Here's my story with this model:

1. Back in 2024 I bought a pair of Dame 8 Extply in Pulse Mint colorway. It was an online buy alongside some other stuff. What's essential to this puzzle - the cushioning was extraordinary. Just from initial try on, stepping comfort was delicious. Without taking them to court, just by jumping around I could tell how bouncy they are. I remember even trying them on without an insole - the bounce from Bounce Pro foam was so good. Oh btw. the insole was very thick, more so than even those good Ortholite ones. I figured I'd hunt for some better colorway, so I returned them.
2. Half a year later, I bought a slightly used pair of 8 Extply in the same size as the previous one. The cushioning

felt

1. so much different. Much stiffer and possibly a bit heavier, but the thing about weight is just pure speculation cause I didn't weigh my first pair. I'm sure they are 100% legit, there're no fakes of GR Dame 8. Pair isn't marked as B-Grade or anything.
2. Today, I bought a pair of standard Dame 8 lows, new. Again, the cushioning is nowhere near the first pair. This one feels even stiffer than pair 2 and comes with a very thin insole. Strobel board underneath feels very hard except heel cutouts. If it wasn't for the first pair, I'd think so many positive opinions about the cushioning are way off.

Again, legit for sure.

To recap, there's a huge difference in cushioning and insole. One is probably Adidas' best foam when it comes to bounce, two others feel like some badly implemented models with Lightstrike. What do you think it is? Different batches of Bounce Pro? Could the Strobel board of the first pair come already broken in from people trying it in-store? What's your story with Dame 8? Have your had so glaring inconsistencies with any other model?

Picture for attention, I just found it online.

They first released in Whitaker's Group stores in US, then got a release on US Adidas.

Does anyone know if they're going to hit retail stores in other parts of the world? Most interested in Europe.

Hi everyone!

Local seller has a couple of sizes for a very good price (possibly too good). He claims these are from customer returns from one of the big Western retailer (I suspect, Zalando or similar). I have my doubts over this, but let this aspect fly because I historically bought many legit pairs this way.

In this case, what triggers me is the date on the size tag - these shouldn't be 2025, right? The og run was 05/2021. I know GTC1 had a retro/restock run but could have they possibly been marked with 2025? Also, the font on the box size tag seems iffy.

If not legit, any ideas about the batch? If good, I'll still entertain buying.

Intro

Joker 1 GT SE is a great alternative to old GOATs

Half a year ago, I posted an initial review of my Joker 1 GT SE pair (J1GTSE for short). I just recently clocked 100 court hrs in them. Coincidentally, there were a couple nostalgia posts about Adidas golden era of Boost basketball shoes (2016-2018) recently, especially Crazylight Boost and Crazy Explosive lines. Some people claimed there were no good alternatives these days, some simply weren't around to try some of those GOATed models and wonder what the whole fuss was about. I'm one of the few people here that still own a couple of pairs from these lines, so it got me thinking and more importantly - pulling them into my rotation for direct comparison with J1GTSE. Read on for conclusions!

Here's my most recent collection update. Have a look to understand my perspective and experience.

Summary / TLDR

J1GTSE may as well be the closest current replacement for Crazylight Boost, Crazy Explosive and Harden 3 when all metrics are considered.

Note, I'm speaking specifically about the SE version. I only got to play in standard J1 / J1 GT for a couple of hours, so I'm not ready for final conclusions, but I'd risk saying the experience is also very close to high versions of these old Adidas models.

Honorable mentions of models that I find similar:
- Anta Scalpel / Vanguard 2
- some aspects of Adidas Don Issue 7
- some aspects of Sabrina 1

Cushioning

Similar stack height, caging, stable heel base and wide forefoot with outriggers

Cushioning was a big part of why these GOATed models were so highly acclaimed. I have owned or at least tried on a significant chunk of post-2020 Adidas models and nothing really came close. In this metric alone, T-Mac Millennium 2 may have been the last to feature something similar. Then, in 2022/23 Adidas had a short stint with Bounce and Bounce Pro. Dame 8 and Dame 8 Extply felt like an evolution of Adidas answer to max cushioning, but the high stack, subpar traction and the weight disqualified it from being a true continuation.

