The PB5star — the Blast — comes in an amazing box, and what’s inside is one of the most unique designs I’ve ever seen. It reads like a retro basketball shoe, with barely any branding on it. Super low-key, and it absolutely catches eyes.
How it plays
Performance-wise it’s very close to the Cypher — fantastic at stopping and quick changes of direction. It’s become a big favorite of mine. You’d look at those flat-ish outsole cells and expect it to slide a lot, but the opposite is true: those cells are super grippy and gel into the court incredibly well, right out of the box.
The taller outsole trick
The side toe area is reinforced — long, but not tall. The clever part is that the outsole itself runs taller, and the rubber wraps all the way around to the sides. When you slide into the kitchen line, that side rubber catches and stops your momentum very quickly. And because the platform juts out, you’re not going to roll over on it — if you’re rolling that much, you’re probably falling over anyway.
This is where the PB5star shines: short, quick stops and explosions, just like the DAPS. It’s the opposite end from a singles shoe like the Cypher.
What’s holding it back
Honestly, it’s a fairly new company, and it shows in two places: it’s not the airiest shoe, so your foot heats up and sweats fast in long sessions, and the insole could use another revision. With a bit more re-engineering — especially on breathability — this could push toward the top tier. For now it’s a big favorite, but still not quite the DAPS.
In terms of pure design, though? This one will catch eyes. It’s one of the best-looking shoes I own.