Harden Vol.2 is the second pair of Harden signature shoes after Harden signed with Adidas. Harden Vol.2 has been dogged by controversy for a long time before releasing.
The design of Adidas basketball shoes is more and more fashion in recent years. This pair of Harden Vol.2 is classic south coast colorway. The main colorway orange embellished with blue and green scrawl looks like sunshine seacoast.
The appearance of Harden Vol.2 inherits the design of last generation, but it changes the details.
The configuration of Harden Vol.2 is great.
It’s the first time that Adidas use ForgeFiber vamp technology on the basketball shoes. Even if seaming a layer of TPU on the ventilated mesh fabric, it can make sure that the shoes have good protection to the foot but also guarantee the air permeability.
Primeknit vamp has been used in many basketball shoes. But it’s soft, the supporting performance is good. This time the shoe head of Harden Vol.2 uses ForgeFiber technology. So, the supporting performance of shoe head is solved.
It uses compound material on both sides of vamp. The compound material is extending from the sides to shoe heel to offer support and stability. The user-defined shoelaces design is suitable for all kinds of instep. The compound material takes up one third of vamp, it offers more space for designing the colorway.
The outsole pattern of Harden Vol.2 is derived from Adidas’s collection and analysis of Harden’s motion data. The irregular outsole pattern design is almost the same as Harden Vol.1.
There are many details of Harden Vol.2 which come from the design of other basketball shoes. Adidas also do some effort to make it to be different with other shoes.
The edge of integrated shoe tongues is covered with elastic rubber.
The ankle part of Harden Vol.2 is also covered with rubber. It fit the foot very well. And the rubber material can also protect the ankle.
The pull-tab of shoe heel is obvious. This kind of ankle part design is tighter than Harden Vol.1. It’s more convenient for putting on and taking off.
The compound material on both sides of the shoes is inspired by the shape of milk basket.
The compound material on both sides offer stable supporting performance to the vamp. It guarantees the good air permeability by using mesh fabric inner sleeve.
The shoelaces use cylindrical design.
The insole of Harden Vol.2 uses expanding design. It offers good stability. The outboard soft TPU covers the Boost to protect the insole, and also offers the anti-torsion performance.
The shoe head uses Primeknit vamp with ForgeFiber technology.
It’s said that Harden Vol.2 uses the thickest Boost. And it’s black which avoid to be yellowing.
The outsole design of Harden Vol.2 is quite special. But the soft rubber is not durable.
Adidas always has TPU stabilizing device between insole and outsole, so do Harden Vol.2.
As a pair of signature shoes, we only find the Harden logo on the shoe tongue.
Although it makes lightweight design on the vamp, but the sole is heavy, the overall weight distribution is out of balance.
After wearing Harden Vol.2 for a period of time, I think that Harden Vol.2 is more suitable for walking.
The shoe head is tilted, so the starting speed is very fast.
The cushion performance of full-length Boost is great, it can reduce the impact to shoe heel.
For most of players, the most importable performance of basketball shoes is fitness, traction performance cushion performance and supporting performance.
- Fitness
Different density Primeknit with ForgeFiber vamp technology offer good fitness to the foot. The compound material and user-defined shoelaces can fix the foot very well.
- Cushion Performance
You must be familiar with the cushion performance of full-length Boost. The location of Harden Vol.2 is not speeding type basketball shoes. The density of Boost is high, it’s solid. The cushion performance is excellent.
- Traction Performance
As a pair of signature shoes, the traction performance is also very important.
The traction performance is qualified when running. It’s stable when turning or urgent stopping.
- Supporting Performance
The compound material with ForgeFiber technology on shoe head offers good supporting performance. But due to the soft Primeknit vamp, the lightweight design is discordant with the heavy Boost insole.
Overall:
As the Harden signature shoes, Harden Vol.2 has integrated Harden’s playing way into every detail of the shoes. The overall performance is good, but it’s not suitable for every player. If you want high cushion performance and you like jump shot, Harden Vol.2 will be a good choice to you.
