Welcome to my Nike LeBron Soldier 9 review! This is good that you found this shoe because it’s a beast and you will find out why.
As usual, we will be taking a look at the shoe’s technologies, performance, comfort, materials and decide if it’s worth the price.
MAIN SPECS
Shoes: Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier 9
Type: Mid Top/High Top Sneaker
Weight: 415 g. / 14.64 oz
Technologies: Nike ZOOM AIR, Nike FLYWIRE
Fit: True To Size
Available Colors: 25+
My Rating: 9.5/10
THE TECH
Nike ZOOM AIR – this is the shoe’s cushioning setup with two units in the forefoot and two in the heel. There are some sub-par shoes with this kind of setup, but this one is really good.
Nike FLYWIRE – these are cables under the shoe’s upper that are connected with the laces. That’s for better lockdown and stability – and it works well.
PERFORMANCE
FIT/COMFORT
Comfort is another strong aspect, as the upper is made of soft mesh. Mesh always feels really good for your feet and this one is no exeption. It also has some Fuse mixed in for extraflexibility.
TRACTION
Traction is great and even suitable for light-medium outdoor play. When you pick the shoe up, you’ll see the super stiff traction pattern which is made out of these rubber nobs – that’s why you can freely play outdoors with them. It’s not on a Kobe Mentality level, but it won’t burn off too quickly.
CUSHION
It has improved from the previous Soldier models as well – it’s pretty soft and bouncy, but tight enough to be responsive and make you feel not too slow on movements. It’s not the best cushioning in the world, but it’s more than enough.
The two units really do their job well giving solid impact protection. Basically the setup is pretty darn good for bigger positions. I think light/fast guards should look for something else if you’re looking for that ideal shoe.
SUPPORT
These straps all around the shoe makes it so damn stable that the other features like the TPU heel counter could seem unimportant. They’re designed to wrap around the whole shoe and you’re good to go. The only thing that could be a downside is the straps aren’t adjustable, so for some it could be too tight, for some too loose – but that’s why there are regular laces implemented anyway.
MATERIALS
As always, materials come down to people’s preference, so one thing to keep in mind that mesh is not a particurarly durable material, even though there’s some Fuse in high-wear areas. Also the shoes are quite heavy, so it’s up to you to decide if you like heavier or lighter shoes. There’s a good amount of ventilation, which is expected from mesh.
FINAL VERDICT
There’s not a lot to be said about the Nike LeBron Soldier 9. They’re extremely affordable, comfortable, supportive and have plenty of features to fit in atleast the top THREE shoes of 2015. It’s undeniable that they beat the main signatures by a bunch.
If you like the design and you’re at least a small forward, then go for it – you won’t regret it.
PROS
+ Excellent traction both indoors and outdoors
+ Unbeatable support all around the shoe
+ Comfortable and breathable materials
CONS
– Not the best durability
– Straps are not adjustable
– Can be tedious to put on
Thanks for reading and most importantly, I hope you found this helpful!