Performance Review: XTEP Light Attack 3.0 SE

 

There are a lot -- and I mean, A LOT of sneaker brands in the market today. Each brand tries to convince consumers to try their product whether its performance features, design, and of course, price. Here, we are going to review the Chinese brand XTEP and its shoe, the Light Attack 3.0 SE. I am going to discuss some of the things that are worth noting. So whether you want to just watch the review or read along, here is the performance review on the XTEP Light Attack 3.0 SE.

The XTEP features a synthetic mesh upper mainly TPU to provide a lightweight ride and as the name suggest, I think this is one of its strong points. Since the mesh overlay is very obvious, you can also see that breathability or good ventilation will be another asset of the shoe. There are fuse panels in high-wear areas to improve the durability of the upper. Another noticeable design element here is the midfoot strap. In my opinion, this is more of an aesthetic feature rather than a performance feature. Sure it does offer a more custom fit particularly in the midfoot area but it is not too drastic and I think that even without the midfoot strap, the shoe will offer a good fit.

The midsole is made up of what XTEP calls their FeatherFoam. The foam feels plush and you can feel it immediately. Good thing that the shoe is a lowtop because with the shoe being plush and soft, it lessens any instability (more on that later). Overall, I love how the cushion works. I am in my playing era where I prefer cushion more than court feel especially during long playing hours. And with this, I can say that this is a good cushion source for those who want cushion underfoot but still feel low to the ground. It is a best of both worlds and I have nothing to complain about. 

So as I said earlier, I think the shoe is still great even without the midfoot strap because of the nylon reinforcement located in the midfoot. So when you tighten the laces real good -- which by the way, these have long set of laces, that nylon reinforcement really helps in keeping the upper material hug your foot so foot containment can be obtained. There is a lateral TPU piece found in the forefoot going all the way to the midfoot. It also helps with containment especially during curls or hard cuts. And since the the shoe is a lowtop and you feel nimble with it, these performance features are always very much welcomed. The shoe also has a wide base and you can see it in the forefoot area providing a lateral outrigger of some sorts. For fit, I recommend that you go true to size. Whenever I buy shoes especially online, I always follow my EUR size which is 41. In this case, I have no problem with the fit. Don't worry, the XTEP brand is now being offered in some shoe stores like Toby's Sports so you can drop by their store (particularly in SM North Edsa) to maybe at least try it for yourself.

The outsole is made from rubber with a circular or radial traction pattern. I've tested this shoe on both cement and wooden court surfaces and both played well. There isn't too much of a squeak sound, but it does bite the court surface. The rubber feels durable enough and while it can gather some dust underneath, just a little wiping and you will be fine.

So lastly that is the price. The reason why I bought this shoe in the first place is one, it was on sale. I bought this on XTEP's TikTok shop and it was just around Php 2,000 that time (sale price plus some coupons). That is a win-win because I get to try out a new brand and it was very affordable. So even if it wasn't good, then I wouldn't fret on it too much because I got it on a good deal. But since the shoe is great, then I would say that this is a steal purchase and a real "Bang for your Buck". Like I said, the XTEP brand is also available in Toby's Sport so for those who want to shop for their kicks physically would not have any issue. I would recommend the XTEP brand to those who want to look different on court (kickswise) and still play good because of its performance attributes. Would I cop another shoe from XTEP again? Of course. In fact, I have one shoe in sight already. I saw this XTEP shoe in Toby's SM The Block branch and it has one of those ETPU based foam cushions. I would like to try if it plays similar to other ETPU based foams and it is just under Php 4,000 which I think is a great price. So once I get those, I will surely make another review to let you guys know how to think of the shoe.