Our verdict
- Our top pick in best cheap basketball shoes
- Our top pick in best mid top basketball shoes
Pros
- Affordable
- Good impact protection
- Wear-resistant materials
- Lighter than average
- OK for the outdoor court
- True to size, good fit
- Suitable for all-day wear
- Stylish appearance
Cons
- So-so grip
- Dull cushioning
- Not very supportive
- Lacks breathability
Audience verdict
Comparison
The most similar basketball shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 88 Great! | 87 Great! | 82 Good! | 89 Great! | |
Price | $70 | $160 | $170 | $120 | |
Signature | - | LeBron James | - | Damian Lillard | |
Top | Mid | Low | Mid | Mid | |
Ankle-support | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Weight lab | 13.1 oz / 371g | 13.1 oz / 372g | 15.7 oz / 444g | 14.9 oz / 422g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Breathability | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Outdoor | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Drop lab | 7.1 mm | 4.9 mm | 7.2 mm | 10.4 mm | |
Heel stack lab | 29.0 mm | 26.9 mm | 27.9 mm | 30.5 mm | |
Forefoot | 21.9 mm | 22.0 mm | 20.7 mm | 20.1 mm | |
Size | True to size | True to size | Slightly small | True to size | |
Midsole softness | Firm | Firm | Firm | Balanced | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Stiff | Stiff | |
Torsional rigidity | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Moderate | Flexible | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Narrow | Narrow | Medium | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Medium | Narrow | Medium | Medium | |
Midsole width - forefoot | Average | Very narrow | Average | Average | |
Midsole width - heel | Average | Average | Average | Wide | |
Heel padding durability | Decent | Decent | Decent | - | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Decent | Good | - | |
Insole thickness | Average | Average | Average | ||
Outsole hardness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Heel tab | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop | |
Ranking | #19 Top 41% | #21 Top 45% | #38 Bottom 19% | #9 Top 20% | |
Popularity | #35 Bottom 25% | #30 Bottom 36% | #19 Top 41% | #23 Top 49% |
Who should buy
We think that the Lockdown 6 from Under Armour is a good choice for players who:
- need an affordable entry-level basketball shoe
- want a durable shoe that doesn't break the bank
- look for a comfortable and good-looking shoe for both on and off the court
Who should NOT buy
As a budget-oriented shoe, it is obvious that the UA Lockdown 6 does not perform at the same level as its more expensive counterparts.
So, if you are willing to stretch your basketball shoe budget by another £30-40, you can get a solid pair of much higher quality.
We recommend having a look at the PUMA Court Rider or the Jordan Luka 1 as an alternative to the Lockdown 6.
Cushioning
Heel stack
When it comes to cushioning, the Lockdown 6 is the most average hoop shoe you can imagine. Every single midsole parameter we measured in this UA shoe corresponds to the average of our lab-tested basketball shoes.
The heel stack height comes in at 29 mm, which is the same as the average. That doesn't mean bad though! It translates into pretty sufficient impact protection upon landing.
Lockdown 6 | 29.0 mm |
Average | 29.2 mm |
Forefoot stack
In the forefoot, the calliper shows 21.9 mm. This stack height gave us enough cushioning under the toes while still maintaining sufficient court feel.
Lockdown 6 | 21.9 mm |
Average | 21.7 mm |
Drop
At 7.1 mm, the heel-to-toe drop also turns out to be the same as the average. We consider it as the optimal heel elevation which keeps the landings safe but doesn't compromise connection to the ground.
Lockdown 6 | 7.1 mm |
Average | 7.5 mm |
Midsole softness
Like most basketball shoes, the UA Lockdown 6 uses a firmer foam for cushioning. Measuring its softness with a durometer returned 30.5 HA.
But what makes this shoe different from the more expensive models is that it uses a basic EVA foam. This material doesn't have any exciting characteristics like springiness or bounce and feels pretty dull underfoot.
If you crave a better energy return for jumps, it's better to invest in the top-tier Curry Flow 10 shoe.
Lockdown 6 | 30.5 HA |
Average | 24.7 HA |
Insole thickness
The shoe uses a fairly standard insole to complete the cushioning. It has an average thickness of 4.4 mm.
Lockdown 6 | 4.4 mm |
Average | 4.8 mm |
Size and fit
Size
Under Armour Lockdown 6 is true to size (19 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
For our medium-width feet, we have no complaints regarding the shoe's fit. The toebox offered the right amount of space for our toes to splay and feel at home.
Measuring the widest part of the toebox with a calliper, we got 95.9 mm, which is a couple of millimetres narrower than average. However, this was not a problem given that the rest of the toebox remained on the wide side.
Lockdown 6 | 95.9 mm |
Average | 101.6 mm |
Toebox width - big toe
At the big-toe mark, we measured the width of the toebox at 79.5 mm. That's a little wider than average.
Lockdown 6 | 79.5 mm |
Average | 76.9 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
Given the shoe's price point, we kept our expectations low when testing the stability of the UA Lockdown 6. And it actually wasn't that bad.
In our opinion, the shoe provides an essential amount of support for someone who is just starting out with the sport.
But if you have weak ankles or need more supportive shoes in general, we recommend investing in shoes like the Adidas Dame 8 or the PUMA MB.02.
