THE NIKE FLYKNIT LUNAR ONE EXPERIENCE

Last night, I was invited by Nike Philippines to experience the new NIKE FLYKNIT LUNAR 1. Along with veteran runners and athletic bloggers, we were the first ones to actually enjoy all the benefits that the new Flyknit model has to offer.

At around 7:30 PM, we gathered at Nike Bonifacio High Street flagship store to get familiar with the shoe. There was a quick huddle before the test run, lead by our friends from Nike Philippines, who gave us a closer and more intimate look at the shoe and its design. They also briefed us on how the technology came about and the new upgrades from the previous Flyknit silos.

The crew then went outside for the actual test run. I'm probably the noob of the group since I only started running this year, but I was able to keep up (thank goodness!) We took a couple of laps around High Street and both Parkades, roughly a little over a kilometer and a half.

I posted live updates via the LOCKERROOMLEGENDS Instagram during the run, but just in case you missed it, here's a more in-depth report of our Nike Flyknit Lunar 1 experience.

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PERFORMANCE REVIEW /// CONVERSE MVP MID

Whoa... It's been a while since I did a review. Great to be doing this again! Anyway...

For a month, I used the Converse MVP Mid to our local open runs. In previous reviews, I based my performance assessment solely on a single-day skirmish. This time, though, I ran with the shoe through four consecutive runs to get a more intimate understanding of the shoe.

But before we go further into the review, let's talk about the aesthetics first.

The Converse MVP Mid shares the same design DNA as the Converse Defcon Mid (as reviewed here). A synthetic one-piece vamp forming a seamless cage encasing the foot. Buy one major difference, or should I say upgrade, from The Star's previous top-tier basketball footwear is the incorporation of Nike's marquee innovation - The FLYWIRE. We'll discuss its performance benefits later.

The integration of Flywire aesthetically gives the shoe a sense of effectivity on the court. In my pair, the bright streaks of thread come alive against the black upper.

The finish of the shoe fades from the very dark toe and forefoot, to the very bright collar and heel counter. As I was lacing it up, the Converse MVP immediately broke necks - even the ones that were on the court!

The color pops... And to say that it's bright is an understatement. The fading color blocking truly sets it off. I would definitely buy these on looks alone.

Let's now proceed to the performance assessment of the shoe.

CONVERSE AUCKLAND RACER REMIX

Last week, I told you about my visit to ConversePH's HQ (see INVASION: CONVERSE PH HEADQUARTERS). They were generous enough to bless me with a pair right before I went out their door,  so I decided to return the love and rock the pair for a week then blog about it.


Here it is - The Converse Auckland Racer Remix.


The "Remix" is the lighter, tougher, sleeker, and more flexible reincarnation of the classic Auckland Racer. As the name suggests, it is re-engineered to meet the current market's demand for lighter and more breathable trainers and runners.


Here's a quick visual breakdown of the shoe: An overview of the upper.


Stylized heel cups.


The very sleek toe tip.


The Star Branding in a flexible, elastic material against a very light, breathable mesh upper.




The toe box, in the same breathable mesh upper material.


Brand new body... Same old soul.


Rear elevation.


Un-DS'd them in the office. Rocked without delay!


The very first thing I noticed was how comfortable these were. My feet were cradled perfectly, and my weight was evenly distributed.


These felt so good on feet, I almost forgot how good they look! It rides like a Phantom, but looks like an Aventador. If you don't know cars, look it up. You'll see what I mean. :)


Weekday work to weekend hustle. I rocked them last Saturday at the Deck at Ronac - a lazy, rainy afternoon. You might be thinking I'm crazy for putting them on on a wet, wet day... It's just that I love them so much that I don't want to roll out the house without them on.


Met with friends that evening, had dinner and saw The Dark Knight Rises.


Shoe so dope, it goes well with everything!



The following morning, I decided to take it for a run. It's not called RACER for nothing, right? Might as well take it for a spin.

The Auckland Racer Remix performs like a dream. It's a race car you can put on your feet. It's extremely light without being flimsy. The breathable mesh does its job of keeping your feet cool, at the same time it gives your foot enough room to expand and flex.

Wore them one last time earlier. I was at a site meeting and I was impressed by its toughness. It's heavy-duty enough to handle the rubble and harsh terrain of a construction site. Surprisingly strong for a shoe that is incredibly light.


To conclude my week with the shoe, only one thought comes to mind: "I WANT ANOTHER PAIR."

