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Jordan CP3 II Performance Review – Nick Engvall
“This is how a shoe should fit to your foot” is the first thought when I put on the Jordan CP3.II. The shoes hug your feet. In saying that, I don’t mean that the shoes run small, I mean literally hug your feet. The strap that runs across the top of the forefoot through the tongue is much more noticeable in holding the shoe close to your foot than other sneakers. The ankle area of the shoes are designed in a way that their is no space or “slop” whatsoever. The Achilles support pads are near perfect in supporting your ankle, combined with the NuFoam ankle area really makes the shoe literally fit like a glove.
Putting it to the test started outdoors, where most shoes lose points with herringbone traction.?? The CP3.II’s chevron pattern traction pattern is more aggressive and its deeper ridges gives the shoes much better grip on the blacktop than most of its competition. Taking them back inside onto the hardwood, the CP3.II does not miss a beat.?? After wearing the shoes outdoors, I had my reservations about how it would perform indoors because most shoes do well in one place and not the other, not the CP3.II.
The shoes follow your every move, in fact in a way they seem to be half a step ahead of you due to the outriggers on the forefoot. It’s as if the shoe has anticipated your cut back to the other side and responds with a simple “I got you” affirmation as you plant your lead foot to cross up your opponent. Part of that most likely comes from the flex groove in the forefoot area of the sole as well or perhaps the plates that run through the midfoot area. Overall the responsiveness of the shoe is top notch, very much parallel to Chris Paul’s game.
Cushioning is great.?? The Zoom Air in the forefoot is what you would expect as far as comfort and performance in a shoe for one of the NBA’s top athletes. The heel area uses a Dual Hardness Injected Phylon which works well giving cushioning to the heel without losing seconds in soft cushioning. It’s a unique feeling, different from the forefoot, in that it is a touch stiffer than the Zoom Air, but also adds to the stability of the heel area. For someone like myself, this works out great in a couple of ways. Back peddling on defense, and added durability as well.
If their is any downside to the Jordan CP3.II, it is noticeably hot when playing. The shoe could use some improvement in the breathablility department. This is probably due to a combination of the use of patent leather and nubuck. This reminds me of playing Jordan XI which used a similar treatment of patent leather and also plays very warm on your feet.
The CP3.II is one of the best performing shoes I’ve played in to date. If my first thought was “this is how a shoe should fit to your foot”, then after playing in the shoe, I have to say “this is how a basketball shoe should perform.”?? Tip of the hat to Jordan Brand for this shoe.
