Facts
High-Top
Basketball sneakers that rise well above the ankle to keep sprints and jumps stable and well-supported. You sure can fly high when you have high-top basketball shoes to tie.
Mid-Top
Basketball sneakers that rise just up to where the ankles are. Providing support and flexibility so fine, mid-top basketball shoes surely hold the line.
Low-Top
Basketball shoes that leave the ankles exposed for a better range of motion. Be flexible with your blows, get basketball shoes that are low.
Good to know
Some basketball shoes embody the athleticism and symbolize the life of certain on-court legends. Hooping will surely be fine when you get kicks from their signature lines.
Strap
Hoop shoes that drop the traditional laces in favor of velcro straps for better efficiency. Secure strap basketball shoes, and have them in various hues.
Lace-Up
Basketball shoes that stick with the good old laces for that familiar security and lockdown. Get lace-up basketball shoes to tie because they never go out of style.
Slip-On
Basketball shoes with uppers that provide a glove-like fit without the help of any lockdown mechanism. Do nothing but go in with slip-on basketball shoes .
Good to know
Some basketball shoes combine the powers of more than one lockdown styles for an improved fit and a much more stable ride. Get more bases covered with these basketball shoes.
Good to know
Basketball shoes usually weigh between 300g and 400g for speed and agility. Write your on-court tale with basketball shoes that barely tip the scales.
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 7 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what basketball players think:
12 reasons to buy
- The Zoom technology in the heel works because several reviewers mention that the shoe is responsive, and it provides good impact protection.
- Many wearers appreciate the mesh in the upper because of the steady airflow it provides the foot.
- A large number of buyers say that the Nike LeBron Soldier XI is true to size.
- The versatility of the shoe model is hailed by plenty of shoe owners, saying that it suits any playing style of any athlete.
- Most users are happy with the laceless design of the Nike LeBron Soldier 11. They say it provides ease and saves time.
- The insole of the shoe model is liked by a lot of purchasers because it is plush and comfortable.
- Majority of the wearers say the traction requires minimal wiping and performs well on any court.
- The straps of the shoe model keep the foot secured according to a huge number of wearers.
- Many buyers say that the price tag of the LeBron Soldier XI is reasonable given all the attributes it has.
- Several wearers love the futuristic design of these LeBron James basketball shoes.
- A tester claims that the Nike LeBron Soldier XI provides nice step-in comfort.
- Some shoe owners leave comments that the Nike Zoom Soldier 11 features a wide and stable base to help with the balance during hard cuts, sudden stops and landing.
6 reasons not to buy
- A small number of users mention that the Swoosh on the shoe starts to peel off just after a few uses.
- Some users complain that the traction pattern in the middle of the outsole causes slippage during play.
- A handful of wearers say the ankle strap is unnecessary and does not provide support.
- A few buyers mention that the shoe is heavy and bulky.
- These Nike basketball shoes are not breathable enough, say a couple of reviewers.
- A reviewer reports that if only the Zoom units had not been made to protrude, the outsole rubber in those areas would not have easily worn off.
Bottom line
The Nike LeBron Soldier XI is a solid basketball sneaker. The shoe’s versatility makes a good impression on a good number of buyers. At $130, this is definitely a good buy. If you need a new pair that can last more than a season of basketball playing, pick up a new pair of the Nike LeBron Soldier XI now.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are basketball players, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.
84 / 100 based on 17 expert reviews
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89 / 100 by WearTesters • Chris Chase • Level 5 expert
It’s remarkable that designers were able to create a shoe supportive enough for LeBron yet have it weigh just 13 ounces.
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85 / 100 by The Sole Brothers • Don Fontaine and Sammy Lee • Level 5 expert
I'll recommend it for bigger dudes.
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90 / 100 by Schwollo • Schwollo • Level 5 expert
If I were in a pinch for some shoes, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy these to play in. Thanks for saving my fingers Lebron, this was probably the easiest review I’ve done in years.
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89 / 100 by WearTesters • Chris Chase • Level 5 expert
It’s remarkable that designers were able to create a shoe supportive enough for LeBron yet have it weigh just 13 ounces.
