Adidas Harden Vol. 2

Released 2/2018, Low Top, James Harden, 
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8.6
EXPERT RATING
8 reviews
9.0
USER RATING
4 ratings
Thick Boost cushioning provides a ton of impact protection

Best Suitable For:

Works especially well for bigger guards and heavier players

Price Comparison:

Available at 3 shops | Official Retail Price: $139.99
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Category Performance Ratings:

Expert Ratings (8)
User Ratings (4)
Traction
7.6
Cushion
9.4
Materials
8.6
Support
8.7
Fit
8.6
Outdoor
50%

Weight & Sizing:

Weight:
light
heavy
Sizing:
small
large
Width:
narrow
wide

Comparison to Similar Shoes:

Adidas Harden Vol. 2
Adidas Harden Vol. 2
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Expert Rating8.68.8(0.2)8.9(0.3)8.8(0.2)8.9(0.3)8.9(0.3)
User Rating9.08.7(0.3)9.5(0.5)9.3(0.3)9.4(0.4)9.2(0.2)
Best Price$139.99
$160
$225
$74.97
$170
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$111.97
$200
Type of CutLow TopLow TopLow TopLow TopLow TopLow Top
Weight460g - 480g400g - 410g360g - 370g410g - 430gNANA
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Adidas Harden Vol. 2 Review

Pros:
Great impact protection
Good all-round shoe
Cons:
Heavy weight
Inconsistent traction

Performance of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

The Harden Vol. 2 is a nice improvement over James Harden' first signature sneaker. The thicker Boost cushioning provides a ton of impact protection while remaining responsive enough for guards. The traction is great on clean courts but requires you to wipe a lot on dusty courts. Materials are not premium but perform very well and give you all the support you need. Overall, this is a shoe that works especially well for bigger guards and heavier players who look for a lot of cushioning and support.
See all 8 reviews

Expert Reviews of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

Expert Rating: 8.6 (ranks #106 of 330)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
6
8 - Good
2
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
9.2
March 4, 2018
We really enjoyed playing in these. The Harden Vol. 2 should work well for everyone - responsive enough for guards but the support and comfortable cushioning will work well for bigger guys too!
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Overall a great shoe, but unfortunately, the inconsistency that I experienced with the traction will likely keep the Harden Vol 2 out of my rotation.
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8.8
March 4, 2018
The Harden Vol2 is extremely fun to wear! Overall I feel that Adidas improved everything compared to the V1.
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Unless you play on crispy clean courts I wouldn't recommend the Harden Vol 2 because there are a bunch of better options on the market.
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8.6
June 12, 2018
The Harden 2 will defintely stay in my gym bag for a while! I especially loved the comfortable materials and the Boost cushioning. Everything about this sneaker just worked for me - and they are just flat out fun to play in!
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8.5
February 26, 2018
Overall the Harden Vol. 2 is a great performer. Some nitpicking: I would have liked the heel to be a little less clunky and the Boost cushioning to be a little softer in the forefoot.
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Overall, this shoe is pretty good. Great shoe if you have bad knees, you need a lot of comfort and impact protection and you can live with the lackluster traction.
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7.8
February 26, 2018
Amazing cushioning, very nice materials and support. Traction is solid but I wasn't happy with the fit.
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User Reviews of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

User Rating: 9.0 (ranks #80 of 330)
10 - Amazing
1
9 - Great
2
8 - Good
1
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
8.5
January 13, 2022
I’ll keep this short, the only thing that held back the Harden Vol. 2 was the weight… and the inconsistent traction ;)
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9.1
December 30, 2022
User didn't add a summary.
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9.8
January 21, 2022
User didn't add a summary.
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8.4
January 31, 2024
User didn't add a summary.
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Traction of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

Expert Traction Rating: 7.6 (ranks #290 of 330)
User Traction Rating: 8.8 (ranks #165 of 330)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
5
8 - Good
3
7 - Average
3
6 - Subpar
1
5 - Poor
0
9.0
March 4, 2018
Traction needs a little break in time but stopping power is great on clean courts. Attracts a lot of dust though.
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Unfortunately, the traction on the Harden Vol 2 just wasn’t as good as that of the original.
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8.0
March 4, 2018
Traction is ridiculously good on clean floors, but you need to wipe a lot on dusty courts.
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On a clean court, the traction was solid, but the Harden Vol 2 collects dust like nobody's business.
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8.0
June 12, 2018
I thought the traction was pretty solid. You will have to wipe every now and then but then you get good traction. To be safe, get a colorway with a white outsole, as players with a black or grey outsole reported more problems with the traction than others.
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9.0
February 26, 2018
This traction pattern performs very well. I usually play on really dust courts, but as long as you wipe, you will not have any problems.
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The traction was pretty disappointing and just didn't grip the floor. Don't even bother on a dusty court.
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7.0
February 26, 2018
On a clean court the traction is great, but unfortunately, the rubber is a real dust collector.
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Cushion of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

