adidas Dame 3 Performance Review

3 years. 3 Damian Lillard models. And it gets better year after year.

The Lillard 1 made me switch from retro adidas basketball kicks (TMacs and Kobes mostly) to the more modern models. The Lillard 2 was so good I stuck with one on-court model (in different colorways, of course) for nearly an entire year. The Dame 3 will likely make me do the same.

Let me get right into the details.

Fit

adidas continues to use a Techfit bootie on Lillard’s signature line, again improving on the design with each iteration. The Dame 3 has a lower ankle collar height and a tighter bootie than the Lillard 2. The inside of the shoe is also padded in the heel area and contoured with the foot. The tighter bootie and the padding help keep the heel secure and prevents heel slippage, a common occurrence in low-tops. 

The shoe’s best feature is the new lacing system. The multiple holes on the side panel allow the wearer to customize the fit and adjust tightness based on preference. If you like the foot-hugging, tight fit then lace all the way to the bottom. If you’re like me and like it just right, then use the second row. For people with really wide feet who need as much space in the shoe, you can use the top set of holes. 

A minor drawback to me is the side panel’s durability. As you can see in the photo, there are a couple of lace holes which have already started to widen and there’s some scuffing on the top part due to friction from the laces. I’m waiting for other colorways to see if they change the material and make them more durable against friction and stretching. 

The shoes run long and wide, and I recommend going a half size down on these for that 1:1 fit. I personally prefer some wiggle room so I went true size. Getting your foot into the bootie will be challenging at first, but a shoe horn helps slide your foot in smoothly. The bootie also seems to have been constructed better compared to the 2’s so I don’t expect any ripping issues.

Stability and Support

Aside from the wide base, adidas incorporated some key features that help with stability. 

The triangular section on the heel serves not just as an anchor point for the side panel lace holes, but also as a heel counter to keep the rear part of your foot locked down. Coupled with the raised midsole wrap, this ensures that your heel is held firmly in place to keep you stable at all times.

The second feature is the midfoot TPU wrap that hugs the middle part of your foot. I initially felt a raised section in the midfoot, which caused some discomfort, but after an hour or so on court that section flattened out and I haven’t felt anything else since. 

The fused mesh upper provides both support and flexibility. The breathable material is reinforced around the toe area to contain the foot during those quick changes of direction, but the rest of the area is soft enough that it gives you a semi sock-like feel. They’re the right thickness as well to protect your feet when stepped on. 

The two sets of lace loops go all the way to the inside of the shoe and are anchored to the midsole. This lets you tighten that part really well to prevent your feet from sliding around. They’re designed well as I didn’t feel them biting into my foot unlike with other basketball shoes I’ve used in the past.

Overall, I felt very stable and secure in these shoes. I never felt any concerns about rolling my ankles or suddenly slipping and falling. Although primarily designed for guards, these could be an option for big men who prefer low-tops for that added ankle flexibility.

Cushioning

Bounce once again lives up to its name, and this time giving even more energy return.

I instantly felt the difference as soon as I slipped my foot into the shoe. Even while wearing thin socks, I could feel the bounciness in the forefoot. It’s almost a similar bounciness to my Pureboost ZGs. 

On court, I loved the impact protection it gave me during landings. The Bounce cushioning does its job well without sacrificing court feel, which is critical to majority of people who play in the backcourt. I averaged 2 hours per session during testing and my legs and knees felt great at the end of each run.

The cushioning isn’t all in the forefoot though. Bounce is still there in the heel, and it helps make running up and down the court easier and smoother. Heel-to-toe transitions are pretty good, too, since there’s good proportion to the cushioning in the front and back of the shoe. 

I’m still liking Bounce over Boost as a basketball cushioning system, but that’s just my personal preference. Boost can be too mushy at times while Bounce has that firmness that I like while static, but with the right plushness when needed.

Traction

I saved the best part for last. 

The grip on these babies is UNBELIEVABLE. Sticky and squeaky on any and every surface I’ve played on, they really allow for quick takeoffs and changes in direction. Even on the dustiest court I was on, the shoes were squeaking all over the place and kept me planted with every step.

The traction pattern adidas used on the Dame 3 works really well. Dust was never a problem and I never had to wipe even once. As with the other pairs I test, I didn’t clean the shoes throughout the testing period to see how they’ll hold up, and the shoes provided consistent traction throughout.

