7 Best Low Top Basketball Shoes

The Nike LeBron NXXT GEN easily rose above other low-tops performance-wise because of (1) the amazing lockdown that it provided, (2) its surprisingly lightweight structure, and (3) top-notch traction on both indoor and outdoor courts. It was easy to have the time of our lives while wearing this hoop shoe.

This LeBron shoe has a midfoot shank and responsive upper materials that helped keep our feet in place no matter how aggressive our movements were. There was never a moment when wobbliness became a source of concern for us. 

LeBron shoes have always been expected to be on the heavier side, but the NXXT GEN just changed that. Our in-lab scale measured its weight to be only 13.12 oz or 372g, making this low-top the lightest LeBron James basketball shoe to date. 

The grip of the Nike LeBron NXXT GEN’s outsole was surely one for the books. We never had problems with whether we were playing on indoor or outdoor courts.

Our experience of stability would have been more complete had the midsole platform been a bit wider. Our caliper measured the midsole width at the forefoot to be only 107.9 mm when the average is 113.3 mm. The heel is also slightly narrower at 90.3 mm (ave is 91.1 mm).

Among all the low-tops that we played in, we were the most amazed with the bite that the Curry 10 has on various surfaces. Aside from this benefit, we also loved that this shoe delivered phenomenal lockdown while providing noteworthy flexibility.

When we wanted to make quick changes in direction, it was easy. When we wanted abrupt stops, it was never a challenge. The traction on this shoe is just that good. Enough said.

This shoe still delivered an amazing hold on our feet even as a low-top. Whether we were moving from back to front or from side to side, we were never threatened by slips. It helped that the base of the Under Armour Curry 10 got a perfect 5 for torsional rigidity after we manually squeezed it in the lab.

Just because this shoe was immensely supportive didn’t really mean that flexibility was sacrificed. We found in our lab that this shoe needed only 35.5N to bend at 90 degrees. The typical basketball shoe would need 40.9N.

Outdoor players will have to stay away from the Curry 10, though. It doesn’t have a real outsole so its midsole foam is the one that directly touches the surface. Using our HC durometer, we learned that it only has a hardness rating of 59.5, a far cry from the hardness of the 81.5 average.

When we compared it to other LeBrons, the 20’s midsole is on the thinner side. Yet, its heel was still able to deliver a good deal of plushness. It is because of this blend of court feel and impact protection that its cushioning system is a standout among other low-tops. It’s already a bonus that it had an insanely durable upper which protected our feet quite well. 

Using a caliper, we learned that the midsole especially at the heel area is 3.0 mm thinner than average. This reduction resulted in us feeling the ground more, thereby improving our athleticism and speed.

We also measured the softness of the midsole cushion using a HA durometer and we learned that it’s softer than the average. The LeBron 20 is 25.5, while the average is 26.6. The force of our heel strikes was effectively neutralized and our sprints up and down the court were consistently kept pain-free.

The upper was indeed a tank. We subjected it to a high-pressure Dremel test, but our drilling barely made a mark on the LeBron 20’s surface. It got a score of 4 out of 5 for toebox durability. Even on the court, we barely felt any trauma getting through, even if opponents unintentionally stepped on our feet.

Be warned though, the LeBron 20 is on the unbreathable side, getting only a score of 2 out of 5 for ventilation after smoke had a hard time escaping through the upper material.

As a low-top, the Zoom Freak 4 never felt flimsy or lacking in support. On the contrary, it had an effectively stiff heel counter and a comfortably supportive structure overall. In addition to this, it has more cushioning material and a harder outsole, making it resistant to bottoming out. And it delivered all of these benefits without stacking on more weight. It’s only 12.3 oz (348g) when the average is 13.7 oz (387g). Hence, the Nike Zoom Freak 4 is the best lightweight pick among all the low-top hoop shoes we tried.

Support was never a problem because of the stiff heel counter, fully gusseted tongue, and considerably resistant overall structure. We gave the heel counter a 4 out of 5 for stiffness after it gave us a fairly hard time when we manually squeezed it in the lab. Our digital force gauge showed that this shoe only bent at 90 degrees when 54.0N of force was applied, a strong indicator of how inflexible this shoe is. For context, a typical shoe already bends at the same angle with only 41.9N.

