So, the LeBron Twelve. Yeah, I remember when those dropped. There was a whole lot of noise about them, the tech, the look. I figured, okay, let’s see what this is all about.
Getting a pair wasn’t too bad, actually. Found them at the local spot. Picked up a colorway I thought looked decent, nothing too wild. Took ’em home, opened the box. First thing you notice is those weird hexagon things on the bottom, the Zoom pods. Looked kinda cool, kinda strange. Supposed to give you bounce right where you need it.
Putting them to the test
First time lacing them up, they felt… structured. Very structured. Not uncomfortable, but definitely snug and you felt locked in. The upper material, Megafuse they called it I think, felt sturdy, almost stiff initially. Walked around the house a bit. Felt okay, but the real test is always on the court.
Took them to my regular run. Warm-ups felt fine. Started playing, and yeah, the traction was good. Really good, actually. Indoor court, clean floor, they stuck well. Cutting, stopping, no major slips. That part, I liked.
But here’s the thing:
- They felt a bit heavy on foot. Not bricks, but you noticed them.
- Those Zoom pods? Honestly, I didn’t feel some revolutionary bounce. Maybe it was there, maybe I just don’t jump high enough, who knows. It felt cushioned, yes, but not like jumping on clouds.
- The stiffness took a while to break in. Like, a few sessions before they started feeling like my shoes.
Durability was decent though. Played in them pretty regularly for a season, mostly indoors. The outsole held up well, not much fraying on the upper. They took a beating but kept their shape and support, which is important. Can’t stand shoes that feel sloppy after a month.
It reminds me of this old pair of beaters I had before these. Completely different feel, way less tech, but they were just comfortable from day one. Sometimes all the fancy stuff doesn’t quite beat simple comfort, you know? Was playing in this rec league back then, pretty competitive, and needed something reliable. The Twelves were reliable, I’ll give them that. Didn’t have any ankle scares or anything while wearing them.
So, the LeBron Twelves. Were they game-changing for me? Nah. Were they bad shoes? Definitely not. They were solid, dependable performers with great traction and support. Just maybe a bit overhyped with the fancy tech talk and felt a tad bulky for my personal taste. They did the job, kept my feet secure, and lasted a good while. Just didn’t quite make it into my all-time favorites list.
