Our verdict

Nike went for a total revamp of the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White introducing it as the first-ever basketball shoe to use the cutting-edge ZoomX cushioning foam. This ultra-soft and responsive foam teamed up with the shoe's lightweight design to set our feet flying during the playtest! But as fun as that felt, we didn't think it was enough to justify the Cut 3's soaring price point. As a shoe that's meant for aggressive cuts, our primary concern was the lack of foot containment in the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White. And we just couldn't let it slide.

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  • Nike Dri-FIT Standard Issue
  • Super plush ZoomX cushioning
  • Amazing energy return and explosive toe-offs
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  • Nike has revealed a new upcoming Air Max Plus that will be
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  • Comfortable in-shoe feel

Nike has revealed a new upcoming Air Max Plus that will be Cons

  • Upper lacks the expected support for cuts
  • Not for wide feet
  • Not for outdoor courts
  • Lacks breathabilty

Audience verdict

88
Great!

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Having thoroughly tested the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White, we believe that it is most suitable for players in search of the following:

  • Premium ZoomX cushioning on a basketball court (crazy energy return!) 
  • Super light and nimble option for guards (who don't expect a lot of ankle support)
  • Elite-level grip on clean indoor courts

nike g t cut 3 review 21609015 720

Who should NOT buy

The shoe's lack of support was the main letdown for us, especially considering the price and the fact that the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White is made for cuts in the first place. We recommend looking into the Nike KD 16 or the Jordan Luka 2 estas Nike Odyssey React Flyknit 2.

In addition, both options are offered at a much more affordable price point and the Luka 2 is more friendly towards wide feet.

SB Dunk boom lab test

Breathability

The number of perforations throughout the shoe's upper tricked us into thinking that it is highly breathable.

SB Dunk boom perforations

Nike Kobe 9 EM Deep Garnet Official Images.

When we filled its interiors with smoke, the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White didn't let much vapour out through the toebox or the sidewalls.

We also discovered that the perforations were not exactly see-through as the underlays blocked them from the inside.

SB Dunk boom microscope test

Looking at them through our microscope, we found that the inner lining technically corked the apertures.

Disappointed in the shoe's lack of ventilation, we rated the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White's breathability with the lowest score of 1.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 1
Average 2.3
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

The toebox of the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White is made of several materials:

  • microfiber(ish?) material as the topmost layer
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  • translucent rubber toe bumper on both sides of the forefoot (very reminiscent of the toe drag guard on tennis shoes)

SB Dunk boom toebox

We had no concerns about the shoe's reinforced areas but were urged to check if the seemingly frail microfiber would sustain abrasion.

Despite its appearance, the material showed pretty strong wear resistance! The sandpaper tip of our Dremel failed to get through it within 12 seconds, leaving nothing more than a cosmetic dent.

nike g t cut 3 toebox durability comparison 21608982 720

Successfully avoiding a see-through hole, the SB Dunk boom earned a high score for toebox durability - 4 out of 5!

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 38 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
1
Toebox durability
5

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Unfortunately, the shoe's interior lining was not as good at fighting our Dremel back.

It only took a couple of seconds to blow through the heel lining of the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White! Given how much friction occurs in this part of the shoe throughout the game, we don't think it would last a good while.

SB Dunk boom nike air max 95 jewel swoosh midnight navy test

Thus, we can't rate the shoe's heel lining durability any higher than 2 out of 5.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 2
Average 3.6
Compared to 35 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
1
nike air max 95 jewel swoosh midnight navy
5

Outsole hardness

The outsole, on the other hand, amazed us with its exceptionally hard rubber compound.

nike g t cut 3 outsole hardness 21608987 720

Our Shore C durometer returned a nice and high reading of 86.5 HC. It implies that the rubber is a little harder than the average which also signals higher durability.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 86.5 HC
Average 82.1 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
59.5 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole durability

Putting the shoe's outsole through its paces in our Dremel test only confirmed our best hopes - this rubber is highly resistant to abrasion! More so than the typical hoop shoe outsole.