A big surprise for me is the durability. As I was looking at the soles while preparing to write, I didn’t see any obvious signs of wear other than the dirt. Considering that I used these nearly daily for two weeks, I’m amazed at how durable these outsoles are. 

I won’t recommend them for blacktop or concrete courts, but on hardwood, smooth cement, or painted courts you’ll definitely like the traction these shoes provide. 

Overall

Priced the same as the D Lillard 2, these won’t break the bank as much as other signatures would. With adidas’s 3STRIPES coupons or Titan 22’s TPC discount, the shoes could go for lower than its PhP 5,995 SRP (other colorways may be priced higher).

Damian Lillard’s signature line continues to evolve and improve, and it’s us consumers who benefit every year. The Dame 3 gives me all I want in a basketball shoe—excellent traction, good cushioning without sacrificing court feel, and a customizable lacing system that gives me the level of lockdown and stability that I need. 

adidas D Lillard 2 Performance Review

Okay, let me just put this out as early as now—I’m in love with these shoes. From the moment I put them on and hooped in them for the first time using the Black History Month colorway, I knew that the D Lillard 2 would be my 2016 hoop shoes. I’ll get into the specifics, but let me tell you right now that adidas took what worked on the D Lillard 1 and upgraded them, and fixed the things that didn’t work so well on Dame’s first signature shoe. 

Let’s break down the D Lillard 2 feature by feature and you’ll agree that this could be the best bang-for-the-buck basketball shoe this year. I’m basing this review on the “Road” colorway as it has a wider release than the BHM variant.

Fit

Heel and midfoot lockdown were two of the biggest negative factors on the D Lillard 1, and adidas did a great job in improving those areas. 

The plastic heel counter covers a large part of the ankle and the Achilles, hugging the back of your foot well. The inside of the ankle collar has molded pads that align perfectly with the contour of your foot, aiding in keeping the foot secure. The only time I experienced heel slippage was when I laced them loosely while walking to the court. Once you tug on them laces and knot them, you shouldn’t experience any issues.

         

The lacing system has been improved, with better spacing, better lace hole sizes that hold the laces in place, and the final lace hole positioned higher up in the shoe that lets the shoe hug the foot better.

The strips of rubber that has the three middle lace holes are connected to the inside of the shoe, maximizing the lockdown effect and providing not just a great fit, but stability. These three components work well together in strapping your heels down and keeping them secure during pivots and spins, sudden turns, and lateral movements. 

The upper is a form of woven material that is very flexible but seems very durable. It combines both flexibility and protection as it’s thick enough to withstand getting stepped on in the post.

The shoe overall runs about a half size longer than normal, but wider than your average shoe, so if you have slim to narrow feet, you can go a half size down on these. I opted to get my true size since I have wide feet. I tried going down half a size but I felt some pinching in the lateral midfoot area. 

Stability

If you’re used to low-tops, these won’t feel like lows when you first put them on because of the TECHFIT bootie. The bootie wraps snugly around your ankle that it feels like a mid, but once you start moving, you get the flexibility that lows normally give you.


One of the things I like about the Lillard line is the stability that they give despite being lows. In the D Lillard 2, there’s a lateral outrigger that helps keep you stable when going sideways and aids in preventing your foot from rolling when you apply too much force. 

I felt very stable and very secure in these shoes. No fear of slipping or losing my balance or turning my ankle. 

Cushioning

adidas utilized Bounce cushioning on the D Lillard 2. The Brand with the Three Stripes has used Bounce in the past, albeit in a different iteration. This version combines a springy and flexible inner core with a firmer outer, offering both cushioning and response. 

The D Lillard 2 feel normal—that is, like any ordinary shoe—when at rest or when taking light steps, but when you start running or jumping or putting more force/weight on the shoes, you feel the springiness and the energy return. The harder I pounded the floor, the more bounce I felt (no pun intended). Definitely one of the most comfortable cushioning systems I’ve ever tried. 

Bounce isn’t Boost, but don’t sleep on it. Personally, I prefer Bounce. Boost fans, don’t come chasing me with pitchforks and torches just yet, as there’s more to it. Let me say it again: I prefer Bounce when used on a basketball shoe. While Boost is without a doubt the best cushioning system in the market, landing on Boost feels mushy. It’s very comfortable, no doubt, but it doesn’t offer the responsiveness and stability that Bounce does. 

This version of Bounce allows for a more explosive first step, better cuts, and quicker lateral movements. Those are important in a basketball shoe and for me Bounce allows you to do those things better than Boost does.

