Why Nike Sucks Right Now 

Nike went downhill as soon as it stopped caring about pushing boundaries and innovation and focused more on trends and hype. Sad to see really.

still pisses me off to this day that the kobe line is so hard to get

Nike’s MO for selling shoes 1. Sign all the biggest athletes 2. Make collabs 3. Rely on nostalgia

The problem is the 90’s kids grew up and realized that the product we’re getting now is trash. And don’t wanna pay double for a worst product

Nike for close to a decade now has been phoning it in and relying on retros/remakes of what has worked in the past. Even down to the USA basketball collection now is just screen printed shirts, some shoes, and shorts. Back in the day they released everything from bags, to socks, to the actual jerseys players wore.

It’s about time Nike got called out. Their shoes have been trash for years.

It's been years since I've walked into a Nike store and actually spot something I want to buy. It's a complete waste of time browsing their shoe shelves because anything remotely interesting is not there.

I have over 10 years (2006 -2017) of working Foot locker and Nike retail and I could see the quality in all products drastically drop while prices are going up. Their whole "technology" push is BS... They don't even embroider the swoosh on their clothing anymore. So tell me...if my heat pressed Nike Swoosh falls off my $200 Tech fleece...is it even worth it? They're trying to rely on nostalgia and retros, meanwhile Adidas is at least taking creative chances. New Balance is kicking their ass in lifestyle and companies like Hoka, Asics etc are on their necks for running. It's over Johnny!

Gotta respect the brutal honesty from you. Not many would share their critical opinions on a huge corporation like nike. Truly a sneakerhead og

The reason why bball shoes were more popular then in the 80s and 90s is simply due to the fact that they could be worn off court casually. You cant do that today with todays plastic shoes, they look way too bball focused, and cheap.

Nike simply has too many MBAs who look at immediate ROI - that worked for a time, but when you over saturate a market with products that have been built down to a price rather than up to a standard, you leave yourself open to people eventually waking up to reality.

Damn. I thought I was the only one who remembered the AF25. Godlike shoe. 2006 was the same year we got the Jordan 21, the LeBron 4, and the Kobe 1. And the next couple years would bring the Jordan 22 & 23, the LeBron 5 & 6, the Kobe 2, and the Soldier 1. Nike was absolutely cooking in the 2000s, to a level they've never cooked since.

Nike annoys me. Their artificial scarcity strategy with the Kobe line has never made me want to chase them down for some crazy aftermarket price- it just makes me look at other brands because I find it to be a cheap marketing ploy.

Nike sucks because there a greedy ass company that has been nothing but reselling the same shoe but in worse quality and hasn’t really been making good colorway outside of a few collabs

I watched for some reason a lot of those "Nikes Downfall" videos. And this is the first one, that actually explains the problem: dumping down because of margins. Thank you.

Nike is leaning towards more on, "f*ck boy" design trends rather than actual tech and durability for their shoes. They had become an expensive try hard sports shoes

This is why I appreciate your channel. It goes beyond fit looks, material conversations and close ups. Your channel is for people like me who love the culture as much as the product. OG talk. Keep doing what you do, man. I am thankful for you and your girl.

I’m glad you’re using your platform to bring awareness to this problem Nike has had for a long time

The greed got them good! I have relative who is working in Nike’s Manufacturers in Vietnam…She told me every shoes from Nike, especially her department is responsible for “Premium Line”, a final already for sale and labor costs. Total is around $20 - $30 to make. This is “Premium Line”, I don’t know how low the cost of “Budget Line” will go…

Nike’s reputation is built upon being at the cutting edge of performance. Anything that strays away from that history and culture is a disappointment to the consumer!

My biggest issue with Nike is that all their innovative “cool” designs come at an exorbitant cost especially the clothing, if I want to spend £300 on some casual trousers (pants) I would buy from Dolce Gabbana. All the cool things you can produce are supposed to be done to keep you ahead of your competition not rob customers of their money. Those book 1’s look boring as hell.

Wow the AF25. I had like 4 pairs of those. What a time.

