Alright, let’s talk about the Kyrie 1s. Man, those sneakers bring back some memories. It feels like ages ago now, but I remember the buzz when they first started showing up.
Getting My Hands on Them
I wasn’t even sure I wanted them at first. You know how it is, another signature shoe drops. But then I saw Kyrie Irving actually playing in them, doing his thing, breaking ankles. The look started to grow on me. It wasn’t like anything else out there at the time, kinda jagged, aggressive looking. The price wasn’t too crazy either, which definitely helped.
Finding the colorway I wanted, though? That was a whole different story. I think I was after the “Dream” colorway initially, the black and multicolor one. Seemed like everyone wanted those. Checked a few local spots, nothing. Went online, mostly sold out or resellers asking way too much. It wasn’t like today where you got apps telling you everything. You had to put in some legwork, call stores, check forums. Kinda miss that hustle sometimes, honestly.
Eventually, I lucked out. Found a pair of the “All-Star” joints, the grey ones, sitting at a mall store nobody seemed to check often. Snagged ’em right away. Didn’t even think twice. Just walked out with the box feeling pretty good.
Wearing Them Out
First thing I did was take them straight to the court. That’s what they were for, right? Hooping. Gotta say, the traction was amazing right out of the box. That herringbone pattern really gripped the floor. Felt super low to the ground too, which I liked. Gave you good court feel.
Here’s what I remember most:
- Traction: Top notch, seriously. Indoor, outdoor, didn’t matter much.
- Fit: Pretty snug. Maybe a bit too snug at first, took some breaking in.
- Cushioning: It was okay. Not super bouncy, more about responsiveness and feeling the court. Definitely felt the impact after long sessions.
- Looks: They definitely turned heads back then. That unique design stood out.
I wore them for basketball mostly, pickup games, league stuff. They held up reasonably well, though the mesh parts started showing dirt pretty quick, especially on that lighter grey colorway I had. They weren’t just court shoes though; I definitely wore them around town too. They were comfortable enough for just kicking around, running errands, whatever. They had that kinda crossover appeal.
Eventually, like all good hoop shoes, they started to break down. The outsole wore down from playing outdoors sometimes, the cushioning flattened out. That’s just the life cycle, you know? Didn’t save ’em or keep ’em pristine in a box. I bought ’em to wear ’em.
Pretty sure I wore that pair until they were completely cooked. Donated them or tossed them, can’t recall exactly. Haven’t owned a pair since, moved on to other things. But yeah, the Kyrie 1s? Solid shoe for its time. Definitely remember those fondly. Good performance, cool look. Simple as that.
