Nike Air Max Impact 4

At a listed 14.2 oz, the Air Max Impact 4 is lighter than 17 of the other 66 performance shoes in our database and heavier than 44 (5 other models list the same weight). The average across all 67 performance shoes is 13.8 oz, so it runs 0.4 oz heavier than average. For reference, the lightest is the Anta KT 9 (12.4 oz) and the heaviest is the Nike GT Hustle 3 (15.8 oz).

Its 9 mm heel-to-toe drop is shared by 5 of 67 performance shoes; 61 list a lower drop and 1 a higher one (the most common figure is 8 mm). Drops across the group only run from 7 to 10 mm, so drop is a smaller differentiator than weight or cut height.

It is one of 40 mid-cut models among the 67 performance shoes we track, and it sits in the budget price band (set from manufacturer MSRP), which 13 other models share.

It is one of only 13 performance shoes we rate as outdoor-capable; the other 54 are rated for indoor courts.

Going by its spec profile, we classify the Air Max Impact 4 for power forwards and centers with a physical, post-up big-man game. You can compare it against every shoe we file for that role in Best Basketball Shoes for Power Forwards and Best Basketball Shoes for Centers.

The mid cut is the middle ground between ankle coverage and freedom of movement — the most common choice in the database.

It carries an outdoor rating, so it is a reasonable pick if you split time between gym floors and outdoor courts. The fit is listed as wide, one of only 4 performance shoes with that listing.