This is spot on! Nike has been hiring designers handcuffed by budget and profit margins. The quality and innovation is gone. I have had to return two Invincibles running shoes cuz the glue won’t hold up just after 4 months. Everything today feel like the $64.99-$74.99 shoe lines of the 90’s and early 2000’s, but priced at $150-$200! It’s ridiculous how they would release a lot of these shoes today!

I’ve been seeing it at the gym too. That people are going away from Nike for workout clothes and running shoes to brands that specialize more in those areas.

Nostalgia when I saw the Eastbay page with Penny

Book 1 & All Nike Basketball Right now is uninspired & completely unimaginative. We talked about this in comments or typed about it one day. Chris Nike is the biggest reseller with the biggest profit margin.

mentioned straight facts. I would love a pt.2 where you give your opinion on them pushing towards to hype instead of innovation. SNKRS app/Resellers have completely taken the fun of out being a sneakerhead for me.

WearTesters stay with the archives on deck. This is Nike Nostalgia that early 00s to the mid 00s was so creative for Nike. Shaped me into my steez till this day

FACTS DON'T HAVE FEELINGS 💪💪💪

The QUALITY. It's all gone. How many times has Chris said that the quality is trash compared to what they offered during a retro's original run?

Big respect to this channel to call it out. Nike been doing this for maybe a decade. I’m looking to other sneaker brands to shatter Nike in this industry.

Nike executives need to watch this video and take it seriously! Everything that was said in here is 100% spot on truth. Big up Chris.👍

Nike needs to go ahead and hire you as a consultant. Never understood why they don’t tap into the real world in this way.

Wow Chris you really cooked on Nike in this video. Great editorial video: your passion as a sneakerhead and your encyclopedic knowledge shines through here. Props!

If I look into Nike's best "budget" non-signature hoop shoe on sale in my country right now, it's the Nike Precision 7, which will set you back around 66 USD, while having no technologies whatsoever... No zoom, no air unit, nothing...

I have now gained much love for this channel. I love the straight forward reviews and this video about Nike is absolutely dead on. Much respect!! Your knowledge and passion is what Nike needs. Love your channel!! Keep sharing your wisdom!

This is why I love this channel- the truth. Nikes gotta stop this “hunger marketing” and “shrinkflation” before losing it all, people care and are tired of not able to get the best ( or at a ridiculous price) yet settled for the worse.

Thank you for the shout out for the Nike Air Command Force. I bought those in '91 and they are still my favorite shoe in terms of quality materials, more than any Jordan model

I'm a hobby runner, don't understand much about basketball shoes; but I think you are the best in shoes review in general. Keep going!

The other problem is the nice shoes that you want to buy and wear are all cornered by the after market resellers that uses bots to gobble them up for resell. The regular consumers are pushed out of the market or aren’t willing to pay the markups.

Maybe its just me getting older but I dont really care about sneakers like I used to. I bought at least a new hoop shoe every year but havent really even wanted to anymore. Idk if its the price or more competition or what. Harden 7 and 8s have been the only thing I've found interesting lately

06’ Nike battleground was so great and there was so much parody in the game back then Reebok had AI and the above the rim shoes, Adidas had a great line up of players T-Mac, KG, Duncan, Billups eventually DRose, Converse had DWade, and Nike/Jordan the pinnacle of greatness! I noticed when the countdown packs the shoes seemed to look cheap and were flimsy AF then The 09’ Space Jam came out then I knew Jordan were expensive Payless shoes

They need to hire you man! You know the shoes, tech and culture. I totally feel the same way. Cheap ass shoes dont sell we need quality over quantity!

White cement 3 for me. This was one of my favorite videos you've posted in a long time, and I know it won't get the views like a Jordan retro review, but you're insight and knowledge are why I've been a fan of your content for the last 15 years.

That is why I purchase Nike shoes when it is in the outlet shelves not to purchase on its original price or srp.