The formula that worked wonders back then was - simplicity and sticking to what has previously worked - not too high stack, bouncy foam, caging (in some parts) that enforces stability but also lets the foam compress and a decent insole on top.

I feel like full length Qu!kCQTech + midfoot Qu!kBONE carbon plate is what Adidas designers would aim at for the future versions.

My most worn pairs are partly bottomed out already but I also have one deadstock and they feel like a slightly less shock absorbing and less bouncy version of J1GTSE. It's still close though - wearing them one each, it's not a glaring difference.

Court feel is very similar.

Traction

Whether you loved those original Adidas lines or you use any J1 these days, you know the traction is probably one of the best of all times on both.

I always appreciated how gracefully that old traction degrades with time. My most worn pair of CLB16 still grips better than some new recent models. It's too soon to judge J1GTSE on durability but I have to update you all - I feel like the traction got even better since that review at ~35 court hrs. I don't know if there was any factory layer that needed peeling off more, or maybe it's something else.

Upper and fit

It may be that final piece that brings most similarities.

Adidas sizing back in that era was funky to say the least. For most mentioned, I needed to go half size down to arrive at my TTS in other brands. I could pull off going with my TTS but I needed my thickest socks. In other words, a deadstock pair of CLB 16 in US 9 felt like a well used pair in US 8.5.

• CLB16 size US 8.5 EUR 42: 396g (13.97 oz)
• J1GTSE size US 9 EUR 42.5: 365g (12.34 oz)

Padding is really close, slightly beefier in J1GTSE overall. Both tongues have similar qualities: the upper part is well padded which covers your instep enough for the lace pressure not to cause a problem, but the bottom part has breathable mesh.

Tongue shape may be different, but both function the same

Toebox shape is pretty close. It may just be a little pointier in J1GTSE but it honestly looks more so than it feels inside, at least for my toes shape.

Toebox shape, tongue breathable bottom mesh, reinforced eyelets

Another standout aspect is how well both of them hug your Achilles area. It's a very subjective, I'm aware some people can't stand this type of design, so that's the big asterisk.

Anyway, if you enjoyed that feeling back in CLB16, you'd love J1GTSE. Other similar model from recent years in that area is Adidas Don Issue 7.

CLB16' heel padding may be a bit bottomed out but still functions very similarly

It may look like J1GTSE are more clunky and angled on the back but the foam is soft and collapses causing a similar feeling. If you plant your step a bit sideways going for a layup or volleball jump, it's forgiving.

Reinforced external heel counter.

Before writing this post, I consumed every DLO2 review I could find and came out with no definitive answer.

DLO 2 is already available at a nice discount (~85 USD all in) from AliExpress at my region. I love the design but what has me double thinking is the cushioning.

Here's my current collection for the reference. I need some minimal cushioning level to enjoy the shoe. Models that I consider to be at my minimum level: 361 5.0 Quick Pro, Sabrina 1 and 2, Kobe 5, Kobe Mamba Rage and Instinct, Curry 2, Dame 9 and 10, Anta Scalpel/Vanguard 2 etc. I don't enjoy models with "dead", low to the ground forefoot: AE1 Low, AE2, Luka 1-4, Luka 77. I guess, my most enjoyable models that are still low to the ground are Lebron 20 and Rigorer AR3 Vision, hope that's a good reference point.

My gut feeling tells me I may not enjoy DLO2, but no review actually compared them enough to other popular models. What's your take?

I'll probably throw this money into some good Joker 2 GT colorway or go even more max cushioning with 808 5 Ultra v2 (I own v1 already).

