Lebron James--It's hardly fair. The guy is built like a power forward but can move like a guard. Throw in his natural talent for the game and you have one of the most dominant forces in basketball. A guy who performs at such a high level needs a shoe that caters to his unique game and physique. Enter the Air Max LeBron VII.
Let's start with the obvious. The most glaring design aspect that sets the LeBron VII apart from the previous models is the massive full-length air bubble. Until now, the LeBron signature line utilized Zoom Air cushioning in the midsole - sometimes even double-stacked units in the heel. Mr. James is very fast and very quick, so it only made sense to give him the lower profile cushioning that Zoom provides - but let's not forget the guy weighs 250+ pounds. Players of this build usually default to shoes with Air Max cushioning, and with the latest advancements in Air Max 360 technology, the newly tuned-for-basketball air bubble boasts 80% more air than previous air max units.
Upon removing the shoes from the box, it's hard not to notice the LBJ VII's light weight despite its fairly large silhouette. Your feet will slide into these sneakers very easily, at which you will notice a comfortable, roomy interior with a very natural fit. Fully laced, the Flywire sculpts the upper to your foot, creating a snug and instinctive fit. I did find my pair of size 12's to run slightly large; I recommend everyone to try on your natural size as well as a half-size down before purchasing. Because of the over-sizing, my pair didn't lock down quite as well as I'm used to, and there was a bit of extra room in the toebox. However, I was able to tighten them enough to get good runs out of them.
The first few steps made me realize how much higher off the ground these are than most shoes. The large volume Air Max 360 unit is obviously the culprit, but the cushioning produced (especially in the heel) is quite amazing. I have a very harsh heel strike, and the LBJ VII absorbed the impact of each step extremely well. The comfort level was very high, as the mesh inner boot gave a perfect amount of plushness while shielding any seams that may have otherwise dug into my feet.
It seems as though the harder you play, the better these shoes feel. Come to think of it, the harder I played, the more I completely forgot about the shoes. The fit and cushioning are so instinctive that I really didn't think about the shoes much - and that's what players really want in a shoe. My lateral movements were sharp, but of course not nearly as crisp as they would've been had I been wearing something like the Zoom BB. Lateral stability was very good, as I felt nike air max lebron vii completely safe from rolling my ankle despite the enormous air bubble. Ankle support was also very good, with small triangular pillows hugging the ankles on either side.
The Air Max LeBron VII is a great innovation in basketball shoes. It's terrific fit, comfort, cushioning, and performance combine with stunning aesthetics to form a true luxury balling sneaker.
