NIKE Adapt BB 2.0 REVIEW – They Have Listened
Sold my first ones to be able to afford the new ones just for the sake of not going broke… Damn you, sneaker hobby, you too damn expensive. But I love it.
Anyways, I hope the latest Nike Adapt BB 2.0 will be not only a cool collectibles item on your shelf (for those who can afford it), but also a solid on-court performance model to hoop in.
Let’s see what they got for us!
MAIN SPECS
WEIGHT: 413 g. / 19.6 oz
TECH: ZOOM AIR TURBO, FitAdapt TECHNOLOGY
TYPE: LOW-TOP
COLORWAYS: 8+
FIT: TRUE TO SIZE
RETAIL PRICE: $270-500 (depends on size or color variation)
BD RATING: 7.6/10
BEST PLACE TO BUY: STOCK X | GOAT
PERFORMANCE
MATERIALS
The prodigious price tag does not do the judge when it comes to evaluating the quality of used materials. Much like its predecessor, the main body construction is that “secret” double-layered blend of mesh & knit. The only notable upgrade/difference is that the new generation’s external layer does feel a bit more plasticky, this time, similar to what you find on the Kobe 11 Elite. But there’s nothing to worry about since it only adds up for better support while leaving the comfort part for that internal layer still in charge. And it does its job nicely – it’s soft, easy to break in & rather form-fitting with the help of the FitAdapt system.
Again, you won’t be getting exceptional quality from these, but performance-wise, it does check all of the boxes. So for that reason alone, you can’t really knock them out.
By the way, you can really say Nike didn’t bump up the quality on these. They did. The tongue pull tab and the whole heel section are made out of genuine leather. So how about that, huh?
CUSHION
Nike really missed on not implementing Zoom Air technology on the original Adapt BB. A 350$ performance model without their best cushion system? That’s a joke. A 400$ performer without that would have been an even bigger joke. Fortunately, this won’t happen since the Nike Adapt BB 2.0 features the forefoot Zoom Air Turbo unit while keeping that awesome Cushlon running across the rest of the midsole.
This stuff is a dead-on, play-alike copy of what you can find on the Kyrie 6. So if you’ve red my performance review on the Kyrie 6, you know that this is easily the most cushion-packed model of the entire Kyrie series. The Adapt BB 2.0, on the other hand, was no different.
The forefoot combines low to the ground profile with that best in the game responsiveness coming from the Zoom Air turbo for some quick first step blow. While the heel portion does offer plenty of impact protection coming out of Cushlon.
Does Nike read my performance reviews? Probably not. But they definitely listen to their customers which is always commendable.
TRACTION
Seeing herringbone pattern always gets me all excited. But in real life is that not every herringbone plays like one, even though it is one. So freaking philosophical… But that’s how I felt about this particular version.
The original Adapt BB featured the circular traction pattern, second best after herringbone. Though, still ended up being too “soft”. The same thing happened this year. And by saying “soft” I don’t mean soft/playable rubber. Nope. I mean that the traction as a whole doesn’t have enough finesse, enough raw bite with the floor.
On well-maintained courts, you shouldn’t have any grip-related issues at all. But once dust is present, it’s when all the weaknesses show up. It’s the combination of a bad rubber compound and tightly spaced pattern that makes for super delicate traction. That being the case, you will need to wipe as frequently as possible to keep that solid performance. If not, those light but super annoying slip-ups will kill your game.
FIT
I’m not going to cover the software part of the Adapt system since I’ve already done it in the first generation Adapt BB performance review. So if you want to know all of the bits and pieces of the system, I highly recommend checking it out (press HERE).
Now when it comes to sizing, nothing has changed. Going true to size should be the most optimal option for everyone or at least for the majority of you. The Adapt system will do the rest.
Talking about the lacing system, I’m not sure if they did upgrade one or the other aspect of the system or it’s just because of the new body shape that does improve upon how they hug my feet compared to the original pair.
However, the main issue with the Adapt system that I addressed in the past hasn’t been fixed yet. And it’s the lack of adjustability. It’s something you can definitely live with. But for those who have oddly shaped feet, whereas in some areas a shoe needs to be tighter or looser, the Adapt BB 2.0 could be more of a torture than joy.
SUPPORT
While the Adapt system has some flaws in the FIT department, it becomes a whole different animal when it comes to locking down your foot. It’s the focal point of the whole support package, which without the self-lacing system is rather standard.
Sturdy heel lock-down, dependable lateral coverage & great stability on the footbed can be reached with just a press of a button. Obviously, with the help of the classic support features, like a massive external heel counter, a lateral plate, and last but not least, a reasonably wide base backed up with an outrigger.
OVERALL
The Nike Adapt BB 2.0, compared to the first generation, has its own hits and misses.
Seeing the Zoom Air system finally making in the shoe’s tech roster, made them feel closer to a true on-court performer. However, a step back in the traction department put them right back next to their predecessors. And it does reflect on my scoreboard as well. Although, I still did enjoy the 2.0’s just a tad bit more due to the presence of Zoom Air.
At the end of the day, to me, this is still more of a collectible item that supposes to sit on a shelf, rather than a daily companion you bring on the hardwood. The feature is here, just in development mode.
