Yeah, the Kyrie line is not going anywhere. In fact, it keeps on improving. I seem to be among the last on reviewing the shoe but better later than never. Tons of positive feedback on these so without further ado, here’s my Nike Kyrie 4 review!
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 Nike Kyrie 4 review!
THE TECH
ZOOM AIR
We have the best cushion setup from a Kyrie shoe yet. Remeber those rock under your foot days with the previous Kyries? No more of that – we have a ZOOM unit in the heel and super high-quality foam throughout the rest of the foot, thus making the 4th model the most improved shoe in the cushion department.
FLYWIRE
Something we see pretty much all the time is the Flywire cables that are connected to the shoe’s upper for additional lockdown and containment. Works very well making the Kyrie an overall supportive sneaker.
FIT
THE SAME SOLID EXPERIENCE
The fit/comfort aspect of the shoe is probably the least different from the previous models, which isn’t a bad thing. I went true to size while being a slight wide footer and even though most people would recommend going up half a size, the fit turned from restrictive to solid in about a week.
So if you’re a regular/narrow footer, stick to your regular size. If you have a wider foot, it depends on what you want. If you want the shoe to fit you a bit less tightly and don’t want as much break-in time, go up half a size. Otherwise, I don’t see wide footers going TTS as a problem.
As for comfort, nothing special but nothing bad either. I got zero slippage, my foot felt good during any kind of aggressive movements, so the shoe didn’t let me down in this area.
PERFORMANCE
CUSHION
The part everyone’s excited about. On paper, the setup doesn’t say anything new or impressive but put the shoe on and you’ll immediately feel a difference.
We got some impact protection in the heel thanks to a ZOOM unit. Not tons of it but I think it’s just right for a low profile guard. The midfoot and forefoot are where you can feel the biggest difference from the Kyrie 3 and especially the Kyrie 2. Although I’m not sure what kind of foam is in there (some say it’s Cushlon), all I can tell you is I actually felt some softness and absorption while playing.
The cushioning now feels balanced, although still to the more responsive and low to the ground side than to a more bouncy one. But that’s what we should expect – the Kyrie 4 is designed for those who seek court feel, speed, responsiveness and full control. And in my book, that’s fully achieved without making you feel like you’re on rocks anymore.
TRACTION
We have a slightly redesigned herringbone version traction pattern which works great. The Kyries are known for beastly tractions and I think this one’s no exception. I felt the max bite the moment I stepped on the court and same goes for outdoors.
The rubber compound doesn’t look too weak, this isn’t an outdoor shoe but I can definitely see people playing in the park consistently with these.
SUPPORT
Kyrie Irving is a player that puts a lot of torque to this feet during his razzle-dazzle trickery on the court, so he needs a shoe to support that 100% of the time. And I think the shoe accomplishes that pretty well without applying restrictions.
We got all the basic support features, a snug and sturdy fit, Flywire and a mid top ankle collar, so all of that makes for a pretty supportive shoe. I’d say it’s a pretty good balance between support and comfort. These won’t be as soft as the Primeknit CE’s but won’t be as tank-like as the LeBron 14’s either.
UPPER
OLD MIXED WITH NEW
The upper is engineered mesh at the front and synthetic suede at the back. We’ve seen similar two-piece combos on the Jordan 30, Harden Vol. 1 and this one also feels really good.
The front where mesh sits is reinforced with a nylon layer under it, so it’ll be durable but also light and comfortable. The back is where suede will hold the heel for stability. All in all, definitely not a bad combo. Not elite level support or comfort but gets the job done well in both.
OVERALL
BEST FOR A LIGHTER, QUICK AND LOW TO THE GROUND PLAYER
The Nike Kyrie 4 is a fantastic shoe that doesn’t introduce anything crazy in any area but delivers on everything as it should. And if money’s a concern – these will also cover that for you. If you’re a Kyrie-type of guard, check these out.
+ RESPONSIVE & BALANCED CUSHION, FINALLY
+ FANTASTIC, OUTDOOR-CAPABLE TRACTION
+ SOLID SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT
– THE FIT IS A BIT TOO TIGHT AT FIRST, LENGTHY BREAK-IN PERIOD
– MINIMAL VENTILATION
Okay, that’s it for the review! I hope you found it useful!
The year of 2017 is over, so check out my final picks for the best hoop shoes of the year!