Nike Zoom Lebron III
Sizing:
What size do you wear in the shoe you are reviewing? Other shoes? Do you believe that the shoe is true to size, runs small, runs big etc.
I am naturally a 13.5, but am forced to buy 14 nearly for every pair I play in simply because of availability. However, I was fortunate enough to find a 13.5 on these, and they fit exactly true to size. My Lebron IIs were sz. 14, and those felt just right and fit a half size small. Size wise, the III is true to size.
Fit:
Is the shoe narrow or wide?
I was very surprised how much more narrow this shoe felt than the II and even the Generation. The reduced room at the toebox can cause a cramped feel for some, and coupled with the lack of a pronounced outrigger or as wide of a base as the IIs, side-to-side stability is definitely lacking compared to its predecessors. I'd def. suggest trying them on in-store before purchasing, as the room may be a large factor for those with feet on the wide size.
In regards to fit, another thing I immediately noticed is how stiff the upper seems. This holds the foot in place, but i litterally had to forcefully pull on the laces to get a tight fit, and even then the laces would come undone time and time again. This would cause a little slippage every now and then from side to side around the ankle area as i couldn't get a real locked down feel for more than 30 minutes at a time. Yes, I indeed double knotted them, but still the laces managed to loosen up on me.
Comfort
Immediately on the court these felt great. Both the heel and forefoot zoom air bags are tuned to be more responsive than the IIs and its easily noticeable right when you lace them up. The shoe also features a sphere liner around the ankle, and although it is not used full-length as in the AZG, the liner still provides great padding and comfort against your feet, and there is a soft neoprene (i think?) liner that extends to the toe box..
Ankle Support
This shoe is a little tricky in this department. The III provides by far the highest cut of Lebrons three shoes, but unfortunately imo has the worst base and side-to-side support, with a need for a more defined outrigger. I came down on a rebound and turned my right ankle on what seemingly was a normal landing, it's just the shoe couldn't withstand the pressure on the lateral side of the shoe and tipped over. The ankle area extends pretty highly, and Id STRONGLY suggest wearing a higher-cut sock, as the top cross-piece of leather could possibly dig into your ankle, or rub and cause irritation. In the four times I played in them I didnt feel much pain, but my roommate immediately mentioned it as being a problem and had some visible rubbing on his ankle after playing in them.
Cushioning:
The zoom air units are very responsive, and its going to take a few more weeks of wearings to determine if the units will be more durable than the II, as some have complained that the BronII zoom air bottoms out prematurely. Under high impact, the heel provided great cushion and the forefoot zoom air is far more responsive than the II. The carbon spring plate is also effective, though the transition of the shoe doesnt seem to be as smooth as the AZG.
Traction:
I was real pleased with the traction, as it was along the lines of the AZG and II in being superior than most other shoes available today. The non-traditional design still performed great, and even on a dusty floor that I played on if you simply swipe the bottom of your shoes once every 10-20 minutes the grip is outstanding. I'd say the III has the best traction thus far in the Lebron line, and I thought the first two were outstanding as well.
Weight/Position:
I generally play 1-3 position-wise. Im 63, 185 lbs, and love to shoot the 3, slash and drive, and run the break and dish. For an active guy like myself, the cut of the shoe was a little restrictive, as I dont have terribly weak ankles and the support seemed to be a little too much. The AZG seemed to be more of a guard oriented shoe, while the Lebron II were great for a wide range of players, and the III seems to be more narrowed in on providing the best shoe for Lebron specifically and not as much the general public. The height of the shoe will protect a big man like Lebron, and the responsiveness of the zoom air will help propel a guard and active players (like Lebron as well pretty much damn that guy.
). If you normally lean toward better transition, less restriction, and still want great cushioning, go with the AZG, I myself have 5 pairs of the black/white colorway. If you want a little more ankle support and great side-to-side stability, Lebron II is for you. For the Lebron III, you'll be getting much more in the ankle support dept. if you can keep the laces under control, and you'll also get more responsivenes at the expense of some transition, freedom, and weight.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with the performance and the zoom air felt awesome right away. The III improves on the responsiveness of the II and the ankle support of both the AZG and II, but if youre a smaller guard or simply someone who prefers a less restrictive upper (like myself), than the higher cut may seem unnecessary and an annoyance.
Also a major problem of the shoe is a result of the more heavy duty upper: The Weight. The shoe is far heavier than the II and considerably heavier than the AZG. Im not sure on specific weights but according to Eastbay, the III is 17.8 oz., and I wanna say the II is two ounces lighter and the AZG a full 3.5-4 ounces lighter. This added weight may also deter the more active guards out there from buying the III. After about 10-20 minutes of playing I didnt notice the added weight as much, as the responsiveness of the zoom air helped to alleviate the weight problem and because of the shoes solid transition it was less noticeable. The BronIII may look clunky at first, and the flat outsole may not be very convincing, but heel-toe-transition was very above average, and as I often take outlet passes off rebounds to run a fast-break, the III flowed smoothly down court.
Rating:
Comfort & Fit : 4/5 (get those laces tied tightly, higher socks needed, toe box a little snug)
Cushioning: 5/5 (zoom air is nuts)
Ankle Support: 4.5/5 (height is high, but laces loosen up to compromise fit and the shoe may tip on you on a sharp landing.)
Traction: 5/5 (outstanding)
Overall: 4.5/5
While I loved the responsiveness and grip of the III, I'd still say I prefer the transition and lower-cut of the AZG. I'm kinda torn between the II and III, because the II fits like a glove and feels great out of the box, it's just that they bottom out a little sooner. If the III had a slightly lower cut and marginally wider toe box and base, I'd be all over them, but for now I'll stick to the trusty AZG's in the long run.
If you play the 3-5, you'll really like these and the support they offer along with the responsiveness that hasn't really been offered in a big man's shoe (much thanks to zoommax). If you're a more active 3 the cut may be a little too much for you, but they're def. worth a try regardless.
This is my first in-depth review, and I'm sure I missed all kinds of aspects of the shoe, so if you have a specific or general question or have played in the III, feel free to ask away or comment!
Thanks for reading,
Nick
[/url]
[/center]
