Return of the King: Zoom Lebron IV

     It has been nearly 4 years since Lebron came to the league as the next heir apparent. Already, the young phenom has finished 2nd in NBA MVP voting and coming off a strong playoff run with the Cavs. Most NBA observers would say that the 2006-2007 season is one where James would break out and establish himself as the best of the best. We all know the coronation is inevitable but at age 23, Lebron is set to rule the league like no players have done so before. Nike is prepared as well. In the lab of Beaverton, Oregon, the consensus is that the best basketball player on the planet should be accompanied by the best pair of basketball shoe on the planet. Nike is ready to make Lebron the pinnacle of Nike Basketball, a title that Air Jordans have not relinquished since the late 80’s. Hence the concoction of the next great basketball shoe was born and sneaker fans are ones that will reap the benefits. Folks, what we are looking at is not just another shoe release. When the Zoom Lebron IV dropped on Nov 16, 2006, we entered a whole new level of excellence in the sneaker industry.

      A few years back, Nike put aside their vaunted Foamposite technology much to the dismay of fans that have grown to love the "foam" collection. Shox, Air cushioning, straps, patent leather and other innovations out of Nike have been copied successfully by its competitors. However, the family line of Foamposite One, Pro, Flightposite, Ultraposite was one that has never been matched by any other shoe company. In the beginning, the barrier of entry was tough. The cost of the molds alone discouraged cheap copy caters. Furthermore, only the Swoosh can successfully charge $175-$200 in retail stores in order to get their return on investment. Finally, the design, thought process and craftsmanship that went into this line was unparalleled and what ultimately created the fanatic following. When the Ultraposite became discontinued after just 1 colorway, many thought that the line was gone for good. Foamposite type shoe was replaced by cheaper and lighter products that came into favor among quicker players. The Huarache related line for example, dominated the past 2.5 years with the likes of Huarache 2K4, 2K5 and Zoom Kobe I.

      But Lebron is not just any quicker player. LJ's game is about being flexible. His chiseled and muscular physics permits him to power his way inside but his cat light quickness and smoothness allows guard like play at the same time. His game was about adding a little bit of power here but then mix in a little bit of finesse there. Nike saw this and created the next generation of footwear accordingly: the multi-talented Zoom Lebron IV. The King has returned and this is a shoe that has got it all. Foamposite technology is integrated into the upper and midsole. At 6-8 and 250 lbs, James is no small player. Foam allows the shoe to conform and wrap around his foot for maximum fit, seamless comfort and security. While the upper is made of one piece foamposite, the rest of the shoe seems to have been made up of many parts - each one representing a portion of Lebron’s game and lifestyle.

      We start at the mesh tongue which features a crowned lion that symbolizes King James. The great detail about this piece is that it sits under the ankle strap which has a belt buckle with the LBJ23 logo. On the outside, you can only see Lebron and his icon. Yet what lurks beneath is another side of his personality – an alter ego that wants to be the king of the jungle. Furthermore, the attention to detail is noticed on the inner side of the ankle strap. Lace holes are available all the way up at the top of the strap and at ankle level for those players that may want the last line of defense against ankle inversion. Nike could’ve easily left these last two holes out. But it shows that the designers are thinking about your safety and want to give you the flexibility to go to a full lock down fit should you choose. There is also room for you to tuck in the laces so that they remain hidden. When fully deployed, the Lebron IV’s have 95% of its lacing hidden for a truly clean look.

      Moving down on the shoe we see the 3 connecting straps that cover the laces. Reminiscent of the Flightposite III’s and the OG Air Max CB34’s, these elastic straps hug the feet, hide the laces and provide ventilation that a shroud type lace cover doesn’t. For a foamposite based mold, this shoe has better than average breathability. There are also side vents through the mesh holes at the 3 side stripes on both sides of the shoe. At first, we thought it was all a gimmick. But while they are not see through, the air really does flow through the mesh pores that helps to cool the feet. This design is just absolutely ingenious. Often times, a shoe is compromised by form over function. In this case, you get your cake and eat it too.