This is the kind of videos that only Weartesters gives us, spitting facts and talking straight. I used to love Nike Basketball products, specially in that timeframe from the 90s and early 2000's. Just as you said Chris, all first signature shoes back in the day were packed with tech, the Flight Fives, the Shox VC, the Zoom Generation, The Zoom Kobe 1, and the "team" models were elite as well: Air Max Uptempos, both Zoom Huaraches, Shox BB, and the list goes on. I guess the KD I was the first when they got cheap and from that point we got bad performers with almost no tech, like the Kyrie 1, the Zoom Freak 1 (I'll give the PG 1 a pass because at least those had a regular size oval Zoom unit and a few colorways had decent materials). Nowadays with this trend of making shoes ready to go right from the box (for consumers only) and with lighter (but flimpsier) materials, they justify their cheap approach not giving us quality products, supposedly inspired by the greatest players. Chinese brands grew from copycats to innovative amazingly, and most of the times (with some exceptions like the WoW main line or the JB) those are at least at the same price with better tech and materials. Just as you said, Nike has turned into a retro (almost knock-off of themselves) brand with no innovation at all. For the QoTD: Sadly I sold my AJ3 black cements from 2018 because of a need of money to pay meds, but If I have to choose one cement only, it would be the white cement 3s. I really enjoy a lot these videos man, thank you!

Nice editing and transitions on the video 👏 I really like the red patent leather on these

Great video, love this and had to comment on it. This is great Chris said this and he is the 🐐

Sign of the times. Most of these corporations today have made the decision of choosing profits over people. Simple corporate greed.

It'll stop when we get over the FOMO and stop buying. But it ain't going to happen in the year that Jordan turns 40.

You're so right! Also the thing you said in another video, that all Nike's tend to force the big toes in an unnatural direction really makes me mad. Apart from the Sabrina 1's i can't wear any Nike hoop shoe because of that. It feels so uncomfortable.

Chris I remember those days like it was yesterday, everyone was hyped about this Second Coming project and even the Soundtrack by Juelz Santana was amazing. I remember having the Premium All Leather version of these bad boys. We used to be buying all the Sole Collector magazines, getting anxious with every release not only on the Signature lines which were innovative with designers like Eric Avar , Tinker Hatfield, Ken Link and D'Wayne Edwards but the Team shoe lines like the Hyperdunk back in 2008 were pushing the boundaries as well with tech like Lunar foam and the OG Flywire. We all miss those days , we lost our passion and interest!

I agree with you Wing. The tiered signatures and veering away from packs i.e. the All Star, Xmas are also why. As far as the tiers i remember when the signature hoops athlete had a great looking silhouette with tech for that playstyle. Now Nike does "price-point" marketing where you get cushioning in either the heel or forefoot but rarely both. In the 90's Nike was at its peak when they had to try to overtake Reebok. It seems like they dissolved the Alpha Project line and then coasted and they got too comfortable. Then they strip away the tech when they retro the beloved models. The cost cutting they do is costing them.

Chris and the Weartesters family is THE go to source for sneakerheads. 🙌🏼👍🏼💯

Great video, I remember I bought the all black suede AF 25’s with the crocodile textured leather pattern on the back… complete head turners, I shelved high end shoes like Pradas to wear those to stunt because they were so stunning with great craftsmanship and more importantly, because they were incredibly comfortable. Wore them joints into the ground lol, would still wear them today because ALL THE MATERIALS HELD UP but they squeak and are pretty much biscuits at this point.

I was doing a video on my views of this but yours makes me so happy that I might go back and do my video over again😂. I called the book 1 trash before they were broken down. Reminded me of weak version of anything amare stoudimire wore. I'm glad you used that excuse.

I love this video so much, I wouldn't know where to begin. If I could pick any video for a totally brand new sneakerhead to watch in this age, it would be this one. Thank you Chris for what you continually do.

