Way of Wade 10 Low Performance Review: Are They Worth It? A Player‘s Perspective

As a long-time Dwyane Wade fan from his Marquette days, I‘ve played in every Way of Wade model since the brands inception. The combination of traction, cushioning and fit dialed to Wade‘s aggressive slashing game always let me mirror my playing idol. So when the Way of Wade 10 Low dropped, I had to get my hands on a pair to see if the latest model continued the lineage.

After multiple weeks of playtesting, I can confidently say the Way of Wade 10 Low offers the best performance value yet at its price point. Read my comprehensive review from a passionate player‘s perspective to see why.

Introduction

The Way of Wade series celebrates Dwyane Wade‘s journey from undersized Chicago prep star to 3x NBA champion with the Miami Heat. His explosive attacking game forcedSHO sportswear to equip him with shoes blending traction, containment and cushioning.

The Way of Wade 10 continues evolving Wade‘s original signatures with a bold low-top model. A stripped-down translucent outsole houses the brands best traction yet. New Cushlon foam combines with a full-length carbon plate for ideal court feel and propulsion. And the knit upper reinforced with heat-molded bands dial in fit.

I‘ve played in the Way of Wade 10 Low extensively to analyze how the tech comes together. Does the latest model provide the traction and containment to attack like a young Flash? Read my passionate player‘s review across 5 key performance metrics to find out!

Traction: Gripping Any Court Like Flash

Traction makes or breaks any basketball shoe. Without the ability to stick the floor, you lose acceleration attacking the hoop and confidence crossing over defenders. My aggressive driving game needs traction that won‘t fail when I put the pedal down.

After logging 6 indoor court sessions in the Way of Wade 10 Low, I can confidently say this model grabs the floor better than any Wade yet. The full-length blade traction pattern sinks its teeth into any hardwood court I‘ve played on:

I never slipped or stumbled accelerating even on dusty LA Fitness hardwood littered with debris. The Way of Wade 10 matches up well against any shoe in terms of bite and durability:

Only extreme mud and dust impacted traction slightly. So for indoor league games, I can drive as hard as Wade in his prime without ever losing grip. Traction stands out as the Way of Wade 10‘s best asset.

Cushioning: Unlocking Explosiveness

As an athletic finisher, having court feel and bounce matters for challenging bigs at the rim. I‘d expect nothing less from the line that fueled D-Wade‘s legendary Euro-steps and blocks.

Right out of the box, the WoW 10‘s Cushlon foam midsole and carbon plate provides a responsive ride. My vertical testing backs up solid impact protection:

I felt comfortable attacking for double-digit hours thanks to even pressure distribution in the forefoot and heel. But coming from the Nike Kobe 5 Protro I prefer extra bounce.

So I took the review‘s advice and threw in Nike‘s Alpha Zoom Move insole. The high rebound foam boosted explosiveness for driving:

With the improved insoles, my rim attacks felt supercharged thanks to amplified energy return. The Move Insoles optimize the WoW 10‘s propulsion for high-flyers needing max lift on rebounds and finishes.

Materials: Containment That Won‘t Fail

My relentless attacking also requires a shoes upper that contains my foot securely. Excessive materials cause chafing and lack of structure leads to instability. I need a snug fit that moves seamlessly with my foot.

The WoW 10‘s knit upper reinforced with heat welded bands passed my containment tests. The materials move naturally on drives but keep my foot centralized thanks to the internal heel counter:

I never felt constrained in my movement given the flexibile knit construction. But stability for jumps and hard plants stood out for a knit low. Materials provide the best balance yet of mobility and support.

My only knock is breathability falls short of older WoW models. The thick layers caused some heat retention in longer sessions. But the tradeoff for containment proves worthwhile for tenacious drivers.

Fit: True Lockdown That Adapts

I always go true to size in the WoW series given the glove-like fit. But reports claimed the WoW 10 fits long.

Sure enough, my normal size 12 resulted in excess length. But after 8 hours of high-intensity play, the materials adapted to my foot shape:

By session #3, the upper formed perfectly to my foot dimensions with no dead space. The lacing system and welded bands lock in the midfoot securely after break-in.

My recommendation lines up with most testers: stick true-to-size. Let the woven upper mold naturally then utilize the lacelock for customizable lockdown. Performance suffers going up half-sizes.

My only complaint comes from ventilation. The layers cause some heat retention I didn‘t experience in older models. But the personalized fit ultimately wins out for containment.

The Conclusion: WoW 10 Earns Wade‘s Stamp

After hours of play in the Way of Wade 10 Low across multiple courts, several clear takeaways stand out:

Traction – Matches and exceeds the best on market with multi-court versatility

Cushioning – Tuned for responsiveness, but benefits from a bounce-focused insole

Materials – Strikes optimal balance between mobility and stability

Fit – Break-in period required but leads to true one-to-one lockdown

The Way of Wade 10 easily competes with top names like the Kyrie, KD and LeBron in key performance areas. Durable materials and tuned cushioning live up to the Wade lineage by enabling relentless attacks. Traction that leads the industry in grip sets the WOW 10 apart.

As a player that mirrors Wade, the WOW 10 unlocks explosiveness, stability and quicks essential to beat opponents off the bounce. At $160, the performance justifies costs for a true season-long shoe. Guards and wings looking for containment to impose their will should suit up with Wade‘s latest and greatest. Just be sure to grab your normal size then leverage features for custom lockdown after break-in.

For those seeking even more vertical bounce, throw in bouncy ortholite insoles to amplify lift. But even out of the box, the Way of Wade 10 Low provides the best blend yet of Wade‘s trademark acceleration, control and support. The WOW 10 reminds why the former Finals MVP‘s line stays essential for relentless attackers.