Product Review: Adidas D Rose 4 Shoes

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Derrick Rose might be out for the 2013-2014 season, but his new kicks from adidas are out there getting the job done in style. The adidas D Rose 4 shoes feature an exclusive, tailored design inspired by Derrick’s distinct on- and off-court personalities. From SPRINTFRAME stability to support any player’s explosive and attacking style of play, to the sleek, clean upper mirroring Derrick Rose’s off-court style, these shoes combine premium performance and innovative design for the ultimate signature basketball shoe. Comfort is top priority if you want to take your game to the next level, and the D Rose 4 seamlessly-bonded SPRINTWEB provides breathable, lightweight support that any player will appreciate.

You can find the new D Rose 4 shoes for $139 online here at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

  

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Boost your energy with Springblade technolgy from adidas

Most of our readers have probably seen ads for the adidas Springblade, which are the first running shoe with individually tuned blades engineered to help propel runners forward with one of the most effective energy returns in the industry. Right when we put these shoes on for a test run, we couldn’t believe the explosive energy from the Springblade shoe! Unlike standard EVA midsoles, which deliver energy return in a vertical direction, Springblade features 16 forward angled blades made out of a high-tech polymer. The highly elastic blades instantaneously react to any environment, compressing and releasing energy to create an efficient push-off that feels like you have springs under your feet. The feeling is so unique and new that you really feel like you are experiencing something from the future.

For all the serious runners out there, it’s important to know that each blade is precisely tuned in geometry, thickness and position for each phase of a runner’s stride to provide support and a full range of movement. Additionally, Springblade’s flexible construction was designed to hug the top of a runner’s foot, locking it in to harness the energy returned from the springs on the outsole. After six years in the making, aIT (adidas Innovation Team) tested hundreds of materials to ensure each spring produced maximum energy efficiency with every step and conducted rigorous ballistics tests to maintain long-lasting durability For top performance in all environments, Springblade is seven times more temperature resistant than shoes with adidas’ standard EVA cushioning. Aside from all of the technology under your feet, these new Springblade’s look incredible and will grab attention from folks of all walks of life.

The adidas Springblade is available for $180 and has been on sale since August 1 at adidas.com and retailers nationwide, including Finish Line, Foot Locker, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Eastbay and select running specialty stores.

  

Reebok unveils the highly-anticipated ATV 19 running shoes

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For those always looking for the latest high-tech running shoes, there’s something special about the all-new Reebok ATV 19s. We recently tested a pair in all-black, and from the time you first check out these new kicks, you can tell they are going to be like nothing you have ran in before!

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You’ll first notice the irregular lug pattern outsole technology that features 19 large size ATV lugs to help provide traction and agility on various surfaces. The ATV 19 also boasts a full-length IMEVA midsole that is designed to provide earth-shaking traction and durable comfort. The support that I felt in the ATV 19 is as good as any running shoe tested to date! Check out the video below featuring Dallas Cowboys linebacker Demarcus Ware and UFC fighter Rampage Jackson to see for yourself how the ATVs hold up in tough conditions.

The bottom line here is that Reebok’s ATV 19 provides maximum ground contact that can rip through any surface because its irregular sole gives you a banked feel for incredible traction. The ATV 19s are available today for $90 at key retailers, including Finish Line and Reebok.com.

  

Bullz-Eye reviews the adidas D ROSE 3.5 Signature Basketball Shoe

We were fortunate to review the newly designed and developed D Rose 3.5 Signature Basketball Shoe from adidas with input from Chicago Bulls superstar point guard Derrick Rose. The shoe has improved performance, bolder style and more personal details than its predecessor and launched just a few weeks ago. The D Rose 3.5 shoe is inspired by Derrick’s dedication and hard work to his game and features adidas’ most innovative performance technology, premium and rich style elements and personal details.

