KSwiss Bigshot Light 3 Men's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 2.7

Despite having a redesigned upper designed to be soft and supportive and a K-EVA midsole for cushioning, the Bigshot Light 3s didn't provide immediate comfort for our playtesters. The lightweight synthetic and mesh materials offered good support and some breathability, but the Bigshot Light 3s felt a bit stiff throughout the playtest. Chris needed a solid couple of hours of hitting in the Bigshot Light 3s before he found a decently comfortable ride. He said, "The chassis of the shoes felt very stiff and rigid. At the end of the playtest the shoes still hadn't lost that stiff ride. I also found that the uppers required some breaking in. I never got that feeling of truly being one with these shoes, and I was always cognizant of them when scampering around the court. However, the more I wore them the more they conformed to the shape of my feet. The ride became pretty comfortable, and I never once had any issues with blisters or with the shoes rubbing my feet in anyway. The fit felt wide for my feet, but I was able to get decently locked in. Likewise, the arch support wasn't perfect for my high arches, but midfoot stability was exceptional so my feet felt very safe."

Unfortunately, Andy didn't find these shoes to be very comfortable. He explained, "The uppers felt extremely stiff right out of the box, taking upward of one to two weeks to soften up and break in. Even after two weeks there wasn't much cushioning anywhere. These shoes lacked a plush feel. It felt like my foot was resting on a thin layer of cardboard and wrapped in a stiff layer of plastic. The fit was OK, but these shoes were stiff and lacking in support and cushioning."

When Troy initially tried the Bigshot Light 3s on they were too big. He normally wears either a size 10 or 9.5, and he opted to wear the smaller size. He commented, "I definitely found these to fit roomy. For the relative weight of these shoes, I found a good amount of midsole cushioning underneath the balls of my feet and my heels. The arch support felt slightly lower than what I normally prefer. After wearing the Bigshot Light 3s for a few hours I replaced the stock insoles with my orange Superfeet Premium Insoles, which helped provide the arch support I'm accustomed to. The ventilation was subpar compared to other lightweight shoes on the market. The tongues were the only part of these shoes that allowed for decent breathability. The rest of the uppers seemed to trap the heat. Because these shoes were slightly roomy in the toe box I experienced some sliding and rubbing of my toes within the shoes. Anytime I came to an aggressive stop when I was running forward I would jam my toes against the rigid toe-guard in the front of the shoes."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.9

The lighter shoes on the market often lack a high level of stability, but our team was impressed with this aspect of the Bigshot Light 3s. Other than the extra room he had in the toe box, Troy was pleasantly surprised by how well the shoes locked his feet in place. He noted, "I found the lateral stability to be better than most other shoes I have tested in this weight range. The midfoot shank created a lot of torsional rigidity and provided plenty of lateral support. Whenever I made an aggressive lateral stop I was confident that these shoes would keep me supported and prevent me from rolling an ankle. The Bigshot Light 3s didn't have the same low-to-the-ground feel as the Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tours and the Asics Gel Solution Speed 3s. With that said, I found the lateral support to be even better due to the rigidity of the midfoot shank."

Andy had confidence in the stability of these shoes, but he wasn't convinced on the level of support. He said, "The stiff uppers offered good protection for aggressive on-court movements. I had no worries changing directions, and I knew the shoes would provide the stability I needed to move back in the opposite direction. They lacked support, though, and they don't really move naturally with my feet. When I moved around I felt like my feet were swimming around in the shoes a little bit as opposed to the shoes moving with me."

