Nike PG1 review

Who should buy the Nike PG1

The PG1 marks the start of a line signature Nike basketball shoes for Paul George. The inspiration for the shoe comes from his favorite basketball sneaker, the Nike Zoom Crusader. The forefoot strap is George’s idea, and it is held in place by Flywire. There is a sizable piece of Zoom technology installed in the midfoot area of the outsole.

You know this is the right pair for you because:

• You are Paul George's superfan.
• You're excited to experience the forefoot strap designed by George that would bring super secure lockdown.

Nike PG1's awesome midsole

Cushioning is provided by the Zoom technology and the phylon that surrounds it. The Zoom bag is purposely designed to make protrusions on the outsole rubber. According to most reviewers, the PG1 benefits the athlete by providing a good amount of responsiveness and absorbing minimal impact in the forefoot area.

The Nike PG1 is designed for athletes who use their forefoot a lot when playing. The preferred positions would be the guards or small forwards. The shoe has a low-to-the-ground feel without sacrificing the capacity to support the quick multidirectional footwork of the wearer.

Solid outsole setup of PG1

Depending on the colorway, the outsole can either be a solid or translucent rubber. Most reviewers prefer the solid outsole because it is less slippery compared to the translucent one. The purpose of the translucent outsole is to showcase the Zoom technology in the midfoot area of the shoe.

The outsole has a multidirectional traction pattern. It is reported that being without flex grooves, this kind of traction works on clean courts. On dusty courts, wiping from time to time will have to be done.

Nike PG1 super secure lockdown

The Nike PG1 is designed to fit like a glove. If the one-bootie construction of the shoe is not enough, the shoelaces with four lace loops can be tied to provide a more secure hold on the foot. The strap in the midfoot area is a bonus for people with quite narrow or slim feet. The tightness of the strap can be adjusted to more securely hold the midfoot down.

The strap is further aided by a Flywire setup in the midfoot area. Flywire acts like a suspension bridge in offering support to the shoe. It is composed of lightweight and minimalistic filaments that are attached to the outsole. These filaments hug and secure the foot painlessly.

Impressive upper material of Nike PG1

The materials used on the forefoot of the Nike PG1 is a seamless combination of fuse overlays and mesh. The mesh provides breathability and comfort to the foot. The fuse overlays protect the mesh from tearing easily.

The type of material used on the rear panel depends on the colorway. For the Black Ice colorway, the rear is made of nubuck. Nubuck is a fine grain leather from cattle. The outer side of the skin is sanded to produce a napped surface.

The insole of the shoe is made of thick ortholite foam. Ortholite is a breathable and eco-friendly cushion used on most shoes.

The rubber peaks on the midsole area of the shoe are designed to make sure the feet will be stable on the foot bed. It helps avoid injuries from ankle roll overs.

Paul George's signature style

The Nike PG1 has a low-top one-piece construction. The heel counter has a dainty pull tab with George’s jersey number 13 on it. On the lateral side of the shoe is a NIKE ZOOM callout, while the prestigious Nike Swoosh is on both sides of the shoe.

On both medial sides of the shoe are significant dates for Paul George. On the left shoe, 5-1-15 is embossed to honor his daughter’s birthday. On the right shoe, 5-2-90 is embossed to represent his birthday.

To make it known as a signature shoe, Paul George’s logo is placed on the tongue and on the outsole.  The removable ortholite insole has his signature.