Comfort plays a vital role in playing basketball, that’s the reason the selection of the best cushioned basketball shoes needs to be of utmost priority. Just like other sports, better the comfort is, better the performance will in this game too. The basketball shoes with incredible cushioning add amazing benefits to well-known players’ performance, such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Most players believe that their shoes play a significant part in enhancing their skills, where the comfort element proves to be a game-changer for all.
Using the optimum cushioning of your shoes, several factors like rebound and bounce, dunking, dribbling, sprinting, hard cuts are highly enhanced. These shoes even affect the entire gameplay. It is a fact that shoes hold the type of importance in this game as that of the ball in cricket or shoes in football. That’s why you should not undermine the shoes’ capability.
Cushioning comes under one of the most underrated aspects that people look down on most of the time because they consider traction to be a chief requirement. So, cushioning is as significant as the traction that’s why you need to choose shoes that come with the premium-quality cushioning before you step into the basketball court. Here, we are going to discuss some of the best cushioned basketball shoes. In addition, you will learn about other important aspects related to basketball shoes.
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Contents
- 1 Who Should Purchase the Best Cushioned Basketball Shoe?
- 2 7 Best Cushioned Basketball Shoes
- 2.1 1. Under Armour Men’s Curry 3Zero Basketball Shoe – Editor’s Pick
- 2.2 2. Adidas Harden Vol. 3 Men’s Shoes – Alternative Pick
- 2.3 3. Adidas Men’s D Rose 8 – Budget Pick
- 2.4 4. Air Jordan xxxii 32 MVP Black Cement Basketball Shoes – Upgrade Pick
- 2.5 5. Adidas Performance Men’s Cloudfoam Ilation Mid Basketball Shoe – Also Great
- 2.6 6. Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Cyber Monday’
- 2.7 7. Adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoe
- 2.8 Different Kinds of Cushioning
- 2.9 Forefoot Cushion
- 2.10 Heel Cushion
- 2.11 Cushion Height
- 2.12 High, Mid, or Low Collar
- 2.13 Cushion Bounce
- 2.14 Fit
- 2.15 Grip and Traction
- 2.16 Material
- 3 Conclusion
Who Should Purchase the Best Cushioned Basketball Shoe?
All basketball players get advantages from cushioned shoes. However, there are certain kinds that could employ extra padding in a true sense. Larger players who put a lot of stress on the joints can benefit from the perfect cushion. Also, players having big feet could also employ these shoes as a nice way of reducing the possibility of broken bones.
Not all players require comfortably-cushioned and soft basketball shoes. However, there are lots of reasons why you could benefit from the impact protection offered by these shoes. These shoes are best suited for heavy and big players. The reason why large players need these shoes is they put more stress on their joints in comparison to others. Players who experience knee pain require soft-cushioned shoes. So, if you hurt your knees after each game, then you need to watch out for more impact protection.
The cushioned basketball shoes are even perfect for players who suffer from ankle or knee issues on the basketball court routinely. Though there’s no effective way to reduce injuries, extra padding assists you in combating wears and tears that come with every game. If you play basketball like crazy for hours and hours every day, then it is best to get an extra pair that offers additional cushioning for relieving the stress your joints have to go through.
7 Best Cushioned Basketball Shoes
Cushioning is something that perfects the jumping distance and provides you amazing bounces for the jumping. There are lots of cushioning technologies such as HOVR cushioning, Zoom Air Turbo cushioning, Boost cushioning, Max Zoom cushioning technology, and others. In various shoes, the cushioning technology carries out dual functions. This technology adds to your feet’s protection and also offers safety from impacts.
So, it is best to choose shoes with great cushioning technology if you like to enhance your performance. Before you purchase basketball shoes, whether they are cushioned or not, it helps to learn the different options present out there. Here, we are listing some of the best cushioned basketball shoes. This review will help you to take an informed decision.
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Under Armour Men’s Curry 3Zero Basketball Shoe is the best cushioned basketball shoe available out there. The Curry 3Zero is part of a more affordable product range of Stephen Curry shoes. Under Armour Men’s Curry is a mid-top designed basketball shoe. The company launched this amazing shoe in 2017.
Under Armour Men’s Crazy 3Zero Basketball shoe provides great traction on clean courts. But, you need to wipe the dust off on dusty courts at times. These shoes feature a stiff cushioning and excellent insole. In addition to this, they feature decent impact protection. Under Armour 3Zero shoe has adequate toe room having regular width. Players who suffer from court injuries often can opt for this basketball shoe from Under Armour. These shoes are even best for players with wide feet.
