Nike G.T. Jump 2 review

Don't miss out on the Nike G.T. Jump 2 if you are in search of the following:

• explosive rebound for jumps (especially for centers and power forwards)
• a ton of cushioning and shock absorption (for big guys)
• the most innovative approaches to cushioning

If you are a quick guard with a nimble playing style, then the G.T. Jump 2 is the exact opposite of what you need.

We believe that you will appreciate a better ground feel in a much lighter package. Have a look at the Nike KD 16 or the Jordan Tatum 1 instead.

Breathability is rarely a priority for basketball shoes. But the G.T. Jump 2 is here to offer a breath of fresh air!

In our proprietary ventilation test, this Nike shoe eagerly expelled all the smoke we pumped into it. Its entire upper took part in the airflow demonstrating a higher-than-average level of breathability.

Just take a look at how incredibly thin and transparent the shoe's upper material is! We didn't hesitate to give the G.T. Jump 2 a high breathability score of 4 out of 5.

If you feel like you've seen this type of material before, try thinking of a potato bag. Yes, it is the same kind of Leno mesh! Its open construction allows for fantastic ventilation without losing strength.

The downside to this airy fabric is its obvious lack of wear resistance compared to other basketball shoe uppers.

But Nike thoughtfully added protective overlays on the high-wear areas to enhance durability.

We tested the strength of the fabric string on the toebox with a Dremel at the speed of 5K RPM. It turned out to be quite sturdy, earning the shoe's toebox a high durability score of 4 out of 5.

The nylon fabric inside the G.T. Jump 2 also proved to be immune to abrasion.

Applying the sandpaper tip of our Dremel to it for 4 seconds resulted in a barely visible scratch.

Compared to the glaring holes we saw on other shoes after the same test, this Nike shoe deserves a high score for heel padding durability - 4 out of 5!

The G.T. Jump 2 features a pretty hard rubber for the outsole. Pressing our Shore C durometer against it returned a higher-than-average reading of 87.6 HC.

Nike calls it "XDR" for "Extra Durable Rubber." But let's return to our Dremel to check if that's really true.

After drilling the shoe's outsole for 22 seconds at a higher speed of 10K RPM, we felt like the word "Extra" should be dropped from the rubber's name.

Its thin undulating lugs didn't do as well as some of the other traction patterns we've tested.

According to our tread gauge, the depth of the damage on the G.T. Jump 2 reached 1.9 mm which is notably deeper than average.

Good thing Nike packed more rubber to prolong the outsole's shelf life. Our caliper measured 5.8 mm which is thicker than average.

But considering how easily damaged the lugs are, we suspect that the shoe will lose its grip sooner.

That's why we can't recommend using the G.T. Jump 2 on concrete outdoor courts.

There is so much to the G.T. Jump 2's midsole, it could not help but affect its weight.

Putting the shoe on the scale in a men's US size 9, we got 15.6 oz (442g). That is more than an ounce heavier than average.

But we are convinced that bigger players (the shoe's target audience) won't find it as heavy.

It's the nimble guards who are used to more grounded footwear may find the G.T. Jump 2 somewhat bottom-heavy.

On foot, the Nike G.T. Jump 2 feels very high off the ground. But it is not a surprise given how much focus Nike gave to the shoe's cushioning setup.

Measuring its heel stack height with a caliper, we got 35.6 mm which is over 5 mm taller than average! In fact, it is taller than 93% of our lab-tested hoop shoes so far!

With a very generous helping of Nike React foam in the heel, the G.T. Jump 2 offers some of the best impact protection we've experienced on the court!

What's more, the shoe comes with a full-length Zoom Air strobel that sits right under the insole offering a splendid touch of responsiveness.

No matter how big of a player you are, we promise that heel-dominant strikes are going to feel very safe in this shoe.

With two massive Air bubbles in its forefoot and a Zoom Air strobel on top, the G.T. Jump 2 also has some of the thickest forefoot stacks we've seen! No, wait, it is THE thickest we've ever seen!

With a caliper measurement of 29.2 mm, the shoe is as thick in the forefoot as some other basketball shoes are in the heel.

The bounce and energy return of this setup is superior to everything else we've experienced on the court. There is a good reason why this series is called "G.T." (or "Greater Than"). It is intended to help athletes "do that one thing greater than they’ve ever done before." And in the case of this shoe, it is about achieving the most explosive jump.

We subscribe to the statement that the Nike G.T. Jump 2 has the potential to add centimeters to your vertical jump!

Measuring the shoe's heel-to-toe drop, we got a slightly lower-than-average reading of 6.4 mm.

But given the shoe's very dynamic cushioning, the drop felt not as low as the static measurement might suggest.

The Nike React foam makes up the biggest portion of the G.T. Jump 2's midsole. We could feel its incredible softness during the playtest.

