The Best Cushioned Basketball Shoe Ever Made

Hey Guys! Today we have another special grail pickup from the mid 90's.
Upon its original release Nike claimed it was the best cushioned basketball shoe ever made.
Support WearTesters by joining our Discord community: weartesters.co...
If you're trying to buy shoes without bots, we recommend you join SoleSavy. They thoroughly vet everyone to remove resellers and provide effective strategies to help you cop: go.weartesters...
Current Sneaker Deals: weartesters.co...
Current Best Basketball Shoes: weartesters.co...
Running Shoe Reviews: weartesters.co...
Cross Training Shoe Reviews: weartesters.co...
Casual Shoe Reviews: weartesters.co...
WearTesters.com
Follow WearTesters on Social Media:
Twitter: / weartesters
Facebook: / weartesters
Instagram: / weartesters
#WearTesters

[@essentialjordan23]

Y’all see this? Videos like this is why Chris is easily the best “shoetuber”. True passion and history here at Weartesters while the rest are just going over what a shoe looks like 😆

[@RemoWilliams1227]

Yessir

[@stevenbones1220]

Nobody can compare or even come close.... been watching since 2012....he is the goat of sneaker reviews...we need to appreciate him more while he still here...Nightwing forever!!!

[@13buddhaMikey]

💯 been getting better and better over the years too. Nobody else works on their game like they do

[@SouthPawArtist]

Weartesters is the first I watch whenever there's a shoe I want to buy & they happen to have a review on it. Some shoetubers talk about the sizing, sure. Other shoetubers do look at the tech specs, yes. But only a few would go in-depth on the materials telling you if it's synthetic or genuine instead of just "nice" leather, craftsmanship consistency, and of course, the shoe's history if it's worth talking about (which I enjoy being an old sneaker fan). Chris and Jodi speak clearly as well, not trying to be super-cool as if mumble-rapping on every vid even the caption generator can't follow.

[@ninobrown5555]

fo sho! love these old school kicks episodes, takes me back to yesteryear when I used to get sneaker jealous when I couldnt afford them in high school, keep bringing back the old school kicks bro

[@GetHandles]

I remember these from back in the day. One of my favorites from that era

[@aimanibrahim8860]

Nice to see you here coach

[@nireksinghkathuria5186]

😃

[@dwyanewade8944]

Hey coach

[@j.m.5995]

Hey man I watch your channel

[@JXsneakerhead]

My coach in HS had them joints and we were all like DAMN!!! Great 90s memories!! Another great vid! Greetings from FL!

[@WearTesters]

👋

[@russellgray1917]

The Air Total Max Uptempo is,without a doubt, one of my favorite shoes of all time,hands down! I agree, it's gotten so hard to cop anything current, people are buying up stuff, and have no idea of the history behind the shoes. I love what you two do here, keep it going!

[@emmanuelguzman1683]

These are one of my favorite shoes honestly! Nightwing you’re WITHOUT A DOUBT the BEST shoetuber on here. You actually care about the product, you’re very knowledgeable about all the sneakers you review and it shows in each and every one of your vids. Awesome content here folks!!!!!!!! I wish the game would change for the better but we’ll see what happens in the future.

[@myownwerstenmy]

Book fairs were my jam!! Goosebumps, Calvin & Hobbes, Scary stories to tell in the dark, other RL Stein teen horror books, & sweet posters. Love the nostalgia. Yall are truly the BEST channel on KZbin. I watch at least a half dozen videos every day when waiting for driveway b-ball

[@WearTesters]

Hey Guys! Todays video is stuffed full of nostalgia. And more random facts then was ever intended. Enjoy!

[@allstar5232]

These do be dripping keep it up my G

[@HoodieGuy-uv4hm]

Yo master N.W! I think I found a gold mine! What size are you so I can get you something.

[@cesarsantosjr.1991]

hope to see a Force & Flight Series episodes. :)

[@mauricecolvard]

@WearTesters. Do u have merchandise? I love the black hoodie.

