Under Armour UA Curry 8 NM Team Basketball Shoes

Product Information

It’s been a while since the all-new Curry Flow 8 has released, and now we got the next iteration – the Curry Flow 9. The Curry 8 is a very interesting shoe, to say the least. If you’ve always appreciated a Curry shoe before and would like something a little more comfortable – this is a Curry shoe on steroids. I’ll leave it for you to decide if that’s your thing! So bottom line, your typical modern use of minimal synthetic materials is utilized all over the Curry 8. If you’re no newcomer to these types of builds – you shouldn’t be surprised with the shoe. VIII. OVERALL The shoe utilizes foam as the bottom portion and completely gets rid of rubber, resulting in an incredibly feathery experience. The Under Armour Curry 8 weighs 12.2oz/346g, on the light end for basketball shoes (average weight is 13.6oz/387g), which is what I expected given the previous history of the Curry line and his playstyle.

While these barely squeak at all (it’s foam, duh), the bite is so aggressive it almost feels like it could throw you off balance if you’d let it to. Imagine yourself running at 30 miles an hour and then completely halting without any easing into it. If you’d have the Curry 8’s slapped on, you’d probably fall with your face flat on the ground.The upper is so minimal and flimsy, there aren’t enough strong support features in place to hold your foot together if you’re heavier or you’ve got an explosive/athletic playstyle. The low weight is another factor that contributes to its appropriateness for guard usage. Its weight sits in the same comparable range as the popular Nike KD/ Nike Kyrie/ Jordan releases.

Now, with that came the concerns about the durability and effectiveness of the outsole, as science would tell you foam is a lot less reliable compared to rubber and its properties are vastly different. Well, let me begin by saying the traction on these is DEADLY.

For those who aren’t fans of one-bootie uppers, this one’s a great example of one done very comfortably. And the shoe isn’t a nightmare to put on like some other one-bootie shoes, so you should be fine. If I have one big gripe with the Curry 8 it’s the impact protection. The shoes have a solid amount of cushion and their fit is nice. However, you’re definitely going to feel it when you come down hard. They seem more suited at giving you lift during runs than jumping. Say what you want about the debatable choices durability or support-wise but, man, they absolutely nailed optimizing the fit and just how they feel on feet. Traction is perhaps the biggest area where the Curry 8 excels. The shoe is outfitted with the UA Flow Cushioning technology on top of a unique outsole pattern. Both of those features work beautifully together, allowing you to start and stop no matter how fast you’re running. The medial sections of the foam do come out a little more, which does help plant off the inside foot more confidently. There’s also a small torsional plate for some torsional rigidity. Pin image source: underarmour.com

Pros: Excellent ankle protection. UA flow cushioning technology. Lightweight, open design. Amazing grip. Flexible and stable. I went true to size for my Curry 8 and it was the correct choice, although the shoe did play tight and noticeably hugged my foot. This was not a problem for me as I enjoy a close fit on my basketball shoes but for those who prefer a bit of extra space, I’d recommend going up a half size. Length-wise they were true to size.Do they fit true to size or should you alter your choice? What about comfort? Pin image source: underarmour.com SIZING: UP 1/2 A SIZE I’m a long time basketball player with over twenty five years of experience playing the game. Those years on the court have led me to wear many different types and styles of shoes. But it’s the smooth running transitions and overall flow of movements that make this setup fantastic. The heel is slightly elevated while the platform is slightly curved up at the front and while this is nothing new, it seems that they really nailed it here in terms of precision. While the Curry 8 isn’t the most comfortable shoe money can buy, it does a good job at cushioning your feet as you play. Under Armour outfitted it with special UA Flow cushioning technology that cradles all key parts of your foot and feels great when you’re running around. It also comes with some of the best cushion and impact protection on the market. Like the Curry 8, it’s a purely indoor option. However, if you’re someone who spends their time playing or practicing in the gym it will provide you with a lighter, more comfortable shoe. Read my detailed Dame 7 review for more information. 3. Adidas Coll3ctiv3

In my LeBron 18 review, I said the cushion setup used on that shoe might be approaching a point where it’s almost too much. Well, with the Curry 8 Flow, I’ve come across a similar scenario, just with the traction. How grippy is too grippy? Pin image source: underarmour.com The shoe is mad comfy but be aware of the toe bump issue. Traction is phenomenal, Flow cushion is very nicely balanced without taking away anything, support could be better but it works for what it is. For hoopers who like what Under Armour has to offer but perhaps looking for something a bit more streamlined and something that would work for more styles/positions – look no further than the Embiid One. Read more about the new and exciting features of CURRY 8 in the flyer Why you should upgrade to CURRY 8. No real use of genuine materials might also throw some people off but hey, if people are complaining about that now, I guess they should’ve complained much earlier as the Curry line has been using primarily synthetic materials for a while now.I think this is right on the edge of the limit. This is incredible traction. Anything more might just be too much. So while I wouldn’t be able to tell you my top 10 most comfortable shoes of all time, if I had to put together such a list but traction-wise, yep. But for guys at the frontcourt, heavier players, or anyone who plays with a lot of athleticism, there are better options out there. It’s nicely balanced, sure. But I’m sure there will be several guys who will require more support than what’s offered here. And that’s just the truth. The forefoot area is lower to the ground and feels firmer. Not completely dead but you won’t feel any bounce or apparent cushion. It’s all about speed and precision up there. It’s got the deadliest traction I’ve ever experienced on a hoop shoe to the point where it’s almost too aggressive.