Even a 22-second exposure to sandpaper at a 10K RPM speed could not break through the rubber armour of the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White. We found that the indentation was as shallow as 0.5 mm which is smaller than the average by half!

nike g t cut 3 outsole durability test 21608986 720

Yes, that's impressive but when you stop and consider the shoe's brutally escalated price of £200... you take that durability as a given.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 0.5 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 26 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Based on our calliper measurement of 3.2 mm, the rubber layer on the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White is about a millimetre thinner than the average. However, it doesn't seem to affect the shoe's shelf life as much considering how hard-wearing that rubber is.

nike g t cut 3 outsole thickness 21609033 720

But here is the question: is the SB Dunk boom durable enough to tackle outdoor courts? We don't think so...

Why?

Even though the rubber itself is strong, the traction pattern on it is not. We are afraid that the lugs are too thin to resist hard outdoor courts and the treading will smooth out rather quickly.

SB Dunk boom traction pattern

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 3.2 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Weight

We don't know what diet the G.T. Cut was following but its weight has dropped by a whopping 2.3 oz (65g)! The third iteration tips the scale at only 11.8 oz (335g)!

nike g t cut 3 weight 21609007 720

Ah, wait, we do know the name of that diet - it's called the ZoomX foam (more on that in the Cushioning section).

SB Dunk boom shoe weight

The lightness of this Nike shoe, as well as its amazing energy return, made it feel very fun and nimble on our feet. A fantastic option for quick guards.

P.S. If you used to wear the G.T. Cut 2, expect the third iteration to be a complete reimagining of the shoe.

SB Dunk boom vs G.T. Cut 2

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 11.82 oz (335g)
Average 14.00 oz (397g)
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

Having sliced the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White in half, we were surprised to measure its heel stack at a lower-than-average 27.0 mm.

nike g t cut 3 heel stack 21608989 720

The shoe gloriously buffered every landing of ours during the playtest. We can confirm that its impact protection will remain solid and consistent through all four quarters.

However, we do have reservations about heavier players using the SB Dunk boom. Given the plush nature of the ZoomX foam, we believe that it would lose cushioning properties faster if the wearer is in the heavier weight class and/or if their playing style is jump-centred.

nike tuned 1 team orange and pure platinum ladies nike lebron witness 5 gs wheat cheap sale and its whopping heel stack of 35.6 mm much more.

nike g t cut 3 vs jump 2 heel stack 21611698 720

Heel stack on the Nike ladies nike lebron witness 5 gs wheat cheap sale (some of the tallest at 35.6 mm)

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 27.0 mm
Average 29.4 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
23.6 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

Checking the shoe's forefoot stack, we discovered that it falls right into the average of basketball shoes.

nike g t cut 3 forefoot stack 21608988 720

At 21.5 mm, it provides a balanced experience between underfoot protection and court feel.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 21.5 mm
Average 21.7 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
18.0 mm
Forefoot stack
29.2 mm

Drop

The difference between the shoe's heel and forefoot stack heights is rather low (5.5 mm). But this offset is very beneficial for shifty guards who want to feel closer to the ground.

SB Dunk boom Drop

When the heel is not significantly elevated above the toes, it puts the foot in a flatter position which in turn, makes the wearer feel more stable and in control of the movement.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 5.5 mm
Average 7.7 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
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.

The Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White is a truly ground-breaking release for Nike. It is the brand's very first basketball shoe that features a full-length ZoomX foam!

If you're wondering why that's a big deal, let us tell you that when the foam first appeared in the running shoe realm, it started an entire cushion revolution. It is a unique Pebax-based foam that is incredibly soft and offers the best energy return in the industry - around 80-95%! In addition, this foam is light as a feather.

