Our verdict

Aptly named, the orange nike womens 9 9 wood is meant for light players whose playing style involves a lot of running on the court. Our playtests confirmed that the shoe inherits the fast-moving personality of its predecessor, the G.T. Run. Exceptionally light, minimal, and responsive, the Hustle 2 is fun to play in if you want to lose the stiffness and bulkiness of most hoop shoes these days. We loved the natural movement and court connection that this Nike shoe has to offer.

jordan 3 pure white style Pros

  • Very light and speedy on foot
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  • Grounded and responsive midsole
  • Highly flexible and smooth-feeling
  • Great traction on clean courts
  • Stable for non-aggressive movements
  • True to size, one-to-one fit

jordan 3 pure white style Cons

  • Not for outdoor play
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  • Minimal impact protection

Audience verdict

83
Good!
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Who should buy

We believe that the orange nike womens 9 9 wood must be on your radar if:

  • you are a light basketball player in search of a minimal shoe for sprinting up and down the court
  • you seek lightness and flexibility in your next pair of hoop shoes
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nike g t hustle 2 review 21615575 720

Who should NOT buy

In our opinion, there are a few reasons why the G.T. Hustle 2 may not meet your needs on the court.

First of all, if you're a heavier player, you will need more impact protection and support. We recommend looking into the nike air max 98 fossil womens black shoes as an alternative. It also offers the benefit of better traction and is more outdoor-ready.

If you are not ready to pay $170 for a minimal shoe that doesn't even have a shank, consider the women nike free run 3 hot punch full episodes or the Nike Giannis Freak 5.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood lab test

Breathability

With its minimal upper, mesh panels, and ventilation pores on the tongue, the orange nike womens 9 9 wood offers pretty decent breathability.

Look how swiftly the smoke escaped through the shoe's upper in the tongue area!

We are not surprised that this is the shoe's most ventilated area given the many airflow channels the tongue.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood microscope test

We were hoping that the toebox mesh would enhance the shoe's breathability but the lens of our microscope shows how super densely woven it is. Not much hope for the airflow here.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood under microscope

Assessing the G.T. Hustle 2's overall breathability, we gave it a lower-than-average score of 2.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 2
Average 2.3
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Compared to a typical basketball shoe, the G.T. Hustle 2 has a very minimal upper design with practically no reinforcements.

The shoe features a large mesh panel on top of the toebox which feels pretty frail to the touch. And as our Dremel test shows, it is very much prone to wear and tear.

The fabric threads tore within seconds of touching them with our Dremel's sandpaper tip. And the damage we saw was notably greater than what we usually see in the lab.

nike g t hustle 2 toebox durability test 21615542 720

Thus, we rated the shoe's toebox durability with a lower-than-average score of 3 out of 5.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 38 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

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Gladly, the textile used for the shoe's inner lining proved to be much more resilient.

Its smooth nature stood up to the sandpaper looking almost as good as new after the 4-second test. Thus, we readily rated its durability with a high score of 4.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood nike air max 90 premium womens grey boots test
Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 4
Average 3.6
Compared to 35 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
nike air max 90 premium womens grey boots
5

Outsole hardness

Despite looking like gummy bears, the rubber pimples on the shoe's outsole are actually pretty hard.

nike g t hustle 2 outsole hardness 21615550 720

Our Shore C durometer returned a higher-than-average reading of 87.5 HC as we pressed it against one of the knobs. This is a very promising start.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 87.5 HC
Average 82.1 HC
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Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
59.5 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole durability

We went on to test the abrasion resistance of these pimples with a high Dremel speed of 10K RPM.

But after 22 seconds of exposure, the rubber didn't give in more than 0.5 mm! That's even shallower than average!

nike g t hustle 2 outsole durability test 21615545 720

So if you've never dealt with translucent rubber before, we hope this test assures you of its hard-wearing characteristics.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 0.5 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 26 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Last but not least, the shoe also uses a sufficiently thick rubber layer for the outsole. Measuring its thickness with a caliper retrieved a solid reading of 4.4 mm.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Outsole thickness

So, with all that said, does the orange nike womens 9 9 wood make a great option for outdoor basketball courts? Unfortunately, we don't think so.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood outsole design

We are concerned about the protruding rubber knobs as their shape makes them more prone to wearing out on hard outdoor surfaces.