Air Force 25! So many kids in highschool had these 🔥🔥

You can also fastforward to 2003 and 2006, when Lebron’s and Kobe’s first signature shoes with Nike released. Both offered Nike’s best at the time. The Lebrons had quality leather and full length zoom plus a double stacked zoom unit in the heel if I’m not mistaken, and a carbon fiber shank. The Kobes also had quality leather, a zoom unit in the heel, and a zoom met bag in the forefoot, and a carbon fiber shank plate

I have over 20 of these 25's and have hyped them up since Kick's On Court Days so very cool to see the shoe being showcased. These are craze comfortable with the Max Heel unit and full length Zoom running atop the heel unit. Those kicks saved my legs

Even the Air Jordan two had a take down model , with the python. Barkley 180 Olympics had on 4th great shoe.

YES! Finally! Reason why I shifted from Nike to Li-Ning. Nike is ALL about fashion > tech. Whereas, Li-Ning other Chinese brands are capable of meshing the two together in such a way that you will get the best of both worlds.

“Wop, wop, wop, wop, wop, Chris ****’em up!!!” Fantastic piece of work here. 🤜🏽🤛🏽

Awsome video! I totally want to find me some 25s now. And your thoughtful answer to the question of the day: correct. A+++

Cannot agree more. The quality has dropped so much while the price tag continues to go up.

The Air Force 25 Rasheed Wallace shoe he had many pairs I wish they'd bring them back

I’m not a huge sneaker head but I did grow up in the 90’s really poor and would have to save up my birthday & Christmas money to buy my shoes (CB34, AF1, Pippens air max teardrops etc) and when they get rereleased and get a breakdown of the modified tech or get tech striped from the shoe really sucks for the kids to experience. Nike is really dropping the ball. Screwing over this new generation consumer and now corporate bullying shoe surgeon. All this is starting to inspire me to learn how to customize my own shoe so I feel I have value in them like I felt I got in the 90’s. Keep up the great work I always learn new things when I watch your content. Peace fam.

Very well done vid Chris…well done 👏👏👏

Couldn't agree with Chris more! I almost hate that I work at one of the retail stores and I have to try and sell Nike shoes to customers knowing that there's better options out there

All Nike is is the most over priced REP company. They make knockoffs of OG shoes that never live up to shape, material or innovation. Overpriced plastic leather aint the stuff dreams are made of.

I love going to thrift stores and getting sweet vintage-ish basketball shoes for like $8. The only problem comes when you actually try to ball with them and the entire sole comes unglued.

they are no longer a brand with identity, they are now simply a business.

Yo.. man wow I'm legit a Preacher.. and feel like I just heard the most beautiful Sneaker Sermon ever😁. It was informative, convincing but respectful at the same time. This was an amazing video.. much respect 🫡

Li-Ning: let's put at least some Boom in every offering over $100 and typically in more than one zone. Nike: people like these Zoom strobels too much, let's put them in LESS models each year and take them out of the series we introduced them in. 🤦‍♂️

Great X-Men T-shirt, man! Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane, I fell in love with Jordans and Reebok Pumps in the early '90s, it really sounds like Nike is much more interested in coasting than innovating nowadays.

This is such a good video!! Love the history lesson and deep dive in to the old tech.

Great time for this vid.

I also blame being too dependent on exclusivety. I haven't been able to buy a shoe I've wanted in a year.

Beautifully said. It’s not just the basketball shoes, the apparel is lack luster as well. Shoes skimp on tech and performance clothes only get worse as more iterations come out. Nike tech fleece looked so good when it first came out, it’s been milked dry. The fit is terrible and it’s played out.

This is by far one of my favorite videos, Chris. Not just from Wear Testers, but from all sneaker related videos 💯. The only good basketball shoe Nike has released in the last few years IMO has been the last 2 Lebrons. However at $200 a pop, not many people are willing to spend that much. Before those two, it was the Kobe 1 protro. Adidas, NB, Puma, Li-Ning and others have been killing Nike in tech, performance, and innovation. Only thing keeping Nike afloat now is the swoosh and nostalgia.

