adidas Harden Stepback 3
The adidas Harden Stepback 3 is a solid performer and brings back the Bounce we’ve come to love. A budget model to be reckoned with.
Colorway: N/A
Release Date: 2022
Price: TBA
The adidas Harden Stepback 3 follows the Stepback 2, the budget model that was better than the James Harden flagship adidas Harden Vol 6. It’s rare and unexpected when the budget model outperforms the major release. This time around, though, the same can’t be said. The adidas Harden Vol 6 performs well and better than the Stepback 3. But that doesn’t mean these aren’t worth your consideration. If you’re a fan of Harden, looking for a good budget basketball shoe, or want to support the brand without spending above $100, you’ve come to the right shoe.
Traction
My favorite aspect of the shoe. It just gripped everything I put them on. The last court I went to had a sheet of dust covering the surface, and these still bit the ground well. During my time in them, I only slid once, and it was relatively early in the testing process. The traction pattern looks data-driven, something we’ve seen from the adidas Harden Vol. 1. The only gripe I have with the traction is the solid rubber’s durability. After about four hours on a rough cement outdoor court, it already showed bald spots.
Cushion
The midsole is full-length Bounce, just like the adidas Pro N3XT 2021. However, it’s comfortable this time and does a decent job combining impact protection and court feel. I did notice, however, that at least one of my heels hurt after playing for about 2 hours. This is due to the rubber caging in that area. The strobel board is also made up of a plush foam which I think is also Bounce. I wasn’t astonished by its performance, but it’s an upgrade from the KD 15.
Materials
The materials are what you’d expect. The main build is a mesh with thick padding inside it combined with fuse overlays on the sides and eye stay area. There are also reflective hits on the tongue and pull tab. A piece of cheap felt is found near the top of the collar. The tongue is a more open-celled mesh. They’re not exceptional, but they’re at least comfortable.
Fit
The shoe looks big when you first see it, but that’s deceiving. Because of the thicker inside, the shoe fits true to size with a thumb’s width of space up front. You can go down half a size for a more snug fit since the materials will loosen over time and wear. Heel lockdown could have been better, though. To get the best fit, make sure to cinch the top as hard as you can.
Support
I had no issues in this department. The base is wide enough to compensate for the lack of a proper outrigger. I didn’t shift in the shoe once I was properly locked in. You sit inside the midsole just enough to be laterally supported but not where you’re too close to the ground. The heel rubber caging works in conjunction with the internal heel counter to provide ample ankle support. Everything did its job, and I was able to walk away without injuries.
adidas Harden Stepback 3 Overall
The adidas Harden Stepback 3 is a solid performer that will not disappoint many. The traction is top-notch for as long as it lasts. The cushion brings back the old Bounce that we’ve come to love. And although the materials aren’t unique, the fit is accommodating enough that most foot shapes and sizes will love putting these on. For the price, it’s worth the purchase.
I didn’t really notice any issues with the heel section, but for the forefoot, expect to wipe quite a bit if you want to maintain some level of consistency while playing.It seems for the Stepback’s traction to perform optimally, either the outsole or the floor needs to be in pristine condition – which is rare for the average consumer.
On the plus side, I’ll give the Harden Stepback traction some credit for durability as there are hardly any signs of fraying over a month of ownership and testing.
This would make these a solid option for those that play primarily outdoors — which is what the Stepback feels they were intended for in the first place.For well under $100 you get full-length Bounce in the Harden Stepback — but it doesn’t quite feel like the Bounce you may expect.
4’s thin implementation of Lightstrike, the Bounce feels just as thin and low to the ground, which some may like, others may not.FroThis firmer minimal setup may be a good thing for some as you get a ton of court feel without feeling like you’re busting directly through the soles and into the playing surface.
Materials aren’t all that well lined or stitched down so I experienced a lot of bunching up internally which caused discomfort around the midfoot while testing.
Also, the lacing setup leaves parts of the laces exposed against the forefoot, which took some time to adjust to and prevented me from comfortably sizing down.
A re-engineered rendition of the Harden Vol 1’s data-driven pattern was utilized in the Harden Vol 2 and it didn’t pan out the way I had hoped.I never received the same bite that I had experienced on the Harden Vol 1, despite the rubber compound being nearly identical between the two sneakers.
When it gripped I was very pleased, however, I wasn’t pleased the majority of the time while playing in the shoe.Excessive dust collection is a major issue for this pattern and keeping it free of debris will be your number one priority on the court rather than playing.
Surprisingly, I never felt too high off the ground or unstable.
Packing more Boost pellets into the midsole made it firmer, creating more stability while also increasing overall impact protection.Some may not enjoy this setup because it won’t give you that bouncy Boost feeling, but you don’t always have to feel something working — as long as it actually works.
Luckily, Boost actually works, and works really well, so if you were interested in a shoe that provides you with stability, court feel, and tons of impact protection then the Harden Vol 2 might be for you.While I was initially disappointed that a premium or raw material was left off of the Harden Vol 2, once I started playing in it I never once thought, “Some premium leather would enhance my overall experience right now.”The textile mesh at the forefoot required no break-in time while the additional stitching throughout increased the material’s strength quite a bit.
I was very impressed by this and wondered why we’re just starting to see this implemented when we’ve had mesh on basketball shoes for a number of years now.
The performance review software that allows you to capture staff and manager performance feedback and ratings.
This system makes performance appraisals easy for your staff, managers and HR team.
Get a FREE demo today!
Stepback Magic T-ShirtThis exclusive Graphic Represents All The Superb Happiness for Basketball Lover fans.
The legend continues to grow in Dallas.You Could Be an Influential Person with loving your passion.
Wear This T-Shirt from your passion.You Know This Is only Perfect For you!