The fact that it is one of the softest cushioning foams on our roster was also confirmed in our Shore A durometer measurement. The tool showed 16.0 HA which is over 60% plusher than the average!

To prevent the plush cushioning from going out of control, it is encased in a much firmer EVA foam (possibly Phylon?).

Pressing our durometer against that foam returned a much higher reading of 36.6 HA. That's a whopping 130% firmer than the React foam.

Like all that midsole cushioning wasn't enough, the G.T. Jump 2 also features a thicker-than-average insole!

Our caliper showed 5.6 mm of thickness in the heel.

The insole is also divided in half by density - firmer in the heel for stability and softer in the forefoot for cushioning.

Overall, the Nike G.T. Jump 2 has a pretty stable construction thanks to elements like:

• a stiff jump plate
• a firm carrier foam with extended sidewalls
• a wide base with a lateral outrigger in the forefoot
• webbing loops that connect the laces to the base of the shoe

The only factor that detracted from the shoe's overall stability was its high platform.

The substantial midsole kept our feet pretty high off the ground which got our ankles working a bit more than usual to steady the footing.

Don't get us wrong, it's not a wobbly basketball shoe per se but if you are used to relying on strong ankle support, you may find it missing in the G.T. Jump 2. Consider the Jordan XXXVIII instead.

Don't be tricked by its soft cushioning - the G.T. Jump 2 has plenty of stiffness to make it a very stable shoe.

When we attempted to twist the G.T. Jump 2 in our manual test, it simply refused to give in! All of its stabilizing components came into play forcing the shoe to protect the status quo.

Having tested dozens of basketball shoes, we can confidently state that this is one of the most rigid ones out there. Thus, ts torsional rigidity got the highest score - 5 out of 5.

Rolling your ankles will not be as easy in this one as it might seem. 

We also found that the G.T. Jump 2 has a rather strong heel hold.

Giving it a good push and squeeze revealed how much rigidity the heel counter actually holds. On a 1-5 stiffness scale, we gave it a solid 4 out of 5.

We never felt as though our heels were getting out of control thanks to this firm and secure rearfoot design.

A nice and wide platform is another major contributor to the G.T. Jump 2's stability.

Measuring the widest area of the shoe's forefoot with a caliper, we got 119.8 mm. This is even a few millimeters wider than average!

This is all thanks to the outrigger on the lateral side of the sole which comes in handy during sharp turns and cuts.

A broad heel also helped us stabilize the ride in the most critical moments of the playtest.

Even though it is just the same as the average at 90.1 mm, the shoe's heel helped us feel planted landing on our heels.

With the shoe's large Zoom Air units in the forefoot, flexibility is not to be expected in the G.T. Jump 2.

But don't worry, this Nike shoe is not much stiffer than the average hoop shoe.

Measuring how much force it takes to bend it to a 90-degree angle, our gauge showed 41.1N - right about the average.

But we noticed that the shoe comes with a moderately rockered profile in both the heel and the forefoot. It helped our feet move smoothly from heels to toes despite the shoe's stiffness.

The Nike G.T. Jump 2 features various traction patterns throughout the outsole to maximize performance.

This setup helped us catch the grip when we needed it, especially during sharp and abrupt turns.

We found it to be most effective on clean courts, but a quick wipe did the trick when it started to get dusty.

We found the G.T. Jump 2 to be perfectly fitting in our regular men's US size 9.

Measuring its toebox in the widest part, our caliper showed 102.5 mm which is on par with the average of basketball shoes in the same size.

We were also delighted to find that the shoe doesn't taper aggressively toward the toes.

Our second caliper measurement showed how wide is the shoe's toebox near the big toe. At 76.8 mm, it is just the same as the average.

We had just one concern about the G.T. Jump 2's upper - is its fabric going to stretch out with use? Forrtunately, it won't.

Aside from offering fantastic breathability, the shoe's Leno weave is also highly resistant to stretching which is essential for the shoe's long-term support.

The Nike G.T. Jump 2 features a bootie design in which the tongue is fully integrated into the rest of the upper.

It is a common upper setup among basketball shoes which helps to create a more secure lockdown around the foot and ankle.

We experienced ZERO foot shifting inside this Nike shoe.

The tongue and collar of the G.T. Jump 2 are pretty lightly padded compared to the average.

Based on our caliper, the tongue is only 6.4 mm thick.

This is where the G.T. Jump 2 might feel odd to players who are used to the more substantial wrap around the instep and ankle.

There is no heel tab at the back of this Nike shoe's collar.

Don't mistake the loop at the shoe's heel for a finger loop. It is part of the shoe's cushioning system (the jump plate).

You can fine-tune the underfoot experience by replacing the shoe's stock insole.