Our verdict

The Adidas Harden Stepback 3 is good news to those who want to perform like they're on the NBA but they don't have the NBA's players salary. This shoe worked wonders when we were in a triple threat position or when we tried any related moves. If you are more of an offensive player or go for that post up plays, we totally recommend it. It's definitely one of the best picks in its price range. Give it a shot, you'll definitely score!

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  • Incredibly good traction
  • A lot of court feel
  • Accommodates orthotics
  • Comfortable wraparound fit
  • Sufficiently supportive
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  • Great for centres and guards
  • Affordable

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Audience verdict

88
Great!

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  • you have a limited budget
  • you need something wide that keeps your feet in place
  • you love explosive moves or posting up
  • you think the best defence is a good ofence

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 who should buy

adidas dance uniforms | Who should NOT buy

This shoe's sole makes it perfect for pivots' moves. But if you're more of a heavy player and need that extra impact protection for your rebounds, we suggest you try the Nike Lebron 20.

If you're looking for an economic pair that will be your teammate for a while, we think you should go for the durable adidas nmd r1 pk camo pink hoodie.

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 who should not buy

Cushioning

When we measured the forefoot stack, our calliper showed 21.0 mm.

This is just slightly lower than the category's average, but don't worry, the ball of your feet will be protected from any impacts when you go for a rebound!

adidas harden stepback 3 forefoot stack 20601100 main

Heel stack

If you love basketball as much as we do, you probably already know that cushioning is a key feature your shoes must have.

We need our landing to be as safe as possible, protecting our knees and ankles from any potential injury.

So we KNOW you're gonna love the fact that the Harden Stepback 3 has a higher heel stack than average!

adidas harden stepback 3 heel stack 20601102 main

It's just 5% though, so if you're a big player (in every single aspect of the word) or your joints tend to hurt and you're looking for something more plush for your jumps, we recommend the nmd r1 maroon pack price philippines gold.

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 31.5 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
23.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

When we measured the forefoot stack, our calliper showed 21.0 mm.

This is just slightly lower than the category's average, but don't worry, the ball of your feet will be protected from any impacts when you go for a rebound!

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 Forefoot stack

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 21.0 mm
Average 21.6 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
26.8 mm

Drop

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The heel-to-toe difference in this pair is 10.5 mm. We were pretty impressed by this, as it's 21% higher than the average!

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 Drop

But... what does this actually mean? Well, as the stack height at the front part is slightly lower than average, the ground feel is a bit better.

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Test results
Harden Stepback 3 10.5 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
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.

But... alright, we admit it. This is not the most plush basketball shoe out there.

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Adidas Harden Stepback 3 Midsole softness

With a score of 21.6 HA, the Harden Stepback's midsole softness is lower than average.

Yet, when we played ball with it on, we did not feel like that at all! Our feet were comfortable and protected, and our knees did not ask even once for some mercy!

If you're still looking for a pair with a softer cushioning that won't cost you an arm and a leg (maybe just one hand, though), have a look at the Jordan Luka 1.

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 21.6 HA
Average 25.1 HA
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Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Insole thickness

Padded insoles usually add some extra cushioning to the shoe.

At 3.8 mm... this pair's insole is slightly thinner than average. So no extra plush here, our calliper says!

adidas harden stepback 3 insole thickness 20601108 main

You might think this is bad news. But what if we told you that this translates into a better ground feel?

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Test results
Harden Stepback 3 3.8 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Size and fit

Size

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 is true to size (16 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
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

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We measured the Harden Stepback 3's toebox width at the widest part with our calliper at 107.0 mm. MVP of the beating average scores game!

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Test results
Harden Stepback 3 107.0 mm
Average 101.6 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
92.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
109.2 mm

Toebox width - big toe

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adidas harden stepback 3 toebox width at the big toe 20601117 main

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 78.8 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 59 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
71.2 mm
Toebox width - big toe
85.1 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Another key part of basketball shoes: stability.

This is a low-top pair, which meant our ankles moved freely to perform back-door cuts or change-of-pace dribbles.

Still, it's really important that our feet feel safe. And, honestly, they did!

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 lace detail

Even though that extra lace you can see at the side heel is just for aesthetic purposes, the lace-up closure of this shoe kept our feet locked in comfortably.

Despite not being a high or mid-top pair, the Adidas Harden Stepback 3 gave us the confidence we needed in our step. And it wasn't only the laces, its tight fit helped a lot too!

Torsional rigidity

As stiff as a good block, the Harden Stepback 3 got a 5/5 on our torsional rigidity test!

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Test results
Harden Stepback 3 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

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Are you familiar with the term pick and roll in basketball? If so, the stiffness difference of this shoe regarding torsional rigidity and heel counter could easily be explained by that.

