Nike lunar ballistec 1.5 review

More flexible in the forefoot and two ounces lighter, the new Nike Lunar Ballistec Tennis Shoe is an exciting update. You get the best features from the Nike Court Ballistec and the Vapor all rolled into this perfect package of speed and comfort.

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The Nike Lunar Ballistic 1.5 is the footwear of choice for 2017 Australian Open Finalist Rafael Nadal. This shoe is built for the aggressive player as it is rich in features and technology. The Lunar Ballistic 1.5 offers a great ventilation story by having a large mesh opening on the medial side which is essential for maximum breathability. The upper of the show is made a out of a synthetic material packaged with Nike’s Adaptive Fit Technology which enables the user to customize the fit for their particular need and desires . Another solid feature of this model is the outsole which is made from Nike’s most abrasion resistant material which makes this show one Nike’s most durable footwear options available and to just make sure, this shoe offers a 6 month durability guarantee!

The Nike Lunar Ballistic 1.5 is a soft, extremely comfortable shoe which does not sacrifice support and stability in the process. Come by and try a pair on and experience the feel for yourself. This one is a winner!

-Rich

Nike have updated their stylish Lunar Ballistecs with an upgraded upper including perforations and a mesh panel on the medial side for better ventilation. Like the original version, the Nike Lunar Ballistec 1.5s feature the popular Adaptive Fit and Dynamic Flywire technologies for excellent support and stability for aggressive movers. The Lunarlon cushioning in the midsole adds extra comfort for longs hours spent on the court. Additionally, Nike have beefed up the XDR rubber outsole with thicker rubber in high wear areas for added durability. The TW playtesters were impressed with the low-to-the-ground, fast feel that the Lunar Ballistec 1.5s offered. Our playtesters needed a several-hour break-in period but were rewarded once the shoes loosened up. They also noted some extra give from the outsoles. All in all, the Lunar Ballistec 1.5s are perfect match day shoes that deliver high performance to any level of tennis player.

Nike Lunar Ballistec 1.5 Scores: Overall Comfort 3,9/5 Ventilation 3,1/5 Arch Support 4,2/5 Foot Support/Stability 4,1/5 Overall Sole Durability 4,4/5 Toe Durability 3,9/5 Traction 3,7/5 Weight 4,5/5 Overall 4,0/5

Comfort - Score: 3,9/5

Some changes came with this update from Nike in terms of comfort. The playtesters found the Nike Lunar Ballistec 1.5s to have a slightly different fit and cushioning and a longer break-in period. They found the shoe to run a bit long lengthwise, and half of the playtesters went down a half-size for a better fit. The shoes also ran narrow especially in the mid- and forefoot, but the upper loosened up after five to six hours. The cushioning was on the minimal side under the forefoot but was plush feeling around the heel and ankle collar. Lastly, while Nike added a ventilation window and perforations on the upper, none of the playtesters experienced that much of a change and still found the shoes to run on the warmer side.

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4,1/5

Nike�s Adaptive Fit and Dynamic Flywire technology helped the Lunar Ballistec 1.5s be stable and supportive shoes for the playtesters. They found enough support and stability to be confident when moving in all directions. The narrower fit allowed the shoes to hold the feet in place, especially in the mid- and forefoot. However, over the course of the playtest, the uppers loosened up, allowing more room for feet to move around inside the shoes. Although the TW playtesters enjoyed the height of the ankle collar, some were hoping for a tighter fit around their ankle. The solution was to tighten the laces more often.

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4,4/5

Lightweight shoes aren�t known for their durability. However, the Nike Lunar Ballistec 1.5s surprised the TW playtesters. They were impressed with how durable the outsole was after around 20 hours of playtesting. They have seen minimal to no wear or smoothing and expect the shoe to have many more hours on court. The toe bumper held up well for the toe-dragging playtesters and showed little to no wear. However, both playtesters noticed some damage on the soft midsole material on the lateral sides of the shoes.

Traction - Score: 3,7/5

The playtesters found the outsoles of the Lunar Ballistec 1.5s had slightly more give on the hard courts and a lower to the ground feel compared to the previous version. All playtesters were in agreement that the lower to the ground feel allowed them feel be more connected to the court and was an improvement from the previous version. However, the traction took some time to get used to and not all playtesters were fans and found the outsoles to be slippery at times. They were hoping for more grip to feel confident with their movement.

Weight - Score: 3,5/5

One of the favourite features of the Lunar Ballistec 1.5s for the playtesters was its fast and lightweight feel. The shoes allowed the players to be quick on their feet and move at top speeds once broken in. Nevertheless, one playtester commented that they found the weight to feel in between the Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5s and the Air Max Cages even though it weighs in the same as the Vapor 9.5s.

Overall - Score: 4,0/5

Likes

Brittany - “I loved the lightweight, low to the ground feel. The bright cosmetics are a bonus!”

Michelle - “Still love the bold colors and cosmetics. Awesome durability! Plush ankle collar.”

Karly - “The durability along with its lighter weight feel.”

Tiffani- “I liked the lightweight feel, low ride in the forefoot and plush padding around the ankle.”

Dislikes

Brittany - “This update had a longer break-in and more supportive cushioned feel. I also had to constantly readjust my shoelaces to keep my ankle fully supported.”

Michelle - “I wish there were better cushioning underfoot and a bit more traction.”

Karly - “The rubbing and how stiff the material felt before the break-in.”

Tiffani - “They were too narrow for my feet, and the outsoles were slippery.”

Compare:

Brittany - “There were many similarities to the original Lunar Ballistec. They are light weight, fast feeling shoes with solid durability. Other than the physical window on the medial side, the other changes were the break-in was longer, the cushioning was more supportive feeling (versus the plush feeling of the previous model) and the traction had more give. I also thought the Lunar Ballistec 1.5s felt lower to the ground and slightly more durable.”

Michelle - “Honestly, this update is VERY similar to the previous version. I tried my old ones on side by side, and it seems like Nike has added breathability and possibly a more durable rubber to the outsoles. If you liked the originals, you'll like these as well. However, compared to something like the adidas Stella Barricade 2015, these shoes just don't offer me the same high levels of comfort all around.”

Karly - “While the biggest cosmetic update was the ventilation window at the medial side, I thought the temperature of the newer model didn't improve much -- they were still warm shoes to play in. Instead, the biggest difference to me was the 1.5s felt much stiffer. The material took longer to loosen up, and I had a harsher break-in period with them than compared to the last version. However, I thought the outsole durability improved with the 1.5s, which was great.”

Tiffani - “These shoes are super low to the ground in the forefoot, reminding me of the low profile fit of the adidas adizero Ubersonic and New Balance 996v2 shoes. However, the similarities pretty much stop there among those three shoe models. These Lunar Ballistec 1.5s are unlike other light options out there due to their durability. These are similarly lightweight to the Nike Vapor Tour 9.5 just more durable and less flexible.”

Playtester Foot Types:

Karly - Medium width, Medium-low arch

Tiffani - Wide width, Low arch

Brittany - Narrow width, Medium arch

Michelle - Medium width, High arch

Review date: November 2015. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact [email protected].