Getting signature shoes as an NBA player is one of the ultimate achievements that not many have achieved. In fact, only 16 current players have their own signature shoes (compared to the 450 active players in the league).
Of those players — only Lebron James’s signature shoe line has maintained for so long (now on its 18th installment). They’ve lasted so long for good reason — like Lebron, his shoes are some of the best in the game.
In this article, we’ll show you some of the best Lebron James shoes so you can choose which ones are right for you. Let’s dive in.
What to Consider When Buying Lebron James Shoes
If you’re an avid basketball player, you know that having the right shoes on the court can make a huge difference in your game. Thankfully, Nike makes some of the best quality shoes with premium materials and technology to keep your performance at its peak.
However, several factors vary in comfort from person to person. These include:
Cushion
When picking the right basketball shoes, it’s important to find cushioning that’s comfortable and helps protect you from impact.
Lebron James Nike shoes come with two different types of cushioning: foam and air. Foam cushioning has solid protection, but air cushioning provides better responsiveness.
Fit
Your first step should be to take a look at the Nike Lebron sizing chart to determine the best fit for your feet. That said, sometimes sizing can be a bit inaccurate. Check out genuine user reviews to give you a better idea of what will fit you best.
Cost
Lebron James basketball shoes are some of the highest quality shoes in the industry — and the price tag shows it. Make sure to set a budget to help you narrow down what shoes to get.
Outsole
An important question to ask is if you typically play indoor or outdoor basketball. This will help you decide which type of sole to get, as different soles will give a better grip depending on the court’s surface.
The Different Lebron Shoe Lines
There’s a variety of different shoe lines within Lebron’s Nike shoes that cater to different audiences and are used for different purposes. Right now, Lebron has four shoe lines with Nike — let’s take a look at each of them.
The Lebron Line
This is the top of the top when it comes to Lebron shoes. They are the main flagship line and include the best specs, premium materials, and have the highest build quality of all the shoes.
If you’re looking to keep up with the latest and greatest shoes at Nike, these are the ones to get.
Price range: $170-$200. The most expensive of all the Lebrons.
Main market: People with a higher budget. All-around players. Especially good for bigger, more explosive guys that need lots of impact protection
Shoes available: 18 different varieties, released yearly. Most have low-top variants and special editions like the Elite series
Pros: Best tech specs, materials, and build quality. Some of the most comfortable shoes out of the group as well. Have some of the best colorways available.
Cons: Most expensive. Can feel a bit bulky depending on the person. Not great for outdoor play.
The Lebron Soldier Line
This line of Lebron shoes is considered the mid-tier line. Although it was originally meant to cater to outdoor basketball players, it has evolved into an all-around great shoe. They can easily be spotted by their straps rather than laces.
These shoes give the best security amongst the different lines and are best for outdoor ball. They are built like tanks and offer a lot of support while still being lightweight and minimalist.
Price range: $120-$140. These are the mid-tier shoes when it comes to budget, but still offer solid build quality and tech specs
Main market: All-around players. Athletic players that need maximum security and structure. Great for outdoor players.
Shoes available: 14 shoes, released yearly.
Pros: Great stability, lockdown, and support. Great all-around package.
Cons: Straps are not the best design for everyone. Can take a while to adjust and break into. Not the most flexible when it comes to sizing.
The Lebron Ambassador Line
These lesser-known Lebrons were exclusively created for the Asian market geared towards outdoor basketball. They feature strong outsoles with durable XDR rubber and last a long time even when used on the blacktop.
With the target market being Asia, they are built wider as Asians generally tend to have wider feet. They are solid all-around good shoes. When it comes to specs and materials, they are on par with the soldier line.
For those in the U.S., you can still grab some Ambassadors on the reseller market.
Price range: $80-$180. The price varies widely depending on the model and colorway that you choose. However, they’re still considered a budget option for Lebron shoes.
Main market: Outdoor hoopers, people with wide feet.
Shoes available: 13 shoes, released yearly
Pros: Solid all-around performance. Great, long-lasting materials for outdoor play.
Cons: Can be hard to find outside of Asia.
The Lebron Witness Line
These shoes are the low-budget option among the Lebron shoes. They are the youngest among the four lines and have minimal tech specs with basic materials, but still have a solid build quality.
This line focuses on minimalism with light and quick materials. They fit players that are fast, light, and low to the ground. They’re solid for outdoor play, but not as good as the Ambassadors.
Price range: $80-$110. These are the lowest-priced of all the Lebron shoes.
Main market: Guards, wings, and smaller players who are light and quick. B Basketball players that want lower-priced shoes.
Shoes available: 5 shoes, released yearly
Pros: Good quality and performance for a low price. Available widely and often has discounts and sales.
Cons: Lacks cushion in the upper departments. Not the most versatile shoe.
What Are the Best Lebrons?
Everyone has their opinion on what their favorite shoes are. These factors depend on several factors, including style of play, fit, cost, comfort, and more.
We’ve gone through some of the best shoes from the various Lebron series and listed them below.
Nike Lebron 18 Low
These Lebrons are amongst the newest series of Lebron does and pretty much does everything you need in a top-quality basketball shoe.
They are light and more minimal than a typical shoe. Their outsoles are highly durable and give you tons of freedom of movement, even outdoors. It features a rebuilt screen mesh upper that contains your foot even better than the previous models.
The cushion is top-tier as well. It has a React midsole with a large heel Max Air unit that makes you feel like you’re running on clouds. The build is firm and low to the ground compared to the original shoe.
Cost: $160
Nike Lebron 13 Elite
Yup — even the Lebron 13s that came out in 2015 is still one of the best shoes out there to this day.
One of the main features that the 13s have that have been an issue in other shoes is its great traction. Each Zoom pod on the outsole helps grab the floor tightly and provides great acceleration.
They have great cushion and provide lots of bounce and impact protection in the heel. Most importantly, they are super comfy to run in. The upper is made of Kurim rubber, providing less weight than its plastic counterparts while providing more flexibility.
The 13s are just a great option that has withstood the test of time.
Cost: $200
Nike Lebron Ambassador 9
If you want to try out one of the Asian-market Ambassadors, the 9s are the way to go. They feel almost as good as the flagship Lebrons but at a fraction of the price.
The XDR rubber provides amazing traction and is also dust-proof. The cushioning provides a well-balanced, comfortable, and bouncy setup without feeling heavy.
It’s not top-of-the-line, but they are a great option for great support and stability.
Cost: $125
Nike Lebron 16
These Lebrons are some of the best outdoor shoes in the Lebron series. They are super tough and tanky, making them perfect for the park.
The outsoles give amazing traction and have super durable rubber. The cushion features full-length Max Air and several Zoom Air pods for a versatile and comfortable ride.
The best part is that it gives a ton of impact protection on the blacktop, but doesn’t feel slow or mushy. They are stable and give an elevated ride. If you’re looking to get Lebron shoes that are perfect for the blacktop, these are the ones to get.
Cost: $185
Find Your Next Lebrons
That’s all you need to know for a basic introduction to the world of Lebron James shoes. However, the only way to get the best shoe for you is to go out and try some on.
Finding the perfect colorway, cushion, build, and cost for your unique feet is a long journey, but a fun one. Go find the best Lebrons for you now!
Photo credit: Pixabay
