Ballistec 1.3 a Joke?

herosol

Professional
Thank God I didn't listen to a bunch of posts about how much the Ballistecs suck. Cause they don't. And the black, green, and turquoise is so SICK! Since i've had them, every comment has been "those are fresh".

Anyways. Onto actual "review of the shoe".

Fit: 5/5 (For the narrow footed)
Great Fit! Remember to go one half-size smaller as it runs large. But the fit is perfect, very snug, yet and the same time firm. Surprisingly not very hot inside the shoe a problem i seemed to have with the previous Cages which was weird.

Stability: 4/5
Some people have criticized why the need to make a "heavier" shoe. Even my coach thought it was crazy i went out a bought a "heavier" shoe. But Nike has created something beyond the elastic shoes they have "Vapors, Cages, Breathe Frees". They were so "free" that i enjoyed, but the Ballistecs seems to be a nice hybrid. It adds weight for added stability, but i was definitely not feeling slow even with my tendinitis stricken right knee.

Elevation: 5/5
Simply, a smaller outsole, lower to the ground with the Max Air bringing the usual Nike elevation feel.

Visuals: 5/5
Nike has put a nice template for this line of shoe for 2009. The look has adopted much of the Nike SB, Dunk, and Terminator lines. Even if you disagree that the black and green is nice, Nike has great potential to put some humbler colors that will be a future good choice.

In conclusion, just get this thing. I used to have alot a belief in the whole "Nike Flywire" blah blah blah, and I've been in Nike Hyperdunks, it's really not that great. It seems the Vapor VI's are just lighter vapors then the last, and that's cool, they're nice shoes. If you really want light then go Vapor, but if you are still wearing them damn Adidas Barricades? Shoo man, its time to break out of your defensive "barricades" and get aggressive being "ballistec".
 

Jim A

Professional
good info on the closeness to the ground, they always looked taller to me although I'll need to wait for some other color scheme or maybe the 1.2's

liked the SB/Terminator references
 

tarkowski

Professional
I really like em' too and agree with your review. These are the most comfortable and durable Nikes I've owned. The last is perfect for my foot and the cushioning is superb.

I've only one suggestion for improvement: breathability. Playing indoors, mid-winter in Colorado and I can't believe my feet are warm. Great for this time of year - but I bet they're too hot come summer.

Still haven't tried the Vapor VI I purchased though... so looking forward to those as well.
 

goosala

Hall of Fame
For me the Ballistec 1.3 are a great shoe if you have narrow to normal width feet. If you have lower arches and wider feet then they are not very comfy at all. They have great cushioning and support and are built like tanks but again only if you are narrow footed. I bought the white/silver ones and like them but can not wear for an extended period of time say over two hours because my feet are a little on the wide side. They do feel weighty when you hold them in your hand but when worn they are not noticeable. The people complaining about Nike making flimsy shoes that don't last now complain that this shoe is too heavy. Waaaah, waaaah, waaah! Try them on and see for yourself. Wide feet peole need not apply.
 

AmericanTemplar

Professional
I just got these yesterday & I'm really pleased with them so far. There was a definite break in period for the Breathe Cage II's, but these felt good right out of the box. I would go so far as to say that for my foot, these are the most comfortable shoes that Nike has made since the Breathe Free II's. Hopefully the added weight means that they're going to be more durable though. Although they are heavy, they hug my foot enough for the weight not to be as noticeable to me as the weight of Barricades. Also, although they're supposed to run 1/2 size big, I got the same size as I wore in the BCII's & they feel good to me, I may have been able to get away with a size smaller though.
 

samej07

Rookie
Hey guys thanks for the great reviews!! i just have one question though. are the insoles glued into the these shoes like they were in the cage I's. i have orthodics for my shoes and havent gotten any nikes since the cage I's cause they started glueing in the insoles on all of their shoes. just wondering if they changed this.

thanks!!
 
T

TW CSR

Guest
I just looked at Chris' Ballistec 1.3's and the insoles are not glued in.
 

AmericanTemplar

Professional
So I've played in these 4 times now & I will reiterate that these are at least as good as the BFII's, probably better. I'm not one to buy into hype & feel the need to have all of the latest "technology," but these shoes have excellent cushioning & I move well in them.
 

ace94

New User
I just got a pair today and I love them. Very comfortable they feel very stable while I'm making hard cuts or turns. GREAT shoe :)
 

brownbearfalling

Hall of Fame
Courtballistics.....you can't expect everyone to except a new product right as it comes out....It's just like the breathe free 2's. People ranted on about the "honeycomb" sole, unitounge, and the out side mesh. But now they are one of the most popular tennis shoes. If nike continues with a ballistic type shoe i think more people will see your side of it.
 

maximo

Banned
How's sliding in these shoes? comfortable and not painfull?

Whats the pros and cons compared to the Cage II's?
 
