Nike iD Men's Shox Bombers (One4yu2c's First Review!)...

[One4yu2c]

Our newest member, Tormentor, brought back memories of my first foray into writing reviews (see this post/thread ---> LINK). Another MPC native, he set out to create his own forums and asked if I'd contribute review material. Though the forum venture was short lived, I did manage to squeeze out one piece of work before the site was abandoned. My writing style is a bit different nowadays, but he's a blast from the past....

__________________________________________________ ___

If you’re into sports of any kind, then you’re aware of the presence Nike has among athletes. Realistically, one only need be a casual channel surfer to find themselves inundated with Nike commercials and visions of the popular ‘swoosh’ symbol. With annual revenues now reaching over $13 billion annually and the acquisition of other big name players (one of the more notable being Converse in 2003), this company founded in 1972 has placed itself in a position of dominance for all things athletics. Today, I will be looking at one of Nike’s more interesting product lines in the form of a customized pair of Nike iD basketball shoes.

I was first introduced to the Nike iD product line in 2004 when I ordered a pair of Uptempo basketball shoes. The three-fold appeal was instant, as it combined the artistic creativity that would otherwise never see fruition, the ability to label my shoes with a nickname, and the geek factor in constructing them online and seeing the changes in real time. The final result was a dark blue, black, and gold masterpiece of customized footwear that never ceased to elicit comments.

As my 2004 Uptempos became fraught with wear and tear, it became clear that I needed a new pair for the tail end of 2005. As such, I began the customization process on a pair of Men’s Shox Bombers. For the base, I was given just three colors to choose from – black, white, or gray. The other areas afforded a much wider range of colors to select, though most consumers will likely find themselves settling on two or three consistent choices. Otherwise, you could create a truly Frankenstein-esqe creation that would give a whole new meaning to the term athlete’s foot.

When I began the process, I debated whether to go with a black, white, and green shoe in appreciation of the Boston Celtics (my place of birth). However, the ‘bling’ of going with black and gold was just too much temptation, and thus I set out to create a glittering masterpiece:

• Left View
  
  
  Right View
  
  
  Front View
  
  
  Back View
  
  
  Bottom View
  

As you can see from the pictures, the final result of my creative juices is a pair of shoes that, whether liked by the viewer or not, are definitely nothing short of flashy. On this particular shoe, the areas free to choose colors were the base color, accent color (lines throughout the shoe), swoosh color (includes tongue ID color small patch at the toe of the shoe), swoosh border, shox color, and plate color (area directly above the shox). Depending on the shoe initially picked, the amount of options varies. Some have significantly less to choose from, others have an equivalent amount in addition to choosing the color of the laces. Overall, I found that the majority of shoes I looked at were lacking in at least one customization area, which in most cases was a deal killer for me. With the Shox Bomber pictured above, the balance of options was enough that I felt satisfied with the final result. It would have been nice to be able to choose the color of laces on these shoes, though it worked out for the theme I chose, as I would have went with black regardless.

Aside from the color options, the major selling point in a Nike iD product is, naturally, the customizable ID. Most shoes allow for up to eight characters, and up to three characters on either the side or back. For the consumer that suffers from writer’s block, you can forgo a witty nickname and choose a symbol for each one. In the case of the Shox Bomber, the symbol on the tongue is a spelling of ‘Nike Elite’ using somewhat funky characters, and an ‘S’ type symbol on the side strap. I suffered from no such affliction and decided to create my own. Last year LeBron James made his rookie debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers straight out of high school. His overdeveloped body and skills quickly led to a marketing frenzy in which he is referred to as King James. This was partly my inspiration for my tag, King Paul. For the side strap, I chose 05 to represent my 2005 model shoes. While up to eight characters are allowed for the tongue, you are limited to only letters or numbers – no special characters. You’re also limited to the use of ALL CAPS. WHY NIKE, WHY? Both of these restrictions are odd limitations, as it seems like it would be easy enough to incorporate additional options into the ID creation process. If I want to get particularly nit picky, I could gripe that there are not font options either. On the plus side, you are allowed to use spaces, provided you do not run out of characters.