TLDR / Summary

• Puma APN 1: traction is VERY good for translucent outsoles, below average for solid. Cushioning with peculiar properties, you need to test them. Solid shock absorption, almost no energy return compared to Nike average. Very comfortable and stable. Great colorways. Some have suggested adding a 3rd party insole with CF can elevate them to Elite status. Upper provides a lot of padding.
• Puma APN 1 Elite: VERY good traction, different upper materials, feel lower to the ground than stack height suggests. Drop in midsole setup with carbon fiber plate brings in the energy return aspect the regulars lack. Only two, mediocre colorways. Heel containment a bit worse than regulars but when a runner's knot is present, it's on par and really good. Drop in midsole is compatible with many models, including some Kobes!
• you can find both versions for very cheap if you hunt well enough. Great rotation pair to own.
• Puma CAP: narrower predecessor to APN. Different foam cushioning, with a bit more bounce and a more uniform feel from heel to toe. Very good traction, just slightly worse than translucent APN. Notice how much narrower the outsole is. If APN is too bulky for you, this may be it. The whole vibe reminds me of Harden 3, Crazylight Boost 2016 or Kobe 6.

Intro

It's been almost 3 years since the first All Pro Nitro was released. The Elite version followed a year later, and we are now getting the APN Elite 2.

It's becoming a common theme with my reviews to ask myself whether it's worth producing another one. I do a little research on what reputable reviewers have said about them and what the community takes are, and, as usual, I end up not finding a summary I fully agree with. So... here we go again.

Here's my most recent collection update. Have a look (+ all previous posts linked there) to understand my perspective.

Let's start from the beginning. I came late to Puma revival party and got Clyde All Pro (CAP) some time after APN1 released. I enjoyed most of what they offered but one thing I didn't was how narrow the sole base was. Having CAP under court tests at that time, I tried APN1 instore and instantly understood that was it. I'm usually very skeptical when it comes to shoes but these made me want to play in them straightaway. It happens rarely and prior to that, I had this feeling with Lebron 20 and Nike Cosmic Unity.

I admit, my initial fit impressions lowered my guard regarding the traction as I got two colorways with solid rubber outsoles before fully diving into reviews and learning it wasn't the way to go. Only after I got the translucent outsole versions I realized what the full potential of this model really was. As you can see in my collection update, APN with translucent outsole has been everpresent in my highest tier of performers.

Since then I stocked up on Paris Game colorway (to me, the best one in the line) and wanted to try APN 1 Elite, but waited for a deal I couldn't pass on. As you can see, it happened.

Court hours:

• APN1 (combined for all pairs): ~200
• APN1 Elite: 14
• CAP (combined for all pairs): ~40

Cushioning

As you probably know, the main difference is the cushioning. Regulars feature full length Nitro foam while Elite have a drop in midsole with full length Nitro foam and bottom loaded carbon fibre plate spanning 3/4 of the length.

Let's talk about Nitro foam. If you survey the community, you'll find very diverse opinions about the cushioning. The main reason lies in what the components of the "cushioning" are: energy return vs shock absorption.

Have a look at RunRepeat shock absorption tests for the regular version. They are just about average in how they absorb impacts. These ratings combined with stack height causes them to have a good mix of being a bit mushy in the heel part (to accommodate landings) while remaining sturdy in the forefoot. You don't need to have a very low forefoot stack to have a good court feel, you see. There's some golden middle ground between stack height and foam density that still allows you to have good proprioception. In my view, these strike this balance very well. You can browse RunRepeat charts to find out these are way less mushy than NB FF BB v3 or GT Cut 4. Just to give another comparison point, when I take out the insole, APN1 regular feels like Adidas AE1 Mid with an insole. With the insole, they feel like a more usable version of any AE we had so far. This part of the equation is also responsible for the step in comfort.

The other part is the energy return, have a look at RunRepeat. Here lies the crux of the regular version - they're quite dead in terms of bounce they produce from the forefoot as they transition heel to toe. The bottom loaded plastic shank plate present in the regular version isn't able to work in tandem with the foam to produce the extra forward momentum and is probably there more for torsional stability. In terms of pure measurements, they are way worse than any Adidas AE.