Should we say that we were beyond excited to experience ZoomX in a basketball shoe?

nike g t cut 3 midsole softness 21608992 720

Just as we expected, the foam showed a very low reading on our Shore A durometer. At only 14.0 HA, it is 84% softer than the average hoop shoe midsole! It sits in the plushest corner along with the Boost foam on the Adidas Harden Vol. 7 (11.0 HA).

SB Dunk boom zoomx

To keep the squishiness under control, Nike encased the ZoomX inside a firmer foam carrier. So technically, you can't even touch the bare ZoomX from the outside of the shoe. The pinky panel you see on the side is plastic and not the foam itself.

This whole setup translated into fabulous impact protection and shock absorption upon hard landings. We also felt that we were able to transition into the toe-offs faster and jump even higher in the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 14.0 HA
Average 25.6 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Insole thickness

A well-padded insole inside the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White makes its cushioning feel complete.

nike g t cut 3 insole thickness 21608995 720

With a thickness of 4.7 mm in the heel, it is just as cushy as the average basketball shoe insole.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 4.7 mm
Average 4.5 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Nike's G.T. (Greater Than) series features shoes that above all else help you perform a particular basketball movement more effectively.

The ladies nike lebron witness 5 gs wheat cheap sale, nike mercurial tn release info G.T. Hustle 2 helps with...well, running action on the court, and the G.T. Cut obviously helps with cuts (V-cuts, L-cuts, backdoor cuts, you name it).

We ran a series of tests to check if the SB Dunk boom has enough lateral stability to live up to the promise.

In our on-foot demonstration above, you can see that the shoe's platform remains strong and stable whereas the upper has a bit of a give that feels suspicious. This is exactly how the shoe felt during the playtest - the sole kept us surefooted but the forgiving upper allowed for some ankle play.

While it was not detrimental to the overall stability, we found it strange that a shoe designed specifically for cuts did not provide a higher level of stability.

Just look at the Jordan Luka 2 below! That upper puts actual barricades on both sides of the ankle.

On the upside, if you have strong ankles and prefer to feel less shoe around your feet and ankles, you might enjoy the SB Dunk boom.

Torsional rigidity

As we mentioned earlier, the platform of the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White is very stable and sturdy. We are glad that Nike came up with a way to combine plush cushioning with a steady sole.

Failing to twist the shoe in our manual test convinced us to rate its torsional rigidity with the highest possible score - 5 out of 5!

In addition to the firm carrier foam, the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White also features a stiff rubbery shank as a leading stability component. 

SB Dunk boom shank

Even though it is only visible in the midfoot, the shank also runs through the shoe's forefoot helping to prevent the foot from twisting.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 5
Average 4.5
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

On the downside, we found that the heel counter of the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White was not as substantial as in most other basketball shoes. This is part of the reason why the shoe's upper support and heel hold felt weaker than we expected. It was decent but not as solid as in some of the other low-cut hoop shoes.

Assessing the shoe's heel counter stiffness in our manual push-and-squeeze test, we gave it a lower-than-average score of 3. It's just not quite there...

For comparison, the Jordan Luka 2 and the Nike KD 16 have a highly secure heel lockdown with higher scored for heel counter stiffness.

Very stiff heel counter on the Jordan Luka 2

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

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Looking at the bottom of the SB Dunk boom, we immediately noticed that it had a slimmer profile than the average basketball shoe.

SB Dunk boom nike kobe 10 star arriving retailers

Luckily, the forefoot part of the sole proved to be just as wide as the average at 114.5 mm. Our forceful lateral cuts felt supported by a sufficient outrigger on the lateral side.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 114.5 mm
Average 114.4 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
106.2 mm
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122.2 mm

Midsole width in the heel

The Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White saved a lot of weight by shaving a chunk off its heel. Measuring the sole in the widest area of the rearfoot, our calliper showed only 82.6 mm. It is one of the narrowest heels we've seen on a basketball shoe.

