Verdict from 7 experts and 66 user reviews

9 reasons to buy

  • Several buyers are impressed at the Harden B/E’s on-court performance. They are saying that these Adidas shoes are great for hooping.
  • Some are pleased that these James Harden shoes provide excellent ankle support despite its low-top design.
  • Many wearers are saying that the Adidas Harden B/E fits like a glove.
  • Nearly all testers love the shoe’s traction. Like the first Hardens, the B/E works well on both indoor and outdoor courts.
  • Most reviewers have little to complain about the Harden B/E’s cushioning. According to them, Bounce offers a lot of court feel, has outstanding responsiveness, and also provides the right amount of impact protection.
  • Almost all testers are pleased with the support and lockdown of these low-top basketball shoes. They claim that the shoes provide excellent midfoot to forefoot lockdown as well as solid lateral containment.
  • At least a couple of players note that the mesh upper is very breathable.
  • Nearly all wearers observe that the shoes are quite comfortable once it is broken in.
  • A good number of buyers appreciate the Adidas Harden B/E’s stylish design.

4 reasons not to buy

  • The Bounce midsole is quite thin and firm, some testers report.
  • According to most reviewers, the Adidas Harden B/E’s materials definitely require some time to break in.
  • A handful of wearers observe that the Harden B/E runs smaller than the Harden Vol 1.
  • At least a couple of testers gripe that some heel slip is experienced during competitive play.  

Bottom line

Despite being the cheaper model, the Adidas Harden B/E still performs just as well as the Harden Vol 1. These more affordable Hardens feature the same grippy outsole and all the support features present in its top-tier counterpart. However, instead of Boost, the Harden B/E is equipped with a low-profile and quite responsive Bounce midsole. All in all, the B/E is a great low-top basketball shoe that guards and even small forwards will enjoy.

Tip: see the best basketball shoes.

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Good to know

These overseas-exclusive Harden basketball shoes are inspired by James’s “Brothers Through Everything” motto. The Adidas Harden B/E boasts a patterned mesh upper for increased airflow with textured leather overlays for durability. Underfoot, the comfortable Adidas Bounce midsole keeps your feet feeling fresh all day.

Cushion. Unlike the full-length Boost found on the Harden Vol. 1, the Harden B/E is equipped with the next best thing — Adidas Bounce. The Bounce midsole offers increased comfort and flexibility to keep you on your toes throughout 48 mins of action.

Traction. The Adidas Harden B/E boasts the same rubber outsole found on the Harden Vol. 1. The Fibonacci-inspired traction pattern offers exceptional grip on and off the hardwood.

Length and Width. Adidas Harden B/E owners are claiming that these low-tops run smaller than the Harden Vol. 1. Narrow and regular footers can stick with their real size; however, wide-footers may need to go up half a size.

Lockdown. These low-top basketball shoes from Adidas feature an asymmetrical lacing system that offers maximum support and total lockdown.

The Harden B/E’s upper is constructed with a combination mesh and leather. The air mesh upper offers increased breathability while a leather toe and midfoot overlay provide added durability.

These low-tops from Adidas feature the same design cues seen on the Harden Vol. 1. The Harden B/E features the signature asymmetrical construction near the tongue as well as the leather overlay on the midfoot and toe cap.

These overseas-exclusive James Harden sneakers are available in the following hues:

  • Collegiate Navy/Legend Ink /Footwear White
  • Footwear White/Core Black/Footwear White
  • Scarlet/Core Black

Adidas Harden B/E ‘Cheetah’

Dubbed ‘Cheetah,’ these James harden basketball shoes feature a cheetah-like mix of orange and black color tones.

How Harden B/E compares

This shoe: 87
All shoes average: 82
55 95
This shoe: £120
All shoes average: £130
£40 £470
This shoe: 417g
All shoes average: 393g
256g 812g
Ready to buy? Available from £40
Not sure yet? Overview of all 495 basketball shoes
Author
Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic

Dimitrije Curcic has been playing basketball for over 22 years. Like Manu Ginobili, he’s a left-hander whose moves led him to a better career-shooting percentage than the Argentine himself. After playing professionally for 10 years, Dimitrije moved to coaching for two seasons before he became a basketball statistician for StatScore, and FanSided contributor for the San Antonio Spurs. Dimitrije loves to tell hoop stories through numbers and graphics and has been featured on Fansided, FiveThirtyEight, Eurohoops, and TalkBasket among the others.

dimitrije@runrepeat.com