Kicksnet Basketball Shoe Reviews

How can we jump so high, cut so hard and run so fast?  Shoes allow us to do so much more than in the old days - (OK… even just 10 years ago!).  On this page you will find terms and definitions that define the different parts of your shoes. Find out what a rotator splint does for your shoe. 

Learn more about Non Anatomical Foot & Shoe Terminology, Terms related to the upper of a shoe, and Terms related to the midsole and outsole of a shoe.  Also learn about common ankle and foot injuries on the Anatomy page.

Non Anatomical Lingo

bespoke: a term used in several industries including fashion and automobiles, a bespoke shoe is one which is made to the precise measurements of a specific individual’s foot. It is similiar in meaning to the term “made to measure”.

Brannock device: invented in 1927 by Charles Brannock, it is a foot-measuring device having a slide piece adjustable to show the length of the foot and another slide piece which can be moved to show the distance of the ball of the foot from the heel. This measurement is used in conjunction with the foot length measurement to give the shoe size required. The device also indicates appropriate widths (learn more at brannock.com).

insole: the light sole conforming to the shape of the bottom of the last. The upper and the midsole are attached to make the shoe.

last: a solid form of wood, plastic or metal on which a shoe is built, and which provides a shoe with its shape. When the sole has been attached the last is removed and the inside dimensions of the shoe should then conform to those of the last.

midsole: the layer or material between the insole and the outsole of a shoe. In non-athletic shoes the midsole is generally made of leather or rubber, but in modern athletic shoes the midsole is usually made of a dense foam material such as EVA.

toe spring: the upward curvature or angle of the forepart of the sole relative to ground level when the shoe is on a level surface. Until recently it was assumed that a certain amount of toe spring was necessary to enable the wearer to proceed by a forward rolling action at the joint, but recent studies have challenged this assumption and many now believe that excessive toe spring actually inhibits the foot’s natural ability to push-off using the toes.

thermoplastic urethane (TPU): a plastic material which can be repeatedly softened and remoulded by heat, but which retains its form at normal temperatures.

upper: the portion of shoe that covers the upper surface of the foot. In the past the it was generally constructed of leather or fabric, but today synthetic fabrics and materials are very commonly used.

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Shoe Upper

counter: a shaped and molded stiffener, which is often found at the heel in basketball shoes, used to provide additional support for the heel of the foot. It is usually hidden between the material of the outer and inner lining, but in some shoes it is external to the shoe.

Dynamic-fit sleeve: a Nike inner technology, it is a seamless inner sleeve made of Lycra which hugs the foot and ankle for improved comfort and support.

Foamposite: a Nike upper technology, it is made of polyurethane-based material and allows Nike to make a strong, relatively lightweight upper out of a single piece of molded material.

foot bed: an insert which is shaped or molded to match the approximate contours of the bottom of the foot. It is often made of a light foam material.

full-grain leather: from the top layer of the cow hide, full-grain leather is the strongest, most durable form of leather.

Lycra: the trade name for an elastic textile comprised of fibers made chiefly of polyurethane. The generic term for this material is spandex. Lycra is used as an upper material in some shoes and is a central component in Nike’s dynamic-fit sleeve upper design.

monkey paw: a Nike technology, this is a thermoplastic urethane based structure that is usually contained between the inner lining and outer of a shoe and which provides an additional measure of ankle protection by preventing the ankle from excessive inward roll (also know as ankle inversion).

Neoprene: the trade name for the synthetic rubber, polychloroprene, developed by Du Pont in 1931. It is widely used as an adhesive in shoemaking and in soling compositions. nubuck: a strong leather buffed on the grain side to create a velvety surface.

patent leather: leather which has been given a shiny finish. Originally this was applied using a linseed oil based dressing, but it is now usually plastic-based. A patent finish can be applied to leathers of widely differing qualities, so it can vary from light and supple to heavy and rigid.

suede: leather finished with a nappy surface through carefully controlled abrasion. Most modern athletic shoes use synthetic materials that simulate suede instead of the real deal for cost and ease of maintenance.

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Midsole and Outsole

adiPRENE: an adidas cushioning technology, adiPRENE is an elastic material which is designed to respond to the cushioning needs of the moving foot. adiPRENE is generally used in the heel.

adiPRENE+: an adidas cushioning technology, adiPRENE + is similiar to adiPRENE, but is more resilient and is designed to provide greater forefoot momentum at toe-off. adiPRENE + is used in the forefoot. See the example listed for adiPRENE for examples of shoes using adiPRENE+ in the forefoot.

