For full written review hit the jump…
Traction – 9.5/10
Cushion – 7.5/10
Material – 10/10
Fit – 5/10
Ventilation – 7.5/10
Support – 7/10
Overall – 7.75/10
Traction – The combination between the herringbone and triangular pattern worked very well… almost too well. Whether you needed to quickly change direction make a sudden stop, these kept up from a traction standpoint.
Cushion – The Cushlon was my personal favorite of the two as far as feeling and ride is concerned however, the midsole’s construction was heavily flawed. If you have not done so yet, feel free to check out the Performance Teasers for the Zoom Kobe VII; Pt. 1, Pt. 2 & Pt. 3 for additional information.
Material – This was another aspect of the shoe that I loved. The outer shell is just as strong as last year’s ZKVI yet they don’t show the wear and tear you receive from games. These would be a good choice if you need something to play on-court with and walk around casual in afterward.
Fit – They are true to size and you have a slightly more snug fit with the Play Strong system. The heel did not offer enough lockdown with the lip around the midsole which counteracts the implemented heel cup and sculpted heel padding. While there are midfoot sleeves, they just couldn’t keep the foot perfectly in place and my foot ended up moving too much inside the shoe from a side to side standpoint which eventually caused me to roll my foot inside the shoe and resulted in injury. Again, some of this information is in full detail in my previous Performance Teaser posts.
Ventilation – Not much of any is present except for the perforations found on the sleeves. Not horrible by any means but could have been better.
Support – The carbon fiber plate does its job very well, allowing the forefoot range of motion while keeping the rest of the foot intact. Even though there is a heel cup, they didn’t offer enough heel lockdown as the lip of the midsoles pushed your heel past the sculpted padding and basically contradicted the implemented support system.
Overall… you can find something that not only plays much better than this shoe but you can do so while saving at least $40-60. Even if you opt for the basic $150 Kobe VII, which only comes with the Play Fast system, you will still have some of these issues and simply put; it’s not worth the amount spent. If I pay for a luxurious high performance shoe then I expect to receive a luxurious high performance shoe… unfortunately that isn’t quite what you get this time around.
I loved the Zoom Kobe IV, V & VI but the VII is a disappointment.
