Nike LeBron Soldier 11 REVIEW: Previous Mistakes FIXED?

It’s a shame that the Soldier 10 was such a disappointment after a killer Soldier 9. Still, the Soldier line has some amazing performers and the 11th one could be one of them. Let’s find out if it is in my Nike LeBron Soldier 11 review.

I’ll talk about the shoe’s tech specs, the fit, performance, the upper and decide it it’s worth the price. Let’s start the Nike LeBron Soldier 11 review!

SPEC SHEET


 

TYPE: HIGH TOP
TECH: PHYLON & ZOOM AIR
FIT: TRUE TO SIZE
COLORWAYS: 2+
MY RATING: 8.5/10

THE TECH


PHYLON & ZOOM AIR

We have the same setup from the previous Soldier – a lightweight Phylon midsole and ZOOM units in the heel and forefoot areas. Much improved, so don’t leave the review yet.

FIT


MUCH IMPROVED AGAIN

These things are light. Like really light. The Soldier 10 felt like a heavy, bulky piece of sh*t for me. This one, much better. They really look heavier than they really are, the fit is a bit softer, mobile, more forgiving than the last one. Definitely not on the breathable side but nobody cares about that, nor do I.

You can clearly feel the difference from the last model. I actually kinda liked how they fit AFTER a pretty lengthy break-in period. I went true to size and being a wide footer, that can sometimes be a mistake, but I gave ’em time and they broke in really nicely.

Still, not an extremely comfortable shoe compared to the ones more for guards. People who prefer low tops or even mid tops wouldn’t like these as much because of their high and large construction, but they definitely weren’t that bad. Not completely on the mobile side for a guard, but definitely better than the Soldier X.

PERFORMANCE


 

CUSHION

The same cushion setup that’s wayyyyy better now. Both ZOOM units were pretty soft, I could feel them while playing. The Phylon midsole isn’t one of the high-quality ones but I don’t really care since there’s ZOOM AIR.

Impact protection wasn’t much in the heel but that’s probably because the shoe is still made for a heavier player. For a guard, this was still a good setup though. Some impact protection, some court feel, step transitions were smooth and they don’t sit that high to the ground. At least it doesn’t feel that way. I think I can see a lot of guards liking these, especially heavier, more athletic ones.

TRACTION

The traction improved in some areas and stayed the same in others. It’s not as sensitive to dust now, I barely wiped throughout the games. They stick really well to the floor, no matter the condition. BUT, the inconsistency is still there. Just like most translucent outsoles, you never know if you’ll slip or not.

While this isn’t a prime example of that, I still slipped here and there. Not a deal breaker but a bit annoying.

Lastly, the rubber compound on these looks awesome and I can definitely recommend these for outdoor play.

SUPPORT

Support wasn’t bad on the 10 and it’s still good on the 11. Maybe even a little bit better. Those four straps actually lock your foot in really well. What’s with the strap bullsh*t though? The 9 had two straps, the 10 had three straps and the 11 now has four. They might run out of space soon.

We got all the main features for proper support – a supportive upper, internal and external heel counters, a solid & secure fit, sidewalls on both sides and those four straps. So the security aspect of the Soldier 11 is great overall.

This is definitely with the intention of big guys playing in these. But I wasn’t really mad at their support being a guard. Definitely didn’t feel as mobile and free as I normally would in some kind of an adidas guard shoe, but still, pretty good.

UPPER


MESH & FOAM – PRETTY GOOD

A very similar setup is back – very soft mesh backed with a foam layer in some areas. I think it’s a great setup for pretty much any kind of player. Very supportive but not too restrictive and looks really durable.

Like I said, not on the breathable side but didn’t bother me at all. The materials overall didn’t seem to be very flexible. So for fans of Primeknit, Flyknit, and all that stuff, you might not like this one.

WORTH THE PRICE?


F**K YES

All of the improvements over the last shoe definitely made this a good deal in my opinion. Stable performance, good tech and a solid upper. And everything for the same $130 price tag.

Still not as beastly as the Soldier 9 but nonetheless a good deal.

Get yourself a pair right HERE!

OVERALL


BEST FOR FORWARDS, CENTERS

These sure as hell improved. They turned out into a great all-around performer for bigger guys. So if you’re a bigger guy and looking for a balanced package, take these.

Not a bad option for guards as well but I do recommend getting these if you’re a heavier, more explosive type of guard.

+ FANTASTIC CUSHION FOR BIGS, PRETTY GOOD FOR GUARDS
+ GRIPPY, DURABLE TRACTION
+ GREAT ALL-AROUND SUPPORT
TRACTION IS SLIGHTLY INCONSISTENT

Okay, that’s it for the review! I hope you found it useful!

Even though this model is really good, I HIGHLY suggest you checking out the Soldier 9. It’s a few years back but it’s still my favorite LeBron shoe of all time. Those things are nuts.