Adidas Dame Certified review

Damian Lillard fans should not sleep on this, and neither should you if you are:

• A guard with a strong offense and a quick playstyle.
• A player who wants a stable and grippy pair for fast moves.
• In need of some extra ankle support.
• A streetball lover who is looking for a very durable pal.
• A stylish hooper who's on a budget.
• A "feeling the court under your feet is the best" type of player.

If you want something that goes out with you to play some ball in the summer, this ain't it! In our lab and wear tests, we discovered this shoe is hella warm, and our sweaty feet were a thing. If you want something well-ventilated that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, we think you should go for the Nike LeBron Witness 7.

If you want something plush, we recommend you keep exploring LeBron's collection, as its models are focused on impact protection. After all, LeBron is not only a big player when we talk about skills! Then, if you want something that accommodates wide feet and you are a big Dame fan, try the Adidas Dame 8. This shoe is slightly more expensive, but you can keep it stylish with its multiple colorways and it's also okay for outdoor courts!

At 30.3 mm, our caliper just shows us that the heel stack of this shoe is average.

Point guards' shoes are usually designed for you to feel the court, so adding some extra cushioning would be a mistake! This also helps keeping its weight low.

You can clearly see in the video that it's not the plushest shoe out there. Still, it managed to give us a wonderful balance between court feel and impact protection.

If you need or prefer something that feels more like a cloud... in the Nike Lebrons we trust!

The forefoot stack is also lower than average, which means your toes will be closer to the court.

At 20.5 mm, our caliper explained to us with just a couple of numbers why we felt so stable and in control of our every move.

We're loving how point guard shoes such as the Trae Young 3 are keeping it low. Actually, regarding the sole, both pairs felt quite similar when we tried them in our wearability test. It was a very balanced and controlled experience that let us move around freely, with and without the ball.

Look at that. Even if we had to recalculate our moves a bit, this shoe provided us with all the stability we needed.

As its forefoot stack is quite low, this shoe's drop is higher than average.

We can clearly see the height difference between the front and the back of the shoe in the picture. At 9.8 mm, this should not be something that your feet need to get used to.

Low and high drops are neither good nor bad, it just depends on your personal preferences or playstyle!

Following the results of the previous tests, we already anticipated this shoe was not gonna be plush.

At 30.0 HA, our durometer confirmed it. During our wearability test games, we did feel this pair wasn't the softest out there. It wasn't uncomfortable, though, don't get us wrong! Just not a cloud.

If you're looking for a pair that guarantees plushness and extra-soft landings, and you still want to play outdoors, then go for the Nike KD 15.

As we expected, this shoe's insole is around average, just slightly thinner.

At 4.2 mm, this design choice was the right one to keep the Adidas Dame Certified's weight low. It also helps feeling everything you step on, so we loved it!

The toebox width at the widest part is just average, so nothing different to point out over here!

Regarding the toebox width at the big toe, there is something we'd like to point out.

At 79.5 mm, it's slightly wider than average, which is something we adore. Why? Because it's accommodating for wide-toe players! The ones among us who had slightly bigger toes were completely in love with this design choice. Still, don't forget we do NOT recommend this pair to wide-footed players!

Due to our in-game experience, we already knew this pair would be stable. It kept protecting our ankles from painful twisting and spraining, so when we performed our lateral stability test, we knew we were gonna be happy with the results.

And we were! In our opinion, this is a key feature for basketball shoes. In such an intense and aggressive sport, physically talking, we need to be as protected as possible! That's why this pair's solid structure was there for us... and we loved it!

Look at our ankles not wobbling even a little bit after a move as powerful as a backdoor cut!

Remember we've just mentioned this shoe having a solid structure? Well, it's not just solid, it's the most solid.

To support the fast, quick, and unexpected moves of point guards (and every player with a playstyle based on speed), we need a pair with a strong design that doesn't put your joints at risk. Scoring a 5 out of 5 in our torsional rigidity test, the Dame Certified are your new reliable pals to keep moving.

You can see it in the video, the shoe barely moves! This made us feel safe, and we were not scared of going ahead and trying some powerful and assertive moves such as jab steps or ball fakes.

We've got bad news and good news here. Good news first?

Scoring a 4 out of 5 in our heel counter stiffness test, our feet felt safe and protected. Getting such a high score sometimes comes with a price, right? Such as blisters or heel rubbing, but in this case... not at all!

After all, it did score a 5/5 in our heel padding durability test, so don't worry, this Adidas is a certified plushy friend! And look at how cool the 3 stripes look there, we really liked this design choice!