Now, the mix of both params is highly subjective. Some love the step in comfort and rely on their athleticism to power themselves forwards or upwards, some hate the minimal bounce they provide.

To compare to some popular models, the cushioning is like higher stack of Lunarlon drop ins in Kobes (with a bit harder forefoot) or Harden 9 and 10 with lower stack in forefoot. I just played 15 mins mismatched APN1 regular and Harden 9, they felt much alike. In contrast, they are much different than any foam + forefoot top loaded Zoom setup (Lebron 20-22, Sabrina, etc.). If you are used to mentioned forefoot bounce, chances are you won't like these.

Finally, the Elites. Trying one of each on, stepping comfort is improved throughout whole length compared to regulars. Jumping and landing on heels makes them sink in more. The difference in energy return in the forefoot isn't evident initially, but when you start running, it's there and it's big.

Over the last 5 years, we've observed a gradual mastering of foam and shank setups by Chinese brands. Therefore, just to give you all some comparison line, APN 1 Elite feels like a lower, slightly less bouncy version of WOW 11, less aggressive and softer version of JB3, lower version of Joker 1 GT with forefoot being much more firm (people who didn't like mushiness of J1GT forefoot would like these).

Just to throw Clyde All Pro into the mix - they have a cushioning of full length ProFoam+ with a puck of PEBAX in the heel and they're much narrower base. It's hard to compare to Nitro foam. I don't have any measurements to back it up but they feel like they have more bounce to them and unlike APN1 regular, they are more uniform from heel to toe. The fact APN are so much wider in the heel base skews the direct comparison to me. I'd love to see some numbers if you have any. If you hard press me for parallels from other brands, CAP are like Don Issue 7, Dame 9 and 10 in how the full length cushioning feels while APN1 regular are like AE1 - forefoot significantly more dead than the back. I guess I enjoy CAP cushioning more than recent Cushlon 3.0-only releases that come to mind.

Traction

All takes above are for indoor and hardwood courts only. I have no idea how they perform outdoors.

Both colorways of Elites have great traction with the pearl semi-translucent one being the best. The one I have is on par with any translucent rubber colorway of regulars I tried.

How bad are solid rubber versions, then? Well, I tried a couple of standard colorways with solid rubber and they all felt the same and they degraded heavily as it got more dusty. On clean surfaces, they'd bite well but upon dust build up, they'd misbehave similarly to well used Flow outsole - they might bite well or lose traction unexpectedly. "Not reliable when dirty" is probably the best description.

Then, I didn't see any other opinion backing this up, but I feel like the Team versions have some different outsole compound. I may be tripping, because they feel exactly the same to the touch, but I have a feeling that my Black/White colorway struggles on dust even more. Regardless, avoid all Team colorways and any solid rubber version. Some excellent colorways, but it's not worth trading the traction for looks.

CAP traction is in between APN translucent and solid, closer to translucent. Reliable. The groves are bigger. I'd compare it to Sabrina line or Lebron 20.

All versions attract dust similarly and the wipe is easy and fixes problems almost instantly. When I use translucent ones, I don't wipe at all.

Fit, sizing and weight

All fit very similarly and are all US 9 EUR 42.

For the reference, my feet are pretty standard width and instep, no podological issues. I play in thick socks and always prefer to have more room rather than a suffocating performance fit where your feet scream for ice bath after the game.

The average weight of 2025 releases I got is ~380g.

• APN1 regular: 379g (13,36oz)
• APN1 Elite: 436g (15,38oz)
• CAP: 373g (13,16oz)

They all feel quite lightweight on feet. I can't feel the extra weight on Elites. The threshold I start noticing the difference is somewhere around 340g (Sabrina 2 level).

