RIVALRIES THIS POINTED is surprisingly rare in the kicks industry. Not since the early days of the Reebok and Nike Pumps have we seen a pair of shoes so directly aimed at one another. Of course, Reebok won that early 90's war of the Pumps, but both company abandoned the technology within half a decade. Today, the competition has shifted into a category that has been dominated exclusively by the Nike Shox VC for the past 2 years. Full-length cushioning system is the name of the game and chances are, this technology is here to stay for many years to come.

      It only takes a few steps on the hardwood in order to see how the adidas a3 Superstar Ultra directly challenge the Nike Shox VC III in a clash of ultra-luxury & performance shoes. These two pairs are closer in category than you could ever imagine, yet are distinctly different in their own way to provide different sets of solution to the same problem. Both feature top of the line full-length cushioning systems. Both utilize chrome and patent leather material to upgrade their luxurious looks. And both are expensive enough to take your wallet for a spin.

      Let's not kid ourselves, either one of these shoes is more than capable of satisfying the average ball player. But only a few die hard fans can afford a combined $160 and $120 for both pairs of shoes. If you can only choose one, which pair would it be? The answer is not straightforward, but we pan out a couple of scenarios for you to pick out the best shoe for you.