[@dbowe4415]

A certified classic to me! I was 6 when Duke was playing in these, so while I don't remember all of the video footage clearly, I do remember reading magazines and seeing their players wearing them, as well as Ray Allen at UCONN. Such a well put together colorway. Great video for those of us who came up in and loved the 90s' era of Nike basketball. Here's my ranking of the Uptempo line: 1. Air More Uptempo 2. Air Max2 Uptempo 3. Air Total Max Uptempo 4. Air Max Uptempo 5. Air Max Uptempo 97 6. Air Vis Zoom Uptempo

[@ronnieblea4422]

Got those a few years back at the Nike outlet for 65$ Being a kid in the 90s, this was a grail for me too!! Great pickup!!

[@thriftdaddy7697]

"you're embarrassing me in front of my friends" hahahahaha Love the energy you put into sneakers. Joined Sole Savy because of you. Keep up the great work guys.

[@rcole718]

Michigan also wore these in '95. Chris Webber was also wearing the white/black ones with the Bullets before the Air Max CW came out.

[@slickeddy2000]

Nice I’m glad you’re going for your grails avoid the hype . Flight -Backcourt players PG & SG Uptempo- swing players SG & SF Force - front court PF& C

[@pf15]

Love the sneaker knowledge, thats the real grail!

[@bugattirari9916]

Stop it Nightwing!! You taking me back bro. I remember having 3 pairs and wore them out. Verrry comfortable. Hopefully a retro coming that they don’t skimp on tech specs.

[@jamessimms5514]

U kno the true og r always going to b the best let's keep this going just like u im copping all my favs and shoes I had and didn't have back in the day thats def a grail

[@thepickle7757]

Wow nostalgic here, I've owned the Uptempo 95 Teal, 97 Forest Green, Vizoom, Holistic, in those colorways in high school...Great video

[@mikeabel7577]

I graduated high school in 1999. I loved flipping through the Eastbay catalog and the Uptempo series was some serious 🔥🔥. This shoe got me feeling all kinds of nostalgia. I saw the entire Duke roster rocking these things and I had to have them. Loved playing in these.

[@GreekSneakCollector]

Legendary Nike silhouette. So many years ago, i am too old for sure!

[@chrisjones5017]

I remember Barry Sanders played in those on the turf... Couple of Duke players wore these too.

[@mad23151]

Wing Keep the reviews coming. I have all the uptempo except this one. Loving it.

[@brianreyes3422]

This is the most “‘me” video ever. I love the whole uptempo line I was nerding out the entire time of this video

[@MellowTheMyth]

This definitely made my day seeing these. (Considering I caught L’s on both the Carmine 6 & the Griffeys) I’ve had my eye on this particular silhouette since I was in middle school and they were retroed at the time.

[@TheJimmy1561]

outside of your personal grails I really enjoy the reviews of more obscure former and current shoes. Thanks!

[@Thumbs87]

Them uptempos is DOPE AF, always have and always will love them, i still have them in good condition and wear them few times a year Great Videos, keep up the great work

[@rdaffon23]

One of the most memorable shoes I've ever purchased. CWebb wore these. I remember wearing these when a bunch of work buddies and I played after working swing shift in SF. Most of my coworkers were Chinese, and they brought me to this full court somewhere in Chinatown in the middle of some low income housing. We balled from midnight to 3am and one of the most fun times I've ever had despite being watched by some gangsters.

[@gemini6055]

I can see it now, Duke playing my Tarheels in these back in the day. BBALL was so great then.

[@shannondavis3338]

I had the OG's without the Max air, they were awesome. And yes Chris I got them because of Pip! Pippen had some of the best kicks over the years. Flight 89 right through to the Pippen range (Pippen 2 in my favorite ).

[@nephimcknight5832]

Who else used to drool over these and other Nike basketball shoes, thumbing through the Eastbay catalog? Unforgettable era.

