adidas TMAC 3

Jordan VI Infared

Jordan 2010 Stealth

Jordan IX Powder

"T-MAC 3 is hot. What we tried to do with the T-MAC 3 was to come out with a completely different shoe, but it still has some of the flavor from T-MAC 1 and 2's. I think they did a great job with that. My shoes have to be comfortable on my feet – that's #1. Then definitely the style has to look good. I'm 24 years old and have the #1 best selling shoe. That's a great feeling." - Tracy McGrady

The sharp exterior is eye-catching but also serve as the TORSION® SYSTEM for midfoot stability

The medial side of the shoe is completely different from the outside. This change of flavor divide the shoe into two split personalities.

Notice the carried over stripes from the Adidas T-MAC 2. The forefoot adiPRENE+ also returns - but provides a more responsive cushioning than before.

From the top view, you can clearly see how the shoe splits into distinct designs on each side.

The Torsion System found in the Adidas TMAC is very much like the Carbon Fiber Shank Plate used by Nike. It helps to support and stabilize the foot.

AdiPRENE+ is Adidas' equivalent of Nike's forefoot Zoom Air. The TMAC 3's cushioning is even more responsive than that of the TMAC 2.

The use of patent leather has been overly abused. However, in this case, the flashy royal blue actually fits the shoe almost perfectly.

The white/royal colorway of the TMAC 3 has a clean & conservative approach and should appeal better to the mass audience.

The bottom sole of the TMAC seems quite ordinary with traditional herring-bone design. But the traction results on the hardwood is outstanding and has faded very little in 3 months.

Adidas TMAC 3

OVERALL RATING:

8.19 / 10

Comfort:	8.7
Performance:	8.6
Cushioning:	8.5
Safety:	6.9
Weight:	8.3
Durability:	8
Style:	8.4

HIGHS: Innovative styling. Like it or not, the design of the TMAC 3 moved forward from the first two models into a distinct look of its own. Excellent performance and comfort at an unbeatable value.

LOWS: Lack ankle support. With the release of the Air Zoom Generation at a similiar price range, the TMAC 3 no longer stand alone in its class.

VERDICT: It is difficult to say no to such a great performance shoe for the value. Everything about the shoe is top notch. The TMAC 3 is definitely an improvement from the previous models - but the question is, will it be enough to keep up with the competition?

When was the last time you've gotten excited about a new release? Hmm, let's think about that. How many Jordans ago was that? Is it even possible for Adidas to drop something so hot, so refreshing and so technological advanced that it may even trump the Jumpman itself? Look no further than the latest release of the Adidas flagship. In our limited 2 weeks with the T-MAC 3, we have been gushing non-stop over a shoe that is certain to delight fans in the upcoming basketball season.

The T-MAC 3 has huge shoes to fill. The model line is already established as the #1 best selling basketball shoe in the world today. Move over Michael Jordan. Move over Allen Iverson. Kobe WHO? The success of the T-MAC 2 certainly brought a lot of pressure at Adidas headquarters. The last time the company had anything as remotely successful was The Kobe. A quick look at the Kobe II's dismal sophomore performance will give all that you need to know about how fast success can turn into failure. It is precisely that collapse and fallout with Kobe Bryant that has critics wonder if the Adidas can actually sustain the T-MAC's position at the throne.

Once we got our hands on the T-MAC 3, all skepticism have disappeared. It suddenly became easy to see why Adidas parted ways with Kobe. These shoes are a direct reflection of the player. Tracy McGrady has arrived – not just as an All-Star or even Superstar status but as the heir apparent. He is one of the elite few that can take over the throne vacated by Jordan's departure. T-Mac has already proved this past season that his game is Jordanesque with 32.1 PPG. He's got Pippen's all-around skills and Iverson's ability to sell sneakers. The 3rd iteration of McGrady's signature shoe brings a completely new look and feel to the model line, yet it is still unmistakably T-MAC. You can literally see the evolution take place between the T-MAC 1, 2 and 3 - a sign so hauntingly familiar and until this point, has been exclusive only to the Air Jordan line.

The first thing anyone will notice upon a closer look is the Gater pattern leather outshell. Adidas accomplished this without using a shiny material first found on the Jordan XVII line. This subtle look is better in our opinion and does not detract from the overall purpose of the shoe. The Gater design wraps around from the toe to half of the upper, bringing an elegant and luxurious look to an already sleek looking machine.

The midsole consist of a clear royal blue 3D Torsion for stability that is reminiscent of the three-stripe shell-toed look from the previous two models. It serves to the same purpose that you'd expect from the carbon fiber plate on Nike's upper models.

Spin the shoe 180 and you'll be surprised to see that the medial side of the T-MAC is completely different. 11 royal stripes highlight the cage chassis on a Micro-perforated surface. The result is the Orlando Magic's pin-stripes inspired look on an alien-like material previously expected only on the likes of the 'Posite series of shoes from Nike.

The rear of the shoe is quite plain. The leather is accented with faded 3 stripes and royal trim lines on the edges of the interior. The internal bootie is quite similar to the T-MAC 2's and provides a glove like fit the moment you plant your foot into the shoe. The interior has been improved with an anti-microbial moisture wicking sockliner as well as two elastic bands instead of one for a snug feel.

Forefoot cushioning remains the adiPRENE®+ technology. However, the overall cushioning system feels much better than the T-MAC 2's, which was no slouch either. The responsiveness from each step can be felt as energy is bounced right back at your feet. The feeling is similar to a stacked Zoom Air on steroids. We are not sure how Adidas pulled it off but the cushioning simply feels AMAZING both for performance purposes and luxurious needs. Traction is another area that went beyond our expectations. The non-marking outsole grips the floor as it should and holds on for dear life.

Overall, we are extremely impressed with the first look at the T-MAC 3. However, we have not even gotten to the best part of the story. These shoes retail for "only" $100. In today's age and time where anything and everything goes for $125 and beyond, the T-MAC 3 is amazingly affordable. You are getting a signature flagship masterpiece for the price of a mid-level shoe. We can not explain how much VALUE this means for the consumer. This is a shoe that can easily retail for $25 more and still sell just as easily. With the sleek Gator skin design and the rich Micro-perforated material, the T-MAC 3 is a straight up bargain. We've got to give two enthusiastic thumbs up to Adidas on this release.

Three months after our first look at the Adidas TMAC 3, we check in with our short-term test rating. The numbers are still looking good for a shoe that we raved about upon its initial release. Certain areas like styling drops off a bit as the initial novelty wears off. The cushioning at the forefoot has settled in and lost some of its responsiveness during this period but is still exceptional. Comfort has actually improved now that the shoes are completely broken-in. Durability of the shoes have held up well. We've seen minimal scuff marks and creases (although the patent leather version of the shoe tend to crease a lot more). The most complained about issue continues to be the ankle support due to the low-cut of the shoe. The overall grade remains excellent - ranking the TMAC 3 among the top 5 shoes we've ever tested as of Nov 2003.

The TMAC 3 has not fared as well as the TMAC 2 in terms of sales. One reason is due to the poor quality of play of the Orlando Magics which has already cost Doc Rivers his job. McGrady has also yet to live up to the same level of superstar performance as the previous season when he led the league in scoring. However, the primary reason is that there are a lot more competition on the marketplace. The introduction of Lebron James to the scene has dramatically hurt the appeal of the TMAC 3 to consumers. Nike priced James' Air Zoom Generation aggressively at $110 to directly compete with TMAC's $100 price tag. Early indications has Nike reclaiming the throne of this year's best-selling shoe title.

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