KICKZ Performance Review: UA Curry 9

What a comeback year it has been for Stephen CURRY and his Golden State Warriors. Sure, many would argue that the Dubs have never been gone but you gotta admit that the team just looks a bit different when they can actually present their “Strength in Numbers” 😉. A sixth trip to the NBA Finals, a fourth Larry O’Brien Trophy and ultimately the (long overdue) first and very well deserved NBA Finals MVP Award for CURRY. Not too bad, huh? And on top of that, the CURRY line released one of the best performers of the year. Let’s have a look!

What a comeback year it has been for Stephen CURRY and his Golden State Warriors. Sure, many would argue that the Dubs have never been gone but you gotta admit that the team just looks a bit different when they can actually present their “Strength in Numbers” 😉. A sixth trip to the NBA Finals, a fourth Larry O’Brien Trophy and ultimately the (long overdue) first and very well deserved NBA Finals MVP Award for CURRY. Not too bad, huh? And on top of that, the Curry line released one of the best performers of the year. Let’s have a look!

Design

The shape of the latest Curry model gives me very strong running shoe vibes, which I admittedly do not dig too much but this is perfectly up to personal taste. Apart from the silhouette, the Curry 9 makes sure to offer some visual highlights by releasing various intriguing colorways. A special one is the one in this review, which revolves around Elmo from Sesame Street. Small details like Elmo’s eyes or a furry tongue that have been incorporated into the shoe’s appearance, really make this specific colorway a little bit of a fan favorite. Well done. What I however like most about these is the technical design. Under Armour went deep into their bag of tricks and created one of the lightest shoes that I have ever worn. So light that the Curry 9 actually made my Top 3 with its very minimalistic 328 g. Huge pro.

Materials

A big part of what makes these lightweight are the materials. Most of the upper is made of UA WARP, which really feels like an upgrade compared to what we got on the Curry 8. Yes, last year’s materials were very comfortable and lightweight but I was under the impression that it lacked rigidity at times. This year’s upper is a bit firmer while not giving up too much flexibility but actually providing more stability, support and durability. So this is definitely a well-conceived upgrade. Same as last year, the materials are pretty much ready to go out of the box and do not need any kind of break-in time.

Traction

Pretty much like last year’s model, the traction on this one is flat out amazing. Once again, the Curry line opted for a no rubber, just foam outsole, which really brings the best out of UA’s Flow technology. Some may say they have not really done anything compared to last year and personally I didn’t really see the necessity to do so as well. Remember, the Curry 8 gripped the floor beastly and so do these. The traction pattern looks very familiar and makes sure to prevent any kinds of slipping, sliding or delayed stops. Playing in these was very enjoyable and the bite was just fantastic. Probably one of the best traction setups on the market right now. A small downside may be the outsole’s durability when taken on the blacktop. I don’t really see these holding up for too long on the rougher outdoor surfaces.

Cushion

The UA Flow cushioning technology is the second main reason why these are as lightweight as they are. No doubt about that. On top of that, it actually feels somewhat bouncy, low to the ground and therefore provides pretty good court feel. A factor that I value a lot in my choice of basketball shoes. However, there might be a little bit of a drawback for players that look for above average impact protection. The cushioning does its job but it is not necessarily the softest ride and does not always provide the smoothest landing experience because of its dense characteristics. Pretty much like the Curry 8s.

Fit

Going true to size worked out perfectly for me. Just keep in mind that these are slightly narrow and you may consider going up if you have a wider foot. With the right size though, these will feel comfortable as the upper materials adjust to your foot nicely. The lack of plush padding that many other models have nowadays, didn’t really take anything away from the comfortability of the Curry 9s. Overall, pretty solid.

Support

This is definitely the part where I see the biggest improvements compared to last year. Looking closer at the shoe, you will see a lot of extra stitching and sewing throughout the upper, which gives the whole setup a bit more structure and rigidity. This has a big impact on how the shoekeeps your feet locked in, contained and on top of the footbed. I felt secure and stablethroughout the whole testing process and really didn’t have any concerns here. Additionally, the Curry 9 comes with a wide base that provides some extra stability, especially when stopping abruptly on lateral movements. Good job.

Bottom Line

We got the reigning Finals MVP’s new shoe here and there is simply a lot to like about it. Last year’s Curry 8s were already great but I feel like these took it a step further. Sure, there are some elements that basically stayed the same (traction and cushion) but I honestly don’t think that those needed drastic changes. What they did improve was the support and I think this is a total game changer for this one. Bottom line, a big name and lots of top-tier performance features pretty much justify the steeper price of EUR 160,-. Personally, I think these were very fun to play in and may even be one of the best options on the market right now.

Feedback

Any questions? Find me on Instagram at @ONEtothe2.