[@3rDegreeBernz]

Thank you for this piece of nostalgia. These still go hard af.

[@richson3234]

I’m so damn glad I was able to cop these on SALE a few years ago. Still clean. Never getting rid of these

[@9chilidog]

Strong call on the 80s/90/s sitcom guys wearing dope shoes. Jerry Sinefield was always fresh.

[@hassandenton1091]

thank you bro alot of forgot my son jerry had heat on has feet with the fitted levis and a button...firrrrre .....will smith...martin ....and bugs bunny he really help mike get a championship facksee

[@brauprx]

One of my favorite 90s shoes to ball in right now, had the white/black ones from around the same year and are so good. I remember more those in C-Webb than Pippen. Just as you said Chris, this is a time to get other shoes or grails instead of the weekly launch that almost nobody can get, I just got a grail of mine a couple of weeks ago, the Zoom Huarache 2K4 and are awesome (hope I can ball in them soon) and I'm looking forward to get some LeBron XI, not because of those being grails but because of the drop-in midsole. Great video!

[@illwill281]

Nice! And actually you do have the right Nike Sportswear box that came with the latest retro of this shoe back in 2017. In order of preference: 1. Air Uptempo 3 ('97)...by a solid margin! 2. Air More Uptempo 3. Air Total Max Uptempo 4. Air Max 2 Uptempo 5. Air Max Uptempo

[@ericcass7579]

Love the videos you guys do. I'm not a total sneaker head but I love the history touch. Honestly just listening to these videos are relaxing...not in a weird way. Keep up the good work

[@domorebemore8469]

I loved these shoes. My parents couldn’t afford it for me but I couldn’t be mad about it. In Astoria queens there used to be a giant billboard above a pizzeria that would change with each release and this was one of my favorites

[@justincho3404]

I remember how excited i was when my parents agreed to buy these for me. I think it was my first shoe with visible air, and i fell instantly in love with the bubble 😍

[@moisesgonzalez345]

The history Night wing put down the table u gotta love this chanel OG

[@Mack_Worlds_Media]

Nah fr 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@smurphy965]

I remember buying the air jordan 2 and 3s in 94. The air jordan 1 were on clearance tables at footlocker for 20 bucks. Times have definitely changed. I have a lot of those old catalogs, brings back memories when duke hooped in these!!

[@kenw134]

I wore those out when they came out. Still have fond memories of them today. Thanks for busting out this video.

[@AP-ld2qv]

True Classics... The Duke Squad were rocking them.. I do believe that was the year when they were rocking the black uniforms as well.. They had the blue version which was also fire. Great description as usual and continued success. I'm hype now lol

[@VictorDiaz-md6oc]

Uff!! I used to have those, they are really awesome, by the way you are my favorite channel right now, and I do feel the same way "leave me in the achives, I don't like the future"

[@kevin15776]

I remember getting the Air Uptempo Mid in black/white and then the Air Max2 Uptempo in black/white/purple. I still remember the smell of those new shoes and how popular those black/white colorways were back at that time.

[@SinAlexander10999]

Haha I love these bad boys. I still have mines I bought for $70! When it released lol great review weartesters!

[@tamihusband]

When I started getting back into sneakers, this was one of the 1st pairs I got (as I'm a huge Duke fan) and gotta say, they are low key one of my most comfortable pairs. Love these!!!

[@nolastnamejames177]

I still rock the first retro from 2006 with maize air unit. Nike got it right on the 2011 retro with a volt/neon yellow air unit. This is the third retro of the white/black colorway. They should retro the black/grey colorway for once. The Viz Zoom needs a retro asap!!!!

[@dougefresh8952]

Copped these for $40 at Ross a few years ago. Funny you mentioned those 94 Jordan 1s flopping, I picked the Chicagos up for $19.99 at the Nike outlet because no one was buying them. They had a FSR of Chicago 1, Bred 1, and BC3 for $19.99....how times have changed.

