The Best Harden Basketball Shoes: Ultimate Hooper’s Guide

adidas’s Harden basketball shoe line has always been among the most well-rounded and consistent in not only the brand’s catalog but among the entire hoop shoe market. Today, we’re talkin’ everything about the best Harden Basketball shoes to get for any hooper.

I’ll break down what you should generally expect when it comes to sneakers by the Beard, give you a retrospective on the guy’s entire sneaker lineup, and provide a regularly-updated Harden hoop shoe rotation. This is your ultimate Harden sneaker cheat sheet!

SHOW TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. The Best Harden Basketball Shoes: Quick Look
2. What You’ll Get from a Harden Shoe
   • Streamlined Low-Top Design
   • Competitive Pricing
   • Wider Construction
   • Usually Great Outdoor Options
   • adidas’s Typical Sizing Scenarios
3. The Harden Catalog Breakdown
   • The Harden Line
   • The Harden B/E Line
   • The Harden Stepback Line
4. The Best Harden Basketball Shoes
   • Best Overall: adidas Harden Vol. 3
   • Best Overall Runner-Up: adidas Harden Vol. 4
   • Best Overall on a Budget: adidas Harden B/E
   • Best for Outdoors: adidas Harden Vol. 6
   • Best for Outdoors on a Budget: adidas Harden Stepback 2
   • Most Supportive: adidas Harden Vol. 5
   • Most Comfortable: adidas Harden Vol. 1 LS Primeknit
   • Best for Wide Feet: adidas Harden Vol. 1
   • Best for Flat Feet: adidas Harden Vol. 2
5. Where to Buy Harden Shoes
   • For Current Models
   • For Older Models
6.  How I Picked Each Sneaker
   • The Player & Setting
   • All Kicks Are Tested or Proven
   • All-Around Performance is Still Key
   • Relevant & Simple to Get
7. It’s Time for YOUR Opinion!

I. THE BEST HARDEN BASKETBALL SHOES: QUICK LOOK

Looking to get straight to the point? Here are your best Harden hoop shoes at a glance

SHOE NAME	CATEGORY	RETAIL PRICE	RATING
adidas Harden Vol. 3	Best Overall	? 140 USD	? 8.5/10
adidas Harden Vol. 4	Best Overall Runner-Up	? 130 USD	? 8.4/10
adidas Harden B/E	Best Overall on a Budget	? 125 USD	? ~8/10
adidas Harden Vol. 6	Best for Outdoors	? 140 USD	? ~8.5/10
adidas Harden Stepback 2	Best for Outdoors on a Budget	? 80 USD	? ~8.2/10
adidas Harden Vol. 5	Most Supportive	? 130 USD	? 6.6/10
adidas Harden Vol. 1 LS Primeknit	Most Comfortable	? 160 USD	? ~8/10
adidas Harden Vol. 1	Best for Wide Feet	? 140 USD	? ~8/10
adidas Harden Vol. 2	Best for Flat Feet	? 140 USD	? ~9/10

II. WHAT YOU’LL GET FROM A HARDEN SHOE

Here are the most common qualities, pros, and cons you can come to expect from a Harden basketball sneaker

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background image source: adidas.com

Performance hoop footwear from James Harden is primarily guard’s shoes.

However, unlike other guard shoe lines from signature athletes like Kyrie Irving or Steph Curry, each and every release from the Beard seems to strike a very nice balance between a quick, nimble sneaker and a viable option for just about anyone else.

This is why his kicks are among the favorite according to regular buyers. I’m also a big fan of his stuff as well ever since I got into adidas’s performance offerings.

So, don’t rule out these shoes JUST for point guards or stepback virtuosos like James himself.

Regardless of that though, most releases share a few things I’ll break down so you know what to generally expect from a Harden model.

STREAMLINED LOW-TOP DESIGN

Every since the Harden Volume 1 – all the Beard’s flagship releases share a low-cut construction. If you’re a fan of lows – this is your jam.

Most shoes still vary in the height of the ankle cut slightly but you’ll still find all the models not fully covering your ankle. I don’t know if this will ever change but if it does – I’ll update this one.

WIDER CONSTRUCTION

Do you notice a pattern among Harden sneakers? I’m talking about the widened forefoot and a generally wide platform the shoe is built on.

You see, James is a very quick, explosive, and nimble guard that needs to be able to pull off blazing fast movements while staying slapped low to the ground and stable laterally.

This is why you’ll notice a particularly wide front portion on most of his sneakers. This allows the foot to cover more ground and greatly improves lateral & medial stability.