I want to double up on this Navy/Orange joints, then cop both the Grey/White and Black/Red alternates!

I need another pair not because I've beaten mine to death (matter of fact, if you check out the shoe, it's still in good shape), but because IT IS THAT GOOD!

It's light, it's strong... It looks sexy! What's there to hate? I would go as far as saying this is probably the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn... If it isn't, then it made me forgot about Top 1. But for sure, the Auckland Racer Remix is up there in my Top 3 Comfort-Design shoe of all time.

If you're the type that runs casually but often, this shoe is perfect because it's comfortable, light, yet durable. Not to mention affordable! For Php 3,990.00, you get to put on a sexy sports car on your feet.

Something worth mentioning - if you are planning to buy, try it on first. I went half a size up and the fit was perfect. Your feet will surely be different from mine, so check it first... But it's something worth looking at.

The Converse Auckland Racer Remix is now available at select Converse Retailers and partner department stores. Go get 'em!

PERFORMANCE REVIEW /// CONVERSE DEFCON MID

In this edition of The Locker Room Legends' Performance Review, we take a look at Converse' flagship basketball shoe, THE DEFCON MID.

Converse Basketball is on a huge comeback as of late. It started earlier this year when The Star showcased a couple new models at the World Basketball Festival... They never looked back. Along with the Pro Leather 2K11s (the modern Dr. Js), the DEFCON is their best to date. Aesthetically on point, and technically at par with the best in its class.

The Defcon consists of a perforated patent leather toe box and tongue, held together by a mesh construction. All of this is incorporated to make a very solid booty via a flat lock stitch. Then the entire shoe is held by a One-Piece Vamp wrapping the shoe, starting from the midsole... All the way to the upper - a technology completely unique to the Defcon. Another significant feature is its locking/lacing system, because the interlocking web runs the entire foam cage upper, providing solid foot lockdown.

The One-Piece Vamp is sort of a Foam Cage that protects the player, as well as provide efficiency to his game. Like what I said, its a solid one piece material that runs from the midsole to the midfoot, and then to the ankle. The ankle (and a good part of the upper) is integrated with Converse' very own CONtain Fit Technology. CONtain Fit Technology forms a lightweight brace around the foot and helps provide breathable structural support and cushioning. CONtain Fit contours the foot and transfers all physical force directly to the traction system and CBT unit for increased on-court maneuverability.

The same One-Piece Vamp helps transfer energy and bounce to the CBT (Converse Balls Technology) sole unit to provide the player with the extra hop and bounce, literally. The heel is cradled in a carbon fiber frame to provide security and stability. The outsole is treaded very well to provided much needed traction, especially for faster players.

As much as I would like to go in-depth with the review, similar to The Player DL Mid  I did from a while back (see PERFORMANCE REVIEW /// CONVERSE THE PLAYER DL MID), I was not able to use the Defcon on an actual pick-up game, though I've made basic maneuvers in them.

From the very little that I did, it's interesting to note that the Defcon is surprisingly light! Weighing roughly 14 oz., the Defcon provides maximum ride, comfort and protection without the unnecessary bulk and weight! The CONtain Fit Technology is also very effective in providing ankle support and stability. Traction is absolutely on point... Coupled with the bounce of the CBT unit, any guard or any player that relies on his quickness would instantly feel the response and would be benefit on a quicker first step.

The only problem that I had with the Defcon was with it's heel lock. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad! It provided enough security, but it was barely noticeable. Regardless, the web locking lace system was enough to hold my feet down.

Check out some of the images I took. I will give a more in-depth review once I get these bad boys on the court!

But so far, it's a really good shoe! Everything that you could possibly want is in it. It's got style, it's lightweight, it's got a really good cushioning system, traction is excellent... There is no reason why you wouldn't want it! The Defcon Mids come in several colorways, but the Gunmetal is the best in my opinion (word to ROBOCOP)! Check out your nearest Converse outlet and department store kiosks and cop yourself a pair or two! The CONVERSE DEFCON MID retails for Php 5,750.00.


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The box. 

Contents: Converse Defcon Mids. Comes with hang tags. No extra laces.
 

The Carbon Fiber Heel Cup. Looks really nice!
 

The One-Piece Foam Vamp. From the midsole, all the way to the ankle.



The Inner Booty cradled by the Foam Cage.
 

I am surprised by how aesthetically strong this is. You can't go wrong in these... On or off the court.