[@benjaminh26]

I can't agree with you more Chris. The sneaker game is completely different now, probably going to let myself take a break from it. Hopefully I get to cop a pair of cool grey 3s that's coming this out this weekend then I'm good

[@rubinanthony]

I like how you really Nerd out on retro nike shoes from the 90’s. Keep up the good work.

[@donnierodriguez9784]

See I was born in '97 but everytime I see these in this colorway I fall in love 😍 another great video Chris

[@baneintherain]

Awesome showcase, although I'm slightly let down we didn't get more love for the jeweled swoosh. Man, I love those.

[@Shonuffkicks]

Low key, been hunting for these in my size. Ending of freshman year, these were my go to. Alonzo mourning wore these and I was a huge Zo fan at the time. These and the Air Movin Uptempo are my 2 grails.... no lie...

[@georgeburnz901]

Those Air Vis Zoom Uptempos may have the best usage of zoom ever. I've played in a million types of shoes since the 90s and that cushion is truly GOAT level.

[@Laxmaverick]

@Weartester Thank for the great content and being outside the box best shoe tuber, Sneaker tuber, Wear tester!

[@Thedizzisin]

I had these and loved them! Those ‘97s too. The blue vis airs were dope, but they gave me awful shin splints when I played in them!

[@toddmichaelsen788]

Dude I was on a my high school basketball team in the 90s and your channel brings me right back to the court. Sneaker culture for me came from basketball shoes. Not just Js but all kinds. We knew what everyone was wearing. Air maestro 2s were THE kicks.

[@WearTesters]

💯

[@jaimeguzman9813]

I remember that I had a pair of these or something similar because it was before 2016 but I remember that they were the Uptempo & when they say the best cushioned shoe of all time I've to totally agree I LOVED my pair & I was almost 50 yo back then with what seemed like millions of miles on my knees & those shoes were so comfortable & helped me not having soreness on me knees the day after I played like no other shoe ever. I played in them until I wore them down to the pillow air unit burst & I looked everywhere to buy another pair & I never found them... 😔

[@角田隆典]

Damn... Nostalgia. I bought the original ones and WORE THEM DOWN. I loved these pairs. The feel was great, but the looks are what I liked the most of these. They don’t make them like they used to... Thanks and much luv for this episode.

[@jaybeejison]

Nice 😎, I remember the retros released in 2016 as part of the triple pack - Air Max Uptempo 2, Uptempo 95s and Uptempo 97s in White, Urban Haze and University Blue... I was able to cop a couple of pairs at the Outlet for $50 and played with them at the gym. My personal grail are the Uptempo 95s 🐍💜💛.

[@JFQG]

Love the uptempo line, pure fire. I was 11 when Nike release the Uptempo 2, that means I didn't reach adult size shoes so they were out of my reach, in Chile they sold only adult sizes basketball shoes back then. I grew up watch the bigger guys on my basketball team rocking them and seeing also Alonzo Mourning wearing them at the 95 All Star game, that only grew my desire to have then!. But destiny nock on my door as I had to travel to US on 2017 being able to grab the retros. They are my grail dude! When I go out to the shoe stores wearing them, all the guys just stand looking at my feet, young guys just don't know... They just don't know, and that's something I like also.

[@givemecash9404]

When these dropping? I remember Chris Webber wore these back in the 90s

[@dougefresh8952]

2017 I believe

[@HoodieGuy-uv4hm]

You can find them on offerup and ebay

[@hassandenton1091]

late 90s probably 1996....but the chris webbers that came out in 1995 summer were way more comfortable than those uptempos.....The 1995 chris webbers black and blue i them shits was $180 and that was alot of paper for some feets back then moneygrip.....Brooklyn was different back then....the sneaker plug was Russian named Ravioli facksee.....he was getting feets for the low before they came out.....this generation would be going crazy at the prices for feets back then .....example I remember seeing the concord 11s on CERTAIN people feet in October 1995 the sneaker aint drop till xmas...huh...brooklyn/coneyisland/brighton beach 6 block