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86 / 100 by Basketball Diagnostics • Daumantas Rimkus • Level 5 expert
Big dudes will love them so much due to beastly support and great amount of impact protection.
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85 / 100 by LiveforBball • Julius Kralikas • Level 5 expert
These sure as hell improved. They turned out into a great all-around performer for bigger guys.
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90 / 100 by BBallEquips • BBallEquips • Level 4 expert
In conclusion, the Zoom Soldier 11 is definitely an upgrade over the Soldier 10 but I would really hope for Nike to change up the traction pattern. The improvement on the cushioning is great and so are the straps. The price point in my opinion could be reduced slightly, at least for the regular version since the materials used are pretty normal.
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78 / 100 by SoleCollector • Zac Dubasik • Level 4 expert
At $130-140, it’s not the most affordable option, but it’s one of ​them—and a very good value for what you get.
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75 / 100 by WearTesters • Jarron Ramos • Level 4 expert
Had Nike went all out on the cushioning and made it a little more stable, it would have easily been a top-tier performer.
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75 / 100 by WearTesters • Jarron Ramos • Level 4 expert
Had Nike went all out on the cushioning and made it a little more stable, it would have easily been a top-tier performer.
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89 / 100 by Hoop Jordan • Hoop Jordan • Level 3 expert
While traction could still use a little bit of work, the cushion is immensely better than the last go-around
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78 / 100 by KickGenius • Tre Good and J Jones • Level 3 expert
I will say this, it's probably the best soldier that I hooped in.
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80 / 100 by Hoop And Life • Nelson Chan and Kevin La • Level 2 expert
I didn't find these shoes to be spectacular, but it got the job done.
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80 / 100 by Hugo Sanchez • Hugo Sanchez • Level 2 expert
My overall thoughts about this shoe, I would say I would recommend it for outdoors.
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100 / 100 by AnotherPair • Nate • Level 1 expert
I love it, I have no complaints about it!
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90 / 100 by Ricky Tube • Ricky Tube • Level 1 expert
Overall a good shoe.
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70 / 100 by SneakerWhorez • SneakerWhorez • Level 1 expert
Overall, I like the shoe. I think that you could play positions 1 through 5 in these.
Profile of Nike LeBron Soldier XI
The Nike LeBron Soldier 11 is a budget-friendly model from LeBron James’s signature line. The midsole has the Zoom technology and Phylon. The upper has mesh that provides ventilation to the foot. The outsole has thick and durable rubber that ensures an amazing court grip.
Performance
Cushion. The responsiveness of the LeBron Soldier XI comes from the Zoom technology and Phylon in the midsole. The Zoom units are located in the forefoot and heel area. They absorb impact and help shield the knees and muscles from stress and fatigue. The midsole is composed of full-length Phylon. It is a type of lightweight and responsive EVA foam that provides flexibility to the shoe.
Traction. The LeBron Soldier 11 has an icy and translucent rubber outsole that features a triangular traction pattern. There are reports that translucent outsoles cause court slippage, but the rubber on the LeBron Soldier XI proves them wrong. The durable outsole performs well on a wide variety of courts. The triangular traction just has an excellent grip on almost any surface.
Fit
Length and Width. The Nike LeBron Soldier XI comes in the normal width and length. As for wearers with wider feet, they are advised to go half a size up. They can also opt to fit the shoe in the nearest shoe outlet to make sure of their size prior to purchasing.
Lockdown. To keep the foot in place, the Nike LeBron Soldier XI has four straps that can be adjusted to achieve the desired snugness. The Achilles foam inside the shoe provides more support and comfort to the ankle.
Material
The upper material of the LeBron Soldier XI may change with the colorway. There are colorways whose uppers are made of ballistic nylon mesh, which provides breathability and comfort to the foot. The toe box of the shoe is spacious enough to allow the toes to flex. After the shoe is broken in, the material in the upper area becomes softer and more comfortable. It also conforms better to the foot. The external heel counter is made of rubber which provides stability to the foot.
