Remember the HyperShift? Well, Nikey has apparently run out of basketball shoe names ant now we got the Shift. Regardless, this is another super affordable shoe that looks very promising on paper. Let’s find out if it’s worth your time in this Nike Zoom Shift 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 begin.
SPEC SHEET
WEIGHT: 366 G. / 12.91 OZ
TYPE: MID TOP
TECH: PHYLON & ZOOM AIR
FIT: UP HALF A SIZE
COLORWAYS: 2+
MY RATING: 8/10
THE TECH
PHYLON & ZOOM AIR
We have a very basic setup containing a Phylon midsole and a ZOOM AIR unit in the forefoot, which is probably bottom loaded. Absolutely what you’d expect from a $100 but sometimes those cheap setups are actually pretty good. Find out if this is one of them in the Performance section.
FIT
DEFINITELY NOT CRAPPY
So a lot of cheap, low-budget hoop shoes have these crappy materials and a plasticy feel to them. Not the Nikey Zoom Shift. This is the aspect of the shoe that doesn’t show you that it’s only a hundred bucks cheap. The upper is very nice and soft, but not super loose or wobbly, and the shoe’s inside locks you in properly, so I felt stable, secure and definitely pretty comfy.
The only gripe about the shoe’s fit is the sizing itself. Before I bought the shoe, I did some research and people were saying if fits super snug and narrow. They were partly right, from my experience. I went half a size up right away and they fit me pretty much perfectly.
So for any regular or wider foot, definitely go up half a size. Vey narrow, KD-like footers can go true to size.
PERFORMANCE
CUSHION
Hands down the weakest point of the shoe. Yeah, most Nike’s budget shoes target responsiveness and court feel, thus saving money on cushion tech but they need to change things up a bit sometimes, don’t you think?
The basic Phylon midsole and ZOOM unit combo is getting old a bit but if that’s what people, then by all means. It’s basically a setup focused completely on responsiveness, quickness, stability and court feel. It’s for those Kyrie/Curry type of guards who need all the step speed and explosiveness they can get.
Don’t expect superb impact protection or bounce from these. The cushion is almost Kyrie 3 level here.
TRACTION
Traction was completely fine. I played both indoors and outdoors and they literally brought no problems for me. Gripped the floor fine on all court conditions. Not the best of the best out of all I’ve tried but these gave me plenty of grip to forget about the shoe’s traction.
The rubber on these look similar to the HyperShift and while these aren’t really an outdoor shoe, I think they’ll hold up a few months. Also, wiping isn’t a big problem, I did it a few times during one game each.
SUPPORT
Not hall of fame or tank-like support on these but they secured my foot pretty well. I’d say this a solid sweet spot between complete mobility and complete support. I, personally, would live to have more support but this is just how I play and what I need.
If you prefer the low minimal cushioning, chances are the moderate support level will suit you well. It’s a mid top but there isn’t that much ankle support. Lockdown was fine though, so was the containment. No problems there.
UPPER
$120 LEVEL MESH
That’s exactly what the upper is. It’s good quality, nice and soft mesh with some nylon in high-wear areas. That’s FULLY fine for me. For a very affordable model, you get very comfortable mesh that’s breathable, comfortable and doesn’t require much break-in time.
As for durability, don’t expect these to last too much, honestly. I think nylon reinforcements will help the shoe’s runtime but if you’ll play aggressively and even outdoors, these won’t hold up as tank-made LeBron’s would.
OVERALL
BEST FOR GUARDS WHO NEED MOSTLY RESPONSIVENESS AND COURT FEEL
I was pleasantly surprised with the Nikey Shift. It may not cater towards my playstyle completely but I can definitely see lots of players like these, especially those who are looking for a very cheap shoe to wear and tear. Even outdoors.
+ COMFORT IS THERE ONCE YOU GET THE SIZE RIGHT
+ GREAT TRACTION, OUTDOORS CAPABLE
+ MODERATE SUPPORT THAT STILL PROVIDES MOBILITY
– GOING TRUE TO SIZE MOST LIKELY WILL SCREW YOU
– VERY MINIMAL CUSHION
Okay, that’s it for the review! I hope you found it useful!
The shoe is kinda like a sequel to the HyperShift. Check that one out, maybe you’ll like it more.