Air: a Nike cushioning technology, Air is now used in many different forms, but the word air is actually a misnomer. Invented by Marion Frank Rudy and introduced by Nike in 1984, Air-based shoes actually use pressurized gas encapsulated in polyurethane “bags”. The molecules of gas are large enough that they do not pass through the polyurethane barrier. Nike’s patent for Nike Air expired in 1997, allowing competitors to use air-based cushioning technologies, which many now do (for more on Nike Air see Charlie’s Sneaker Pages).

Air, Blow Molded: a variation on Max Air in which gas is injected through an external tube, forcing the plastic Air unit into the shape of a mold. This allows the Air-Sole unit to take on a wider variety of shapes including the lower profile form used in the Air Jordan XVI.

Air, Encapsulated: Nike Air which is encapsulated within the midsole of the shoe. Encapsulated Air is not visible from the outside.

Air, Max: a Nike Air-sole unit which is shaped using air injected through an external tube (this is known as blow-molding). This allows more pressurized gas to be put inside bigger air bags providing even more cushioning. Another benefit is that Max Air-based shoes require less foam-based cushioning in the midsole, making possible a lighter overall shoe. Max Air is usually externally visible and is used in both the forefoot and heel.

Air, Total: simply a Max Air-sole unit that runs the length of the midsole.

Air, Tuned: a variation on Max Air, which incorporates polyurethane based hemispheres placed in opposition to one another to provide added cushioning in specific areas of the shoe. The placement and thickness of the hemispheres is tuned to provide the maximum amount of cushioning precisely where it is needed, thus the name Tuned Air.

Air, Zoom: an advanced version of Nike’s Air-based cushioning system that provides highly responsive cushioning in a very low-profile form factor. A Zoom Air-sole unit is made up of two layers of nylon fabric joined by densely packed fibers, which are sealed inside polyurethane. The unit is inflated; pushing apart the fabric and creating tension on the fibers. The combination of the air-pressure pushing out and nylon fibers pulling in creates something like a trampoline effect through the footstrike. Zoom Air is most often used in the forefoot of Nike’s basketball shoes, but a few also make use of it in the heel.

DMX: a Reebok cushioning technology combining air-based cushioning with an air transfer system. Air transfer is achieved through the use of multiple interconnected air chambers, ranging from as high as 10 to as few as two in DMX i-Pak form. As the wearer exerts downward force on the DMX chambers through footstrike, air is transferred from heel to toe through the heel to toe transition. Reebok’s basketball products make use of DMX in its i-Pak form.

ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA): a chemical compound with rubbery properties that is very light in weight. The material’s properties can be considerably modified according to the proportions of ethylene and vinyl acetate used in the copolymer. Many manufacturers use some form of EVA in the midsole of their shoes (the adidas The Kobe above uses a compressed version of EVA in its midsole.

flex grooves: areas carved out of outsoles and midsoles, usually at the area of the ball joint, to assure an anatomically correct response in the forefoot from footstrike through toe-off. This is a feature of almost all modern athletic shoes.

herringbone: the zigzag pattern used on many athletic shoe outsoles to provide traction with the playing surface.

Harmonix: an And 1 cushioning technology using bags filled with air at low pressure encased within a polyurethane skeleton. It is used in conjunction with And 1’s Springz geometry to provide a high level of impact protection in the heel. This is a feature of almost all modern athletic shoes. And 1 Mad Game is an example of a Harmonix-based shoe.

outsole: the outside sole of a shoe, the outsole is the portion of the sole that makes contact with the ground.

Phylon: a heated and compressed EVA foam cushioning compound that is light and resilient. Phylon is Nike’s own patented version of EVA and is more dense than the standard fare due to the heating and compression. Phylon is usually used in the forefoot area of Nike’s midsoles, but can also be used for the entire midsole.

polyurethane (PU): a very dense and durable foam-based material often used by Nike in the heel area of the midsole.

Springz Geometry: a dome shaped midsole at the heel used in conjunction with And 1’s Harmonix cushioning system to absorb high levels of impact. When a downward force is applied the dome deforms to absorb impact forces, but quickly returns to its original shape when the force is removed. And 1 Mad Game is an example of a Springz Geometry-based shoe.

shank: a strip of steel, carbon fiber, thermoplastic urethane, wood or even leather, inserted between the outsole and the insole at the midfoot. In basketball shoes the shank provides additional support for the midfoot and keeps the forefoot and heel of the foot moving together.

SHOX: a Nike cushioning technology comprised of very high-density polyurethane foam columns formed and placed for sport specific applications. For basketball the columns are curved outward and scored on the inner sides, which allows the columns to deflect such that the heel is kept flat to the ground. This means that the SHOX system provides excellent stability, while also providing a high level of impact protection.

TORSION: an adidas stability technology, TORSION is designed to encourage natural rotation between the forefoot and heel while also providing midfoot support.

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