Under Armour UA Curry 8 NM Team Basketball Shoes

Product Information

The upper is so minimal and flimsy, there aren’t enough strong support features in place to hold your foot together if you’re heavier or you’ve got an explosive/athletic playstyle. In my LeBron 18 review, I said the cushion setup used on that shoe might be approaching a point where it’s almost too much. Well, with the Curry 8 Flow, I’ve come across a similar scenario, just with the traction. How grippy is too grippy? Pin image source: underarmour.com

If I have one big gripe with the Curry 8 it’s the impact protection. The shoes have a solid amount of cushion and their fit is nice. However, you’re definitely going to feel it when you come down hard. They seem more suited at giving you lift during runs than jumping. And the whole bottom is just foam. That’s it. No raw materials, no huge shank plates, no carbon fiber, no real structure. It’s comfortable, absolutely. It’s seriously light, fairly breathable, and feels like a joy to wear. Except for the toe bumps. The big thing about the Curry 8 was the fact that not a single inch of rubber was used. Not on the outsole, not on the midsole, nowhere. The low weight is another factor that contributes to its appropriateness for guard usage. Its weight sits in the same comparable range as the popular Nike KD/ Nike Kyrie/ Jordan releases. Once you’re fully cleared and don’t feel that the ankle’s bothering you anymore, I’d stay away from regular use of braces. Unless you’re Steph Curry and playing in the NBA 82+ games per year with constant battles with injuries lol.Let’s dive right into how these fit. Not an exaggeration – I don’t think anybody should go with their regular size when shopping for the Curry 8. There are also these synthetic overlays along the sides which help with lateral & medial foot containment and the foam itself extends a tad bit laterally, acting as a mini-outrigger. Traction is perhaps the biggest area where the Curry 8 excels. The shoe is outfitted with the UA Flow Cushioning technology on top of a unique outsole pattern. Both of those features work beautifully together, allowing you to start and stop no matter how fast you’re running.

For hoopers who like what Under Armour has to offer but perhaps looking for something a bit more streamlined and something that would work for more styles/positions – look no further than the Embiid One. I’ve been playing in these for a few months now (pretty much since they dropped at my local online retailer) exclusively on outdoor courts. It’s nicely balanced, sure. But I’m sure there will be several guys who will require more support than what’s offered here. And that’s just the truth. The cushion is also nice and comfortable while providing great court feel and responsiveness. Reviewers considered it the best cushion of the Curry lineup.I think this is right on the edge of the limit. This is incredible traction. Anything more might just be too much. So while I wouldn’t be able to tell you my top 10 most comfortable shoes of all time, if I had to put together such a list but traction-wise, yep.

In fact, there’s no such thing as a distinct outsole & midsole here as the whole white bottom piece is made of lightweight foam. Ventilation is decent, every single heel-to-toe transition was almost ridiculously smooth and there’s some really nice foam padding around the ankle & achilles. But for guys at the frontcourt, heavier players, or anyone who plays with a lot of athleticism, there are better options out there. I’ve never seriously hurt my toes but after a longer session with these, those things definitely wanted some rest, that’s for sure.The upper is what you call “barebones”– a thin knit covers most of the shoe while the synthetic plasticy material is layered along the medial & lateral sides to help containment. The upper’s a lightweight knit with minimal reinforcements so while it’s very comfortable and efficient, it might not last as long.