No offense buddy but "air" was nothing but another shoe industry gimmick that added absolutely zero to any shoe in terms of objective quantifiable empirical improvement over any other cushion technology like standard EVA or any of the other brands and their gimmicky technologies like say Asics gel. There is a reason it doesn't exist anymore. Because it was pure marketing and hype. None of those shoes had anything special about them aside from massive marketing budgets and buzzwords.

Not a shill for Nike or anything, but sometimes the consumer needs to look at themselves in the mirror. When Nike tried to be innovative & gave us the 720s and the Scorpion’s, everyone talked trash. When it comes to basketball shoes, the LeBron flagship model each year has EVERYTHING Nike has to offer tech-wise in them, and they go straight to outlets on the back wall. Maybe that has to do with people not rocking with LeBron the person more so than the shoe. Who know? But I see Nike doing an adequate job pushing technology in an ever changing sneaker industry. The entire basketball shoe market has changed and in this economy, everyone looks for more lifestyle type shoes that are versatile.

Bro, you came at this with facts. This one of the few channels I follow for kicks. No hype just a genuine fan of the culture. Sidenote...I wish they retro them air force 25s

totally agree about nike though. It's always "new" fabrics every season, and never ever can the buyer figure out "why" they want weird holes and raised textures on their bball shoes

They say you never forget your first love. I remember the exact time and date I first became a sneakerhead. A kid at my school wore a fresh pair of Black Cement 3s. They were the most beautiful sneakers I had ever seen. You NEVER forget your first love.

You’d think with the abundance of different e-commerce companies who make workout/clothing gear, Nike would step their QC game up with their clothing. Playing the lottery every time I order a Nike product these days. I don’t know if the size will be off, clothing quality, fabric, etc.

💯 facts. That deep dive had me locked in the whole time. Great video.

Love the way you broke down the facts in this video. ✊🏾🔥 really informative and interesting to listen to.

Great video! Please make more of these types of videos!!! Nightwing coming with the facts like only he can do!

Nice job Chris. Them AF25 were mad comfy. Had many pairs. Sad we don’t really get our money’s worth like we used to. Still love the swoosh, but would love to see them do better.

Yep, when I was at the Nike store 2 years ago, I've tried PG 5 and PG 6's and PG5 where far superior, since they have the air unit in the whole shoe and they are mad comfortable. PG 6 doesn't have any air inside and they are just not soft

And also the the commercial the second coming its like avengers of nike assembled🙌

My older brother had these in grey suede way back in the day can barely find a picture of them on google thanks for reminding me about these.

I FULLY agree. As a nike diehard basketball player i recently went out and bought a pair of DON 4s, of which would have disgusted me 2 years ago and they are now my go to shoe on the court. I love nike, and will still continue to spend my money on kobe drops but i really dont understand any of the hype around the book 1. And other people back me, seen in the immediate and rapid success of the AE1. Im just dissapointed by the clear drop of quality, and just wish i could have lived in the golden era of nike basketball

Like I said after the KD's I stopped really checking for Nike. The Kyrie's afterwards were proof I made the right decision.

Honestly, ever since Nike dropped Kyrie and signed Ja Morant, and kept him even after all the allegations was hypocritical and the start of their downfall. Then they drop PG without any explanation to make way for the Book lineup, they’re just shady with their athletes. Back in the day when it was just a big 3 (Lebron, KD, Kobe lineup) was much simpler and honestly way better.

Man, you're so right. I really wanted a pair of those AF25s back in the day. And it's true that Nike is just a shadow of what they used to be back then, and just cashing in on our nostalgia... I hope they can turn it around sooner rather than later but until then, other than buying a pair or two in outlets at heavy discount, I'll be buying NB from now on

I'm not even a sneaker fan, but you are making some good points. Good video

I never go to the fancy shoe stores in the mall anymore. As I hate having to constantly ask someone to go grab a pair from the back room so I can try them on. Trying to do that with 10-15 different shoes is a pain, so I don't bother.

I was travelling in Japan, walking around in my Nikes, and I love em but I couldn't help but notice foreigners and travelers there and the locals wearing brands such as QC or Hoka. I sold my Nike stock once I returned.