The Kyrie 5 launches as not necessarily an enormously hyped model for casual wearers, but an update to a quality performance line.

The most immediately differentiating aspect from the Kyrie 4 is that the 5 is definitely more built in the forefoot, owing to the new Zoom Turbo unit under the ball of the foot (the previous model had Zoom rather in the heel). As a result, jumping in them favors the midfoot in both take-off and landing. The arch is also built up a little more and might bother flat feet. The sole has excellent grip, no matter if you’re sidestepping onto your forefoot or the entire thing.

The new “Venus flytrap-inspired” lockdown system is very good at its job, although the ankle isn’t quite as snug, in comparison. Whether or not a looser ankle bothers you is likely determinant by your playing style.

One point is the new Zoom Turbo. Unlike most of the previous heel/forefoot-specific units, this one is segmented. It will be interesting to see if this will be implemented in training or running models in the future.

The Nike Kyrie 5 is not a step up or down from last year’s model. Rather, it’s a lateral move that changes the feel slightly. It shouldn’t effect your play style, it just shifts where its features are located within the shoe.