Expert Cushion Rating: 9.4 (ranks #34 of 330)
User Cushion Rating: 9.0 (ranks #102 of 330)
10 - Amazing
6
9 - Great
4
8 - Good
2
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
10.0
March 4, 2018
This Boost cushioning setup is really nice. Very comfortable but still remains responsive and provides good court feel.
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Boost cushioning works really well.
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9.0
March 4, 2018
Firm Boost setup is a nice blend of speed and impact protection.
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Thick Boost cushioning does a great job with impact protection.
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9.0
June 12, 2018
Full length boost provides a ton of bounce and impact protection as well as a surprising amount of responsiveness. This is the best and most versatile Boost experience on the hardwood!
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9.0
February 26, 2018
A lot of impact protection in the heel but very responsive in the forefoot.
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This shoe is very, very comfy due to the huge amount of Boost. Court feel and responsiveness could be better.
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10.0
February 26, 2018
The Boost cushioning is incredible. I don't know how you could hate on that!
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Materials of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

Expert Materials Rating: 8.6 (ranks #76 of 330)
User Materials Rating: 8.8 (ranks #93 of 330)
10 - Amazing
1
9 - Great
6
8 - Good
5
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
9.0
March 4, 2018
The materials are soft and pliable.
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Materials aren't premium but perform very well.
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9.0
March 4, 2018
Sure it isn’t Primeknit but it looks premium with all that texture and color and performs just as well.
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Materials are pretty basic but perform well.
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9.0
June 12, 2018
Zero break-in time!
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8.0
February 26, 2018
The forged fiber, textile, and mesh are pretty nice.
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The mesh in the forefoot feels really nice, the synthetic panel on the back works well.
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8.0
February 26, 2018
Materials are not flashy but perform very well.
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Support of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

Expert Support Rating: 8.7 (ranks #109 of 330)
User Support Rating: 9.0 (ranks #94 of 330)
10 - Amazing
1
9 - Great
8
8 - Good
3
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
9.0
March 4, 2018
Very supportive - great lockdown, wide base and super strong materials.
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For a Guard shoe, the support is here and shouldn’t let you down.
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9.0
March 4, 2018
I really enjoyed the wide outsole and never felt in danger or turning my ankle at all.
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Wide base, strong mesh, and adjustable lacing system provide pretty good support.
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8.0
June 12, 2018
I had no complaints when it came to support.
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8.0
February 26, 2018
I had no side-to-side movement, but a little heel slippage in the beginning which was fixed by playing with the adjustable lacing system.
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This shoe gives really good support and the customizable lacing system gives you a lot of options to adapt the lockdown to your preferences.
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8.0
February 26, 2018
Internal heel counter, adaptive lacing system, lateral outrigger and great fit of the bootie setup do a very nice job!
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Fit of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

Expert Fit Rating: 8.6 (ranks #79 of 330)
User Fit Rating: 9.0 (ranks #78 of 330)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
10
8 - Good
0
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
1
5 - Poor
0
9.0
March 4, 2018
Great lockdown in the forefoot and lateral containment, but I would have liked the heel to be a little higher to avoid heel slippage.
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I love how it fits and feels.
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9.0
March 4, 2018
The heel needs a little break in, otherwise, the shoe fits nicely out of the box.
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The one-piece bootie feels great on foot.
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9.0
June 12, 2018
The lockdown is absolutely amazing and the lacing system is almost too good!
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I had no problems with heel slippage or lateral containment. The bootie construction fit me very well.
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6.0
February 26, 2018
Adjustable lacing system provides great lockdown. But there is an elastic band that separates the forefoot from the backfoot, which was really uncomfortable in the beginning.
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Durability of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

User Durability Rating: 9.8 (ranks #16 of 330)
10 - Amazing
3
9 - Great
1
8 - Good
0
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0

Outdoor of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

Expert Outdoor Rating: 50.0 (ranks #147 of 330)
User Outdoor Rating: 100.0 (ranks #24 of 330)
Good (100%)
4
Fair (50%)
2
Bad (0%)
0
fair
March 4, 2018
Outdoor use should be okay as the rubber is pretty hard.
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fair
February 26, 2018
Outdoors you will be okay - just not for a very long time.
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Width of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

very narrow
0
slightly narrow
5
regular
5
slightly wide
1
very wide
0
slightly narrow
March 4, 2018
The Vol. 2 is a little narrower than the Harden Volume 1.
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regularly wide
Wide footers should try them on because they don't stretch very much.
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slightly narrow
March 4, 2018
Wide footers like myself will want to go true to size because these run snug true to size.
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slightly narrow
The shoe fits pretty snug
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slightly narrow
June 12, 2018
The Harden Volume is a little bit tight.
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regularly wide
February 26, 2018
I have slightly wide feet but these fit me perfectly.
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slightly narrow
Go true to size if you are a wide-footer.
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Size of the Adidas Harden Vol. 2:

very small
0
slightly small
0
true to size
5
slightly long
3
very long
2
½ size large
March 4, 2018
Runs slightly long.
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½ size large
March 4, 2018
Per usual Adidas runs slightly long but it’s shorter than the V1.
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true to size
The fit on the Harden Vol 2 is true to size.
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runs large
June 12, 2018
I went down half a size (like always with adidas) but I could have gone down even more
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true to size
February 26, 2018
Unlike other Adidas shoes, these fit me well going true to size.
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½ size large
The 10 was a little to snug, and the 10.5 was a little too long. I need a 10.25!
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