[@dariusjolly3871]

Got mine a couple years ago from a Nike outlet

[@nickstaffier9982]

Favorite book fair cop in elementary school was a poster of Tmac on the Magic. Still have it almost 20 years later

[@FlipStyles118]

I swear.. Me watching Nightwing talk on KZbin is like my nephew on zoom class listening to his teacher.. 🤓🤓😆😆

[@3serio]

I got these retros under retail, and it feels so good. I didn’t wear it at first end was going to sell them (because I have too many shoes), but decided to actually wear them once, and I immediately knew they were going to be my favorite hooping shoe. Almost don’t want to wear them too much because i don’t want them to wear out.... is what i thought till rona dropped and now i can barely hoop. So they’ll last as long as the glue holds i guess.

[@yassver]

I’m totally going back into the archives… I had a shoe in 96 which looked like an air max 94 but it had the logo on the tongue like this shoe! I kinda want that now but this or the air max 94 are the closest I can get and also quite hard to find at a good price

[@sdawg4834]

I don't know why these were ever dubbed the "Duke" Air max uptempo's because of the hits of neon green in the heel air max unit lol. Don't get me wrong Duke looked awesome when the players wore these. I myself preferred the all black version of these with subtle white hits on the swoosh and the midfoot outrigger!! Great vid!

[@johnpena9165]

The Nike Uptempo line was always one of my favorites starting with the Max Air Uptempo then the Max Air Uptempo 3 (now called 97) and finally the Total Air Max Uptempo, these were some of the most comfortable basketball shoes ever 💪👍🔥 !

[@gooonta]

By the way!! Best youtube channel, keep up the classic reviews!! Respect

[@willleoppard2414]

Also have a love for the more uptempo... it was the very first shoe I saved up to buy myself because my parents wouldn't buy me them at the time. Love them!

[@engelmann82]

That’s eerie...last week I watched your Air Griffey video with my Griffey jersey on...now I wear my Barry Sanders jersey (he wore the Duke colorway) with my Uptempo retroes on (black anthracite) 🤯🤯🤯

[@bbeastin5972]

This made me remember I had the Pippen Vs back in the day lol. This is a classic shoe. Loved the whole line.

[@variandavid377]

CLASSICS!!!!! I love the bungees, but that’s because they helped the shoes fit my feet better. 😆 Ranking....1. Air More Uptempo, 1. Air VIZ Zoom Uptempo, 2. Air Max Uptempo 95, 3. Air Max2 Uptempo (the original), 4. Air Max Uptempo 97, 5. Air Total Max Uptempo. Yes i know there’s a tie, but that’s coz I love one upper design over the other but I love the other cushioning system over the other. 🤷🏽‍♂️💯🌶🤓

[@jomarmanalang3616]

I remember back when i had these in grade 5. loved this shoe, very comfy. up until i accidentally stepped on a thumbtack that popped the air of the shoe. tried to wear it to school for the whole day but it became a pain on foot coz I'm wobbling while i walk. so happy that you reviewed this though. brings back memories.

[@anthonyplanzo1082]

Have you reviewed the Air Max LWP? Loved that shoe. Super light shoe for its time. I think Penny rocked em for awhile. One of my favs to play in

[@RemoWilliams1227]

Love love love this grail series you've got going. Also love to you and Mrs Wing.

[@SixtyDashOne]

Chris you’re such a geek for this stuff, I always appreciate the history lessons and backstory.

[@Funkylover-sl7ew]

i love that blue n green vibe to the uptempos 94s n the air sole wow

[@Sal_says]

These videos are reminding me how lucky I was to have these and other shoes back in the day. I still have some but the stuff was just so much cooler back in the day IMO.

[@alexislugardo6955]

Thinkin of narrowing down my collection to just 90s basketball shoes and classic air maxes.

[@josea5092]

love these . I was able to cop a pair last summer walked into a mom and pop sneaker shop and I could not believe they had 1 pair left my size for $80.