And for our bad news... Ugh, heel slippage.

We KNOW!!!

This doesn't make much sense, like... isn't it a shoe with a solid, snug, and stiff structure?

It is!

And it still has the issue of heel slippage?

It does!

And it sucks. But hey, don't worry, we've got some solutions for you! In our experience, tying the laces in a runners knot (check our lacing technique guide right here) or wearing double socks worked wonders. No more heel slippage!

Great news regarding its midsole! At 120.1 mm, this shoe's forefoot is pretty wide.

And we LOVE it.

Our caliper just confirmed that this is indeed a stable shoe, and all thanks to its wide midsole!

At 95.6 mm, our standard-sized feet felt comfy and supported.

Nevertheless, the wide-footed testers among us were not that happy with the Dame Certified's fit. They claimed the shoe was too tight in the midfoot, making the whole thing uncomfortable. As its structure is very rigid, you shouldn't expect it to be forgiving or accommodating.

If you want a wide-foot friendly pair that you can wear on outdoor courts, try the Adidas Dame 8.

With the high scores this Adidas got in the rigidity tests, we didn't expect it to be flexible. Nevertheless, we did feel that it moved alongside our feet when we were playing, so... we had to take it to our lab to find out what was up!

Using a gauge to check the force needed to bend this pair to a 90-degree angle, we couldn't help but dramatically gasp when we checked the results. At 35.5N, it's more flexible than average... WHAT?!

Our feet were right and our logic was wrong? It does seem so! Our heel-to-toe transitions were smooth and unintrusive. We enjoyed this not only walking around court, but also warming up! You know, when you are still getting there, right before the game.

One of our favourite parts about this shoe is definitely the mix between the safety of its rigid structure and the unrestricted ride of its bendy design. What a great combo, Adidas!

As this shoe is a tough one, we thought it would be heavy. But when we tried it on for the first time... we didn't get that feeling.

At 14.3 oz / 404.0g, this pair's weight is just average. We can't say it's lightweight, but it didn't feel like we were carrying stones in our feet when we were playing either. It lets you jump and move around without any problems!

It also features a lightweight Bounce midsole for better cushioning, which we definitely felt when we went for the rebound!

Damian Lillard is a point guard and, even though it depends on their playstyle, these types of players usually like light shoes that let them move fast across the court. If you're a Dame lover but you're looking for something lighter, we've got it: the Adidas Dame 8 might just be what you need!

Not every basketball shoe has the same features just because it's used to play ball. Depending on your preferences, needs, taste, or even playstyle, there are models with different advantages that will make you enjoy this sport to the fullest.

Here, in RunRepeat, we make each and every one of them go through the same procedures and tests. In this way, we can give you the most accurate comparison and you can buy the exact shoe you're looking for.

The Adidas Dame Certified's first trial is the breathability test. What we do is we put smoke inside the shoe and see how much its upper materials let go. Check the video below!

It looks like you haven't pressed play, but... it is working. So, yeah, that's the amount of smoke this shoe releases. Earning a 1 out of 5, it has absolutely lost this 1vs1 facing the Under Armour Curry Flow 10, which earned a solid 5/5 in this same test.

We were not satisfied with this, as the hot game hot shoe partnership is not of our liking. So we decided to perform our light test to check if the shoe had any ventilation holes or gaps that would let that light shine through.

The result? TOTAL AIR BALL. What a miss! Not even the tongue, that can be seen letting some smoke out in the breathability test, has any kind of opening to let the shoe breathe!

And... our microscope just confirmed it. The first layer does have some gaps, but we can see a second layer underneath that's definitely not letting any air come in and out.

We actually thought there would be some improvement in this area in comparison to the Adidas Dame 8, which scored a 2 out of 5 on this same test. But the results were even worse!

If you're looking for a breathable shoe that won't make you spend all your savings, we recommend the Nike LeBron Witness 7.

Trading breathability for durability, the Dame Certified are a very resistant pair!

We test all our shoes in the same spot so our results are coherent, objective, and constant. Luckily, in this case we could actually try both parts of the toebox: its protective white layer and the green mesh.

And wow, just look at that! It did look more dramatic in the video, but in the final picture? Not at all! This shoe is made to be an amour for your feet. Earning a well-deserved 4 out of 5, this Adidas is ready to protect you.

Sometimes it's easier to actually believe the damage our Dremel causes is not that bad when we compare it with another shoe. On the left side, with a 4/5 in our toebox durability test and an extra rubber layer to protect our feet... the Adidas Dame Certified! On the right side, with a 1/5 in our toebox durability test and a hole bigger than the rim itself... the Nike Precision 6!