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imalil2gangsta4u

Hall of Fame
how do the ballistecs compare to the breathe cage II's? it took me like 2 days to break in the cages ( they hurt the arch of my foot ), but after that they good. im a little worried about buying these because i dont have much arch on my feet.
 
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saqdeez

Semi-Pro
Is the shoe throat as secure and stable as the cage 2? What i love about the cage two is it stays very secure and tight with an ankle brace beause it is one piece...other shoes loosen up when i use the brace and dont secure as tightly.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
I tried on these shoes today in a store. The Ballistec 1.3 is indeed "a joke".

Nowhere near as comfortable as the BFII. The B1.3 kept pinching the top of my instep near my toes every time I took a step. This shoe would take a lot of break-in, IMO, and I'm not sure if it'll ever be as comfortable as the BFII, which require zero break-in.
 

chris_ah1

Rookie
I would say try on multiple pairs. I had that problem with four asics gel resolutions i tried on in the store. fifth pair I tried solved it :S

****ty QC?
or perhaps just your specific foot doesn't go with the shoe because of the lacing pattern or structure??

Either way, what is the difference between the CB1.3 and the vaporVI???
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
^^^
I tried on two pairs and both did the same thing. It is a design issue. The upper just isn't nearly as soft and flexible as on the BFII.
 

chris_ah1

Rookie
ok, if it's a design flaw then oh well :(

Still, I didn't stop with the asics resolutions and it took FIVE goes to find a good shoe, not two :S

I went out searching for some propulse2, YHT-306, Vapor VI, CB1.3 and resolution 2s today, but in London there seems to be a dearth of tennis shoes.
 

Kramerica

Semi-Pro
ok, if it's a design flaw then oh well :(

Still, I didn't stop with the asics resolutions and it took FIVE goes to find a good shoe, not two :S

I went out searching for some propulse2, YHT-306, Vapor VI, CB1.3 and resolution 2s today, but in London there seems to be a dearth of tennis shoes.

I find it hard to believe that you couldn't find the Nikes at NikeTown on Oxford Street :)
 

chris_ah1

Rookie
yeah, you're right. But I wanted a shop with the different shoes in one place to try from different brands lol rather than just nike.
Wig*m*re sports at harrods and their main store by oxford street had such limited stock I couldn't get enough comparisons going at the right sizes :(

Problem is in London is that the stores have so many different competing supply policies that I wouldn't be surprised if W*gm*re sports or someone like that tried to get the nike store to stop selling nike tennis shoes.
I would have to drive all the way up to north london probably.
 

chris_ah1

Rookie
AAAAH, tried the ballistic today. It was slightly big length wise, but crushed the top of my toes a bit where they join onto my foot - and only on my left foot - A no-no for me then :(

sadly I got asics resolution 2s instead :(

the ballistics are fantastic though on my right foot.
 

ilikephobo

Semi-Pro
i tried them on once, i love the tongueless design it felt great wrapping around my foot. kinda like...memory foam but not really? i would've so bought these but i didn't want to empty my wallet so i had to buy Courtballistec 1.2 very goodshoes aswell! CB 1.3 will definately be my next pair of shoes!
 

jetlee2k

Banned
great shoes but it's hot like an oven.. very comfortable but no breath.. this is such a bad bad design shoes.. great and comfortable but no air flow in or out.. why nike would not punch a few holes in it and that made it perfect..
 

ilikephobo

Semi-Pro
great shoes but it's hot like an oven.. very comfortable but no breath.. this is such a bad bad design shoes.. great and comfortable but no air flow in or out.. why nike would not punch a few holes in it and that made it perfect..

they probably intended it to be built like a tank ;)
 

Xisbum

Semi-Pro
AAAAH, tried the ballistic today. It was slightly big length wise, but crushed the top of my toes a bit where they join onto my foot - and only on my left foot - A no-no for me then :(

sadly I got asics resolution 2s instead :(

the ballistics are fantastic though on my right foot.

IMHO, you ended up with the better shoe. :) Or at the very least, a terrific shoe for tennis.
 

gflyer

Professional
Got a pair of those few days ago.
I am used to lightweight shoes (asics/diadora/fila) so I was a little skeptical.
I am so glad I bought them. They are just great.
Very stable and comfortable. Glove fit is amazing.
They are a tiny bit heavy, but I can live with it. Actually I think they feel much lighter than the real weight.
 

ilikephobo

Semi-Pro
im not sure if its the case with CB 1.3s but my CB 1.2s have very..bad ventilation. it gets hot like an oven in there
 

AmericanTemplar

Professional
Does anyone else have trouble with the insoles moving around in these? I just bought some Dr Scholl's Gel Sport insoles hoping that they would stay in place.

Aside from this recent trouble of having the insoles move & breaking a shoe lace, these have been my favorite shoes I've ever owned. They're really comfortable & they've held up better than any Nike that I've ever worn.
 
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