EQLZ 247 NXT Review/First impressions
Preface/Introduction:
I always start any review or thought piece with an introduction into my build and playing style just in case it makes a difference. I’m a 24 year old, 6’3” 207lbs guy who plays basketball recreationally and is actively looking for a team. My archetype/build is more tuned to a PF, meaning I mainly operate in the mid-range. I’m quite athletic and jump around a lot for rebounds, layups, dunks and block attempts. Theres more to speak about me, but it’s a review not my life story, so I’ll save it for later.
I recently ordered the EQLZ 247 NXT after noticing that they were on sale for a pretty substantial amount on their website £84 including shipping. As they’ve just come in now, I’ve decided to do a review on it since its hard to find a proper review on here.
Design:
The design is absolutely beautiful. it reminds me of the AJ11 low with its panels and colour blocking. I have the pink colourway and it definitely has a statement feel to it. If you’re someone who values looks, this might just be for you. The box is also really good looking (if you care about that).
Cushioning:
The cushioning is odd for me. When I put it on, I noticed the almost barefoot feel on the forefoot which can be quite good, but the heel feels quite substantial, making the shoe feel bottom heavy. Maybe the feeling will go away after walking around in it at home, but it’s hard to be certain at the moment.
I will say that the foam itself is quite plush to the touch, as my heel feels very supported, just that the forefoot foam isn’t as thick which is a shame, because if it felt a bit softer, it would’ve felt like a lighter version of the New Balance BB Fresh Foam V3.
Edit — Bounce:
This is a new section as I didn’t mention the bounce in my original review. The shoe does have decent energy return, but it’s clear that the foam is meant for a softer feel rather than a bouncy ride. I wouldn’t expect it to be as bouncy as ZoomX, Zoom strobel, boost or lightstrike pro. So if you’re looking for that, skip this shoe and add a bit more money to your budget and buy the Li-Ning Liren 4 to 6. Or the Nike KD17 (this has some nice offerings in the US I presume. The UK has some bad colourways in sale and I can’t justify paying full price for it when I could just buy one of 361 or Li-Nings “super shoes” for the same price).
There is also no shank plate in the shoe, meaning there is no “propelling” feel when going from heel to toe, or striking on the floor hard. This doesn’t really bother me too much as I’ve never owned a shoe with a stiff carbon fibre plate. If you have, let me know in the comments below.
Support and sizing:
The shoe has very thick side walls for lateral containment, meaning that you won’t have to worry about your ankle or foot sliding out to the side of the shoe, but at a caveat. The right pair sidewall kind of presses into the side of my foot, causing some pretty bad cramping. Though the pain is going away slowly, it is important to know what you’re getting out of it.
The entire back half of the shoe‘s sockliner uses a cat tongue material, which in my experience really helps with ensuring your heel doesn’t slide in and out of the shoe (for reference I have the Li-Ning Bad 5 sniper which has this and my heel has never slipped).
If you’re buying this, go for your true size or go up half a size. Don’t listen to the people telling you that the shoe runs long. That only applies to the regular 247 which uses a knitted upper similar to primeknit, which is incredibly flexible once broken in. This pair uses padded and stitched mesh that isn’t as flexible and is quite snug. I’m a UK size 10.5/11 or a US 11.5/12, and I bought these in a US 12, which was a great decision as my toes are touching the front of the shoe.
For the laces, they are quite long, so I’d recommend looping them through the final eyelet again for more tightness around the front, though I don’t need to personally.
Traction:
Whoever is interested about knowing what I think about the traction on these will have to wait for an update as I can only go off what other reviewers have said because I haven’t tried them on court yet. They are reminiscent of the Kobe IX with the foot-shaped pattern and look like they might be really good on any surface, but I’ll have to get back to you on that.
Similarities and comparisons:
Nike Sabrina 3:
This shoe is quite similar to the Nike Sabrina 3 which I wear from time to time. Its low to the ground, has decent court feel and uses a mesh/slightly knitted upper, although the EQLZ has better arch support and an easily removable insole (if you want to toss game day pros in there). The Sabrina does have a forefoot zoom unit, cushlon and a lighter heel, meaning it feels more springy, but this has better cushioning overall, and feels like it might be good for slightly heavier players.
New Balance BB Two Wxy:
Some people say that this is similar to the NB BB Two Wxy but unfortunately, I haven’t owned that shoe to make any comparisons. But if it has decent cushion and very good support, then they might just be similar after all.
Puma All-Pro Nitro 1 and 2:
I bought a pair of Puma APN2, before returning them. Out of the box, these felt similar to those, though the APN had an overall higher off the ground feel, with a slightly plusher cushioning set up. EQLZ has a better fit however, as I’ve had no pinching or pain in my toe despite the shoe feeling quite snug. The midfoot is also more inviting, due to having a conventional toe box shape and lacing layout.
Summary:
To conclude, this shoe looks and feels like it could be really good, I just have to play long enough in them to give a full on recommendation for anyone. If you’re looking to buy these, just be careful about the side walls as it could also cause some cramping for you.