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Josh Smith is an enigma of an player, thanks to his hyper-athletic build and 6’9″ frame. With incredible bounce and impressive length, Smith is difficult to categorize as any one type of player. Because of this, it would seem near impossible to create a signature shoe for the Atlanta Hawk. Somehow, though, adidas hit the nail on the head with the adiZero Infiltrate. Smith’s shoe is a great all-around performer, providing a well-balanced mix of important sneaker attributes. Other hoopers like Raymond Felton have taken a liking to his shoe as well, including Jrue Holiday, Darren Collison and others, further displaying this shoe’s versatility. Check out our in-depth analysis below.
Strengths
Response Time
Heel Stability
Fit
The adiZero Infiltrate has a healthy amount of cushioning, but its sole’s strength lies in its responsive nature. Springy, much like the other adiZero models tested this past week, it helps the player feel both planted and light on their feet. This balance is very important, as too much or too little of either can leave a player hesitant when changing direction. Thankfully, responsiveness is one of this shoe’s best features.
Laterally, the Infiltrate is a wonder in stability. The well-placed pod on the sole’s lateral sides takes a little getting used to, as it’s located in a spot where one might not be used to feeling added support, but one will quickly understand its advantages. The added sole helps with stability only when cutting, as it doesn’t even lie flat when a play is not putting any outward pressure on their foot and shoe. The shape of the heel itself is also terrific for stability, balancing a player’s weight evenly across the width of the heel.
Though impossible to quantify, this shoe’s overall balance and fit makes it a favorable sneaker. For instance, players who have have a wide foot like myself, will like that there are no pinch points. The gradual slope of the shoe, from toe to ankle, allows players with a wide variety of foot shapes and preferences in fit to get comfortable. The padded liner and tongue help with comfort and keep the forefoot in place during motion.
Weaknesses
Ankle Support
Weight
Clearly, the adage that a low-top can’t be worn on the basketball court is outdated and has proven wrong over the last few year, but this midtop’s cut leaves it at a most unfortunate height. The low backside height is hardly above the height a running sneaker might be, and the frontside’s flap design leaves the ankle area and the eyelets on it all but useless. The Geofit lockdown point is located in a theoretically ideal place, but the unsecured nature of ankle area results in an awkward design that doesn’t allow the humps to hold the wearer’s foot in place. This weakness is relative to foot/ankle size and shape and may vary from player to player.
The sneaker itself is not terribly heavy, but in a day and age where weight may be the most important quality players look for in a shoe, the Infiltrate is a bit on the chunky side. The culprit is likely the added cushioning and underside rubber not found on adidas’ lightest shoe, the adiZero Rose. Like with any shoe, there’s always some give-and-take.
Overview:
This adidas may not be flashy or loaded with buzzword technologies like so many shoes on the market today, but that doesn’t diminish its capabilities a bit. A solid all-around performer, the Infiltrate falls right in line between Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose’s models, providing for the largest variety of players. And at $90 (Only at Dick’s Sporting Goods), this shoe is a bargain for anyone looking for a “jack of all trades.”
