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I haven’t reviewed some Lebrons in years! I’m finally turning a corner here in the collecting and getting to some newer models again. The Nike Lebron 18 is the 2020-2021 season signature shoe from Lebron James. They come in both a high and lowtop version.
Lebronald Palmer / Summer Refresh
The first Nike sig shoe for Lebron was actually the Zoom Generation which released in 2003. To date I’ve picked up the “Lebronald Palmer” colorway on the low, AKA the “Summer Refresh” edition.
My impression overall is that people like the Lebron 18 for basketball, but not as much for casual wear. To be fair, this is a basketball shoe. However many signature hoop shoes maintain crossover casual appeal, with some being more succesful than others. I think overall the lowtop versions are a bit more accepted as a lifestyle shoe vs. the more extreme look of the highs. This is interesting since the upper material used on the highs seem a bit more casual-ready than that of the lows.
While I still focus mainly on retro models I’m familiar with, I’ve been expanding out and trying new things again, like I used to back in the day. That energy to me helps keep collecting fun, rather than pigeonholing myself to just 3 or 4 models I mess with. So of course I’m going to revisit the Lebron line and see what their modern offerings are.
Low Lebronald Palmer / Summer Refresh colorway
The Lebronald Palmer colorway is a tradition in the line and has appeared as a colorway on the lowtop versions of the Lebron 9 and 12. The color scheme is inspired by the famous Arnold Palmer drink, a mixture of ice tea and lemonade.
While these seem to be a general release, I’ve only seen them on a few sites besides Footlocker, which is where I got my pair for retail.
While this shoe doesn’t seem that popular in hypebeast-land, it was the first new Lebron that caught my eye as something I might wear. I like low key kicks a lot but I also like a selection of louder pairs, and these fit the bill there. Interestingly though, while the yellow on the bulk of the upper does contribute to the wildness of the colorway, the shade used also is calming in a way.
The first thing I noticed when I pulled these out of the box is that bright orange swoosh. Of course the main feature on the shoe is is the pattern. However, to me the things that stick out most are the swoosh, air unit and the green piece just above it. These blocks of color add some balance and prevent the yellow from overwhelming the upper.
The pattern itself is cool, it’s under a layer so it doesn’t seem that sharp. I think the way the shoe is colorblocked, it would look just as cool with or without the pattern. Still, it’s a nice addition that adds to the uniqueness and theme of the kicks.
If my goal is to get something loud and modern, I think these are a good choice without being too extreme. I can totally see myself rocking these at an outdoor table at a restaurant on the harbor overlooking the beach on a nice day. That’s definitely something I’m making happen this summer!
Details/Materials
The uppers are pretty much the same across the different colorways from what I can tell and only really differ between the cuts. The LeBron 18 uses a BattleKnit 2.0 upper while the low uses a light TPU material all over the shoe.
As I only have the lows in hand at the time I’m writing this, I’ll break those down here.
Starting off we have the Lebron signature embroidered into the plastic mesh tongue. The tongue itself is semi-attached on the low so it’s kind of like a regular sneaker tongue but has tongue straps under the eyelets. The eyelets here have some suede hits; the only “regular” material on the sneaker.
Coming down to the toe we have more of that TPU mesh. The Lebronald Palmer features the aforementioned pattern of green and orange shapes that evoke a tropical beach landscape surrounded by palm trees. We have a solid TPU mudguard that wraps around.
On the side we get a swoosh and more clear TPU. On the back we get a more solid piece for stability with the LJ crown logo set into the back. The inner ankle has a small debossed swoosh and the inner midsole shows a Nike React logo.
The insole of the Lebronald Palmer colorway features a graphic of the drink it is named after with the LJ crown logo on the glass. Meanwhile the outsole is two toned and features the LJ crown logo in the middle
The lows ship with flat laces, the Summer Refresh colorway includes a green set. The box is a special Lebron James box that’s grey and tan. The lid has a unique shape that partially comes down further on the side.
So, just the shoes and the box basically with the Lebron 18 lows. While the 18 and 18 low command a high price tag at $200 and $160 respectively, the price point has to do more with the Lebron signature and the tech used in the sneaker, and not special accessories.
