adidas Harden B/E REVIEW: Harden Vol. 1 with BOUNCE Cushion!

After a very successful Harden Vol. 1, we now have an overseas exclusive edition which replaces BOOST with BOUNCE cushion. This could be a very awesome model since it’s cheaper but still has the qualities of a great performer. Let’s see if that’s true in my adidas Harden B/E review!

Before you read the review, I suggest checking out the original Harden Vol. 1 review for clarity sake!

I’ll talk about the shoe’s tech specs, the fit, performance, the upper and decide if it’s worth the price. Let’s start the adidas Harden B/E review!

THE TECH

BOUNCE

Not much to say here, other than the cushion foam is now BOUNCE instead of BOOST. It is a cheaper setup but don’t get discouraged – BOUNCE is among my favorite cushions and for good reasons. More details in the Performance section.

FIT

STILL REALLY COMFORTABLE

The materials and overall is a bit different from the original but this is still a very comfortable sneaker. No more separated toe cap, the shoe looks more similar to other traditional performance sneakers. Again, that’s not a bad thing – the B/E fits me very well and with minimal issues.

I’m a slight wide footer, went true to size and these didn’t let me down. These do need a longer break-in period but after that, you’ll enjoy playing in them.

The biggest difference is probably the width. The Vol. 1 may be sitting among the best shoes for wide footers. The B/E seems to be a bit narrower which resulted in a snug and slightly tight for wide footers. If you want a more free and roomy experience, I suggest any wide footer to go up half a size.

PERFORMANCE

CUSHION

Obviously, the biggest difference between this and the Vol. 1 is the cushioning. BOUNCE is back as it’s now adidas’s staple for budget shoes. And it’s still really good.

BOOST does provide more impact protection and softness but the B/E version opens up for a bit more versatility for the player who wants impact protection and step-in comfort but also needs to keep that court feel and full control.

So overall, this setup is less bouncy but still not on the firm side, is what I’m trying to say.

TRACTION

We have pretty much the same looking outsole from the Vol. 1, so the traction is still awesome. It’s durable, so you’ll be fine outdoors, minimal wiping required and it sticks to the floor pretty much 100% of the time.

SUPPORT

For a low top, there isn’t a lot more you could want in terms of overall protection for your foot. It’s just as supportive as the Vol. 1 while providing solid lockdown for your heel and dealing with containment perfectly.

I had no heel slippage (something that’s pretty common for low tops) and no other issues overall. For those who prefer playing in lows, you will surely feel confident in playing in the Harden B/E.

UPPER

TRUSTWORTHY MESH & LEATHER

So the shoe’s upper is also a bit different from the Vol. 1. We now have mesh throughout the shoe with a foam layer under it for structure, while that white piece is pure leather.

In result, what you get is solid support, great durability adequate comfort and a reasonable price tag.

This might not be your ultimate Primeknit in terms of comfort or lightness but for those who want more structure and performance as opposed to just straight up comfort, this is a great option.

OVERALL

BEST FOR ANY GUARD, OTHER LIGHTER PLAYER

Versatility is always the winning point and the Harden B/E delivers that nicely. A couple of premium features removed from the Vol. 1 and you get the B/E – a super affordable shoe that delivers in all performance aspects.