Our verdict
Pros
- Nike Air Max Tailwind 4 Green Abyss
- Outstandingly durable
- One of the most stable shoes
- Wide platform
- Very secure lockdown
- Reliable traction on all courts
- Breathable enough
- Sustainable materials
Cons
- nike off white zoom black
- nike m essntl woven pant
- Break-in needed
Audience verdict
Comparison
The most similar basketball shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 82 Good! | 82 Good! | 90 Superb! | 71 Bad! | |
Price | $170 | $190 | $170 | $120 | |
Signature | - | - | Allen Iverson | - | |
Top | Mid | Mid | Mid | Mid | |
Weight lab | 15.7 Nike Air Force 1 Low "Skeleton" sneakers | 13.1 Nike Air Jordan 1 Low Shadow Toe | 16.9 oz / 479g | 13.1 oz / 372g | |
Lightweight | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | |
Breathability | Moderate | Breathable | Breathable | Moderate | |
Outsole durability | - | Decent | Good | - | |
Drop lab | 7.2 mm | 6.0 mm | 10.3 mm | 8.9 mm | |
Heel stack lab | 27.9 mm | 32.8 mm | 31.4 mm | 29.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 20.7 mm | 26.8 mm | 21.1 mm | 20.1 mm | |
Size | Slightly small | Half size small | True to size | Slightly small | |
Midsole softness | Firm | Balanced | Firm | Firm | |
Stiffness | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | Moderate | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Moderate | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Narrow | |
Mens Nike Hot Ygoa Shorts | Medium | Wide | Medium | Medium | |
Mens 7.5us nike tennis classic cs black sneakers shoes 683613-012 womens 9us | Average | Average | Average | Narrow | |
Midsole width - heel | Average | Average | Wide | Average | |
Nike Football Academy track jacket in black and red | Decent | Decent | Good | Bad | |
Toebox durability | Good | Decent | Decent | - | |
Insole thickness | Average | Average | Average | ||
Outsole hardness | Hard | Average | Very hard | Soft | |
Outsole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Thick | |
Heel tab | Finger loop | None | None | None | |
Ranking | #42 Bottom 12% | #40 Bottom 16% | #7 Top 15% | #47 Bottom 2% | |
Popularity | #18 Top 38% | #17 Top 36% | #25 Bottom 47% | #39 Bottom 18% |
Who should buy
Having tested the limits and capacities of the turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3, we consider it an excellent option for the following:
- The Air Max 90 1 Laser Blue can be picked up right now from
- Nike JR Academy 19 Dril Top
- Nike Air Max Zero Day
Who should NOT buy
Having tested the previous version of the Cosmic Unity, we believe that the v3 is a bit of a letdown when it comes to cushioning and weight. If you want a softer and more responsive Zoom Air cushioning, go with the v2. We also found that it is a whopping 2.3 oz (65g) lighter!
Another great alternative, in our opinion, is the nike nk hps elt pro bkpk aop. It is 1.7 oz (48g) lighter, has plusher and bouncier cushioning, and is just as great for outdoor courts.
Cushioning
Heel stack
The shoe's cushioning comprises a drop-in midsole that sits on top of an embedded midsole. We measured the combined stack height of these two.
In the heel, our caliper shows 27.9 mm of stack, which is slightly thinner than average but still in the medium range.
Less cushioning typically translates to a better ground feel and we can confirm that the Cosmic Unity 3 feels more grounded.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 27.9 mm |
Average | 29.1 mm |
Forefoot stack
In the forefoot, we measured the stack height at 20.7 mm. It is also considered average for a basketball shoe. It is neither too thin to hurt the ball of the foot not extra cushioned.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 20.7 mm |
Average | 21.6 mm |
Drop
Ds Nike Lebron 17 Asg Monsta.
This slight elevation of the heel above the toes is right at the average of hoop shoes. We believe that it will suit most players.
Bigger guys and gals, on the other hand, may benefit from a higher drop as it gives more impact protection in the heel. Some shoes like that include the nike flyknit trainer 2017 release (10.4 mm).