The shoes are pretty durable and lightweight. Their stability is good and they feature a contoured forefront and flat outsole. The one thing that most players like about this shoe is its innovative adjustable heel. Due to the amazing lockdown, this heel works amazingly for ankle brace bearers. Another good thing about these shoes is that they go true to your foot size. Overall, this Stephen Curry 3Zero seems to a great product with an attractive price tag.
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Harden is one of the popular lines of the best basketball shoes, manufactured by adidas. adidas Harden Vol. 3 Men’s shoes feature a comfortable upper, which is made of the FlyKnit material. This material offers a nice lockdown shoe, which is somewhat breathable. When it comes to the shoe’s cushioning, it features the Boost Technology cushioning in the mid-sole. All this makes this shoe bouncier on the heel.
On the other hand, proven and time-tested herringbone pattern rubber outsole is what you will find at the shoe’s bottom. According to your preference, you might get a solid one or translucent one. Many people find that adidas Harden Vol. 3 shoes offer a snug fit. This ensures that there’s a great lockdown. However, it feels simple to use when the material stretches out over time. As the shoe moves toits break-in state very soon, you could feel its real flexibility. adidas Harden Vol. 3 Men’s shoes feature a conventional construction and lacing system. However, most testers and wearers think that these basketball shoes are not good for dirty or outdoor courts due to the traction they feature. This is also because they cannot withstand wears and tears that a shoe should undergo in outdoor.
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If you could not go with the above-mentioned options, then adidas Men’s D Rose 8 is something you can consider. This shoe from adidas is a must-have product for players. It nails two amazing features of a basketball shoe, which are support and traction. The new zipper patter offers beastly traction on dusty courts. The Boost cushioning system is well balanced and offers great impact protection. Also, this cushioning is very responsive. The cushioning system helps with energy transfer too.
The shoe material is basic and looks cheap, but it serves your purpose well. If you like to have a supportive high top with support and amazing traction, then this adidas Men’s D Rose 8 is an ideal option. This high-top basketball shoe features perfect ankle support, where these ankle cuffs are pretty sturdy and thick. So, it is a nice option for people who need ankle support. However, they are not really basketball shoes as such, but fitness-oriented shoes. The best part is that they would not cost you much.
adidas Men’s D Rose 8 shoes have integrated lace cords for amazing lockdown. Its GEOFIT anatomical and ergonomic construction is designed especially for working with your feet and move along with them. Furthermore, adidas Men’s D Rose 8 shoes’ air mesh is lightweight and breathable enough for keeping you cool. The shoe features TPU overlay for added stability and durability.
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One cannot go wrong with this basketball shoe from Air Jordan. The Air Jordan XXXII basketball shoes feature two segmented Air compartments for that amazing all-round performance blend. It features an unlocked forefront unit. This means that there is no extra material layer over the unit apart from the insole. That’s why this forefront section is heaven for all kinds of players.
Air Jordan XXXII MVP Black Cement shoes are perfect for both off and on the basketball court. The cushioning technology used in this model is decoupled Zoom Air. This cushioning feels more stable and comfortable than the previous model. The traction on clean basketball courts is just amazing. Air Jordan Black Cement shoes are made with the FlyKnit material. This material feels like it moves with the foot and delivers a one-to-one fit.It provides lots of containment.
Players can really feel how the compressed air returns back your energy immediately in no time after coming in contact with the hardwood. It features outstanding responsiveness and gives low to the ground ride. Also, the shoes feature a bottom-loaded unit in its heel section. This creates adequate bounce and impact protection. Also, the lockdown and support are fantastic.
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Another great option for basketball shoes is this adidas model. The Performance Men’s Cloudfoam is a decent basketball shoe at a very reasonable price, which makes it a great value for money. The shoe features a leather upper, which is lightweight and durable. These mid basketball shoes offer the best in stability and ankle support.
Adidas Performance Men’s Cloudfoam basketball shoes add to the proper ventilation having perforations on the outside. These shoes feature a classic 3-stripe adidas logo for adding a touch of style to them.
The rear quarter, collar, and tongue of the shoe is mesh for allowing the airflow that you require for keeping your feet cool throughout the game. The ultimate feature of this basketball shoe is the Cloudfoam sockliner and midsole. With great cushioning and being lightweight, the Cloudfoam ensures that your feet remain secure in the shoe along with ultra-comfortable. So, this enhanced foam footbed improves the comfort of your shoes.