Style
The mid-top Nike LeBron Soldier XI has a one-bootie construction. There are dainty and sturdy pull tabs on the tongue and heel counter. They provide convenience in getting in and out of the shoe. To showcase the technology used in the midsole, a NIKE ZOOM callout is found on the heel counter. The respected Swoosh is found on the outsole and both sides of the shoe. To signify that the shoe model is part of LeBron’s signature series, his logo is found on the tongue, insole, outsole, and heel counter.
Special Colorways of the Nike LeBron Soldier XI
The Nike LeBron Soldier XI comes in many colorways:
- Black Gum
- Black Sail
- Bred
- Grey Gum
- SFG Light Bone/Dark Stucco-Black
- SFG Medium Olive
- University Red
- White Ice
- White/Metallic Gold-Black
- White/Racer Blue-Infrared
Special colorways are also released.
Nike LeBron Soldier 11 Cavs
Covered in a midnight blue upper, the Cavs colorway is inspired by the alternate jersey color of the Cleveland Cavaliers. It comes with a gum outsole rubber, white midsole, and metallic gold Swoosh and LBJ logos.
Nike LeBron Soldier XI Cavs PE
The LeBron Soldier 11 comes in team red with a speckled midsole, a silver Swoosh, and silver LeBron logos. This another player exclusive was worn by Tristan Thompson during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals 2017.
Nike LeBron Soldier 11 Christmas PE
The King rocked a player exclusive Soldier 11 while practicing for a match against the Golden State Warriors. This dark green pair comes with a light green shade at the rear panel down to the heel. The bright crimson LeBron James logo and metallic gold Swoosh give the shoe a great holiday look.
Nike LeBron Soldier XI College “Ohio State”
Instead of having the regular single-tone basketball outsole, the College Ohio State colorway sports one that matches the scarlet red and white jersey of the school.
Nike LeBron Soldier 11 Court General
The Court General colorway is inspired by the leadership of LeBron James. It comes with a white upper, a translucent outsole rubber, metallic gold Swoosh, and black LeBron logos.
Nike LeBron Soldier XI Finals
The Cleveland Cavaliers may have lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA Championship but the Nike LeBron Soldier 11 Finals won the hearts of many LeBron James fans. It is dressed in an all-black upper with metallic gold LBJ logos and Swoosh. For a contrasting appeal, the shoe model comes with a translucent outsole rubber.
Nike LeBron Soldier 11 Kay Yow
Dressed in dual chromes white and pink, the Kay Yow colorway promotes breast cancer awareness.
Nike LeBron Soldier XI Markelle Fultz PE
The 2017 NBA Draft’s first overall pick Markelle Fultz received a Soldier 11 player exclusive from Nike. It comes with a teal left shoe and pink right shoe. The shoe comes with a speckled midsole and an outsole that comes with a multicolor gradient.
Nike LeBron Soldier 11 Silver Bullet
The inspiration for the Silver Bullet colorway is derived from LeBron James’s favorite sneaker the Nike Air Max 97. The shoe features a metallic silver upper. On the midfoot strap is a black oval with a red Swoosh. It also has a white midsole, a striped outsole, and red Swoosh and LeBron James logos on various parts.
Nike LeBron Soldier XI SFG Safari
Inspired by the classic Nike Safari releases, the SFG colorway features a Safari print of black, white, and gray in the upper. It has orange accents on the Swoosh, ankle collar, and LBJ logos. The shoe model comes with a contrasting gum outsole.
Nike LeBron Soldier 11 Steel
Since his return in 2014, LeBron James has brought the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Finals yearly. It made him a great structure of the team. The shoe features a black mesh upper with a white Swoosh, gray soles, and red and blue accents are scattered.
Nike LeBron Soldier XI TD Cleat “Ohio State”
Though created mainly for basketball, the eleventh LeBron Soldier was also made available as football cleats. The Ohio State Buckeyes faced the Penn State Nittan Lions wearing the Nike LeBron Soldier 11 TD Cleat “Ohio State”. This red pair is a great match to their uniforms.
Nike LeBron Soldier XI Wheat
Just in time for fall, the Wheat colorway was released as another reference to LBJ’s Strive for Greatness campaign. The signature shoe comes in wheat and metallic gold, and it has a gum rubber outsole.