[@VicOrlando]

I'm impressed You guys pumping videos out quick!

[@zenalien8620]

Pip's Air Uptempo's are iconic. Real talk about the shoe game these days, just disappointing. Thanks to your videos for keeping it positive as always.

[@WearTesters]

Appreciate it.

[@joshuajackson5654]

These were $15 clearance at Dillard's when my dad worked there. I had two pairs in middle school and even ran track in high school in these (made State for 200m) cuz I was so poor. I hated these shoes at the time because they reminded me how poor I was, but I love them now looking back on it.

[@ku3romi]

I had a pair back in the day....LOVED EM !!!!!

[@terrencelanier306]

It's all about what you like, what's your grail. Uptempos are up there for me. Pippen made em look so cool even with how bulky they were.

[@giorgosandriopoulos5447]

Keep up the good work nightwing love these retros. Big fan all the way from greece

[@Alleriquem]

As a person who prefers hooping in strictly retros, this shoe has been a go-to for years! . 2011s have dried up in aftermarket but the previous retro is still fun to play in and worth re-buying too!

[@cscloud150]

I got 2 pairs of these the 94 Duke pair and then whatever the other ones are. They look identical but they have subtle differences...so dope

[@KO-eu6jv]

Hey Joey, I think you said you weren’t sure what Uptempo meant, and I thought I’d give my thought if you haven’t gotten comments already. Tempo is the measurement of speed in music, so a song that is ‘uptempo’ is high energy and fast-paced. So just a musical way of conveying increasing speed. Maybe a similar theme they ran with for the Air Maestro, which is the lead conductor in an orchestra. Let me know what you think, very good vids my man keep it up!

[@macfanguy]

For me, it would be a hard choice between the Two and the Air More. LOVE the profile on those, with a slight preference for the two in that white and red. The other ones, not so much.

[@ad7473]

Great shoe from back in the day. Had them circa ‘95, in the all black colorway. I remember several other college teams rocking them around then, like UMass (Marcus Camby era.)

[@Phil-pd3fe]

The University of Michigan wore those specific pairs. Duke wore the white version mostly.

[@brianjewison7815]

They had a pair of triple black at a small shoe store I wanted Soph. year of BB. Previous years model and on sale but I was saving for them. The day I went to buy them stopped at Champs. It was the day Jordan 11s released. Had a pair on my feet and money in the pocket. Passed up for the Uptempos. Every game we played and someone had the J's I hated my decision. Finally got my Concord's last release.

[@Chestermcfly420]

The bubble in the back is similar to a pair of LeBron‘s

[@simracingzzw9937]

is it just me or is the 3D thumbnail design really amazing? chris and jodi really showing hearts for their videos.

[@essentialjordan23]

There were some 12s and 13s that had the numeral on the box, but it wasn’t consistent.

[@nikaoglover3273]

Man I always wanted these. They are timeless.

[@zislec]

Nike Zoom Flight Turbine. Best shoe I’ve ever played in. Owned 8-10 pairs of these. Still got 3 pairs in my collection.

[@Randii225]

I remember having these back in the 90s as a kid and I rocked the hell out of them.. I have a photo as kid with them on

[@Swooshman_3]

Someone may have mentioned this, maybe not... but the Air Vis Zoom Uptempo (black white and blue colorway) was made fashionable by way of Allan Houston in the NY Knicks Finals run during the lockout season of 98-99. I had those. Gave them to my best friend around 2003 after he broke his ankle playing basketball. Worst decision I ever made, but I didn’t want to see him playing in driver shoes anymore 😆😂.

[@jaykerosene3440]

i don't know if nike at some point changed the name on the tech, but the air units in these and the barkleys were originally referred to as air max squared. i remember a segment on the local news from when i was a kid where they called them the air max squared cb while talking about the hype over the original release. if you look at the old catalog scans you'll notice the 2 is raised up.