This basketball shoe has great traction that is offered by the sneaker’s rubber outsole. This helps in providing the grip that you require while moving all around the basketball court. So, if you are looking for something decent and reasonably priced, then this model from adidas is a perfect product to go with.
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Air Jordan from Nike is what most basketball players prefer. This product line is there on the market now for over two decades. Its reputable status and influence are enough to make sneaker lovers consider this Nike basketball shoe. Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Cyber Monday’ was launched by Nike in 2015 to commemorate ‘Cyber Monday.’
It is not a hidden fact that Michael Jordan has revolutionized the basketball game. This product line inspired by him has also redefined sneaker style with a bit of basketball flavor. The Air Jordan shoe range boasts various colorways to cater to all sneaker lovers all over the world. In this ‘Cyber Monday’, sneaker enthusiasts get a jet-black colorway that comes with a neat white console.
Air Jordan retro models come with a proper toe box, where both sides are entirely covered with soft leather. In addition, these shoes have a usual rubber outsole. On the mid and top sites, you have the logos of Air Jordan and Nike swoosh. On the tongue and insole of this shoe model, there is a nylon-based branding. Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Cyber Monday’ feature premium leather, mesh, and imprinted winged-logo of Jordan.
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Last but not the least, adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Explosive basketball shoe is a durable, lightweight product. It is designed especially for speed, performance, comfort, strength, lateral movement, and a lot more. The well-known Boost Technology from adidas has been used in these shoes as the cushioning system. This cushioning offers incredible energy return, inexhaustible comfort, and better game performance. The best part about this model is that it’s reasonably priced.
adidas shoes are best for both indoor and outdoor. They feature highly durable, rubber consoles. Hence, they optimize mobility, court traction, and control. They come with the Thermoplastic polyurethane Boost cushioning, which offers nice absorption. This basketball shoe has the ability to bounce back or reform.
adidas Men’s Crazy Explosive shoes are made of dual mesh, breathable, and synthetic materials. All of these materials improve airflow. They surround and adjust to your feet nicely. The high top of these basketball shoes provides adequate ankle support without restricting any mobility. The shoes do not feature tongue padding. This could result in additional pressure or irritation across the top of your feet.
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So, these were some of the best cushioned shoes for basketball players. All of them are unique in some way or the other. Check out their features, pros, and cons to make a decision. Watch this video to know more on the best cushioned basketball shoes.
Buying Guide for the Best Cushioned Basketball Shoes
Now, you have learned about the best cushioned basketball shoes, it’s time for you to check some important factors that you need to consider before buying basketball shoes. It does not kill to take on some research work before you make a final decision.
Firstly, you should know your comfort zone and the type of cushioning your feet actually desires. Only after this, you could make the right assessment of shoes and provide an amazing feel to the feet while entertaining spectators with your incredible moves.
Generally, whenever people make a selection, they consider main factors like fit, lock-in, traction, material, style, and cushioning. Here, we are primarily focusing on the shoe cushioning system. So, let’s have a look at some sub-factors of cushioning and other important factors in this section.
Different Kinds of Cushioning
There are lots of cushioning variations available on the market. Some of these variations are conventional, while some of them are designed especially for a specific brand. Boost by adidas and Zoom air by Nike are two well-known cushioning types.
Boost cushioning of adidas comprises thousands of micro thermoplastic urethane pellets that are combined using hot steam. The urethane pellets are springy and soft for proving adequate bounce to players. Quick movements and good responsiveness are some of the chief functions of this cushioning type.
Apart from them, there is another conventional cushioning called phylon. This cushioning is lighter as compared to other cushioning. Also, Vinyl Acetate and Ethylene are other popular foam-based cushioning, which lots of basketball shoe manufacturers use.
Forefoot Cushion
Players who play using forefoot need to be careful while choosing a pair of basketball shoes. They have to focus on forefoot cushioning while getting a pair of basketball sneakers. Typically, forefoot cushion offers good responsiveness as lots of movements have to be incepted from this foot part. Also, a great forefoot cushioning also helps to make lateral movement and hard cuts effortlessly. So, consider this cushioning important.
Heel Cushion
This is another important factor that you have to bear in mind while choosing the best basketball shoes. Heel cushioning satisfies two things: nice bounce and impact protection. So, players who rely on their heels and fulfill these two requirements, they can definitely produce magic on the basketball court. After considering the cushioning, you need to think about the next factor, that is, the height of the cushion.