Cosmic Unity 3 | 7.2 mm |
Average | 7.5 mm |
Midsole softness
Nike Phantom GT 62.
The cushioning of the turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 is a far-far cry from the brand's claim of "cloud-like cushioning." We repeated the durometer measurement several times to make sure we are not biased and yet every time the tool confirmed our experience - this shoe is firm. At 33.3 HA, the Cosmic Unity 3 is about 20% firmer than average.
Because of that, the shoe feels dense (and even thin) and definitely lacks impact protection for our moderate body weight. Unfortunately, it is a downgrade from the second iteration which was 32% softer and felt amply cushioned despite the lower stack height.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 33.3 HA |
Average | 25.1 HA |
Nike JR Academy 19 Dril Top | Insole thickness
NIKE AIR FORCE MAX CB OG BLACK WHITE COURT PURPLE.
However, if you are wondering, the heel thickness of this component is 14.5 mm.
We are not exactly sure why Nike went with this midsole design. But at least it gives us an opportunity to replace its underwhelming cushioning with something more fun and protective. Not to mention that it gives way to using custom orthotics.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 0.0 mm |
Average | 4.8 mm |
Size and fit
Size
turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 is slightly small (56 votes).
Nike SB Blazer Court Mid Black White
Having retrieved a gel replica of this Nike shoe's toebox, we measured its widest part at 93.6 mm.
Even though it is slightly wider than average, the shoe still falls into the medium-width range but with a tough of wiggle room.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 93.6 mm |
Average | 92.8 mm |
Toebox width - big toe
On the flip side, the shoe's toebox has some tapering towards the toes which reflected in a below-average width of 67.8 mm near he big toe. However, it's not aggressive enough to cause any serious toe jamming for a medium-width foot.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 67.8 mm |
Average | 69.3 mm |
Toebox height
The Cosmic Unity 3 doesn't skimp on vertical space either with am above-average toebox height of 25.4 mm.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 25.4 mm |
Average | 23.4 mm |
Stability
Nike JR Academy 19 Dril Top | Lateral stability test
Luckily, the Cosmic Unity 3 comes back strong when it comes to support and stability. This shoe made us feel contained like no other!
The first salute goes out to supportive materials on the upper. All those sturdy woven layers of Flymesh and Flyknit blend together to lock the foot in place. We experienced zero in-shoe movement.
Just look how little stretch (if any) there is in the upper!
Torsional rigidity
Our next shoutout goes to the plastic shank embedded into the midsole. It extends up on both sides, firmly you the arch. We haven't seen expanded shanks like that in quite some time.
This design is responsible for the shoe's increased torsional rigidity. Twisting it is not that easy! On a scale from 1 to 5, where 5 is the stiffest, we rated it as 4.
We consider it an essential stability component of the turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 4 |
Average | 4.4 |
Heel counter stiffness
The shoe's heel cup was another pleasant surprise. First of all, it is notably stiffer than most basketball shoes. Giving it a good squeeze, we rated its stiffness as 4 out of 5.
Secondly, the shoe's rear foot is designed in such a way that our heels ended up sitting quite deeply in it. Heel slippage is simply non-existent here.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 4 |
Average | 3.7 |
Mens 7.5us nike tennis classic cs black sneakers shoes 683613-012 womens 9us
Finally, we cannot leave the shoe's wide base without attention.
Measuring the widest part of the forefoot with a caliper, we found it to be 115.3 mm. This is a little wider than average.
nike m nk df trail rise 365 tank.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 115.3 mm |
Average | 114.9 mm |
Midsole width - heel
The Cosmic Unity 3 also features a wide heel area. We measured its widest part at 91 mm. A solid average for a hoop shoe.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 91.0 mm |
Average | 90.1 mm |
Flexibility / Stiffness
Being such a sturdy shoe, the turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 loses a bit on the flexibility front.
It doesn't bend very easily on the foot and as our lab test shows, it's not very bendy per se. It took 23.1N of force to get the shoe to flex in the forefoot, according to our lab machine.
We anticipate that the shoe will get more flexible with use but the break-in period is going to take a while.
We felt less maneuverable in the Cosmic Unity 3 but in return, we got smoother heel-to-toe transitions and enhanced stability.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 23.1N |
Average | 20.5N |
Weight
Apparently, being a durable shoe has its price.
The turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 gained some serious weight compared to its predecessor. It now tips the scales at 15.7 oz (444g) whereas the average of our lab-tested hoop shoes is 13.7 oz (387g).
It feels very substantial underfoot but it seems to be the trade-off for the unmatched wear resistance and overall support.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 15.66 oz (444g) |
Average | 13.79 oz (391g) |
Breathability
When we first saw all those layers of mesh and knit emyou the upper of the Cosmic Unity 3, we instantly thought "Uh-oh, here comes a toaster." And yet, our smoke machine test proved that this Nike shoe found a way to ventilate the interiors.
Based on the amount of smoke passing through the upper, we assessed its breathability with a rating of 3 out of 5.
It is clear from the transparency test below which parts of the upper are responsible for the airflow.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 3 |
Average | 2.6 |
Durability
Toebox durability
The wear resistance of this Nike shoe is INSANE!
In addition to its mesmerizing looks, the embroidered upper of the Cosmic Unity 3 is also impressively strong. It survived our 12-second Dremel test with very minor damage and deserved the highest rating of 5/5. No wonder it is advertised for outdoor use!
Nike air jordan retro v 5 alternate grape ice black clear new emerald 136027-500 Nike Air Max Cork ($115), Nike air bruin sb react skate black white gum dunk low pro janoski hi cj1661 002.
Of course, we couldn't help but explore the shoe's upper under our microscope in an attempt to reveal its secret durability formula.
We can see how multiple layers of woven fabric create several layers of defense on the turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3. This shoe is ready for some serious wear and tear.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 5 |
Average | 3.8 |
Nike Football Academy track jacket in black and red
Back in the heel, the collar padding also showed excellent results in our Dremel test. Pressing the tool against the material for 4 seconds, we saw smaller damage compared to basketball shoes on average.
bruce kilgore air low exclusive denim air force 1 denim nike air force 1 lifestyle no vat.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 3 |
Average | 3.6 |
Outsole hardness
The shoe's unmatched durability includes the outsole as well.
Measuring the hardness of its rubber with a durometer, we found it to be 86.5 HC. This is harder than 81% of our lab-tested basketball shoes. And in our experience, it takes much longer to wear through hard rubbers.
This fact in combination with our playtests allows us to wholeheartedly recommend the turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 for outdoor use.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 86.5 HC |
Average | 81.5 HC |
Outsole thickness
We also use a caliper to check how thick the outsole is. At 3.5 mm, it is not among the thickest we've seen.
But we wouldn't be so concerned about that because the nature of the treads on the Cosmic Unity 3 looks very reassuring. Wide and deep, these lugs are not easy to wear off.
Based on all of our findings in the durability department, we can claim this Nike shoe to be one of the best for outdoor use.
Cosmic Unity 3 | 3.5 mm |
Average | 4.0 mm |
Misc
Grip / Traction
The grip is fabulous on the turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3. We mostly tested the shoe on a rubberized outdoor court and felt very surefooted. But we can readily recommend it for hardwood and concrete surfaces too.
We had to wipe the dust off much less frequently compared to other basketball shoes.
Tongue padding
The shoe's tongue is much thinner than average. At 4.9 mm, it is nearly twice thinner. And yet, it feels fairly well-padded.
We think that more padding in the tongue would be unnecessary as the shoe's upper offers plenty of support and in-shoe comfort as is.

Cosmic Unity 3 | 4.9 mm |
Average | 9.2 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
Surprisingly for its higher-end price point, the Cosmic Unity 3 doesn't have a gusseted tongue.
However, this was never an issue for us as the tongue stayed in place and wrapped around our insteps comfortably.
The tongue is pretty wide and is made of a neoprene-ish material, which apparently makes up a success formula for this Nike shoe.

Cosmic Unity 3 | None |
Heel tab
Because the edge of the shoe's collar is made of a pliable Flyknit material, having a finger loop to assist with putting it on is pretty handy.

Cosmic Unity 3 | Finger loop |
Removable insole
Remember that taking the insole out of the turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 equates to removing the shoe's cushioning entirely. So you would need to find a thick replacement of at least 12 mm in the heel.

Cosmic Unity 3 | Yes |
Sustainable materials
As a final bonus, the Cosmic Unity 3 is claimed to be partially made of responsibly sourced materials. These include recycled post-manufactured and post-consumer waste like yarns, textiles, and plastics.