Listen, if this was a boxing match, the Adidas shoe would EVAPORATE the Nike one!

The heel follows the same logic! You know, sometimes it's said that the best defense is a good offense, but... the Dame Certified believes the best offense is a good defense. And so do we!

Our Dremel literally had NO chance against it. Scoring a solid 5/5 in heel padding durability, believe us when we say this test was merely a tickle attack for this Adidas shoe.

Can you even see the damage, though? It's pretty much invisible! This means that this shoe will definitely last a long time.

If we compare the damage with the one the Reebok Answer DMX (on the right) suffered in this same test... you'll definitely understand why we called this a tickle attack for the Dame Certified.

No kidding, this shoe is a certified fighter!

We grabbed our durometer to see if the outsole of this pair is a toughie like its upper.

At 83.0 HC, it's pretty close to the average. As this pair is used to hoop outdoors, it needs to be hard and durable to be cut to play streetball with you, right?

Its outsole MUST be designed to withstand concrete and pavement's abrasion. Like, it's a bball outdoor shoe, it's bound to be a fighter!

After our 22-second test at a speed of 10KRPM, our Dremel left a 0.8 mm deep dent.

You can barely see it. And with the high-ish and wavy pattern of the outsole, there is still a considerable amount of rubber to destroy before you actually make it to the shoe's bottom.

All in all, we're very happy to say this is a durable pal for your games. Bring it on!

We were a little bit surprised with the results when we grabbed our caliper. You need a thick and hard outsole to be able to play outside without any concerns. At 2.9 mm, this shoe's outsole is way thinner than average.

It's true that its rubber is hard, but not that much! This raised some concerns, but it was all gone when we tried this pair out in our wear tests and it performed incredibly well.

Turns out its sole is not the thickest and hardest one around, but this translates into ground feel. When we wore this Adidas, we were in control of our moves and we actually performed the hardest ones better, such as spin, behind the back, and change of pace dribbles.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for a shoe with one of the firmest, hardest, and most durable outsole that we have ever tested, you should have a look at the Reebok Answer DMX. But let us warn you: its heel padding is not as tough!

But the traction was something else. Wow, oh WOW. That sums it up pretty well!

For real now, this pair's grip is no joke. It works on indoor courts and on outdoor ones, and it still performs decently even if there are pebbles or any other debris around trying to interfere with your game.

Trust us! All our comments are based on our own experiences with each shoe. In our opinion, this is another key feature, as point guards need to stick to the ground in other to protect their feet and joints from any potential damage coming from fast moves.

This pair's outsole was ready to take it all! With its wavy pattern, it didn't hesitate when it was time to bite the court. The bigger lines boost the overall flexibility, and the structure follows your feet moves. But the best part is that, in general, they're not big enough to be catching stones!

We came home with a couple of the smallest pebbles there were, but that was literally it! It's pretty much impossible for this shoe's pattern to catch anything else. If anything at all!

No reflective elements here!

We don't think those are necessary when you play indoors, but... in our opinion, they are very convenient for outdoor courts! Just think about it: shorter days during winter, less daylight...

So, we've got an idea. Hey, Adidas, what about making the 3 stripes at the rearfoot reflective? Wouldn't that be incredibly awesome?

You know what, you don't need to answer, we already know it's a million-dollar idea!

Even though it's not a heavy shoe, its tongue is thickly padded. At 11.0, this might add some extra weight to the shoe, but we found it quite convenient to face the heel slippage issue.

Why? Because even when we strongly pulled the laces to make the Dane Certified fit snugger, we didn't experience any kind of lace bite!

A both-sides-full gusseted tongue a day, keeps the... injuries away!

This contributes to the overall stability and lock-in feel that your feet need to play with no regrets!

In basketball, we have what's called a four-point play. It's pretty rare, but it happens!

To keep it short, it's basically when you achieve a 3-point shot and you're fouled in the act of shooting. This means that you get 3 points + 1 if you actually make the following free throw.

The Adidas Dame Certified follows that same logic when it comes to finger loops, look!

A finger loop at the top of the tongue, and two extra details to keep the laces (and the style) on point.

And a finger loop in the heel! Not only is this last one convenient to put the shoe on and off, it also looks incredibly cool!

The D from Dame with the two vertical lines of the dollar symbol and in this green colour? We say YES.

You can use your own orthotics with this shoe. It has a removable insole!