Notice how APN regular and CAP sport mesh uppers. There're vent stripes on the toebox and the sides for APN regular, while there're none for CAP. In contrast, Elites feature shell-like uppers, toebox is fully covered but the sides have some mesh. Do they breathe well? No. Despite no visible features, I'm going to risk saying CAP are the best for breathability. At no point I felt very hot nor there were moisture buildup, but they are all far from Jordan 36. Note, the tongue construction is different in Elites - more classical. It makes them flex more on that one line where your toes start. It may play a role for those with chunky instep. On regulars, the tongue opening starts further from the toebox.

One area where I like regulars (and CAP) way more is the shape, especially the rear. As usual, drop in setups need sturdier shell and you can tell by how more clunky the heel part is. Regulars compress way more causing heel to toe transition to be more fluid (but lacking that final pop from the forefoot). This is what models like JB3 or Joker 1 GT married.

Bonus - APN2

Having liked APN1 so much, I had high hopes for the successor. First off, I find them a downgrade aesthetically. They'd be nice if it wasn't for a big Puma logo on the toebox. Then, there's equally weird tear drop shaped piece that's supposed to reinforce lacing system. That said, I find asymmetric lacing interesting. All in all, very similar looking to 1s but worse. So far, there's been very few translucent rubber colorways and the only one that stands out is E.T. one.

As for the performance, v2 improves energy return and maintains similar shock absorption levels, so nothing that I would have to try over 1s.

The toebox has more problems. It's lower and more tapered.

There's nothing to convince me to replace my APN1 with the newer version.

Finally, we have APN2 Elite coming out. They seem to bring back mesh uppers into Elites and also get rid of pesky Puma logo from the toebox but also introduce cat logo on the medial side. Why oh why. It supposedly brings "Nitro Elite" cushioning. We can all guess what that means. I'll gladly explore when on 70% off sales.

I'm struggling to find any tech specs / opinions / reviews about them. Have anyone tried them? Asking solely about the performance and possibly comparison to their newer products.

https://www.kickscrew.com/en-US/products/li-ning-super-lite-10-shoes-yellow-abph155-5

Intro

Everyone seem to know at least one person who bought GT Cut 4, Book 2, JA3 and swears through tears on how great they are, while majority of experienced reviewers shake their heads. At the very same time, Nike released a simple, yet excellent performer that flies under indoor crowd radar.

Yes, don't double check - I wrote "indoor". Today, I'm going to review this model solely from an indoor hardwood court perspective and give you some comparison line with models that I find similar.

Here's my most recent collection update. Have a look (+ all previous posts linked there) to understand my perspective.

TLDR / Summary

ST Flare traction is solid on indoor courts, comparable to other indoor-first options. Just don't expect ~JB3~ wonders.

Cushioning is comparable to Sabrina line.

Overall, they feel like a sturdier brother of Sabrina 1.

Traction

ST Flare traction is primarily suited for outdoors. How does it fare indoors? This may be biggest reason I'm writing this review. Majority of reputable reviewers mentioned they thought they've been pretty good indoors, but it all sounded like they didn't spend much time validating this claim.

I recently clocked 12 hours of indoor hardwood courts in them, on what I'd classify as 3 levels of cleanliness.

Just for clarity sake - Puma APN I use in this comparison is a solid rubber version and I should probably pick a translucent rubber colorway. My bad. Solid ones are known for significantly worse traction, but let's use this blunder for science.

On all courts, S1 and L20 were excellent and the best out of 5. If you check my collection update post, you'll see I own JB3 and Joker 1 GT SE - these are my traction GOATs. S1 and L20 are a level below - traction is still very dependable on all conditions. I barely wiped them but if you really have to, the wipe is easy and gets the dust layer easily.

ST Flare comes a level below. It's not as sticky, attracts more dust and isn't as efficient in plowing through layer of stuck dust if not wiped. The way the outsole is implemented, I thought I'd have some problems with lateral movements, but nothing of this sort happened. As much as I tried to lose traction doing suicide run-type drills, they were ok in every direction.

Just for some extra comparison, out of recently tested new models, I prefer ST Flare traction indoors over JA3 solid rubber, Harden 9 solid rubber, Lebron 23 translucent.