SB Dunk boom Midsole width in the heel

Also, please note that the shoe's heel has an unusually rounded shape (for a basketball shoe). It helps the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White feel more streamlined and nimble but heel-dominant landings might feel somewhat shaky.

nike g t cut 3 rounded heel 21611643 720

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 82.6 mm
Average 90.4 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
82.4 mm
Midsole width in the heel
105.1 mm

Nike has revealed a new upcoming Air Max Plus that will be | Flexibility

Stiffness

Now let's turn to the shoe's strong points.

During our playtests, the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White treated us to pretty explosive toe-offs. This is in part thanks to the shank and the forefoot stiffness it provides.

Our 90-degree bend test revealed that this Nike shoe requires 20% more force to flex compared to the average hoop shoe.

SB Dunk boom flexibility

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 48.7N
Average 40.3N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
28.9N
Stiffness
67.2N

Grip / Traction

Another major highlight of the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White is a really hard bite on the court.

The shoe's stopping power gave us plenty of confidence during quick cuts in particular (it's what the shoe was made for after all!).

The grip was especially efficient on clean indoor courts thanks to the shoe's thin and zig-zaggy tread lines.

nike g t cut 3 outsole 21609018 720

We would call it perfect if it wasn't for the quick dust buildup on the outsole. So do expect frequent wiping if you want to experience the shoe's peak performance.

Size and fit

Nike has revealed a new upcoming Air Max Plus that will be | Length

Nike is getting ready to celebrate the holiday season with several Christmas-themed.

SB Dunk boom Heel tab

But there is a handy finger loop on the tongue to assist the on-and-off action.

SB Dunk boom eyelets

Toebox width at the widest part

nike g t cut 3 fit 2 21611699 720

Measuring the shoe's toebox width our regular way was challenged by the rubber overlay on the inner side.

nike g t cut 3 toebox width at the widest part 21608999 main
Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 107.6 mm
Average 101.4 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
92.6 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
108.2 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

We strongly advise that wide-footed players stay away from the SB Dunk boom because of its very aggressively tapered toebox.

SB Dunk boom Toebox width at the big toe

Measuring the shoe's toebox width around the big toe, the calliper reading made our brows raise. At 72.0 mm, it is one of the narrowest measurements we've received in basketball shoes.

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 72.0 mm
Average 76.6 mm
Compared to 41 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
71.2 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
85.1 mm

Tongue: gusset type

Just like most hoop shoes, the G.T. Vut 3 features a fully integrated tongue in a bootie-style upper.

nike g t cut 3 tongue gusset type 21609001 main
Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White Bootie

Lockdown

On paper, the SB Dunk boom checks all the boxes for a lockdown fit: the bootie-style upper, the supportive side overlays, the webbed Flywire cables holding the forefoot...

SB Dunk boom laces

But it felt as though something was missing to make the fit as secure as it could be. Perhaps more padding, sturdier overlays, or more substance in the heel counter? We're not sure but it seems like Nike aimed for a light and fast shoe above all else in the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White.

Comfort

Tongue padding

To keep the weight down, Nike chose targeted tongue padding for the Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White.

About 2/3 of the tongue has no foam at all but there is a puffy little pillow at the top where the lace pressure is most apparent. Measuring it with a calliper, we found that it is actually thicker than average at 15.9 mm.

SB Dunk boom Tongue padding
Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White 15.9 mm
Average 9.6 mm
Compared to 47 basketball shoes
Nike Air Ανδρικά
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

Heel tab

Nike is getting ready to celebrate the holiday season with several Christmas-themed.

nike g t cut 3 heel tab 21609003 720

But there is a handy finger loop on the tongue to assist the on-and-off action.

SB Dunk boom eyelets

Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White None

Removable insole

This basketball shoe from Nike comes with a pretty comfortable contoured insole.

But some folks (like those with very flat feet) may find the bump on the medial side to be annoying. If that's the case, they have the option to easily replace the stock insert.

SB Dunk boom Removable insole
Test results
Nike Dri-FIT Tempo Race Women's Running Shorts White Yes