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[ Air Jordan XVII ] [ Air Kidd ] [ Air Payton IV ] [ VC Shox ]

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AND 1     [ Kg Select ] [ Silky Smooth ]

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AND 1 - SILKY SMOOTH

The And 1 Silky Smooth proves, once again, that a shoe doesn't need a high price tag to provide high performance.

by Professor K, posted November 8, 2001

If you've watched any NBA games this season you've probably seen at least a few players wearing the And 1 Silky Smooth. Everyone from guards like Stephon Marbury of the Phoenix Suns and forwards like Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves is wearing them. Even Magic Johnson is sporting the And 1 Silky Smooth on his exhibition basketball tour. Of course, just because all of these players are wearing the shoe doesn't mean that it's necessarily good, but it definitely piqued my interest in the Silky Smooth. How'd it perform? Read on to find out...

The And 1 Silky Smooth is well suited to a wide range of players for a few different reasons. Perhaps the most important is cushioning, which is provided via a dual-density compressed EVA midsole. Dual-density basically means that the midsole of the Silky Smooth is softer in some places than in others. From the feel of it, it seems that the heel area is cushioned a bit more softly than the rest of the midsole, but, on the whole, cushioning is nice and firm. The firmness of the midsole is an important contributing factor to the Silky Smooth's multi-position versatility. If it was on the soft side it would be adequate for light guards, but would not cut it for heavier players. While I think that it would have been nice if the shoe provided a bit more cushioning feel, it seems more than capable of protecting the body from the impact forces of hard landings and big take-offs. As it is, I did not experience any abnormal body aches or shin splints while testing the Silky Smooth.

Like the midsole, the rest of the shoe is simple, but effective. The inner is lined in a soft, smooth fabric -- it's not silk -- and internal stiching is kept away from areas where it could cause chafing. The shoe is based on a relatively wide last, but the lacing system and well padded tongue (which are both partially hidden by a fabric lace-cover) did a very good job of keeping my feet locked in place. I didn't feel any movement within the shoe either front-to-back or side-to-side. The ability of the And 1 Silky Smooth to accomodate a wide range of foot widths is another important factor in its multi-player, multi-position versatility.

Also important to many players is ankle support, which the Silky Smooth provides plenty of without feeling overly restrictive. Contributing greatly to the overall support and stability of the Silky Smooth is its large, partially-exposed heel counter. The visible portion of the heel counter is made of a flexible rubber-like material, which does a very good job of keeping the heel in place. Behind the visible heel counter is a much stiffer structure that keeps the heel upright and protects against ankle inversion, but, wait, there's more! Also contributing to the overall stability of the Silky Smooth is the design of its outsole. The edges of the outsole are flared outward at both the forefoot and heel, giving the shoe a broader base at the outsole. This makes it much less likely that the Silky Smooth will roll-over, but it can also get in the way when making sharp lateral cuts. Players who do a lot of driving to the basket may find this feature to be a bit of a distraction.

The final element that makes the And 1 Silky Smooth so versatile is it's durable outer. Made mostly of full-grain leather, the outer should hold up very well over time. Adding to the durability of the shoe is a small strip of material that protects the toe-area. The materal is the same as that used for the exposed heel counter and it is very tough. By the time my testing was over that little strip of material at the toe was visibly scuffed up, but the leather of the upper remained pristine. The combination of a durable upper and firm midsole should allow the shoe to last through a season of tough play indoors and also makes the Silky Smooth a great choice for use as an outdoor shoe. Indoor/outdoor versatility is pretty rare these days and for those seeking it the And 1 Silky Smooth is a great choice.

So, to sum up, the And 1 Silky Smooth is a versatile shoe for versatile players. It doesn't excel in any one area, but nor is it weak in any. Its all-around veratility, durability, relatively wide last and very reasonable price tag make it a great choice as a team shoe. Everyone from guards to centers will appreciate its firm cushioning, comfort, fit, support and stability. The only players who might be disappointed are fast guards who do a lot of cutting and slashing to the basket. The flared-out design of the Silky Smooth's outsole may get in the way for these players (players who fit this profile may want to take a look at the And 1 Mad Game or And 1 24 Karat Mid instead). But for just about anyone else, the And 1 Silky Smooth is a very good choice and a great value.




Who's Worn It
Rafer Alston (G- Milwaukee Bucks), Darrell Armstrong (G- Orlando Magic), Raja Bell (G- Philadelphia 76ers), Austin Croshere (F- Indiana Pacers), Kevin Garnett (F- Minnesota Timberwolves), Larry Hughes (G- Golden State Warriors), Bobby Jackson (G- Sacramento Kings), Magic Johnson (G- Magic Johnson All-Stars), Stephon Marbury (G- Phoenix Suns), Shawn Marion (F- Phoenix Suns) and many others

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