In other words, once you block (you stand still) you roll over with your hand up to get a pass (smooth moves again). So even though the Harden Stepback got a perfect score on its torsional rigidity test, it got a 2/5 on the heel counter stiffness one.

The meaning of this? Well, the overall structure of the shoe will protect your feet from getting hurt, and the plushness of the heel will make you forget about hot spots and blisters.

Time out talk: Even though this figure is lower than average, we did not feel there would be any heel slippage or any of the kind.

Back to the game!

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 2
Average 3.7
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
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5

Midsole width - forefoot

A wider midsole equals a wider platform to land. This also means that you'll feel more confident when jumping, which sums up our experience playing with this shoe pretty well!

adidas harden stepback 3 midsole width in the forefoot 20601113 main

We measured the widest part of the midsole at the forefoot at 117.0 mm, so it's wider than average! We really felt surefooted with these baddies on.

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 117.0 mm
Average 114.9 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
106.2 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
124.5 mm

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Following the forefoots path, the width in the heel is also higher than average. At 96.4 mm, we felt the platform of this shoe was wonderful.

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 Midsole width in the heel

But this does not only mean that the shoe accommodates wide feet. Let us tell you that, after playing for some time in the sun, our feet started swelling. This is totally normal, though, but if your foot grows, you'll obviously need a wider surface for it, right?

Thanks to the Harden Stepback 3, we felt ready for anything even after some time playing.

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Test results
Harden Stepback 3 96.4 mm
Average 90.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
80.0 mm
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105.1 mm

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We were left in awe after finding this out.

But wait, wait. Let's build up expectations. Before we say anything to you, just have a look at this video:

What we're doing is using a gauge to measure how much force it takes to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle. And it doesn't seem like it's putting a lot of effort, right? Turns out it was just 38.2N!

Even though this is lower than average, we know from previous tests that this pair is not the Nadia Comăneci of basketball shoes. So, wow! Great surprise!

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 38.2N
Average 38.8N
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Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
17.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
62.2N

Weight

When we put this shoe on our scale, we realised it's almost 20 g heavier than average with its 14.9 oz (422.0g)!

To be honest, most Harden's shoes aren't what we'd call featherlight, so we weren't that surprised.

adidas harden stepback 3 weight 20601125 main

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 14.89 oz (422g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Breathability

We started the Adidas Harden Stepback 3's big lab day with our breathability test. With our smoke-pumping machine, we check the shoe's breathability by the amount of smoke that goes through its upper.

As you can see, not much is coming out. Feeling a bit toasty, aren't we?

Basketball shoes are normally not as well-ventilated as we would think. Thing is, if you want them to last, you'll need to use sturdy materials in their design. This usually means that you'll have to sacrifice some breathability for durability.

By using a bright light, we can see if the shoe has some holes or pores that would let that light, as well as some air, come through.

But... we're afraid you're the one who's gotta be flashy here, pal! Zero transparency!

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 Breathability

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Adidas Harden Stepback 3 Breathability

In conclusion, we've decided to give it a 2/5, which is pretty close to the average.

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Test results
Harden Stepback 3 2
Average 2.6
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

As we've seen in the previous category, this shoe's breathability is slightly lower than average.

And... does that mean that it's a sturdy pair, then?

Well, not quite! By just looking at the first seconds of this video of our Dremel going all out in the toebox, we can see how the materials start flying around!

And not in the cool Michael Jordan 5-metre jump dunk it in typa fly, more in the "get this thing away from me" way of flying!

adidas harden stepback 3 toebox durability 4 20601157 main

As we can see, there is some damage, but it's actually not thaaaaat bad.

adidas harden stepback 3 toebox durability both 20622329 main
Adidas Harden Stepback 3 (right) vs. Adidas adidas s80694 pants shoes made in canada for women (left)

Okay, okay, its toe box isn't as durable as the adidas s80694 pants shoes made in canada for women's. But, to be fair, the Harden Stepback 3 is also way cheaper! 50 dollars even!

So a 3/5 in our toebox durability test doesn't sound that bad anymore, huh?

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 64 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

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After seeing the one-to-one attack our Dremel pulled off on the Harden Stepback 3, we closed our eyes and called for Kawhi Leonard to help with the defence!

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Adidas Harden Stepback 3 adidas stan smith price in dubai india time diff

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 2
Average 3.6
Compared to 61 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
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5

Outsole hardness

But Harden is not the one to give up, and neither are his shoes!

This pair came back stronger with its sole. Using a durometer to check its hardness, we found that it's way higher than many other hoop models.

With a promising score of 85.5 HC, its hard-wear outsole is here to save the day!

adidas harden stepback 3 outsole hardness 20601088 main

Also, as we can see in the picture, the rubber from the sole comes up all the way up to the sides of the shoe. Not only protecting its foam, but also our feet!