For Chris, the ride was very stiff and stable. He noted, "The guts of the shoes seem to have been built with maximum stability in mind. It was tough to get the shoes to flex at first, which led to some heel slippage at toe-off. Once the shoes became more and more broken in they flexed a tad better (enough to keep my heels from slipping out of the shoes), but they felt rigid throughout the entire test. The shoes resisted twisting laterally as well, which made them feel very secure during aggressive cuts and plants."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.9

The highlight of this playtest was easily the durability of the Bigshot Light 3s. All of our playtesters were happy with how the outsole held up. Andy put about 20 hard hours on his shoes and the outsole tread still had plenty of life left. He said, "The uppers did scuff up a bit on the medial side, and I could maybe even see myself going through that area before the outsole wears down. I'm not sure if there would be enough durability in that area for intense toe-draggers or players who slide often on the hard courts."

Chris was very impressed by the durability of both the outsoles and the toes of these shoes. "The Bigshot Light 3s held up to all of the abuse I could throw at them. At the end of the test I still had lots of outsole life left and the toes looked in great shape — that is rarely the case for me!"

Troy found the overall durability to be better than the average lightweight shoes he has tested. He said, "The toe region of the outsole was the one area where I found these shoes to wear faster than I would have preferred. After about a month of playtesting the toe guard on both shoes was bald. I found them to wear similarly to the adidas adizero Ubersonic 2s. The wear was better than the average lightweight shoes I have tried, but not quite up to my standards considering it doesn't come with a durability guarantee."

Traction - Score: 4.2

Traction was another positive attribute of the Bigshot Light 3s, and there was very little our team could critique here. "The level of traction was solid," said Chris. "I found enough grip to move aggressively in these shoes. I also liked the amount of give I found. I was able to slide out of quick stops to take the pressure off my ankles, etc., and the shoes never got hung up on the court surface."

Andy thought the traction was good throughout the entire playtest. He commented, "The outsoles had a good blend of grip and give that locked up with the court when I needed them to, yet still allowed me to slide when I wanted to. Sudden stops were never too jarring. I was content with the traction from the first ball I hit in them to the last."

During his first few hitting sessions in these shoes, Troy found a lot of grip from the outsoles. He explained, "The initial traction was a bit sticky for my preferences. After wearing them for about a week the rubber outsoles performed much more to my liking. After the break-in period I was getting a good level of traction, which allowed me to come to a controlled stop whenever I needed to change directions. As the rubber gradually wore down I experienced a slight bit of give in the traction. Overall, I liked how I could come to a controlled stop, with the outsole providing a high level of grip, which allowed me to take a powerful first step. Other than the slight break-in period for the outsole, I have no complaints with the traction of these shoes."

Weight - Score: 3.3

If there was a point of contention, it would be that KSwiss considers these shoes light and fast. Our team felt otherwise. "Contrary to their name, the Bigshot Light 3s did not feel light or fast on court," critiqued Andy. "The design is a bit bulky and the materials are very stiff — they were a constant reminder that I had substantial shoes on my feet. While they may not weigh that much, they certainly play and feel bulkier than their actual weight would suggest."

Troy echoed those sentiments, saying, "This playtest was one of those rare instances where the shoes actually felt a bit heavier than the numbers on the scale would indicate. I think the combination of the firm material used on the upper of the toe boxes and the rigid midfoot shank made these shoes feel a bit clunky. For me, the break-in period and firm structure of these shoes felt more similar to shoes that are usually in the 15 oz. weight range. I didn't necessarily mind the feel of these shoes since I typically play in shoes that are a couple ounces heavier. However, the shoes that I typically wear, such as the Asics Gel Resolution 7, are much more durable and have some added cushioning in the midsole and uppers. Overall, these shoes felt heavier than other shoes I have tested with similar weights, but I enjoyed the added stability that most lightweight shoes don't possess."

Chris added, "The very stiff chassis made them feel far heavier than the 13.6 oz. weight we list for a size 10.5. Since I wear a size 9 my shoes should have felt even lighter. On the upside, if you are seeking solid shoes that are very torsionally stable, these Bigshot Light 3s provide just that. Those wanting a light and fast shoe should look elsewhere — the KSwiss Hypercourt Express shoes would be one option."

Overall - Score: 3.0