Overall, a solid cushioning system that’s comfortable, responsive, and stable. No back, knee, or plantar pain like I normally get with non-Boost basketball shoes. 

Traction

If there’s one thing that maybe needs to be improved on the Lillard 2, it’s the traction pattern. Not that it doesn’t work, it does and it works well, but the soles are dust magnets. 

I played on mostly dusty courts with these and the BHMs, and I had no problems whatsoever with traction. Didn’t slip, always had purchase when pulling up (my favorite move), and I was able to move naturally since I never had to think about whether I’d fall flat on my butt. 

 

The Continental rubber outsole speaks of durability and traction, and they were squeaking all over the court for the most part. On the fourth day of using them without cleaning the outsoles like I normally do, there was less squeaking but the grip held. No issues during an hour or so of dribbling, shooting, and layup drills.

The heel part, for some odd reason, was squeaky throughout, no matter how dusty that area got. I feel that this adds to the shoe’s overall stability as the heel plants well and you can take off fairly quickly. 

Overall, the D Lillard 2 offers exceptional traction. Other users say that the dust does take something away from it, but a quick wipe does the trick. I tried not wiping the dust off during the 10+ hours of testing the shoe and I didn’t have any problems.

Overall

I’ll say it again: I am in love with these shoes. I’ve never used a shoe that gave me this combination of support, lockdown, cushioning, and traction. And at PhP 5,995 ($105 in the US), you get more than your money’s worth with the technology.

The adidas D Lillard 2 is available at adidas retail stores, Titan 22, and the NBA Store. Go grab your pair now as these are selling pretty fast! I promise you, you won’t regret this purchase as it’s probably the best basketball shoe that adidas has ever produced.

adidas 2015 Crazylight Boost Primeknit

adidas Philippines released the 2015 Crazylight Boost Primeknit on July 1st across different stores and retailers in the Philippines, and the sneaker has been met with positive responses. I had been looking forward to the release since it seemed like it’s a very big improvement from last year’s Crazylight Boost. After spending a couple of weeks contemplating on which colorway to cop, I finally decided on the Andrew Wiggins “Home” PE, mostly because they look so good and partly ‘coz it’s a limited release. 

Let’s take a closer look at the shoe that the reigning Rookie of the Year will wear for his home games during the 2015-16 NBA season.

Looks

Eye-catching, without a doubt. The colors used, the maple leaf design on the knit (an homage to AW’s Canadian roots), the icy sole, and the overall color blocking on this shoe makes them pop. They look sleek and icy-cool, the silver and blue just so pleasing to the eyes.

adidas has started a trend of big branding on their basketball sneakers, and it continues in the 2015 Crazylight Boost. Personally, I like the in-your-face logo, and the triangular shape of the stripes follows the contour of the heel area smoothly when viewed from behind. The meaty Boost midsole is clearly visible and just looks like it will absorb any impact. The rear of the ankle collar sits just right, not too low or too high to cause chafing.

I’m in love with the silhouette, the lines, the color blocking, and the colors adidas used on this model, and I’m not alone. I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on the shoes each time I wear them on court. The way it looks alone is enough of a convincing factor for most people to purchase the pair.

Premium materials are used on this model, especially the Primeknit. Looking closer, there’s a combination of tight and loose knitting that serve both performance and aesthetics, but more on that later.

From afar, the pattern on the Primeknit upper looks like a variation of snakeskin, but upon closer inspection are actually maple leaves in diamond patterns. Well executed design, adidas.

Now let’s move on to the meat and potatoes…

Performance

Fit

These run true to size, although one of my friends decided to go a half size down. I went with a size 12 instead of my usual 11.5 (I have really wide feet) and found them to be very comfortable. Some extra space in the toe box, but I like that extra space in my on-court kicks, so it didn’t bother me one bit. 

The tongue is sewn to the upper on the lateral side, which is the first time I’ve seen it on an adidas shoe. Think KD6, except the tongue on the CLB15 goes under the upper as opposed to over like in the KDs. The tongue is thin, very breathable, but with a downside—lace them up too tightly and you’ll definitely feel the lace pressure.

There’s an elastic band that holds the medial side of the tongue in place to prevent it from sliding off to the side too much.

The upper is a one-piece knit that has varying degrees of density, depending on the area it’s used on. Looser knitting, such as in the toe box and the side panels, allows for flexibility and ventilation, while tighter knits provide stability and support.