Point guards will absolutely love this when the coach calls for a one-on-one defence, and shooting guards will definitely find it useful to avoid extending their stance in the offence. The sole's material is grippy enough to keep you on your feet even if you need to do extra quick moves like those.

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Test results
Harden Stepback 3 85.5 HC
Average 81.5 HC
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Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
61.3 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole durability

Wait up, wait up... We might not actually need to ask "The Claw" for help in our defence strategy.

When we performed our outsole durability test and went full offensive with our Dremel, we were absolutely flabbergasted with the results.

22 seconds of constant damage here. And the Hard Stepback 3's outsole is like: "Sorry, did you call?".

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 Outsole durability

Our tread gauge showed 0.2 mm of damage when the average is around 1 mm. We're trying to stay calm here, but listen up. Not even some specific mountain models are THAT strong.

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Test results
Harden Stepback 3 0.2 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 52 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Before we move on, let's not forget we're talking about an affordable pair of basketball shoes here!

When we measured this shoe's outsole with a calliper, we found it to be lower than average at 3.6 mm.

adidas harden stepback 3 outsole thickness 20601081 main

Even though this would mean that the shoe would not be the best for outdoor use, its outsole hardness and durability might let you enjoy some hoops in the sun.

When we went balling to an outdoor court, we did not feel the sole was specifically weak or about to break.

It let us enjoy some cool free shots out there too.

Game on, Harden Stepback 3!

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 sole 2

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 3.6 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

Another win!

The traction of this pair on the court is just phenomenal!

Look at that!! Our feet landed right where we intended to, just wonderful! No slips, no instability, no wobbliness. Just the Adidas Harden Stepback 3 biting the court like a lion!

If we look at the sole closely, it has 3 different pivot discs. This means that we can pivot easily with them right before or after passing. This comes in really handy for pivots, as many of their moves posting up rely on this kind of turning motion.

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 sole

It's true that pivots are usually tall and heavy (not all of them, though). And this shoe does not have the plushiest sole out there to support heavier players or their jumping. Still, its platform is wide enough to keep them safe, so it's not like we totally advise these types of players to stay away from this pair!

But not only pivots are gonna love it. Look at its multidirectional pattern right there. Can you see those waves? That means that you can easily try many types of cuts, steps in, and steps back with it.

And it's usually guards and forwards who go for these quick and unexpected moves!

adidas harden stepback 3 back 20601161 main

So whichever position you play, don't hesitate and give it a shot! (Like, literally!).

Tongue padding

Even though the padding of the Harden Stepback 3's tongue got a lower score than average, we didn't feel any tongue bits or hotspots when we were having fun in the court.

adidas harden stepback 3 tongue padding 20601122 main

You might see this as a disadvantage, but let's think about it twice.

In the previous tests, this shoe got a lower-than-average breathability but a higher-than-average weight. In fact, if you recheck the video of this first test, you can see that the smoke is actually coming out from the shoe in the tongue section.

So, in order to keep things balanced, its designer probably decided to include less padding in the tongue.

Smart move, Adidas!

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 8.3 mm
Average 9.2 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

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The tongue of this shoe is what we call bootie type.

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 adidas gazelle youth black friday shoes deals

It's attached to the sides but not all the way up, and it has a loop in the middle to offer a lock-in feel. Even though it's not an incredibly padded tongue, it hugs your feet comfortably and it doesn't move around.

We can see the different loops, as we mentioned before, right in the middle of the tongue and a little bit up, and on the sides and at the beginning of the toebox.

Apart from being very stylish, these pieces will also make sure the shoe's laces wrap around your fit nicely and safely.

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 Bootie

Heel tab

This shoe has 2 finger loops at the back. Even though the small one is there probably just to look cute (and it really does) we've found this very helpful.

Like, imagine your feet are already swollen because of the heat. Or worse... you're late for training and that means you gotta run suicide drills. You're most likely thinking: "Oh, please, no. Just no, anything but that!".

Anyone who has tried that exercise knows how incredibly exhausting it is. So, even though this pair has a big opening, that might not be enough to put it on in a rush. This is where the finger loop shines! Hurry up, put your feet inside, and start pulling.

Let's make running out of time also running away from punishments!

Adidas Harden Stepback 3 heel loop

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 Finger loop

Removable insole

Remember we mentioned before that this shoe sacrifices plushness in order to get some extra ground feel?

If you wanna change that, you can just use custom orthotics with it. The Adidas Harden Stepback 3 has a removable insole!

adidas harden stepback 3 removable insole 20601124 main

Test results
Harden Stepback 3 Yes