Torsional rigidity
In a manual assessment, we found that the Lockdown 6 is pretty easy to twist. Maybe even a little too easy for a basketball shoe. We rated the shoe's torsional rigidity as only 3 out of 5 whereas the average is 4.5.
For comparison, here is what a stiffer platform looks like on the PUMA MB.02 (stiffness score: 4).
Lockdown 6 | 3 |
Average | 4.4 |
Heel counter stiffness
Besides torsional flexibility, this UA shoe also lacks stiffness in the heel counter. Squeezing and pushing the back of the shoe revealed how pliable it is. On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the stiffest, we rated it as only 2.
On the court, it translated to a weaker heel hold and more ankle wobbling.
Lockdown 6 | 2 |
Average | 3.7 |
Midsole width - forefoot
On a lighter note, the UA Lockdown 6 has an amply wide platform which helps to keep the landings stable.
In the widest area of the forefoot, we measured the sole at 112.2 mm - same as the average of our tested hoop shoes.
Lockdown 6 | 112.2 mm |
Average | 115.0 mm |
Midsole width - heel
Back in the heel, the calliper shows 91.3 mm in the widest part. It is a solid heel width for a proper basketball shoe.
Lockdown 6 | 91.3 mm |
Average | 90.3 mm |
Flexibility / Stiffness
There is not a lot of give in the shoe's platform but it's not stiffer than the average either.
Measuring how much force it takes to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle, our gauge returned 38.5N. That's about the same as it took our lab-tested basketball shoes on average.
Whether that's good or bad news depends on each player's personal preference. Some enjoy a more flexible ride as it gives more control during agile movements, while others rely on stiffer platforms for stability and quicker turnovers.
Lockdown 6 | 38.5N |
Average | 38.5N |
Weight
On the scale, the UA Lockdown 6 shows 13.1 oz (371g) in a men's US size 9. That's about half an ounce lighter than average and is a nice surprise considering the shoe's synthetic leather upper.
Lockdown 6 | 13.09 oz (371g) |
Average | 13.79 oz (391g) |
Breathability
With its synthetic leather upper and minimal ventilation holes, the Lockdown 6 is not a very breathable shoe.
As our smoke-pumping test proves, the air is only able to escape through the mesh material on the tongue. For that reason, we rated this UA shoe's breathability with a low score of 2 out of 5.
And as you can see from our transparency test below, even the mesh panels on the sides don't seem to be very functional either.
If breathability is important to you, have a look at the Nike Precision 6. It is a much better aerated alternative at the same price point.
Lockdown 6 | 2 |
Average | 2.5 |
Durability
Toebox durability
The upside of synthetic leather is that it levels up the shoe's upper durability quite a bit. It even helped the Lockdown 6 to surpass some of the more expensive hoop shoes!
We used a Dremel to test the shoe's capacity to resist abrasion. After drilling the toebox for 12 seconds at the speed of 10K RPM, the damage was very surface-level.
This gained the shoe a solid 4 out of 5 for toebox durability.
Lockdown 6 | 4 |
Average | 3.7 |
Heel padding durability
Another part of the shoe that sustained the Dremel challenge was the heel padding.
Even though there is no leather here, the textile proved to be pretty hard-wearing. Four seconds of drilling only resulted in a small scuff.
This convinced us to rate the durability of this part as 4 out of 5.
Lockdown 6 | 4 |
Average | 3.5 |
Outsole hardness
Another pleasant surprise was the outsole.
For such a cheap shoe, the UA Lockdown 6 uses a pretty hard rubber compound.
Pressing a durometer against it gave us a reading of 80.1 HC. That's the same hardness we see in many expensive hoop shoes.
Based on this measurement and our own experience, it is one of the few cheap shoes that we can recommend for outdoor play.
Lockdown 6 | 80.1 HC |
Average | 81.9 HC |
Outsole thickness
The shoe also has a sufficient amount of rubber to withstand wear and tear. Our calliper shows 3.5 mm of thickness in the outsole.
Lockdown 6 | 3.5 mm |
Average | 4.0 mm |
Misc
Grip / Traction
Whoops! That's a slippy one.
The Lockdown 6 disappointed us when it came to testing its grip on the court. Yes, it is a cheap shoe but how come are there shoes in the same price range that grip better? Take the Nike Precision 6 for example.
Reflective elements
Given the shoe's price point, we kept our expectations low when testing the stability of the UA Lockdown 6. And it actually wasn't that bad.
In our opinion, the shoe provides an essential amount of support for someone who is just starting out with the sport.
But if you have weak ankles or need more supportive shoes in general, we recommend investing in shoes like the Adidas Dame 8 or the PUMA MB.02.
Lockdown 6 | No |
Tongue padding
The tongue has a pretty standard amount of padding in it. Using a calliper, we measured its thickness at 8.1 mm.
Lockdown 6 | 8.1 mm |
Average | 9.4 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
The UA Lockdown 6 uses a standard tongue that's separate from the upper. We think that adding a pair of gussets might've helped to make the shoe a little bit more supportive.
Lockdown 6 | None |
Heel tab
A finger loop is attached at the back of the shoe to help the on-and-off action.
Lockdown 6 | Finger loop |
Removable insole
The insole is removable, allowing you to wear a different kind of insert or a custom orthotic if needed.
Lockdown 6 | Yes |