To exceed the performance needs for Derrick’s unique style of play, which includes extreme changes in direction, acceleration and explosiveness, adidas designers made the D Rose 3.5 more supportive, comfortable and responsive than its predecessor. The shoe fits even closer to the foot for faster cuts and features a SPRINTWEB upper engineered specifically for his style of play, which reduces weight with maximum support and breathability.

Additional performance features include an ergonomic ankle collar pocket to ensure maximum support during hard cuts and a breathable mesh tongue to improve comfort. SPRINTFRAME technology features an external heel counter to reduce weight and allow for energy return and motion control, giving Derrick his best performing signature shoe to date to improve his performance on court.

The bold spiral overlay pattern is inspired by Derrick’s goal to tighten his game, and functionally, it increases flexibility and provides optimum toe protection. The synthetic leather upper features the spiral protruding from the D Rose logo on the ankle to represent how his on and off-court success continues to grow from the support of his family, who inspired the logo. Chicago call-outs on the inside of the tongue showcase the essence of Rose, including a “Rooted in Chicago” graphic with lettering, colors and shapes inspired by Derrick’s tattoos and the Chicago flag. Each colorway of the D Rose 3.5 will feature special graphics, materials and colors that give details about Derrick’s life and style of play.

The three stripes are again featured on the back of the shoe to represent Rose’s speed, and now wrap around the outsole so opponents will see them not only when he drives past them, but also goes over them.

The D Rose 3.5 launched at retailers worldwide on January 31st for $160 in away (black/white/red) and home (gray/black/red) colorways. The shoe will launch in six additional editions through April.

The new D Rose 3.5 not only looks incredible, but the fit and finish of the new shoe from adidas hits new levels for comfort and stability. These new offerings are extremely lightweight but add to the strength of an already top-shelf shoe. The attention one gets from wearing the new D Rose 3.5’s might surprise you because everyone wants to check them out on and off the court.

  

Playing basketball in the new Ektio Breakaway

We had the chance to test the new Ektio Breakaway, which improves upon previous models through enhanced comfort, performance and ease of use. The new Ektio looks great and is sleeker than the first edition, but make no mistake, these new athletic shoes are as safe as ever with new breakthrough technology. With that peace of mind, basketball players have come to find out that there are more benefits to wearing the new Ektio than just looks and safety from injuries. A recent survey done by Ektio revealed that 42% of players felt that Ektio shoes improved their outside shooting efficiency compared to their prior sneakers. One of the fundamentals of consistent outside shooting is balance and stability. Ektio shoes, which provide ankle support technology designed to protect against sprained ankles, also offers maximum balance and stability for the foot and ankle. Basketball experts and trainers believe this is the explanation for the better shooting the Ektio shoe provides.

The shoe is very lightweight and gave us more ankle support than we could have hoped. John Starks, former New York Knicks guard and member of the Ektio Team, says this shoe will set the standard for maximum performance and ankle protection in basketball, tennis, volleyball and more. “We’ve taken our product to a whole new level,” Starks said. “We’re always striving to improve the product, and we’ve certainly done that with the Breakaway.” Rick Barry, NBA Hall of Famer and member of the Ektio Team, has said, “I find it difficult to understand why any basketball player would not wear the Ektio shoe.”

The slightly more difficult process of putting the old models of Ektio on is now eliminated with the Breakaway model. Two inner straps bring your foot and the shoe together as a single unit, minimizing movement going on inside the shoe. The movement that occurs inside every other shoe is what allows the ankle and shoe to move in separate directions, causing excruciatingly painful ankle sprains. With that movement minimized in the Ektio shoe, so are the chances of an ankle sprain. The mesh tongue and neoprene inner booty provide for a snug, comfortable fit while securing the inner straps to the shoe. The anti-sprain bumpers on the outside allow you to cut harder, stop shorter, and slide more powerfully defensively without the fear of the ankle giving out.

The Breakaway is scheduled to launch February 1, 2013 at Eastbay.com, Amazon.com and Ektio.com. The Ektio Breakaway will retail for $129.95.