As you can see to the left, the Foamposite Pro looks like a lean mean fighting machine.
So just how exactly did it fall behind to THIRD in our test? Well, we'll get to that in a moment. First, the run-down on the Pro.
The Foamposite Pro should be considered the originator of the 'Posite series, the Alpha and the Omega. It is essentially the Foamposite One with a swoosh.
The version we tested is a re-released model. The main difference is the bottom sole. Where the original had a clear sole, the retro used a dark grey sole. Obviously, the intention is for the consumers to wear and not hide in their closet afraid of yellowing on the clear sole.
Consisting of the oldest technology and dated chassis of the three we tested, the Foam Pro has proved to be surprisingly modern in comfort and performance. The single biggest misunderstanding with this shoe is that people failed to realize there needs to be a break-in period. Foolish souls that expect the shoes to perform straight out of the box will find their feet aching by day's end. We've heard the complaints all too often:
"Too Stiff!";
"Too Tight!";
"No Circulation";
"My foot can't breath!";
"Hard as a rock!";
To fully appreciate these shoes, the foam material needs time to adjust and adapt to the shape of your feet. With the proper amount of time and break-in procedure, the shoe will slowly conform to be an extension of your foot. Like fine wine, this shoe is the perfect example of the more you wear, the better it gets.
Performance wise, the Pro can do what the Max can't. The shoe sits a bit lower but the Zoom Air is more responsive and has awesome comfort. This is an all around shoe for the all around player. It may not be the best of anything but it is good at just about everything you can possibly throw at it. Durability is also unbelievable. With proper care, this is a shoe that can last a lifetime (although it's fair to note that our original Foam Pro had a problem with cracked carbon fiber plate and the swoosh falling off due to poor gluing).
With that said, the Pro is also a heavy shoe. The shoe just FEELS bulky. Even when it is fully fitted to your foot, you'll still remember that it is there. The difference after taking off the Pro and then playing with the Flightposite was like night and day. The Foam Pro also sits high when compared to other high-performance shoes. The shoes will restrict your feet whenever there is significant body-roll, but the correction is also what causes the stiffness & soreness we mentioned earlier. Not exactly the luxury and comfort you'd expect at this class level. Overall, we must say that the Foamposite Pro is great for a do it all player. It's a bit too heavy and bulky for the point guards and does not provide enough support for the true big man.
The Foamposite One and Pro was at one point the hobby's darling child. After-market prices skyrocketed as collectors and consumers alike scrambled to get their hands on anything "foam". The re-issuing of the shoe (with various + colorways), along with new products (Flightposite line, Signature Player..etc) has caused the fanfare to die down. Today, they are an almost forgotten piece of the hobby as the uniqueness and exclusivity of the Foamposite legacy are now gone. It is reflected both in "Collectibility" and "Value" portions of our ratings for the Pro.