Cushion Height
The cushion height is a determining factor as it regulates how high the foot is from the floor. There’s no fixed height or level but based on choice. However, the extremes come with drawbacks. If this cushion setup is extremely high, then you will be away from the floor. This will cause possible injuries and instability as you would not get much court feel, which is the shoe responsiveness. This responsiveness depends on how close the shoe is to the floor.
On the other hand, if this cushion setup is low, the court feel would be good. However, the cushion effect and impact protection will be more like non-existent. So, it is recommended to go with an in-between height that offers impact protection and court feel.
High, Mid, or Low Collar
Next, you have to decide whether you like mids, low tops, or high tops. Each one comes with its own set of pros and cons. So, let’s see a description of them.
High tops: You must have seen high-top shoes before, where some even go a bit extra high. The extra height offers an added layer of ankle support. It helps in preventing injuries. However, this adds a bit weight to this shoe. That’s the reason, you will not come across players wearing these kinds of shoes, who rely on speed heavily. Bigger men usually wear them as they rely more on strength.
Mids: Most players like this kind of shoes as they offer decent ankle support. Plus, it does not add much weight to the product. If you are the one who is versatile (like to shoot, drive, have strength, and speed), then this variety is definitely for you. You will get what you actually need with this product type.
Low tops: This type of tops is mainly for people who rely on speed and athleticism and for guards. It is usually preferred by point guards due to its lightweight construction. Here, you would not get much ankle support. Also, if you suffer from ankle injuries often, then low tops are not for you.
Cushion Bounce
The cushion bounce refers to the impact protection level a cushion setup provides. This varies with the foam type employed and the latest technologies that manufacturers use for finding the balance between a soft and a stiff cushion setup. The reason that you need to find a balanced cushion is because a soft cushion would not be responsive and thus, would not meet the requirements for faster players, such as guards. Meanwhile, a stiff cushion would not offer adequate impact protection and could not support jumping players, such as forwards. By looking for a balance, your shoe will receive amazing impact protection and responsiveness. One can check this by leaning on one’s heel.
Fit
Fit is another significant part of a perfect basketball shoe. It is also important when you look at cushioned basketball shoes. This is because it does not matter how padded your shoes are, it would not be any help if the shoes are not positioned in the correct place. A perfect fit prevents these kinds of problems and makes sure your shoes perform a good job.
Grip and Traction
So, it does not actually help how much cushion your shoe insides have if they cannot grip the basketball court. It makes your play worse when you slide over the floor and also, opens more injuries. Most of the popular cushioned shoes do not feature solid traction. Interesting soles, special patterns, and unique rubber all offer better grip. Thus, it is important for people who want to play basketball on different surfaces.
The shoe traction can also be classified as made for outdoor or indoor courts. Indoor tractions are soft and difficult to grip onto a dusty floor, whereas outdoor shoes feature hard soles that act durable against rough courts. Selecting the wrong traction could lead to no durability or more slippages. That’s why choose the right kind of traction.
Another important factor is the traction pattern, a rubber pattern that determines your shoe’s grip. For shoes to be more grippy, this pattern needs to be multi-directional. Here, multi-directional refers to a pattern that reaches all directions and allows basketball players to employ their agility.
Material
The material employed in the product’s construction makes the whole difference in the breathability and durability of the shoes. Ultimately, you have to look for the shoes that will enable your foot to breathe and to avoid excessive sweating that makes your foot quite unstable. So, if you are in search of something durable, then a blend of synthetic materials, mesh, and leather will be the best. These shoes are lightweight and durable. They offer the support and comfort that you need from the shoes’ upper.
So, these are some of the important factors that you should consider while buying a pair of basketball shoes.
Conclusion
Cushioned basketball shoes are must-haves for people who play basketball a lot. It is very important to protect your feet while playing this game. This is because every small injury can sideline you from the court for weeks. So, do not go after fashionable shoes that just look good. You have to understand the inner workings of basketball shoes, examine how they protect you, and make sure that you are investing in a good product.
That’s why you should always opt for some of the best cushioned basketball shoes. Under this category, the best product is Under Armour Men’s Curry 3Zero Basketball shoe. Its adjustable ankle support is what this product stands out from others. Another great product on our list after this one is adidas Harven Vol. 3 shoes. They are very comfortable to wear and durable too. If you are looking for budget-friendly basketball shoes, then adidas Men’s D Rose 8 is a great option to consider. Check out other products listed here to find a perfect pair of basketball shoes to improve your game. Hoping that this review will help you in accomplishing this task. If you find this article interesting and helpful, do not hesitate to share this important piece of information with other basketball enthusiasts.
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