Who should buy the Nike Air Deldon
The first signature shoe for Elena Delle Donne suits you if you:
- are looking for handicap-ready basketball shoes
- have narrow to medium-sized feet
- keep your games indoors
Who should NOT buy this signature shoe from Nike
Basketball players who get easily annoyed by the constant wiping of dust are not going to be happy with the Air Deldon. These people are better off with the Nike KD 15.
Like many Nike shoes, the Air Deldon has to be broken in. Players who do not have time to break in their shoes may want to check out the Under Armour Spawn 4.
Generally unique configuration
A couple of experts take notice of the unusual appearance of the Nike Air Deldon. They mention that the shoe has technologies that are not usually found in basketball shoes.
According to one of them, the "super weird setup" does not hinder it from performing well on the court.
Breathability is minimal
It can get really toasty inside the Nike Air Deldon. The shoe's upper barely lets any air pass.
In our transparency test below, you can also see how the light does not shine through the material either. There are a few ventilation holes in the toebox but they don't seem to be sufficient.
Grip that you can rely on
Admittedly, the Air Deldons are not the stop-on-a-dime type of shoes, but they are definitely not bad. In fact, this shoe delivers a "pretty solid bite" on cleaner courts according to an expert.
It must be noted here that the shoe, particularly the outsole, needs some time to break in. The Nike Air Deldon simply does not hit the ground running.
Dust is an issue for the Air Deldon
An expert reports that his outsole attracts so much dust. Not only that, but he also shares that it is "really really freaking hard to wipe off the dust." Definitely, this shoe is not for the impatient ones.
Also, the shoe's tendency to attract so much dust makes it not suitable for outdoor use.
The Nike Air Deldon's upper offers comfort
One expert loves the "fabric-like feel" of the upper. Another player agrees, saying that it has a "really plush feeling' and therefore able to deliver "a ton of comfort." It is perhaps because of this that one athlete goes as far as declaring that the Nike Air Deldon's upper is one of his favorite uppers of the year.
It has one of the thickest tongues imaginable. It is 14.5 mm thick! For reference, the average is 9.8 mm.
The shoe is easy to put on and off
The Nike Air Deldon employs the FlyEase technology, which makes it handicap-ready. This means that the opening can be wide enough to accommodate those with special needs.
Be protected from toe drags
An expert mentions that the toe drag guard does well. Another avid reviewer is a bit more progressive, and he says that this shoe has a "super aggressive guard" around the toes.
Impact protection is reliable
An expert says that the midsole setup is "definitely interesting" because even if the foam is quite minimal, it is still able to deliver solid impact protection. Because of this, wearers are protected from harsh landings and aggressive strikes.
The foam thickness is indeed more minimal than average. We measured the heel stack height at 25.2 mm which is 2.3 mm thinner than the average (27.5 mm).
Disclaimer: We always measure stack height with the insole included.
The insole is 4.2 mm thick - an average for basketball shoes.
The spring back is definitely there
An expert says that for a shoe that has minimal foam and absolutely no shank, the energy return of the Nike Air Deldon is "darn good." Sprints to the basket and runs past opponents are all fueled by this shoe.
One of the most flexible shoes
The Nike Air Deldon turns out to be more flexible than average. This allows the player to feel more naturally inside the shoe, as it bends along with their foot.
The Nike Air Deldon is 18% more flexible than basketball shoes on average.
Containment? No problem with the Air Deldon
An expert reports that this shoe from Nike is able to deliver a truly secure lockdown and foot containment. He does not worry that the shoe comes off even when his movements become so aggressive and intense.
The tongue is gusseted which helps with foot containment as well.
A stiff and well-padded heel counter is also very efficient in locking the ankle in place.
Run light with the Air Deldon
At 12 ounces or 340 grams, the Nike Air Deldon is significantly lower than the average of all the shoes we have on record, which now stands at 13.5 ounces or 383 grams. This shoe definitely won't weigh you down.
Wide-footers beware!
A couple of wearers comment that the Nike Air Deldon is quite on the narrow side, though going true to size works for most people. Those who have wide feet are advised to go at least half a size up or go for another shoe altogether.
Comparable to the Air Jordans
"WNBA's version of [the Air] Jordans," says one user. She is impressed that the Nike Air Deldon is comparable to the illustrious Air Jordans in terms of style and comfort. Mind you, there are not of the same price!
Complete lab-specs overview
| Nike Air Deldon | Average | |
| Whole shoe | ||
| Weight (g) | 353 | 360 |
| Drop (mm) | 5.0 | 6.9 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (N) | 45.2 | 54.9 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (Freezer 20 min) (N) | 71.8 | 77.8 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (% of change) | 58.9 | 43.4 |
| Longitudinal flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 3 | 4.2 |
| Torsional flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 4 | 4.5 |
| Upper | ||
| Thickness - Tongue (mm) | 14.5 | 9.8 |
| Width Upper - Forefoot (mm) | 97.2 | 97.5 |
| Width Upper - Heel (mm) | 73.9 | 77.0 |
| Flexibility of the heel counter (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 4 | 4.3 |
| Tongue: gusset type | both sides (semi-gusseted) | - |
| Heel: pull tab | none | - |
| Midsole | ||
| Width Midsole - Forefoot (mm) | 106.2 | 109.5 |
| Width Midsole - Heel (mm) | 85.4 | 86.7 |
| Stack - Forefoot with insole (mm) | 20.2 | 20.5 |
| Stack - Heel with insole (mm) | 25.2 | 27.5 |
| Durometer Midsole Heel (Room temperature) (HA) | 32.0 | 26.9 |
| Durometer Midsole - Heel (Freezer 20 minutes) | 44.5 | 39.3 |
| Durometer Midsole - Heel (% of change) (TEST) | 39.1 | 46.0 |
| Outsole | ||
| Outsole thickness (Heel) (mm) | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Durometer Outsole Heel (Room temperature) (HC) | 80.0 | 81.4 |
| Insole | ||
| Insole Heel Thickness (mm) | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Insole: removable | yes | - |
Facts / Specs
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