How is the Quality on the Nike Lebron 18?
While the highs have a knit upper, the lows have TPU uppers. Since I have lows in hand, I will comment on those. Here, the quality seems good for what the materials are. There are the bits of suede around the eyelets providing a neat, if miniscule hit. The quality is basically felt or tennis ball suede though, nothing actually remarkable here.
The materials on the lows are mostly for performance, and so the casual appeal acutally comes more from the shape, blocking and colorway for the most part. An exception would be the Atmos viotech lows which use more traditional materials in some parts.
For most builds of the lows though, the uppers are fairly sturdy and the shoe feels ruggedly built considering the uppers are made of mostly thin plastics. The QC seems decent on these as well, so the craftsmanship is there from what I can tell. Overall, I can’t fault what Nike is doing here from a construction perspective.
This is another shoe that feels solid and quality in hand. I’m not getting any “cheap” vibes off the sneaker just looking at it in hand or when on feet.
How Do They Fit?
I got a half size up and they are definitely still snug. I’d describe the fit as more of a narrow “performance” fit rather than a generous casual fit. While it’s no secret people like me wear these shoes casually, it’s intended design is for basketball, and provides more of a 1:1 fit as such. You don’t want your feet sliding around in a game. So overall my advice is, whatever you normally get in Nikes, go a half size up.
Comfort
The feel on foot is that the lows hug pretty close on the side. When brand new, the upper does not provide a lot of give and seems pretty rigid at first. I’d imagine the knit upper of the hightop is a lot more forgiving in this respect. I’ve had shoes like this before though, and the upper usually flexes a bit with time to conform to ones foot shape.
One thing I like about the lowtops is there is no internal seam by the pinkie toe. So while my pinky is contacting the side, it’s not rubbing against anything that might irritate it. That makes these way more tolerable to wear. This is despite feeling a bit claustrophobic walking around in them initially. I also find the lows to be comfortably padded around the ankle.
As far as underfoot, the Lebron 18 features a Cushlon midsole, a rear Air Max unit, and a full-length Zoom Strobel. The lowtop version does away with the full-length Zoom and adds in React cushioning. Underfoot the lows feel pretty good! I can feel the React particularly in the forefoot and I can also feel that solid but flexible support from the Air Unit in the back. I definitely feel like I’m on top of some kind of thick cushion in the lows.
Overall, I’d say the Nike Lebron 18 low is fairly comfy despite being a bit tight at true size. I can make it work over time as they break in! These things feel great underfoot, and are one of the shoes where I definitely feel the tech!
Final Thoughts
For a while, I was disregarding all new models and focusing purely on retros from the 1970s to the early 2000s. While I still feel like those are the golden years of sneaker models for casual wear, sometimes it’s fun to put the feelers out and see what some of the new tech looks and feels like up close.
The Lebron 18 isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I like how they look! Particularly the lows. The price is a bit off-putting, but collecting Lebrons has never been a cheap endeavor. My favorite Lebron model to date is still the 8 low, however the 18 still brings an interesting look to the table.
As for the Lebronald Palmers, I’m glad I got this colorway! I wanted it the 9 lows including the reverse colorway, but never got around to pulling the trigger. Here we are years later and I have that yellow, green and orange combo finally occupied in the collection. The pattern is cool on the toebox, although my favorite parts are the swoosh, air unit and the plastic bit just above.
While the fit and materials are way more tech-forward than the more lifestyle kicks in the collection, I like them for something new and different among the stacks. Signature basketball shoes are usually designed with at least some crossover appeal, and this type of colorway exemplifies that. The tech underfoot is comfy on these and more noticeable than other shoes I’ve had with similar elements in the cushioning. Best of all though, the 18 looks great on feet!
Where To Cop the Nike Lebron 18
As of the writing of this article, you can find the Lebronald Palmer/Summer Refresh colorway on eBay
Colorway: White Lime / Bright Mango
Style Code: CV7562 300
Year of Release: 2021
MSRP: $160