words // Zac Dubasik
It’s no secret that incremental changes, rather than major ones, have characterized the CP line. Even aesthetically the last few shoes have been fairly similar. The CP3.VII doesn’t do much to break that trend, but there are a few notable changes.
The uppers of the CP3.IV, V and VI all utilized fuse construction. The VII employs a more standard construction method, but adds Dynamic Flywire. The shoe laces up easily, and while the Flywire strands don’t add much, if any, support (mine had slack even when fully laced), the upper flexed more naturally than the last few models, which made for an overall better fit with no lace pressure issues. It’s very stable as well, and held my foot securely over the footbed.
Similar to the last couple models, the CP3.VII excels in its versatility. Low tops are often thought of as being limited to guards and smaller players, but despite that being exactly what CP is, the shoe is supportive enough for pretty much anyone. The cut offered the range of motion that you’d look for in a low-top, but the upper was sturdy enough to contain a bigger player.
The midsole features an update to the Podulon cushioning found in the last few models: Podulite. It’s still just a fancy way of branding dual-density foam, which has been seen since the CP3.III. It’s not exactly glamorous technology – it can often be found in Nike’s budget-priced Core Performance category - but it’s one of the better foam-based cushionings around. Rather than having a single foam piece for the entire midsole, three targeted areas are carved out, and contain a softer foam. It makes for a great court feel, and has proven to be durable, unlike Lunar.
Another change this year is that Zoom has been added to the shoe’s forefoot. I’m a big advocate of Zoom, and have found it to be the benchmark in cushioning over the years. The hexagonal-shaped bag utilized here though is just too small to offer much responsiveness. Not only could it have been better from a cushioning standpoint, but it hurt the shoe’s transition. Rather than flexing at the ball of the foot, there was a firm point. It wasn’t a major issue – the shoe still had a very good transition – but in comparison to last year’s full-foam model, which utilized deep flex grooves, this just wasn’t quite as good. I would have loved to see a full-width forefoot Zoom bag, with the addition of Flight Plate while I'm being greedy.
Like its predecessors, the CP3.VII doesn’t break much new ground. And while I didn’t like it quite as much as the CP3.VI, it’s still a very good performer. The KD VI, the main other low top option, had quite the shortcoming with it's troublesome tongue, making the CP3.VII easily the best choice of the year if you are looking for something with a lower cut. I found the shoe to fit closer to true to size than the Jordan Brand shoes featuring the XX8 tooling, but still slightly roomy. It’s probably not enough to change sizes, but, as always, try them on if you have the option. The shoe takes some breaking in (including the traction), but it’s worth the week of stiffness. For players of all sizes looking for a low, the CP3.VII is an easy recommendation at a reasonable price.
Grade Breakout //
best for: most, including larger players who prefer low-tops
colorway tested: Court Purple / Flash Lime / Cool Grey / Game Royal
key tech: Podulon cushioning, Zoom Air, Dynamic Flywire
pros: range of motion; weight
cons: forefoot feel isn’t as smooth as past years
improvements: implement Flight Plate
buying advice: The CP line has been slow to evolve over the past five or so models, and up until this CP3.VII, each model had small improvements. The VII takes a small step back, but was still an excellent playing shoe. Similar to the VI, it took some breaking in, especially compared to the amazing out-of-the-box feel of shoes like the Air Jordan XX8 SE and M10, but if you are looking for a low-cut hoops shoe, this is easily your best choice of the year. And priced at $125, it’s a solid value as well.
