adidas Unisex's Dame 7 Extply Basketball Shoe

Product Information

Damian Lillard of NBA's Portland Trail Blazers is, without doubt, one of the best ballers out there. He might be heavily focused on his dribbling and passing plays on the court as the team's point guard, but the brand new colorway of the Dame 7s takes inspiration from Lillard's admiration for professional WWE wrestler Ric Flair. The Dame 7 is a mobile shoe with a big focus on movement. As such, the protection is a mixed bag. The top of the shoe provides some much needed material in the ankle area, but there isn’t much else in the shoe that will help prevent injuries or cut down on accidents.

The sole also provides you bounce without ever being too unwieldy. Some shoes put too much of an emphasis on jumping or spring, but the 7 hits a nice middle ground. Ventilation They also take a long time to break in. Where some shoes, especially ones aimed at lateral mobility, are game ready right out of the box, you should wear these at least a few times first. I would have also preferred some traits aimed at protection or injury prevention. The Alternatives I would not recommend the model for players who spend their time out in the elements. The strength is enough for regular inside use, it just isn’t the best option for anything beyond that. Style The adidas Dame 7 Ric Flair White comes in a Cloud White colorway, with accents of Metallic Gold. The shoe's upper is made from mesh and synthetic material. The midsole is made of lightweight and responsive Lightstrike foam, which not only reduces the weight of the shoe, but also provides explosive energy return. The heel stabilizer features the phrase "Dame 7: King of Drip" as a nod to Ric Flair. The tongue includes an image of the wrestler wearing his cloak.

The Dame 7 is a comfortable shoe. That’s mainly due to the flexible construction and breathable materials. However, the LightStrike cushioning is what really takes it over the top. You can easily jump and slam down with these on and you won’t ever feel it on your feet. These shoes can be worn in more casual settings without any issues. That makes them good for sneakerheads as well as more serious players who want to look good while they play. What I Like

There’s also something to say about their performance. I love shoes that move with my body rather than against it, and that’s what the Dame 7s do. They are light enough to cut and sprint in, but they have a responsive sole that you can land hard on without any issues. What I DislikeIf you want a shoe with a similar design to the Dame 7 that has a larger focus on responsiveness, the CrazyLight Boost ( review) is the way to go. This model comes with a soft textile lining in addition to a molded TPU eyestay and heel cup. Those greatly boost performance. The high-top design adds another layer of protection, especially for players with a history of ankle issues. As with the Dame 7, it comes with a springy sole that’s incredibly responsive. Perfect if you care about performance-based sneakers. While the 7’s excel on the performance front, they also offer a lot in terms of style. Not only is the general design sleek and low-profile, there are a wide range of unique designs and flashy colors.

Several features of the shoe need some time to unleash their potential. That includes traction as well as the upper materials. The latter feel stiff at first but after a couple of games they start to feel like second nature. Feels light The Dame 7 is a lighter shoe. That comes with pros and cons. It’s responsive, easy to wear, and has plenty of built in mobility. However, it definitely comes up short on the durability side and you won’t be able to generate a ton of strength or power if you need to body someone up. The adidas Dame 7 Ric Flair White is a shoe designed by adidas in collaboration with legendary wrestler Ric Flair. The shoe is a tribute to the wrestler, and pays homage to his flashy and extravagant style. The Dame 7 is not for you if you are heavier and need lots of cushioning. You can go for a more well-cushioned Nike LeBron 20or the Adidas D.O.N. Issue #4.They have amazing impact protection and can be worn casually due to their striking designs. The pair doesn’t get the best marks for durability, especially when used outside, but the lightweight design and sharp look more than make up for it. Comfort The materials used on the Dame 7 are not really the most premium. Actually, we even thought that the mesh felt rather basic if not cheap.

The only downside in this category is that the Dame 7 can run a bit large. That can hurt the general fit and cause a little bit of rubbing. Make sure to be on the conservative side when choosing your size and you should be able to get a great fit. Performance I have spent over two decades playing basketball at various competitive levels. That experience has led me to wear a lot of different shoes, especially lightweight models and ones aimed at guards or wings.The Dame 7 is the very welcome wake-up call to the nightmare that was the Adidas Dame 6. The 6 did nothing right except the responsive Lightstrike cushion, which is rightfully carried over to the 7. The assortment is a healthy blend of models that fall both under the lifestyle and performance silos; the latter category involving the latest signature basketball silhouettes from NBA superstars Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell. The adidas Dame 7 is crafted to translate the look of everyone’s favorite intergalactic space ranger in Buzz Lightyear by seeing through to clean white mesh uppers coupled with surrounding purple, orange, and green accents to match his suit. For Spida, his D.O.N. Issue #2 is a love letter to Andy’s beloved Woody character, and precisely executes the look and feel of his outfit through denim-inspired uppers, and accents that portray his bandana, sheriff badge, and plaid shirt. Last for the hoops silhouettes is the adidas Deep Threat, who’s amalgamation of green and blue uppers play off the extremely comical aliens that live within the walls of Pizza Planet’s arcade claw game. Another excellent guard shoe, the Kyrie 7 is a lighter model with a breathable construction. It’s a comfortable shoe, a factor made possible by the padded collar and ample cushion. Add on the Air Zoom Turbo unit and you get a sneaker that provides plenty of support throughout your foot.