Our verdict

The turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 is an investment that will give a lot of returns. We believe that this is the case where a high price tag is absolutely justified. For us, this shoe is an instant top pick in the durability and stability departments. And for sure, it is among the best options for outdoor use that we've seen in a while. If Nike fixes its firm midsole and trims down the weight for the next iteration, we are ready to claim it as THAT SHOE.

Nike JR Academy 19 Dril Top 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

Nike JR Academy 19 Dril Top Cons

  • nike off white zoom black
  • nike m essntl woven pant
  • Break-in needed

Audience verdict

82
Good!

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

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 review

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.

nike cosmic unity 3 lab test 20020531 main

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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Heel stack
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 27.9 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
23.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Forefoot stack
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 20.7 mm
Average 21.6 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
26.8 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).

nike cosmic unity 3 drop 20020505 main
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 7.2 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
3.9 mm
Drop
13.7 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

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. 

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Midsole softness

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.

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 33.3 HA
Average 25.1 HA
new Nike iD options.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Insole thickness
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 0.0 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Size and fit

Size

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 is slightly small (56 votes).

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Nike SB Blazer Court Mid Black White
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 93.6 mm
Average 92.8 mm
Compared to 28 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
88.9 mm
Nike SB Blazer Court Mid Black White
96.6 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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Toebox width - big toe
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 67.8 mm
Average 69.3 mm
Compared to 28 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
64.2 mm
Toebox width - big toe
72.6 mm

Toebox height

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

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Toebox height
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 25.4 mm
Average 23.4 mm
Compared to 28 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
20.1 mm
Toebox height
27.4 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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Shank

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.

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 4
Average 4.4
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
1
Torsional rigidity
5

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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Heel cup

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

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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.

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nike cosmic unity 3 midsole width in the forefoot 20020512 main
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 115.3 mm
Average 114.9 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
106.2 mm
Mens 7.5us nike tennis classic cs black sneakers shoes 683613-012 womens 9us
124.5 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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 91.0 mm
Average 90.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
80.0 mm
Midsole width - heel
105.1 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.

nike cosmic unity 3 flexibility stiffness 22809084 main
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 23.1N
Average 20.5N
Compared to 20 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
13.4N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
25.9N

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.

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 15.66 oz (444g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

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.

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 3
Average 2.6
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
1
Breathability
5

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!

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turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Toebox durability comparison

Of course, we couldn't help but explore the shoe's upper under our microscope in an attempt to reveal its secret durability formula.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 microscope 1

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.

nike cosmic unity 3 microscope 2 20020529 main

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 64 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
1
Toebox durability
5

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.

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nike cosmic unity 3 heel padding durability result 20020500 main

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 61 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
1
Nike Football Academy track jacket in black and red
5

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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Outsole hardness

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.

nike cosmic unity 3 outsole 20032301 main

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 86.5 HC
Average 81.5 HC
new Nike iD options.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
61.3 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Outsole thickness

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.

Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 3.5 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Tongue padding
Test results
Cosmic Unity 3 4.9 mm
Average 9.2 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Unlimited SLATe
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Tongue: gusset type
Test results
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.

nike cosmic unity 3 heel tab 20020519 main
Test results
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.

turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 Removable insole
Test results
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.turn heads this season with the nike air max 90 volt 3 laces