Nike Hyperace 2 Review

Grip: 6

Responsiveness: 7.5

Cushion: 8

Comfort: 9

Durability: 9

Rating: 7.9/10

Review:

The Nike Hyperace 2 are a comfortable, lightweight shoe with great foot and ankle support and a nicely cushioned sole. They are very well manufactured meaning they will last a long time.

The zoom air cushioning was very comfortable for take-off and landing as well as general court movement. The heel cage locked in the foot providing good stability within the shoe and kept the ankle well aligned. The breathable mesh material made for a lightweight and mobile feel allowing the shoe to mould nicely around the foot. The feeling within the shoe from heel to toe was great. There were no sections that felt uncomfortable or rubbed on the foot.

The only issue I found with these shoes involved the grip of the outer sole. I noticed that the grip was definitely better on taraflex flooring but I had a lot of issues on wooden courts. As a smaller setter I rely heavily on my agility and speed around the court. This means that I like to have no slide and be able to push off immediately in any direction. Unfortunately I found that I had a small degree of slide whenever I would push off. Due to the slight sliding issue I found that these shoes weren't as responsive as I like. This was only because of the grip. I had no sliding inside the shoe and the sole's cushion was extremely responsive. If you are someone that doesn't mind this slight lag in responsiveness, or perhaps you play an attacking position where there aren't so many fast changes of direction, then this would be a great shoe for you.

The prominent outer sole shape from the little toe to the mid foot on the lateral side of the shoe sticks out a little which offers great stability for the foot and the ankle. This small section of excess outer sole is designed to prevent lateral ankle roles and I have definitely noticed the added stability when I put force through the lateral side of the shoe.

Due to the quality manufacturing, these are one of the most durable shoes I have ever worn. Their mesh material maintained its firm, yet mobile structure. The eyelets showed no signs of stretching or breaking. The outer sole didn't lose excessive amounts of tread meaning that the level of grip remained the same. The innersole remained well cushioned providing maximum comfort over a long period of time. The sections where the outer sole and mesh forefoot material connect remained perfectly intact and show no signs of falling apart.

The Hyperace 2 fits true to size and has a great forefoot shape which can accomodate wider feet.

Although I struggled a little with the grip, these shoes maintained their structure and comfort throughout the season and show no sign of deteriorating. If you are an athlete who is just looking for a comfortable shoe that is great for general movement and jumping, or perhaps you don't need to be overly agile laterally, then this is a great shoe for you!

Pros

• Very comfortable shoes with a great fit

• Extremely durable build

• Good Cushion and responsive profile

Cons

• Grip is average (especially on wooden floor)

• Becoming harder to find at the right price

My verdict: I really enjoyed the feel of these shoes, especially due to the high degree of comfort when jumping. Overall these are a really good shoe however I had some issues with the grip. This made it difficult to drive hard. laterally without sliding a little on the court.

Value: $240 AUD - Quite expensive but a top quality make!

Questions?