Style - Kicks and Gear / Sep 3, 2008 / 11:30 am

Which Kicks Are Right For You?

By Andrew Katz

LeBron V’s weigh 542 g on average

Honestly, I hate to admit it, but I’m one of those guys. Every time I lace up a new pair of basketball kicks in a sneaker store, I’m that dude bouncing around the store, cutting in between the tee-shirt racks to test the new footwear.

“My man, you know how much these weigh? They feel like they’re about 14.6 ounces.”

But there is good news for people like me. I don’t need to bombard my sneaker salesman with these questions anymore, as I can check the “Weightionary” guide thanks to the folks at NikeLeBron.net. They’ve got a pretty comprehensive list of all the LeBrons and some of Nikes other most popular hoop kicks, categorizing them as Heavy, Normal, Light, or Feather.

And after referencing this chart, the first pair that I’m gonna go test is the Zoom Soldier II’s. They’re categorized as “Normal” here, but they’re on the light side of that label, weighing in at 507 grams on average.

The lightest LeBron that you could play in is the original Zoom Soldier, which weighs in at 497.5 grams on average, but I remember that pair cutting up my heels.

Outside of the ‘Bron family, the Hyperdunk is far and away the most feathery of the Feather category – it’s 388 grams is unheard of. And surprisingly, the one pair that I’m going to stay away from on the court is the Nike Foamposite – though the name would make you think that you’re playing on air, they’re 557 grams.

Check out the whole chart HERE.

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22 Responses to “Which Kicks Are Right For You?”

1. September 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 am

   blah says:

   i had some all black nike flight’s back in 94-95, those were the lightest bball shoes i’ve ever played in- even to this date. The hyperdunk’s feel close to being as light, but they’re much uglier than the flights i had. Wish i could find em again.

2. September 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 am

   blah says:

   oh yeah- first.

3. September 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 am

   Kayfah says:

   first

4. September 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 am

   Kayfah says:

   oh, nvm..

5. September 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 am

   blah says:

   I remember ordering them from east bay cuz they were the lightest in the book, and they happened to look good. they were around 12 ounces- no joke.

6. September 3rd, 2008 at 12:15 pm

   it aint easy being green says:

   my personal favorite were the 13′s, but i feel the best looking b-ball shoe of all time were the 11′s

7. September 3rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm

   Michorizo says:

   Don’t let Darius Miles know that Nike is selling shoes by the gram…

8. September 3rd, 2008 at 12:30 pm

   I Drop Buckets says:

   One word: HYPERDUNK.

   It is easily the greatest basketball performance shoe ever. They are strong and light as hell.

9. September 3rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm

   Bruce says:

   Air Jordans: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, and 19.

   Air Jordans 11 for me.

10. September 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    richard from cleveland says:

    i think everyone failed 2 mention the flightposites those were light shoes 2 hoop in

11. September 3rd, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    Logan Light says:

    Katz, I’m the same way! And it just so happens that when I get to grab that new pair I’m on the way home from the office… so there I am in my slacks and tie running callistetics in the aisles at Finish Line. Yep, it looks that funny.

    The Zooms are nice. I got them when they first dropped and I’ve picked up 2 pair since. Maybe not the lightest, but the most responsive shoe I’ve worn on the court.

    LL

12. September 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Austin Burton says:

    That’s my hand in the photo, BTW. I could be a hand model.

13. September 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    Michorizo says:

    Is that hair on your palm?

14. September 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 pm

    iceman anaba says:

    AB,
    Dont let J. Amaechi hear that you are a ‘hand’ model..

15. September 3rd, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    Austin Burton says:

    @Michorizo — Nope. I can barely grow hair on the back of my hand, let alone the palm.

16. September 3rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    miamiVIS3 says:

    @ I Drop buckets
    the hyperdunks really are the best performance shoe

17. September 3rd, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    dagwaller says:

    Austin is secretly J.P. Pruitt….

18. September 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    D.H. says:

    How often you guys get a new pair of kicks? Ones that you actually play in. . .

19. September 3rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm

    Luigi says:

    ive played bball in a bunch of kicks. but my hyperdunkz are just wayy too good. oh. but my fav shoes 4 bball is my Zoom Kobe II’s that i got for xmas 3 yrs ago..and my famed Gil-Zero’s…i just wear em bkuz my fav player wears them

20. September 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    QueSt??? says:

    @ michorizo ajjajajajaj austin dint get the joke…. i really dont care how light they are, as long as they protect my ankles, i am strong enough to run fast with ‘heavy” shoes.

21. September 3rd, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    Mark says:

    Shoe performance is all arbitrary. I know everybody knows this, but Foamposite’s weight is due to it’s construction, essentially the closest thing to a custom shoe as you can get (granted, after breaking ‘em in).

    Bron Bron’s new kicks (VI) are hailed as the lightest in the line by Nike. Don’t look like Flywire is implemented (a la Hyperdunks), but probably less upper cushioning or a lighter synthetic. Or just no gimmicks (i.e. foamposite tech). That always seems to work.

22. September 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    Austin Burton says:

    @Quest — I got the joke, but I’m right-handed.