With the hoops season quickly approaching, my people at Eastbay have hooked up the features and specs for the 2009 Basketball Shoe line up.

Growing up with Eastbay, I always knew they had a ton of colors and different models but to see thousands of shoes come through the door is an amazing thing. Playing hoops as a kid, it was always cool to see all the kicks Eastbay would offer year to year, so keep reading for a look at the line up of 2009 Nike Basketball Shoes.
The Nike Hyperize is the second generation of the Hyperdunk and went through a bunch of changes to improve last year’s instant classic. The Hyperize is lighter in weight, offers improved lockdown and is more breathable than last year’s Hyperdunk.

At a featherweight 12 ounces, the Zoom Kobe IV is Nike’s lightest basketball shoe ever. Designed by Eric Avar and built for Kobe’s speed and style, the Kobe IV is a super low-cut basketball shoe. LunarLite foam and Flywire take out weight and add strength making the IV a solid hoops shoe.

The third edition of LeBron’s Nike Zoom Soldier was inspired by the LeBron James Signature Collection as well as his aggressive style of play during the playoffs. A full-grain and synthetic leather upper with lightweight lock-down straps provides support, while a cushioned midsole with encapsulated heel and forefoot Zoom Air provides max cushioning and provides a luxury ride. The patent leather is a nice touch too.

The Nike Air Max Go offers a leather upper with synthetic overlays to provide a lightweight, secure fit. They have Max Air in the heel which helps on the cushioning side.

The Nike Shox Vision is a lightweight design that provides new energy and enhanced performance through the proven Shox platform. The Nike Shox Vision maximizes breathability and ventilation on court.

The Nike Blue Chip II basketball shoe provides signature craftsmanship and continues to improve performance needs through the learnings from the Blue Chip I. The Nike Blue Chip II is a high-performance basketball shoe designed to provide lightweight speed, traction and comfort.

Team USA rocked them on their way to winning gold at the 2008 summer games in Beijing, and it was clear that the Nike Hyperdunk was the future of basketball footwear. Flywire technology provides maximum support with least amount of materials, while tensile fibers provide support while minimizing weight. Lunar Foam, a material developed by NASA, is used in the midsole to give the Hyperdunk solid shock absorption , Nike Blue Chip II Nike Hyperdunk Nike Hypermand a great feel with minimal weight.

The Nike Hypermax provides maximum cushioning and support in a lightweight basketball shoe. Made for big men, the Hypermax features Flywire and is built to sustain a beating on the court.

My shoe of choice this season will be the Kobe IV and looking forward to the Kobe V. What will you play in?