This is also why a lot of Harden hoop shoes are solid options for wide footers like myself.

USUALLY GREAT OUTDOOR OPTIONS

adidas is no stranger to using strong, tacky rubber on their basketball releases fairly consistently. *cough Nikey cough*

This is why you’ll see that a good portion of Harden kicks will offer quality outsoles that will last longer than your average indoor model.

A lot of adidas shoes, including James Harden’s, are not only solid all-around performers but also reliable choices for the outdoor hooper.

ADIDAS’S TYPICAL SIZING SCENARIOS

If you had an adidas basketball sneaker or two – you probably already know what I’m referring to here. The sizing. Simply put – it’s all over the place, and Harden models are no exeption (with some exceptions, lol).

This is why you see some people recommend long time adidas shoe buyers to stick with their adidas size as it often departs from what is your usual size choice.

But I wouldn’t personally recommend you to follow this mantra. I’ve had some adidas sneakers fit me true to size near-perfectly, while others required stepping down half a size or the opposite – going up from my 10 US. Like I said – it’s all over the place.

What I would recommend doing instead is simple – ALWAYS (I mean it) check multiple reviews on the adidas sneaker you’re looking to get. Most of ’em, including mine, cover the sizing aspect.

COMPETITIVE PRICING

You won’t need to lash out half of your salary on a Harden basketball sneaker. Thank god.

The Beard’s signature shoe pricing ranges from 80 bucks for the takedown models to 140 dollars for the top-tier stuff.

While some of the LS (lifestyle) versions of his shoes do cost a bit more (like the Primeknit versions), those aren’t exactly made for the hardcore hooper and the pricetags are STILL mostly lower than your average Nikey or Jordan signature model.

III. THE HARDEN CATALOG BREAKDOWN

Here are ALL of the Beard’s signature shoe lines and models in retrospective

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It’s time to zoom out and take a look at the Harden basketball shoe archive in its entirety.

Unlike some of the more pompastic signature lineups that offer a plethora of different models every year – the Beard & adidas keeps it pretty simple.

We have 3 signature lines with shoes that are supposed to be released every year. Let’s break ’em all down.

THE HARDEN LINE

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background image source: adidas.com

James’s top-of-the-line series of shoes are his main Harden line, with each shoe representing a Vol. (Volume) number every year.

For a flagship signature model, they’re pretty damn affordable. $140 is what you’ll mostly peak at when shopping for a Harden sneaker.

You’ll find adidas’s best tech here: Boost or Lightstrike cushion, reliable build quality, and usually strong outsoles for outdoor hoops.

These are also some of the most well-rounded low-top basketball shoes not only from adidas but among the entire shoe market across the brands we know and love.

There are also LS (lifestyle) versions of the first two models that are essentially stripped-down versions of the regular performance models for added comfort and less of a focus on support/stability.

You’ll also find Primeknit variants of the same first two iterations which bumps up the price to $160. These come with a soft, stretchy knit upper that requires no break-in time and excels in comfort.

THE HARDEN STEPBACK LINE

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background image source: adidas.com

The Stepback sneakers from Harden are direct takedown models of the flagship lineup. So, essentially the same Harden shoe, just stripped down in certain areas to save costs and offer a cheaper option.

This is the most affordable Harden line out of the three. If you’re a budget baller and want a decent shoe that doesn’t break the bank – these are viable for that.

These are also strictly low-tops that usually have Bounce cushion and are solid options for outdoor play due to reliable outsoles and fairly sturdy synthetic builds.

However, I’d be lying if I said there aren’t better options for the same price range. Nikey’s Renew Elevate line, the KD Trey 5 line, and Under Armour’s SC Zero line are all awesome choices for essentially the same cost. But you usually get more than the Stepback series.

The 2nd sneaker is the only logical option to go with, in my opinion.

THE HARDEN B/E LINE

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background image source: adidas.com

B/E stands for Bounce Edition. This is basically a mid-tier option that’s equipped with Bounce cushion. They’re not direct takedown models like the Stepback shoes are.

I don’t honestly have a lot of good to say about these besides the first shoe as well. The rest after that didn’t even look appealing to test in the first place. Mainly due to the negative reception.

But if you are interested, expect low-profile Bounce cushion, average quality synthetic uppers, and designs that are in-your-face. The latest one looks like a damn boat with a strap.

