Alijah Landing

An Unparalleled Combination of Comfort & Response Team Up on the Nike Zoom KD12

Share

His Golden State Warriors are currently in first place in the Western Conference, he’s the two-time defending NBA Finals MVP, and he just passed Glen rice for 25th on the all-time 3-pointers list. Life is good for Kevin Durant. Things are getting sweeter for KD as his 12th signature shoe has just been unveiled, the Nike Zoom KD12.

Since the inception of his line, every KD shoe has put a focus on furthering the balance between comfort and responsiveness. The KD12 achieves that by questioning norms and by turning a little-known element into a key design piece. That key piece is the strobel. The thin woven textile that sits beneath the sockliner and above the midsole. As Leo Chang, the Senior Creative Director for Nike Basketball Footwear said (Nike News), “it’s one of the unsung heroes in footwear.” The strobel’s function is to provide structure, support and shape for the upper. It’s what separates your foot from the shoe’s responsive cushioning. The KD12 counters that typical construction by stitching a full-length articulated Air Zoom Airbag Strobel to the upper. Which is the first time that’s ever happened in a signature shoe. The move makes the Air unit more dynamic and putting your foot closer to responsive cushioning. There is one Air unit for every half-size of the KD12, (example: a size 12 would have 24 Air units). That’s the most specific Air-Sole scale a Nike shoe has ever had. The move allows for an optimal fit for each wearer. “There’s a personal fit dialed in for every person who wears the KD12,” said Chang.

Other design elements of the KD12 include an ultralight Flyknit tongue and quad-axial Flywire cables. The latter of which provides multidirectional containment, targeted stability and locks your foot down. They’ll relax when you’re not in motion, but will perform when you need them. In addition to the aforementioned Zoom Airbag Strobel, there’s an additional Zoom Air unit stacked in the heel for added bounce and comfort. The overall aesthetic of the KD12 is reminiscent of the classic basketball sneakers of the ‘90s. An ask that came directly from Durant himself.

 

Dominate the courts in the Nike Zoom KD12 on 4/6 from Finish Line.

 

Share