My ol.meht yrt d reliables were pretty much done, soles were literally starting to flap when I ran. So, I figured, okay, time to actually spend some real money. The LeBron 11s had just come out, and they were all over the place, everyone talking about 'em. Saw pictures, they looked kinda like space boots or something, all angles and armor plating. Felt like I had to try them.
Getting My Hands on Them
Finding them wasn't a walk in the park, though. Seemed like my size was sold out everywhere I looked initially. Checked a few stores, no luck. Finally found a pair online, I think it was one of the early colorways, maybe that grey and pinkish one? Can't recall the fancy name they gave it. Anyway, ordered them. Then the waiting game began. Felt like ages, checking the tracking every day.
First impression when the box landed: Okay, this feels important. Nice box. Opened it up... and yeah, they looked impressive. Definitely unique. Felt really solid, almost stiff. That weird plastic-like material, Hyperposite they called it? Totally new feel compared to the leather and mesh I was used to. Honestly, just holding a brand new pair of LeBrons felt kinda cool back then.
Putting Them to the Test
Alright, the moment of truth: trying them on. Whoa. Getting my foot in was a bit of a squeeze. They were tight. Not painfully tight, but really, really snug all around. Walked around my living room for a bit. Felt kinda tall, like I was standing on platforms. That was the Lunarlon and Zoom cushioning, supposed to be the big tech feature. Felt bouncy, but different.
Next step, the court. Couldn't wait to see how they actually played. Went down to the usual outdoor spot where we ran games.
- Warm-up Jumpshots: Still felt stiff. Definitely needed some break-in time. Landings felt super cushioned though, which was nice.
- Actual Game: Traction was pretty solid, even on the slightly dusty surface we usually played on. Could stop and cut reasonably well. The impact protection was legit amazing. My landings felt soft, knees didn't ache after a couple of hours, which was a big deal for me.
- The Downside: But... that snug fit? Yeah, after about 45 minutes to an hour, it started to get uncomfortable. Pinched my pinky toes quite a bit. Heard later that a lot of people had that same issue with the 11s. It wasn't unbearable, but it was definitely noticeable and annoying.
I kept playing in them for a good few months, hoping they'd break in more. The durability was insane, they barely showed any signs of wear and tear even playing mostly outdoors. That Hyperposite stuff was tough as nails. The cushioning also held up really well. But the comfort just never got perfect for my feet. I tried different lacing, thinner socks, everything. It helped a bit, but they always felt just a little off for longer sessions.
It was kinda disappointing, you know? You get the signature shoe of the best player in the world, expecting perfection. And technologically, they were packed. But the fit just wasn't quite right for me. Ended up rotating them out for something else eventually.
They looked incredible though, have to admit. Definitely a head-turner back in 2014. Learned a lesson though: doesn't matter whose name is on the shoe or how cool it looks if it doesn't feel right on your foot when you're actually playing. Fit and comfort became way more important to me after that whole experience. Still, was fun to rock the LeBrons for a while back then.