      The wavy curve that flows through the upper is what defines this shoe. It is what gives the LB4 the love it or hate it look & feel. Some people feels that the curves make the shoe too much like a cross training shoe. But this is where you really need to step back and think about it from a different perspective. If you think of the shoe as Lebron James the player, you can see that the corves are yet another piece of his game. It shows creativity and edginess. The fact that designers aren’t just going to sit back and give us another safe blocky design should be praised rather than frowned upon. Unlike the evolutionary steps taken from the Lebron II to Lebron III, the bold contrasting design make the IV an revolutionary shoe ready to take on newer and bigger things.

      The midsole flows down to the sole in a way few shoes today are made. The almost FREE like technology sole allows an otherwise heavy shoe to be extremely flexible. Arguably the most advanced part of the shoe, the sole is divided into 6 parts with the front toe part 2 additional groves for even more flexibility. At the same time that you can bend and stretch the shoe when you are on the court, the bottom is still reinforced with full length carbon fiber plate to give you support and stability. The carbon fiber is more than just functional. It stretches through out the bottom but also leaks out at the sides to add flare to the shoe much like a carbon fiber hood would on a car. This uninhibited use of CF is another example that no expense was spared in making of the Lebron IV. In order to further enhance the look, the sole is made of a clear composite material. While this isn’t your icy clear sole found on the Air Jordan XI, it looks great and grips hard. The traction on this shoe is easily the best among any of the previous Lebron’s. At times, the soles are like claws that dig into the hardwood. Even on a dirty and dusty floor, the IV’s sole is like an all-wheel-drive system on a rainy day. Traction as a whole surpassed even our highest expectations.

      The full length Zoom Air cushioning system in the Lebron IV is one of the best implementation of Zm Air to date. When walking around, the shoes are just incredibly comfortable. This is largely due to the huge insole that comes with the shoe. Most foamposite experts remember the insole from the Flighposite KG as the thickest and most comfortable.

      Well, the IV is about TWICE as thick as the FP KG insole and better designed in that it has 12 levels of air holes underneath. In another words, the insole that sits on top of the Zoom Air gives you an Air Max feeling. Yet the full length Zoom Air underneath provides the stiff high performance feel when you really need to push yourself on the court.

      Obviously, this is not a one size fits all solution. Most lightning quick players will still prefer a Zoom Air system with a lower center of gravity. But in this case, Lebron isn’t your typical point guard and this shoe reflects that thinking. If you are that middle tier type of player that does a little bit of everything and have loved the previous Foamposite based shoes, then this shoe is for you. If you are a center who wants cushioning and support, this shoe is for you. For point guards who are used to Huarache’s and Steve Nash’s signatures, then you may be disappointed by the Lebron IV. The shoe in a size 10.5 weighs 1 lb and 5 oz each or a total of 3 lbs on both feet.

      While this may seem like a staggering amount, the actual feel of the shoe is not nearly as noticeable. Yes, LB IV’s are heavy. But compared with other foamposite shoes, it is quite manageable and not out of line at all. For example, the lightest Foam shoe to date is the Flightposite I which weighs in at 1 lb and 2 oz in a size 10.5. That means the LeBrons are 25% heavier than the original I's. Also, the size of the shoe runs a tad bit too big. Don't be surprised if you have to step down ½ a size smaller in order to get the best fit.

      Finally, let’s talk about price. At a retail price of $150, there have been a lot of grumblings in the sneaker community about not being able to afford it. Some even dare to call the shoe overpriced. Let’s just be frank here, the Zoom Lebron IV’s are UNDERpriced at $150. We honestly feel the shoe is worth about $175-180 range in the Ultra Luxury & Performance category. Perhaps because this is a mass produced shoe, the prices are more reasonable for Nike to price at $150. But considering all the effort put forth in terms of material, design, quality and craftsmanship, this shoe is worth every penny and then some. For just $20 more than the Lebron III, you are getting much more of a shoe - one that has met or surpassed recent $175 Air Jordans in almost every rating categories on KG.

      The best player in the league today? Perhaps. Best basketball shoe you can buy on the market today? Most definitely.