Alright, so I wanted to talk about these Nike Basketball Unity shoes I picked up. The ones with the recycled upper, you know? Been hearing a lot about brands trying to be more, well, green, and I figured I’d see what that’s all about, especially for something I actually use hard, like basketball shoes.
Getting Started with Them
First off, getting my hands on them wasn’t too tricky. Saw them pop up online, looked interesting enough. The whole “Unity” name and the recycled material thing caught my eye. I’m always a bit skeptical, you know? Like, is it just marketing fluff, or does it actually work on the court? Anyway, I clicked the button, ordered my usual size.
When the box arrived, opening it up felt pretty standard Nike. But looking closely at the upper material, yeah, you could kinda tell it was different. Not bad different, just… textured? It didn’t feel cheap or flimsy, which was my main worry. It actually felt pretty solid, maybe a bit stiffer than some other shoes out of the box.
Hitting the Court – The Real Test
Okay, so the real deal is how they play. First time lacing them up, they felt snug. Like I said, a little stiff initially. I did some warm-ups, basic drills, just to get a feel for them.
- First impressions: The grip seemed good right away. Indoor court, nice squeak. That’s always a plus.
- The upper feel: During movement, cuts, and jumps, that recycled upper needed some breaking in. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just noticeable. Took maybe two or three sessions to feel like they really molded to my feet.
- Support: Felt pretty secure around the ankle. No weird slipping inside the shoe. That part felt reliable, which is super important obviously.
I played a few pickup games in them over the next couple of weeks. Ran them pretty hard. They held up. The breathability was decent, my feet didn’t feel like they were trapped in a swamp, which can happen with some materials.
Thoughts on the Recycled Part
So, did the recycled upper make a huge difference in performance? Honestly, after the break-in period, not really in a negative way. They performed like a solid pair of basketball kicks. The traction stayed consistent, the support was there. The main thing is knowing you’re playing in something made partly from waste. It feels kinda good, mentally? Like doing a tiny bit of something.
Durability check: Been using them for a while now, mostly indoors. The upper shows minimal wear, maybe a few scuffs here and there, but nothing crazy. The recycled material seems tough enough for regular play. The sole is holding up well too.
Wrapping it Up
Overall, my experience with the Nike Basketball Unity shoes, the recycled upper version specifically, has been pretty positive. They needed a bit more time to break in compared to some other shoes I’ve had, maybe because of that different upper material. But once they did? Solid performers. They grip well, offer good support, and seem durable enough.
It’s cool to see companies trying this stuff, actually using recycled materials in gear that needs to perform under stress. It wasn’t just a gimmick, the shoes actually work for playing ball. So yeah, if you were curious about them, from my experience, they’re worth checking out. They do the job on the court, and you get that little eco-friendly bonus thought in the back of your head. Felt like a decent experiment, turned out alright.