Overall, I like how the pair feels. Go true to size if you plan to purchase, since people with normal foot widths have given feedback that the forefoot and toe areas have too much space.

Stability

Stableframe is used on the 2015 Crazylight Boost to provide a bed to keep the foot in place. It serves to keep the shoe extremely lightweight but supportive. 

I didn’t feel any excessive restrictions from the Stableframe except to hold my foot in place, and there was no pinching or rubbing like in the old Sprintframe that adidas used a couple of seasons ago. There’s a TORSION-like plate embedded in the midsole which allows for a very smooth heel-to-toe transition while running up and down the court.

The lace loops on the outside are part of the bands pictured on the right, which help hold the foot in place once laced up. I like the added stability this feature gives since the foot’s locked down in the area I want it to be the most stable. 

If you’re worried about too much pressure or possible chafing, my ultra-sensitive feet didn’t feel the bands rub or press against my foot during play.

Cushioning

Boost. Boost. Boost. 13% more than last year’s model, extended farther into the midfoot. I love Boost and I was ecstatic with the upgrade. This is simply the best cushioning system in the market right now, and adidas took what worked in last year’s Crazylight Boost and made it even better in the 2015 iteration.

adiPRENE+ is used in the forefoot area, again another big upgrade from the 2014 version. adiPRENE+ gives the shoe that added forefoot bounce that was missing in last year’s model. Changing directions and quick cuts need not be as hard on your toes and the ball of the foot now because of this change. Thank you adidas for listening to your consumers.

I’m a 5’9″, 240-pound guy who plays 2, 3, and 4, and the shoe performed as advertised in the cushioning department. Some say that the insoles are too thin and recommend swapping them out for thicker insoles for more comfort, so I experimented by adding an Ortholite insole on top of the factory ones. The cushioning was definitely better, but somehow court feel is sacrificed. I had one run with the Ortholites and decided to just go with the factory ones alone. No problems so far.

Traction

The traction pattern used on the CLB15 is a bigger, wider herringbone. The rubber is soft and pliable (like in the midfoot outsole of the D Rose 5 Boost), so I immediately expected good grip. I wasn’t disappointed.

I played on two dusty courts over the weekend and had no traction issues. Didn’t slip, had the purchase I needed to get off pull-up jumpers and catch-and-shoot Js, was able to change directions with ease, and toe-offs on drives to the hoop felt grrrrrreat. 

The problem I have with the outsole is durability. Much like car tires, softer compounds offer higher grip but get worn down much faster. The grooves are shallow, and I don’t know how long these will last before traction diminishes. If you play outdoors on rough surfaces, it’s best to look for other options.

Overall

At PhP 7,995, it’s not the cheapest option on the market, but the technology put in the shoe more than justifies the price tag. 

The 2015 Crazylight Boost Primeknit is one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever played in. I’ve spent the past few years searching for a model that offers the fit and cushioning I need, often resorting to retros since the newer models were too narrow for my wide feet and sacrificing cushioning in the process. With the Crazylight Boost, I got the best of everything, from the cushioning to fit and lockdown to traction to neck-breaking good looks. 

These CLBs will definitely see a lot of court time, and I’m already looking forward to the “Away” colorway, which I’ve heard will drop sometime in the next two months. As we sneakerheads like to say, AUTOCOP.

adidas Originals Tubular Runner Primeknit Snake Pack

adidas Originals brings you another exclusive drop this year: the adidas Originals Tubular Runner Primeknit Snake Pack. adidas Originals’ most progressive silhouette this season is exclusively available in Sneak Peek with limited stocks only.

Having set the pace in 2015 with an intuitive blend of athletics and aesthetics, the adidas Originals Tubular has made an enduring mark in both performance and casual footwear. This season the most progressive silhouette from adidas Originals meets the most advanced Primeknit technology, the result is the Tubular Runner Primeknit Snake Pack.

Rendered in a snake print Primeknit upper, the Tubular Runner’s clean visual language references integral moments in three-stripes innovation history and features technical features that ensure comfort and support for the wearer – a testament to the shoe’s unified form and function.

Available in a selection of seasonal colourways, the Tubular Runner’s Primeknit snake pattern is combined with adi Film vacuum melted overlays creating a contemporized look that is ready to take center stage.

The adidas Originals Tubular Runner Primeknit Snake Pack is exclusively available

in Sneak Peek this July for Php 8,895.