An occasional game most likely won't do a great deal of damage but we can't recommend this Nike shoe for regular outdoor use.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 4.4 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Weight

Positioned as a super nimble shoe for sprinting up and down the court, the orange nike womens 9 9 wood lives up to the marketing 100%! We are happy to report that it proved to be some of the lightest basketball shoes in our lab.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Weight

Clocking in at 12.0 oz (340g) in a men's US size 9, it is two ounces lighter than the average hoop shoe.

nike g t hustle 2 shoe weight 21615585 720

Its weightlessness, minimal cushioning, and streamlined upper made us feel at full speed during the playtest.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 11.99 oz (340g)
Average 14.00 oz (397g)
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

The G.T. Hustle 2 also stands out as the least cushioned shoe in our basketball roster. Measuring its stack height in the heel, we were amazed to see as little as 23.6 mm on our caliper!

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Heel stack

It is by far the lowest hoop shoe in our lab along with the 2013 nike woman air max black shoes sale today (23.7 mm).

As you can probably guess, this Nike shoe offers very little impact protection, especially if you are a big guy! But in return, the G.T. Hustle 2 offers the most speedy setup for light and nimble players who sprint from baseline to baseline.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 23.6 mm
Average 29.4 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
23.6 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

Just like we expected, the forefoot stack of the Hustle 2 is some of the lowest in the industry, showing only 18.2 mm on the caliper.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Forefoot stack

If you enjoy a more intimate court feel, there is nothing more grounded than the orange nike womens 9 9 wood (as of today).

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 18.2 mm
Average 21.7 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
18.0 mm
Forefoot stack
29.2 mm

Drop

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The height difference between the shoe's heel and forefoot stacks comes in at only 5.4 mm which is a bit lower than the average.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Drop

This setup encourages a flatter and thus more natural foot position in which the heel sits only a few millimeters higher than the toes.

It feels less cushy and supportive than the higher drop but promotes a more planted experience in return.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 5.4 mm
Average 7.7 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
4.0 mm
Drop
14.8 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Having sliced the orange nike womens 9 9 wood in half, we discovered that its cushioning setup is very similar to that of the Air Jordan XXXVIII.

There is a full-length Zoom Air Strobel sitting on top of a full-length foam layer. We are almost 100% sure that the shoe uses Cushlon foam because the compound is on the soft side and feels quite responsive.

Pressing our Shore A durometer against it returned 21.0 HA which is 22% softer than the industry average.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Midsole softness

However, you don't get to feel this plushness to the fullest because the foam is sandwiched between hard rubber and a firmer Zoom Air unit.

But overall, the G.T. Hustle 2 provides an immensely responsive ride that promotes speed above all else.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 21.0 HA
Average 25.6 HA
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Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

jordan 3 pure white style | Insole thickness

To make sure your foot has enough buffer from the thin midsole and the firm Zoom Air Strobel, the shoe adds a well-padded insole.

nike g t hustle 2 insole thickness 21615556 720

It has a slightly higher than-average thickness of 5.3 mm based on our caliper measurement.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 5.3 mm
Average 4.5 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Even though stability is not this Nike shoe's forte, we are happy to say that it doesn't lack inherent stability as a minimalist shoe.

Its low-to-the-ground profile creates enough steadiness to provide balance for quick movements on the court. It is not the best option for super forceful cuts but is nice enough for light players with agile footwork.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood lateral support

But even if the unfortunate ankle roll does occur, the shoe's platform is low enough to prevent the worst-case scenario.

Torsional rigidity

The G.T. Hustle 2's midsole comes without a stabilizing shank but its full-length Zoom Air unit and high midsole topline generate enough stiffness to provide essential stability.

We rated the shoe's torsional rigidity with a pretty high score of 4 out of 5 in our manual test. Sure, it's a bit lower than the average of basketball shoes but we can't complain considering the intention behind its design.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 4
Average 4.5
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Please do keep in mind that the Hustle 2 also has little to no ankle support and a pretty weak rearfoot hold. We don't mean heel slippage but the lack of a structured heel counter that would create a barricade-like effect around the ankle.