Caliper measurements revealed that the stack heights of the heel and forefoot are 32.7 mm and 24.4 mm respectively. This means that the tooling is 3.7 mm and 2.6 mm thicker than average. We also learned that this foam is well protected by an outsole rubber that has a hardness score of 84.5 while the average is 80.3 according to our HC durometer, which means that the Freak 4's rubber is harder.

It’s just too bad that this basketball shoe cannot accommodate wide-footers. At its widest point, the toe box is only 97.6 mm wide which makes it narrower than the average shoe whose width is 99.9 mm.

Among all the low-tops that we tried, we consider the Nike KD 15 as the best for outdoors because of its outsole quality. The outsole is both thicker and harder than the average. Aside from this benefit, this basketball shoe also delivered amazing torsional resistance and heel support.

The rubber that makes up the outsole is 4.1 mm thick, which is slightly thicker than the 3.9 mm average. We assessed the sole’s hardness using an HC durometer and we learned that it’s also a bit harder than the typical shoe, 83.0 against 80.3. These qualities allow this basketball shoe to resist abrasion quite effectively.

The twist resistance that this shoe delivered was just a perfect 5. The stability, confidence, and focus that this feature afforded us were truly one for the books.

Heel support was also a noteworthy benefit. After pushing and squeezing the back of the shoe in the lab, we gave it a 4 out of 5 for firmness and support capacity. This part was truly effective in keeping the heel in place even as we sprinted quite aggressively toward the basket.

Too bad, wide-footers won’t be able to comfortably enjoy the goodness that this shoe offers. At its widest, the toebox is only 97.0 wide, making the Nike KD 15 narrower than the 99.9 mm average.

An insanely flexible shoe, this is how we would describe the Nike Air Max Impact 4 after several games. We never felt out movements being restricted even when they involved unique forefoot flexions. Besides flexibility, this shoe also delivered consistent traction indoors and outdoors and a good deal of impact protection. What’s even more amazing is that all this goodness is just for £100! We consider this shoe as the most valuable among low-tops, which has an average price of £130.

We were so amazed when our digital force gauge reported that the Air Max Impact 4 needed only 34.7N of force to bend at 90 degrees when the average would need as much as 41.9N! Aside from unrestricted movements, this flexibility also gave us a lot of comfort.

The grip on the hardwood was also pretty noteworthy. Linear movements, lateral footwork, quick direction changes–all of these on-court actions got the bite that they needed. Dust was not even a problem so we didn’t have qualms using this shoe outdoors.

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 was also quite effective in ensuring that our runs were pain-free. The midsole felt soft, and we were able to confirm this in the lab. Our HA durometer gave the midsole a softness score of 25.5 while the average is 27.9 (the lower the reading, the softer the midsole).

At its widest, the toebox is only 101.1 mm wide, and this does not deviate in any significant way from the 99.9 mm average. Wide-footers may have to look for a much more accommodating alternative.

As a low-top, the amount of support that the Nike Ja 1 delivered is quite impressive. We loved how it felt secure without being too restrictive. We also appreciated its outstanding durability and noteworthy lightness. Because of all these, we deem it as the pick that offers the best value among all low-tops. It’s a huge bonus that it’s only £120 when the average is £140.

Much of the lockdown that the Ja 1 gave came from its well structured sidewalls and heel counter. The heel counter, in particular, got a 4 out of 5 from us after we gave it a very nice squeeze in the lab.

We tested for durability through Dremel drilling through shoe materials. Both the toebox and the heel padding got perfect 5s because they truly held their own even in the face of immense pressure and abrasion. We are now so confident that this shoe will last long.

The weight of this shoe is also worth noting. At only 12.73 ounces or 361 grams, the Nike Ja 1 is a lot lighter than the 14.22 oz or 403g average.  On court, this meant less effortful and speedier runs.

It’s just a huge bummer that the wide-footers among us couldn’t enjoy this shoe as much as they wanted. The shoe just tapers so much toward the big toe. At that point, our caliper measured it to be only 75.6 mm wide when the average is 76.8 mm.