For the first sight of Nike Kyrie 5, you may think that is Kyrie 4 in 3 meters away. The match colors and shoe shape is similar. Yeah, the general shoe shape and the height of upper has no big difference. But Kyrie 5 has upgraded on basis of Kyrie 4.
Firstly, we can see the outline of outsole is almost the same with last generation. The part of midsole and heelpiece is more tight. So the wrapping performance of Kyrie 5 is better than Kyrie 4.
In the details, we can still see Kyrie’s element “H+H” on Kyrie 5.
The main difference of appearance should be the little “wing” on the “Dionaea Muscipula” vamp. We can see the totem of Eyes on the heelpiece part and outshoe pattern.
For the configuration, Kyrie 5 uses the new Air Zoom Turbo on forefoot. And it doesn’t have the air cushion on the rear foot. The players can feel the feedback from all directions when moving.
The first feeling of wearing Kyrie 5 is stiff. It needs times to adapt to Kyrie 5. The upper height doesn’t like low shoes, it is not easy to wear. The hardness of midsole is solid. The vamp is similar to last generation. The wrapping performance is better.
Cushion:
The part of forefoot coordinates the radian of outsole. It feels like stepping on a elastic rubber. It will be more comfortable after several times of actual combat. The starting speed can be fast. That is just the advantage of new Air Zoom Turbo and the radian of outsole.
Wrapping Performance：
The vamp still use the familiar composite material. The tighter shoe shape has better wrapping performance. The new lacing system is still fly wire with shoelaces. As for the wing shape “Dionaea Muscipula” , its main effect is to reduce the oppressing sensation of the shoelaces to the instep. Generally, the wrapping performance to the people with long and thin foot is good. It should be suitable to most of people.
Atni-torsion performance：
The composite material improve the stiffiness of the vamp. Except the stabilized plate on the heelpiece, both sides of the upper adds special reinforced filler. So the durability of anti-torsion can be longer. As we mentioned, the midsole is very stiff. And Kyrie’s sneaker series have high request for the movement and starting. The stiff midsole and outsole is the basic equip of anti-torsion.
Traction:
The traction is the basic of all basketball shoes, especially the defender shoes. Although Kyrie use stiff rubber on outsole, but the reasonable lines, special radian and upturning outsole guarantee the traction of this sneaker. We have tried to play in slippy indoor wood floor, and the traction of Kyrie 5 is still good.
Abrasive Resistance：
XDR with depth lines makes the outsole’s stiffiness of Kyrie 5 to be above average. The abrasive resistance of this sneaker can keep several months.
Generally, comparing with Kyrie 4, Kyrie 5 has new cushion design, fine tuning of the shoe shape and vamp details. The fast starting, good anti-torsion & abrasive resistance and adding a more comfortable air cushion outfit, which make it to be worthy to purchase.
Category: Nike Kyrie 5
About The Nike Kyrie 5 Story and Performance Review
Since the appearance of Nike Kyrie in 2014, it makes up for the blank of Nike mid-low price products. It occupies the market fastly by virtue of cheaper price and stable performance. It gets great feedback in the market.
Now Kyrie Irving has been the top full back of Nike. It designs a pair of targeted full back shoes. It places emphasis on the backcourt players’ agility, response and traction etc.
The main design evolution:
- Nike Kyrie 1: Forefoot with ZOOM Air, 360°dynamic tracting grain in the side of shoes, Hyperfuse vamp
- Nike Kyrie 2: Heel with ZOOM Air, cambered outsole, lacing on vamp
- Nike Kyrie 3: Heel with with ZOOM Air, Cambered outsole, independent traction in foresole
- Nike Kyrie 4: Heel with with ZOOM Air, Cambered outsole, special groove lines, foresole Flywire
From the evolution of these 4 generations, we can know that Nike Kyrie doesn’t have high requirements for cushion. It mainly emphasize on response and agility due to limited cost. Nike Kyrie 2 start to use special cambered outsole, ZOOM Air has to be moved to heel. And Nike Kyrie series are also keeping on improving the vamp wrapping system to enhance wrapping and supporting effectiveness.
Omni-directional Speeding Up
Base on the traditional Zoom Air, NIKE Air Zoom Turbo air cushion add the groove lines in each direction and also guarantee enough capacity of air cushion. These groove lines make ZOOM Air to be easier to bend in all directions without reducing the capacity and area. It gives the forefoot of Nike Kyrie 5 more flexibility.
There is a additional coverage in the vamp. The inspiration derived from Dionaea Muscipula. The inner side is seamed with vamp. The outside is connected with vamp and shoelace by Flywire. It has a special lacing system. When lacing tightly, the “Dionaea Muscipula”can wrap the vamp better, without effecting the vamp to buckling like the traditional shoelaces.
The designer Nethongkome said, “Flywire technology let feet fit well with Nike Air Zoom Turbo, and enlarge the bounce of forefeet. In pursuit of good looking, It also improves the comfort level and sense of experience .” In fact, the Nike Air Zoom Turbo increase the flexibility and try the best to ensure the wrapping sense.
The hand of Fatima
The geometric pattern comes from the hand of Fatima tattoo on Irving’s left arm. The essence is similar to previous generations’ cambered outsole. The groove lines by the geometric pattern is convenient for outsole to bend. It improves the flexibility of forefeet. For Kyrie players who often turn or swing around drastically, it assure the stable of outsole of Kyrie 5.
Future Trend
We can see two important changes from Nike Kyrie 5. The two changes have fantastic referential value for Nike future shoes’ design.
- Nike Air Zoom Turbo
The new patterns of Zoom Air has great flexibility, which is incomparable with other same volume and same area of Zoom Air. It can help the next series like Nike Kobe etc. to upgrade.
2.“Dionaea Muscipula”
Although Nike still have given the specific name for“Dionaea Muscipula”. The practical effect for the half lacing structure’s new lacing way is obvious. Comparing with Niky PG 1 which using unilateral linking Flywire, the area of “Dionaea Muscipula” is bigger and more reliable. The “Dionaea Muscipula” is more flexible than traditional lacing. The “Dionaea Muscipula” of Nike Kyrie 5 has three shoe lacing holes. For other series, it’s easy to add or reduce one shoe lacing hole. This design is easy to be used on other series, such as it can be used for NIKE PG series to upgrade.
