
No. 6 - Li-Ning Way of Wade
A top ten shoe that isn’t widely available is frustrating. The Way of Wade had good traction and nice cushion. Their materials and fit were amazing and they really don’t make shoes like this anymore. Our suggestion, if you can find pair for a decent price… Buy it now.
No. 5 - Jordan CP3.VI AE
Much like the LeBron X Elite, the Jordan CP3.VI AE isn’t too far off from the original. However, they play so beautifully that they must be placed on the list. If you have the need for speed and require great traction in order to achieve it then this shoe was made for you.
No. 4 - Jordan Melo M9
Herringbone, forefoot Zoom Air, large volume heel Zoom Air, Flywire… did we miss anything? The only thing that would have made the Jordan Melo M9 a better shoe is if Jordan Brand brought back the independent toe from the Air Jordan 2010. Yeah, they’re that good.
No. 3 - adidas Crazyquick
Pure Motion was once a thing that dreams were made of when it came to adidas Basketball models. It has been hard for Pure Motion enthusiasts to live without such great technology for so long but lucky for them… Next Generation Pure Motion has been created and implemented into the Crazyquick, one of adidas’ lowest models and also happens to feature the best traction they’ve had yet. Cushion is minimal but if you love court feel then there really is nothing else like them around.
No. 2 - Nike Kobe 8 SYSTEM
A low cut basketball shoe made entirely of mesh and an interchangeable internal midsole… if you would have brought that to a player back in the 80’s or 90’s you might have seen a grown man shed a few tears laughing. Fast forward to 2013 and you have one of the best Guard shoes ever created. Just close your eyes and think about what these are made of and enjoy how far we’ve come since the Air Force 1.
No. 1 - Air Jordan XX8
Unlocked Zoom, Flight Plate, Zipper, totally awesome, right? Great traction, decoupled heel and forefoot for ultimate motion control. An insane 8 inch collar,all of this marked with a Jumpman. Sure, they’re expensive… but so was that date you went on last Friday.
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