 

See what I mean?


The patent leather creases pretty quick. But that is expected.
 

Side elevation.
 

The CBT (Converse Balls Technology) Unit.
 

Carbon Fiber Chassis.


The CBT unit explained. And it can't get any simpler than that!


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S/O to Converse Ph for the love!

PERFORMANCE REVIEW /// CONVERSE THE PLAYER DL MID

 

What's good fam?

Today we kick off a new segment where I showcase a basketball shoe, run it in the court, and make a review of its looks, and more importantly its performance. I hope this becomes a regular thing... I'll do my best to dish you a review at least once a month.

Anyhow, for our maiden run I've chosen the CONVERSE THE PLAYER DL MID. Very appropriate for the pilot post given that Converse was a pioneer in the game of basketball, and footwear in general.

Just so you guys know how we did this: I wore a DS pair to an actual full-court skirmish. Played my usual game, broke it down and made an objective assessment of the shoe's on-feet feel and performance.

So let's get things started.

THE SHOE

FIRST OFF: The box and the code.

THE PLAYER DL MID: One of Converse' Basketball Performace shoe for 2011.

Solid all leather upper, Rubber sole integrated with a herringbone pattern bottom for traction. Very straight forward basketball shoe.

Entire package includes:  

CONVERSE THE PLAYER DL MID,  

BOX,  

TISSUE.  

No extra laces.

ON-COURT/ON-FEET LOOK

I apologize for the lack of documentation since no one was available to take photos of the full-court game. 

Anyway, on with the performance assessment:

PERFORMANCE

The very first thing I noticed was how light it was. Looking at the photos you would assume that it's got some weight to it, but surprisingly it's very light! It's may not be a 10 oz. shoe, but it sure won't compromise your quick feet especially if you play in the backcourt. I play 1-guard and I'm very comfortable playing at the back, so based on how it weighs, I'd definitely rock this. When the game calls for it, I also felt how this shoe can be useful in the post/paint.

It's got very good ankle support... I'm very satisfied with how it held my ankles comfortably.

Breath ability/foot ventilation was a small concern for me though. The sturdy, solid all-leather upper had little perforations and caused minor heat build-up within the shoe.

THE PLAYER DL MID gave no problems when cutting and slashing into the interior. Like I said, the lightness of the shoe coupled with the supportive collar for ankle stability made it possible for me to cut inside without drag nor discomfort.

The traction was okay. Though it got some grip on a rubberized court, I think it will perform better on a blacktop, pure outdoor playground.

The toe box, initially, was a tad bit tough especially when the toe is fully folded when sprinting. The toe box for me didn't have enough flex points. But once the leather softened up and broken in, it no longer became an issue.

Shoe condition after skirmish. Still in very solid shape!

The Collar. Peep the dope bright-colored sockliner!

THE PLAYER DL MID.

Rear elevation.

Side elevation.

 

Aesthetically, I think THE PLAYER DL MID is a killer. Wore it to the CONVERSE EASTWOOD GRAND OPENING that night. It may not be a shoe that's QS nor hypebeast bait, but it broke a few necks.

OFF-COURT/ON-FEET LOOK. Nice, yeah?

IN CONCLUSION

CONVERSE THE PLAYER DL MID is a shoe that is versatile, tough, and could handle any style of game any player might possess. It's called THE PLAYER for a reason; it's made for each and every player: whether he makes a living posting up the competition in the paint, or blows pass rivals in transition for fun.

It looks like a stealth bomber. It looks like a tank. It gives off that throwback vibe reminiscent of the velvety smooth cool cats that played in them Harlem playgrounds in the 80s, but it still exudes a no-nonsense, take no prisoners on-feet attitude that remind you of west-coast streetballers. No one would ever question this shoe aesthetically. If you do - you got issues, son.

There's a plethora of basketball-based performance footwear in the market right now; faster, lighter, and chock-full of technology. But THE PLAYER DL MID can go to battle with the best of them - anytime, anywhere. It performs well and gets the job done - but most importantly it makes a statement: that you are THE PLAYER, and you are not to be messed with.

This shoe simply gets better with every battle. I would definitely rock this again, on and off the court.

CONVERSE THE PLAYER DL MID retails for Php 3,690.00. Not bad for a shoe that brings the pain to the competition!

Available in Converse boutiques and quality department stores nationwide.

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Photo credits to JD.

Shot entirely at the Alabang Hills Clubhouse.