YellowCoffee

Any shoe gurus out there that have some good recommendations on basketball shoes? I'm looking for a pair with overall high marks in the technical aspects like moisture control, ankle support, and enough cushion where it counts. I don't care about looks as much as long as it's not neon green with a bright orange stripe in the middle.

I bought a pair of cheap basketball ($35) about 5 months ago and have regretted the decision. They are all torn up on the bottom (no, I don't play on a sandpaper court). Also, last week I had a 5 hours session and ended up bruising my toes up so bad that 5 out of my 10 toenails are internally bleeding.

I would appreciate any recommendations on shoes or even review websites, which I'm having difficulty finding. I wanted to get a good idea before I head over to footlocker to try some on. TIA!

ray

Try them on in the store. That's the best way to get a sense of what you'll personally like.

zenbooty

Make sure they have high tops (duh!) for ankle support.

Beyond that, I'd just keep trying shoes until you get a good fit. I take longer to find the right fit for b-ball sneakers than other shoes, primarily because basketball movement is very conducive to feet blisters if your shoes don't fit just right, snug but not cramped (as an aside, make sure you put your socks on right, too. Badly worn socks also cause blisters). As for cushion, I've never worn a shoe where I felt there wasn't enough cushion, so I'm not sure what you're looking for there. And as far as moisture control goes, just make sure you take the things off and change into a new pair of socks and shoes after you're done and I'm sure you'll be fine.

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cadetevon

http://www.starbury.com/goods.php

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YellowCoffee

How are the quality of these shoes? I'm definitely down for paying 15 bucks for a pair of shoes, but it's not even worth it for me if the quality sucks.

Because I play outdoor a lot, I need shoes that are durable as well. I've had shoes in the past that fit perfectly when I try them on, but are not durable enough to last a long time. I then will tend to overwear them, which becomes problematic. I was just wondering if anybody was partial to a particular pair based on personal experience. My cheap shoes felt fine when I tried them on. Had plenty of cushion; enough room but not too much room; good ankle support.

I guess I was just wondering if people out there had a particular shoe that they swore by that I could try.

YellowCoffee

Anybody have any experience with the Jordan XXI?

cadetevon

I bought my 11 year old son a pair this last weekend (Friday actually), he's not had them off since. He says they feel as good now, after 5 games of out door ball, as they did on Friday when he first put them on.

zenbooty

I really can't think of any shoe that has any kind of feature that has any meaningful impact on your play at all, 'cept for high tops and good soles that grip the floor a bit. And maybe the old pumps, they might get you a snugger fit, but I was on my parents' budget way back then and never tried on a pair.

What matters is that they're snug enough that your feet and ankle don't slide in them, but not so tight that your feel any part of your foot pushed out of its natural position (I have a Hell of a time as I got pretty wide feet and its hard to find good b-ball sneakers that aren't streamlined and slim). If you can get that, I don't think the brand really matters. If Starbury's work for you, great.

If you do drop C-note kinda dollars on one of the pricier brands, might I recommend you use them exclusively on the court? They'll last you much longer, and you can walk the streets in a cheaper pair and save a bunch of money in the long run. I've had a pair of Nike Air Tempo's I bought 10 years ago that are still in good condition.

yippiekiyeh

Everyone's suggestions are great, make sure they fit and that they feel good, etc etc. I always suggest going to try on shoes in the late afternoon, b/c that's when usually your feet are at their largest. If the shoes feel good then, chances are they will feel good beyond that. I'm partial to nike air flights, I like the lighter weight and decent support. If they don't last 2 years, you can always send them back to the manufacturer for a certificate, upgrade... there should be a link in this forum regarding that.

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Freelance Superhero

Because aesthetics do matter to me, to a certain degree, I've been put off by most of the styles that are available these days and haven't even bothered to try them on. In addition, I'm not very hard on my feet when I play, and I mostly wear midtops or wider-based lowtops, so I might not be the best guage of quality for the kind of shoe you're looking for.

That being said, I've had a pair of the basic Adidas Superstars (about $55-60) for about three years now, and though the sole is now fairly worn out and I have another pair of more supportive, more expensive shoes for ball, I still find myself going back to the Superstars every now and then because they still feel really good.

On the flipside of that, do not get And1 shoes. Their cushioning technology is subpar, in my opinion, and in my experience they're not as flexible as other brands.

I'd probably stick with either Nike or Adidas, as they both offer a good combination of longstanding quality and technological advancement. Try some of their shoes on, and see how they fit. With basketball shoes, recommendations can only go so far, as everyone's feet are different, and people have different playing styles and varying intensity of gameplay/movement.

Oh, and while I think the Starburys are good for younger players, I'm skeptical of their quality for higher level players and players who are harder on their feet, such as you seem to be. I haven't tried them on, however, so I can't really speak as to their quality.

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YellowCoffee

Got the Jordan xxi PE. Was lucky and got them for 59.99 plus tax & shipping = $72. They fit real well and have good ankle support. The main reason I got these are because your foot really doesn't move around in the shoe and there is really good ankle support. The support around the ankle is pretty rigid and may feel too stiff for some, but I think the extra support is worth it.

I still have to wait for my toes to fully heal (probably another 1-2 months), but I can't wait to get on the court w/ these. It's been tough watching the draft and not being able to play!

Some other shoes I was looking into were the Adidas T-MAC 6's. I don't care too much about aesthetics but the 5's were just nasty IMO. The 6's look a lot better, but I went with the jordan xxi pe's because of the durability. I had the Jordan XIII's about 10 years ago and they lasted me for a good 3-4 years of constant play.

I'm All-in-all happy w/ my buy. Thanks again for the help everyone.

Freelance Superhero

come back again and tell us how they felt during play on the court. i'd be interested to hear it.

Yossarian

i avoid the jordan's, never owned a pair as they never felt right in the store. a lot of basketball shoes is personal choice. you have to feel comfortable in them. and DO NOT get mid or low's. stay with hi tops. trust me, i've done enough ankles even in high tops.

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