I’ve always been a big fan of basketball, and naturally, that extends to basketball shoes. Recently, I got my hands on a pair of Kyrie Hela shoes, and let me tell you, the whole experience has been quite a journey. I thought I’d share my process from start to finish, hoping it might be helpful for others looking into these shoes.
First off, I started by doing some research. I mean, you don’t just jump into buying shoes without knowing what you’re getting into, right? I heard that Kyries, especially the Kyrie 8s, are known for their snug fit. Now, my feet are kind of in between – not too narrow, not too wide. So, I was a bit worried about how they’d feel.
I read a bunch of stuff online. Some folks said to go half a size up if you have wider feet, while others swore that going true to size was the way to go. There was even this one guy who said he wore a size 12 in the Kyrie Low 5 and Kyrie Infinity but needed a 12.5 in the Kyrie 6. Talk about confusing!
After all that reading, I decided to take a leap of faith and order my usual size. When the shoes finally arrived, I was so excited to try them on! I slipped my feet in, and whoa, were they snug! I mean, really snug. It wasn’t painful or anything, but it definitely felt like a hug for my feet. I do like my shoes to be snug in the first place but still was a bit afraid.
- Trying them on: Super snug fit, almost like a second skin.
- Walking around the house: Felt secure, no slipping or sliding.
- Playing a quick pickup game: Good grip, responsive, but definitely felt the tightness.
After playing a few games in them, I started to get used to the snugness. They felt really secure and responsive on the court, which I loved. I guess it really comes down to personal preference.
My Final Thoughts
If you like a really snug fit and have narrow to average feet, going true to size might work for you. But if your feet are on the wider side, or if you prefer a bit more room, going half a size up might be a good idea. Or, as someone suggested, wear two pairs of socks to fill the extra space if you are afraid of big size. Honestly, I think I made the right call going true to size, but I can see why some people might want a little extra wiggle room. It’s all about finding what works best for your feet and your playing style. And this pair of shoes really helped me a lot during the match, they are amazing!