Assessing the shoe's heel counter stiffness in our manual test, we couldn't rate it any higher than 3 out of 5. It is notably more pliable than the average.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

Another component that helps the G.T. Hustle 2 feel inherently stable is the lateral outrigger in the forefoot.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Midsole width in the forefoot

The widest part of the shoe's sole showed 116.5 mm on our caliper. That's even a couple of millimeters wider than average!

It's great that the shoe's forefoot stability helps to compensate for the lack of rearfoot support.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 116.5 mm
Average 114.4 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
106.2 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
122.2 mm

Midsole width in the heel

Looking at the width of the shoe's heel also confirmed that the G.T. Hustle 2 is best for players who mostly stay on their toes.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Midsole width in the heel

Our caliper measured 84.6 mm in the widest part of the heel which is almost 6 mm narrower than the average. Not the most stable landing area.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 84.6 mm
Average 90.4 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
Midsole width in the heel
105.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

Very few basketball shoes can boast flexibility these days, which makes the orange nike womens 9 9 wood a white crow in this department.

Packing no shank in the midsole, it took much less effort to bend the Hustle 2 to a 90-degree angle in our stiffness test. With a force gauge reading of only 28.9N, it is 40% more flexible than a typical hoop shoe.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood flexibility

This Nike shoe treated us to buttery smooth heel-to-toe transitions with its easy flex and consistent cushioning.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 28.9N
Average 40.3N
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Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
28.9N
Stiffness
67.2N

Grip / Traction

To be honest, the look of the shoe's outsole made us feel skeptical about its performance on the court...But that's why we are here to test it!

As it turns out, the shoe's gripping capacity is quite average, nothing to write home about. We are not sure if the brand went for this unusual design to save weight or just for fun.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood traction

Its traction was good enough for quick stops and accelerations but it did attract dust like most other hoop shoes. Occasional wiping is necessary to keep the grip solid.

Size and fit

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Trying the orange nike womens 9 9 wood in our regular men's US size 9, we were very happy with its one-to-one fit. There was no pinching or pressure on the sides of our feet.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood fit

Applying our caliper to the widest part of the shoe's toebox, we got 100.3 mm which is consistent with the other hoop shoes in the same size.

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Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 100.3 mm
Average 101.4 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
92.6 mm
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108.2 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

The shoe has a minor tapering towards the toes but it doesn't get narrower than the average. Our caliper showed a standard width of 76.3 mm around the big toe.

nike g t hustle 2 toebox width at the big toe 21615559 720

In case you're wondering, the shoe's mesh toebox has absolutely no give to it. Don't expect the material to stretch out after a break-in.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 76.3 mm
Average 76.6 mm
Compared to 41 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
71.2 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
85.1 mm

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We experienced a nice and secure foot containment inside the orange nike womens 9 9 wood. This is in part thanks to the shoe's semi-integrated tongue.

nike g t hustle 2 tongue gusset type 21615561 720

Staying securely in place, it didn't shift around, bunch up, or cause any other trouble.

Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 Both sides (semi)

Lacing

For the most part, we found it easy to deal with the shoe's flat laces. Our only concern is that you might want to double-knot them for longer games because they seem a little slippery.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood laces

In addition, the shoe offers two reinforced eyelets on the collar to give you the option of tying a runner's knot and getting the most out of the lockdown.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood medial support

Comfort

Tongue padding

The shoe's tongue is moderately padded with foam, showing 7.0 mm of thickness at the topmost part (where the lace pressure is usually the greatest).

nike g t hustle 2 tongue padding 21615562 720

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Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 7.0 mm
Average 9.6 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

Heel tab

The Hustle 2 provides no finger loops or pull tabs to assist in  the on-and-off.

nike g t hustle 2 heel tab 21615563 main
Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 None

Removable insole

You can always replace the stick insole of this Nike basketball shoe with your own orthotics if that's what you prefer.

orange nike womens 9 9 wood Removable insole
Test results
G.T. Hustle 2 Yes