Cushion – After many disappointing Zoom Air experiences over the past months, it was refreshing to wear a Zoom based shoe that actually felt like a Zoom based shoe. The forefoot utilized the same size and shape unit as the KD VI while the heel features a typical Zoom heel unit. I believe the foam is the reason I had a good experience as it felt more like a rubber based foam similar to Cushlon. Comfort, court feel, responsiveness and an overall smooth ride… no complaints on this end.
Material – Fuse and neoprene are the primary materials but there is a little bit of 1st gen Flywire in place. It’s durable and comfortable so just like the cushion, nothing to really complain about.
Fit – They fit true to size and once you get your foot into the neoprene sock, they fit like a glove. Their snug fit is something that I love and its probably their best aspect.
Lockdown in the forefoot, midfoot & heel is practically flawless. This coupled with the snug fit and they would have been great had it not been for the flimsy Fuse right at the top of the collar which also rides incredibly low. I personally love playing in low tops and I would choose a low over most models but this might be too low. Some lateral reinforcement would have been welcomed so if you have weak ligaments then you may want to stay away. I’d recommend using a brace of some sort or tape up your ankles if you plan on playing in them. I guess there is such thing a too low…
Ventilation – Air flow and ventilation are above average. If you are a fan of this attribute then you’ll be pleasantly pleased.
Support – As usual, the support comes from the fit overall and while the forefoot and heel are doing their part to keep you secure… that collar isn’t. There is an outrigger in place, its small but works, as well as an internal torsional shank bar and that is taking care of business as well. Their one drawback is the collar and again, I suggest wearing something additional to help support your ankle laterally and by support I mean restrict a bit of movement for that particular section… I never really suggest wearing anything additional since brace wearers usually wear their braces anyways and same goes for those that don’t wear a brace, however, this is the one time where I’d make an exception no matter if you wear a brace or not.
Overall – I like the look, feel and the feeling the fit brings along with the cushion but the inconsistent traction and the lack of support in the collar are definitely a couple of drawbacks. At $110, its really not all that bad once you factor in a decent brace but that’s up to your discretion. Just a few little tweaks here and there and these would have been a really awesome model versus an average performer.