IV. THE BEST HARDEN BASKETBALL SHOES

Last updated: April 29, 2022

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V. WHERE TO BUY HARDEN SHOES

Here’s all you need to know in purchasing Harden sneakers from the older models all the way to the latest iterations

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FOR CURRENT MODELS

Most Harden shoes are very quick to be sold out on the manufacturer’s website. But they’re also very quick to show up in outlets and discount stores which is always a plus for the cost-conscious consumer.

The latest two releases will remain available for up to two years after the initial release on adidas. If you manage to track down the shoe during this period, the most logical place to shop will of course be the adidas website.

Adidas likes to put up discounts VERY quickly after the release, so always watch out for that.

Some sports retail stores like Finish Line, Footlocker, or Eastbay tend to keep the stock alive a bit longer than adidas, so check those out as well. From my experience, DICK’s Sporting Goods actually has stock the longest out of all the U.S sports retailers.

I’d almost always find a shoe that’s 2-3 years old there while other stores are off the list at that point.

FOR OLDER MODELS

If you’re aiming for an older model that isn’t available to snatch from the manufacturer OR any sports retailer anymore, you still have some options. I’d check on three places in this case: Amazon, StockX, and GOAT.

StockX and GOAT are your main options for deadstock sneakers, so the chances that you’ll find an older sneaker there are pretty much always 99%.

Harden’s hoop shoes can’t exactly be put into the hypebeast category, so don’t worry about outrageous pricing either.

As far as which one to go for, I don’t think there’s as big of a difference as some people like to claim. If we REALLY had to compare though, StockX definitely has a richer history of customer complaints.

But the pricing is very similar, so are the shipping times, so you’re not exactly missing out regardless of your choice.

I’d also highly encourage you to always check out Amazon even if StockX or GOAT has ’em. While the sneaker pricing isn’t usually ideal compared to sports retailers, sometimes it so happens that Amazon offers pricing that’s better than any other retailer at that moment.

That’s why you should always make sure not to miss that chance.

As a bonus, be sure to check out my complete budget buyer’s guide for basketball shoes. I talk about the best practices and methods of always making sure you get the best possible price for a silhouette you desire.

VI. HOW I PICKED EACH SNEAKER

It’s important for you to know my approach & rules I stick to when choosing each pick

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Here’s all you need to know about how exactly I pick the shoes for the list. I believe that it’s just as critical for you to know as the picks themselves.

You’ll get to know what kind of player I am while wearing the shoes, what rules I stick to when choosing, and what I rule out.

THE PLAYER & SETTING

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I’m a 6’1 guard at ~175 lbs. I’m primarily an outdoor hooper but I do like to throw in some hours of action in a gym when the climate’s not right outside.

I usually play on a rubberized outdoor court or a classic blacktop. Indoors, I hoop in a high school gym on a softer rubberized court but there can be a few instances where I get to play on the hardwood.

I’m a pretty explosive two-guard that excels in slashing to the rim, driving and kicking to the 3-point line, and shooting mid-range jumpers.

I do give my shoes a good run for their money since I generate quite a bit of torque every time I play.

ALL KICKS ARE TESTED OR PROVEN

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Each shoe that’s on the list is either extensively tested by me or there’s a very positive reception from other players if I didn’t have the chance to play in it.

However, it’s very rare that I include a sneaker that I haven’t touched at all. The ones that don’t have full reviews on – mostly I played in them for a bit and didn’t have the chance to properly test ’em out for a dedicated analysis.

For this list, in particular, I haven’t hooped in the Harden Vol. 1 LS Primeknit and the Harden Vol. 2.

ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE IS STILL KEY

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This one wasn’t hard as I’m putting together Harden shoes. Balanced performance is always the key no matter the shoe list for me but the Beard’s models are almost always versatile choices for just about anyone.

RELEVANT & SIMPLE TO GET

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Once again, specifically for Harden’s shoes, this one wasn’t tough to meet either.

I’d always pick the shoes that are still available to get somewhere, and for a decent price. 95% of Harden sneakers are in fact available somewhere and for a good price, so we’re good there.

VII. IT’S TIME FOR YOUR OPINION!

Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and questions – I’m excited to chat with you!

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That’s a wrap for the best Harden basketball shoes! I hope it was as informative & interesting for you as it was fun to put together for me!

While I personally think the Harden lineup has somewhat become stale, most of the releases are still fantastic for literally any position on the court.

The 3rd Harden shoe is still the closest to my heart and I believe it’ll stay that way for a bit. However, I’m excited to hear YOUR thoughts.

Which model is YOUR favorite? Perhaps you’ve got a question I haven’t answered in the guide? Or maybe your list of Harden shoes is different?

Leave a comment below – I’ll get back to you ASAP!

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