• Tongue ID
  
  
  Strap ID
  

Customizations aside, I have mixed feelings regarding the Shox Bomber. Having ‘Shox’ on the bottom of a shoe is an extremely popular design choice that has seen success among consumers across a variety of sports. Personally, I don’t care for their looks and they certainly don’t add any noticeable inches to my vertical leap. I suppose it’s an advantage over having a traditional clear air pocket, as they tend to pop and break over time. As this is my first pair of shox equipped shoes I’ve ever owned, I am unable to comment on any personal long term side effects. In the short term, I'm rather indifferent.

Looking further at the aesthetic appeal, make no mistake, these shoes are BIG. While wearing them, I thought they resembled a pair of boots. For anyone under six feet tall and/or wearing an ankle brace, this is something to consider. Above all else, this is my biggest gripe with the Shox Bombers, as I check in at 5'9".

Despite their large appearance, these shoes are fairly light. For basketball players, a heavy shoe adds both fatigue over time as well potentially making the difference between getting the rebound or getting out rebounded by the opposition. These also feel solidly built and like most high priced Nikes in my experience, are very comfortable to wear. For those prone to ankle injuries, I should mention that it’s a challenge to tighten the laces down low, as you have to maneuver your fingers underneath a leather decoration. In addition, the strap that wraps around your ankle is purely cosmetic. The velcro is not going to prevent an ankle twister, and pulling the strap too tight can cause an irritation on the back of your leg anyway. Don't be afraid to leave it loose, yet connected.

Do I feel these shoes are worth the $150 asking price? Probably not. After tax and shipping, my final tally came to $166.42. This is an exorbitant amount to spend on a pair of shoes, even with the cosmetic customizations. At the same time, I do not have regrets about my order an will continue to utilize Nike iD shoes for the foreseeable future. Besides my family, I have two areas in which I don’t mind spending an excess of funds on – computers and basketball. For those just looking for a pair of functional basketball shoes, there are too many sub-$100 options for me to justifiably recommend the Shox Bomber. However, for those that like me, don’t mind spending an excess to support their hobby, there’s a lot to like with these shoes despite some of the negatives pointed out in this review. It’s also worth mentioning that these come with a sharp looking carrying bag (feels like suede), so you needn’t wear them out on the way to the gym – equip yourself with a pair of sandals instead and keep your shoes protected while in transit. These also carry a 30 day return/exchange policy, so long as they are unworn (or appear so) and unwashed. This policy particularly stands out since these are your own personal creation, right down to the nickname chosen.

• Include Carry Bag
  
  
  Warranty Card
  

If you can, find yourself a Niketown Giftcard on EBay or a For Sale forum at a discounted price. By doing so, I saved myself a chunk of funds on these shoes that made the plentiful pricetag a little easier to swallow.

Nike iD Verdict: ONE4YU2c
Men’s Shox Bomber Verdict: ONE4Yu2c
Available at www.niketown.com

[Tormentor]

This brings back a few memories, all in all still a great read! The fact that you now write for HL and freelance for MPC makes it all the more interesting to see. :smt023

[gvblake22]

Oh wow, that is simply amazing. Words can hardly describe those shoes!

[yurimxpxman]

I'm completely clueless about both sports and everything else that has to do with them, but it was interesting to read your first article. You did a good job!

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Haha... Sports shoes?

[polobunny]

I prefer the low bomber model but nice color there. :)

[Jokerswild]

Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, there was no other shoe for years.

[yurimxpxman]

Originally Posted by jokerswild

Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, there was no other shoe for years.

There still isn't in my house :P

Or so I wish...

[Jokerswild]

Originally Posted by yurimxpxman

There still isn't in my house :P

Or so I wish...

Man those shoes were terrible Heavy and you'd get a flat tire if someone just got close to the heel.

[yurimxpxman]

Originally Posted by jokerswild

Man those shoes were terrible Heavy and you'd get a flat tire if someone just got close to the heel.

Have you ever tried SKATING in those shoes? Talk about sore feet!