MELO CHRISTM8S

Show me the green...

Nike wants us to believe that LeBron is a lion and Kobe is a snake (or shark or cheetah).  On the other hand, Jordan Brand takes a different approach as their signature series seldom tell a story like its brethren.  CP3s, Wades and Melos appear to have become less popular because of this, often ending up in outlet stores and ignored by the sneaker community.

Well I’m here to tell you this: Don’t believe the hype.  The Jordan Melo M8 outperforms its competition.

Caged Zoom Air actually makes a difference...

The most impressive facet of the M8 is its cushioning.  Your forefoot rides comfortably atop 10mm of Zoom Air, while the impact on your heels is absorbed by Max Air.  I have gradually warmed up to Max Air beginning with the Ambassador IV.  Although the cushioning setup here is identical to the LeBron 9, the Zoom Air feels way more responsive and durable.  One may argue that this is a placebo effect from being able to see the air bags, but I believe it is the cage that prevents it from bottoming out.  The feel of the cushioning is also considerably more direct because the Zoom Air unit is placed between the midsole and outsole without any superfluous buffer material.

I've grown to love MAX Air...

A close second is the incredible stability of the shoe.  Whether in triple threat or post-up position, I could feel my feet firmly planted on the court and was confident in making the next move, which was usually taking it to the hole.  You can literally feel how the M8 was built specifically for Melo’s game: Offense, offense, and more offense!

The no-frills herringbone sole pattern provided excellent traction even on a dusty outdoor court, while the same cannot be said about the Kobe 7 which slid from under me even on an indoor court.

However, I must concede that the overall fit of the shoe was not as molded as the Kobe 7, but still more traditional than the LeBron 9, which was crazy tight around the toe-box even after several wears.  The inner of the M8 was far from snug, owing to the rudimentary Flywire panels on the sides of the shoe.  Still, I didn’t notice any sliding inside the shoe despite its spacious interior.

OG Godfather looks upon OG Flywire...

Lacing up to the highest eyelet provided superior ankle support, easily trumping the Attack Strong system of the Kobe 7.  Ventilation and breathability-wise, it is just as good (or bad!) as the 9 and 7.  The next evolution of Flywire is for Nike to come up with a more breathable iteration, because a mesh tongue is just not going to get the job done.

The M8 is not as light as the Kobe 7, but even with its substantial cushioning, it never felt bottom-loaded or heavy in the sole.  Jordan Brand managed to strike optimal balance by doing an amazing job at weight distribution.  This is conducive to Melo’s uncanny ability to keep his body in equilibrium and getting his shot up while being fouled.  Unlike the LeBron 9 whose sole almost felt uneven, I have never felt so sure-footed in any other basketball sneaker before.  The sensation reminded me of the wide and low-to-the-ground Kobe 5, except with much better cushioning.

Can I buy a vowel?

Deceptively fast and strong, Melo’s game has an old-school flavor to it.  His signature line upholds elements of this OG-flair with patent leather which looks good off the court, but after several games, it WILL get scuffed, wrinkled and worse.  I have no doubts that the performance of this shoe will last after numerous games, but I cannot guarantee how it’ll look afterwards.  The LeBron 9 and Kobe 7 should hold up better in this regard.

Alas, this is a performance review, not a fashion critique.  The M8 is hands-down the best performance shoe I have worn this year, and I am officially making them my designated basketball sneaker for 2012.  This Christmas color-way is a bit of a challenge to wear on a regular basis, but after watching Melo drop 37 points on the Celtics in these like it ain’t no thang, “regular basis” has taken on a whole new meaning.

Forget the zoo: Stability, balance and comfort is the only story I want to hear.

Aesthetics: 7
Ankle Support: 9
Traction: 9
Comfort: 10
Responsiveness: 9
Durability: 8
Weight: 8
Overall: A

The last Christmas according to the Mayans...