Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Weekly Review: Courtballistec 1.1 and 1.2 by Nike

By Ivan Lazarro

The Nike Air Courtballistec 1.1 and 1.2 shoes are a great alternative to those looking for a solid shoe without breaking the bank. Compared to the Nike Air Courtballistec 1.3, the cost of these shoes are around 30-40% off.

Arguably the greatest quality of the Nike Air Courtballistec 1.1 and Nike Air Courtballistec 1.2 is they are still solid and performance shoes. They have similar styles of the 1.3 as well. When we tested the shoes, they never felt like a cheap, stripped down model of the most expensive Nike offering.

After wearing the Courtballistec 1.2 sneakers for about a week, I was quite pleased overall. These were firm as far as ankle support goes, yet they were lightweight and I moved around great in them. I had worn the 1.3 the week before this, and I didn't feel much of a difference to be honest.

While we found that the 1.3 runs a bit small, the 1.2 sneaker fits exactly as it should, so rest assured that any online purchases should go right along with your normal shoe size. It didn't take too long to take the stiffness out of these, and they're also lighter than the 1.3 sneakers.

The out sole of both Nike Air Courtballistecs follow a modified herringbone tread pattern, great for all court surfaces. The tread was also extremely durable and showed no visible wear after multiple uses.

Looking at the Courtballistec 1.1, these were the first sneakers in the line. As far as looks go, they basically look the same. They wear down a little more, as this was one of the bigger criticisms of the 1.1 when it came out. Nike has obviously tended to this concern with its 1.3, but if you're a serious player, you might find yourself in need of a new tennis sneaker within 3 months or so.

In the case of the 1.1 shoe, they do run a bit small, just like the 1.3 does. If you wear a 10, for example, you might want to get a 9.5 instead. As far as weight is concerned, the 1.1 seems to be the lightest of the three.

The Nike Air Courtballistec 1.3 would definitely be my recommendation for anyone who plays at a competitive level. Anyone who plays once or twice per week, casually in matches, and seeks out a reasonably priced sneaker with high quality performance will be pleased with either the 1.1 or the 1.2.

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