Then come APN and D9, both with problems. APN solid rubber is worse even on the cleanest of courts. Also, it degrades fast on dusty floors and collects the thin layer of dust that's hard to wipe. This colorway of D9 has a semi-translucent outsole. It's worse than D9 solid rubber and shares mentioned problems with APN solid.

Just to provide more scale - with APN and D9, I have to think of what conditions I may encounter. If I had to buy a single pair to use, this is the reason I wouldn't get them. They're very solid as a rotation pair, not too suitable for competitive games on unknown conditions.

Fit, sizing and weight

All models shown fit very similarly. Puma APN are US 9 EUR 42, Dame 9 are US 9 EUR 42 2/3, Sabrina 1 are WMNS US 10.5 EUR 42.5 and ST Flare and Lebron 20 are both US 9 EUR 42.5.

For the reference, my feet are pretty standard width and instep, no podological issues. I play in thick socks and always prefer to have more room rather than a suffocating performance fit where your feet scream for ice bath after the game.

They all share a similar upper feeling. One with ample interior padding but not A'One - level suffocating. ST Flare, APN and S1 share substantial heel padding that hugs your Achilles, this alone can be a deal breaker for some. D9 have smallest padding out of 5, but they have a kind of booty setup and it often means less padding. Lebron 20 have Nike Sphere in the heel part. If you're not familiar with, it's a type of padding that has holes in the foam and is covered with some well breathable fabric (e.g. Nylon). What's important - ST Flare, S1 and APN give you an option to do runners knot, as last two eyelets are of classic type and well placed. I need to single out the ST Flare setup as last two eyelets are metal, big, sturdy and most importantly - attached to the upper properly (see last two photos). Remember L21 metal eyelets that'd slaughter your ankle skin? ST Flare has this covered. The tongue is well padded and wide enough to go in between your ankle and this metal piece, even for those with high instep. The result is you don't feel lace / eyelets pressure at all. Simple things that can detract the whole experience if done wrong. L20 has no option for runners knot, you need to improvise. D9 eyelets are inner and loop-like - prone to tearing and very basic.

To summarize, heel lockdown is excellent for ST Flare, S1 and APN, level below for L20 and a bit worse for D9. That said, D9 still got the job done for my heel shape.

All are similarly tapered in toebox but if hard pressed, I'd pick Puma APN as the most ergonomic one. I'm familiar with reviews that mention the last of ST Flare being weirdly shaped. Honestly, compared to other recent monstrosities from Nike, these feel quite natural - no pressure from sidewalls, my toes feel free enough.

The average weight of 2025 releases I got is ~380g.

Can you tell the difference on feet? No. Weight distribution is probably the worst in D9, they feel the most bottom heavy. APN feel the lightest on feet.

Breathability

I partially addressed this in fit section, but let's dissect further.

ST Flare and APN are around average breathability for me. They both have overlays on the upper with some ventilation holes present. I place L20 a level below, still solid ventilation but with some thick socks I get moisture buildup. Nothing significant but it's present. S1 is probably the worst out of the whole line and it's slightly hotter than L20. Booty construction of D9 paired with this toebox materials has it end up on the last place. Again, sounds like a bad shoe when it's really not. Just for comparison, D9 is better than recent Lebron 23.

Cushioning

This is probably the biggest aspect of a performance shoe I look at. I expected a sturdy ride from ST Flare but they got me pleasantly surprised. Looking at tech specs, there's a top loaded forefoot Zoom Unit, medium sized midfoot shank plate and Cushlon 3.0 carrier. When you look at my Sabrina line review, you'll notice similarities. Anyone who's been around for long enough knows even top loaded forefoot Zoom units can feel like nothing. Fortunately, it's not the case here. Energy return in forefoot feels similar to Sabrina 1 and Sabrina 3 and better than Sabrina 2. It's like a harder version of L20. APN and D9 are more of a neutral ride in this aspect. These two are tuned for more of a mushy ride, step in comfort and shock absorption.