New Balance Kawhi 3
Released 3/2023, Mid Top, Kawhi Leonard,
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Performance Ratings
8.2
EXPERT RATING
4 reviews
8.4
USER RATING
1 ratings
Performance Summary
The New Balance Kawhi 3 has a great court feel and responsive cushioning.
Pros
FuelCell foam is soft
Glove-like fit
Cons
The heel area can irritate your ankle
Traction doesn't handle dust well
Best Suitable For: A great pick for players looking for versatile cushioning on clean courts.
Category Performance Ratings
8.3
Traction
Thick grooved rubber compound. Strong grip on clean courts but dust-sensitive and needs wiping and break-in.
8.3
Cushion
FuelCell foam midsole with initial firmness that softens. Responsive, low-to-ground ride with good impact protection.
7.8
Materials
Mesh and synthetic upper with padded heel. Comfortable feel but materials seem synthetic and breathability is limited.
8.3
Support
Stiffer internal heel counter and contoured midfoot. Provides solid lateral stability and overall containment with minor heel lockdown issues.
8.5
Fit
True to size for most with snug heel and midfoot. Forefoot runs roomier and wide feet may need half size up.
75%
Outdoor
Thick outsole rubber and deep grooves. Durable for outdoor courts and holds up well on rough surfaces.
small
large
Sizing
Runs true to size for most players. Some suggest half size down for extra snugness. Wide feet may size up.
narrow
wide
Width
Best for narrow to regular widths. Wide footers may feel constricted in the forefoot and should consider a larger size.
Comparison to Similar Shoes:
 New Balance Kawhi 3 |  Adidas Harden Volume 10 |  Nike Sabrina 2 |  Nike Lebron Witness 8 |  Nike GT Hustle 3 |  Nike G.T. Hustle 2 | Add shoe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert Rating | 8.2 | 8.5(0.3) | 8.5(0.3) | 7.7(0.5) | 8.4(0.2) | 8.1(0.1) | |
| User Rating | 8.4 | NA | 8.9(0.5) | 8.5(0.1) | 8.7(0.3) | 8.7(0.3) | |
| Best Price | $159.99 | $159.99 | $82.77 $130 | $109.99 | $71.97 $190 | $82.77 $170 | |
| Type of Cut | Mid Top | Mid Top | Mid Top | Mid Top | Mid Top | Mid Top | |
| Weight | NA | NA | 340g - 340g | 370g - 380g | 370g - 370g | 330g - 350g |
11 likes
from 2 Resellers
$79.00
10 likes
from KicksCrew
$154.00
25 likes
from GOAT
$253.00
Expert Reviews of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
Expert Rating: 8.2 (ranks #258 of 381)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
1
8 - Good
3
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
8.6
March 12, 2023
I love playing in the New Balance Kawhi 3. The upper is supportive, the traction performs on clean courts, the fit is perfect, and the cushioning is versatile.
More details
8.2
March 7, 2023
The New Balance Kawhi 3 is a good performer but an overpriced shoe. The cushioning is responsive and low to the ground, and the traction plays well on clean courts.
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8.0
March 7, 2023
The New Balance Kawhi 3 has solid basketball features, but I advise wearing thicker socks because of the heel portion of the shoe. Impact protection and traction performed well.
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8.0
May 10, 2023
The New Balance Kawhi 3 is an optimal shoe for playing outdoors and for players who enjoy support. The FuelCell cushioning feels stiff, but the other features make it worthwhile.
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User Reviews of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
User Rating: 8.4 (ranks #238 of 381)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
0
8 - Good
1
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
8.4
August 1, 2023
User didn't add a summary.
More details
Traction of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
Expert Traction Rating: 8.3 (ranks #251 of 381)
User Traction Rating: 8.0 (ranks #268 of 381)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
1
8 - Good
4
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
8.0
March 12, 2023
On clean courts, the traction plays amazingly. The rubber seems too pliable to grip dirtier courts, though.
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8.0
March 7, 2023
The traction needs to break in before the performance improves on clean courts. It's not good on dusty courts.
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9.0
March 7, 2023
The traction performs nicely. I had no issues whatsoever.
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8.0
May 10, 2023
The traction works. You have to wipe on dusty courts, but you'll still be satisfied.
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Cushion of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
Expert Cushion Rating: 8.3 (ranks #222 of 381)
User Cushion Rating: 9.0 (ranks #97 of 381)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
3
8 - Good
1
7 - Average
1
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
9.0
March 12, 2023
The midsole takes some time to soften up. Once it's broken in, it feels like the best of the Kawhi line of shoes. The impact protection and the court feel great.
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8.0
March 7, 2023
The FuelCell midsole is soft in the heel, and the foam offers a subtle bounceback.
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9.0
March 7, 2023
The softness of the FuelCell foam was my favourite part of the shoe.
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7.0
May 10, 2023
The FuelCell midsole is stiff. It's not plush, either. It offers stability and some snappiness.
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Materials of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
Expert Materials Rating: 7.8 (ranks #301 of 381)
User Materials Rating: 8.0 (ranks #238 of 381)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
0
8 - Good
4
7 - Average
1
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
8.0
March 12, 2023
All the materials are synthetic, but I enjoy how comfortable the shoe feels when I play.
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8.0
March 7, 2023
The materials feel cheap and synthetic, but the performance feels comfortable.
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7.0
March 7, 2023
The padding around the heel is lackadaisical. The rest of the materials are comfortable, but the shoe isn't too breathable.
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8.0
May 10, 2023
The combination of mesh and synthetic materials is soft, and they break in nicely. It's also well-padded.
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Support of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
Expert Support Rating: 8.3 (ranks #226 of 381)
User Support Rating: 8.0 (ranks #276 of 381)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
1
8 - Good
4
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
8.0
March 12, 2023
The stiffer internal heel counter and contour provide solid stability and support. The shoe is stable overall, but I wanted some extra lateral stability.
More details
8.0
March 7, 2023
The heel lockdown is not the best, but I was good to go for lateral containment and stability.
More details
8.0
March 7, 2023
There is no heel slippage, and I didn't have support issues.
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9.0
May 10, 2023
The support and stability feel like a tank without being too stiff.
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Fit of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
Expert Fit Rating: 8.5 (ranks #87 of 381)
User Fit Rating: 9.0 (ranks #66 of 381)
10 - Amazing
1
9 - Great
2
8 - Good
1
7 - Average
1
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
10.0
March 12, 2023
The length of the shoe is perfect, and with cushioned socks, the shoe has a 1-to-1 fit.
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9.0
March 7, 2023
The shoe fits me like a glove. I enjoy how snug it is.
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7.0
March 7, 2023
The back of the heel area bothered my foot during play, but other than that, the fit was fine.
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8.0
May 10, 2023
The heel and midfoot feel awesome, but I had extra room in the forefoot.
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Durability of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
User Durability Rating: 10.0 (ranks #5 of 381)
10 - Amazing
1
9 - Great
0
8 - Good
0
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
Outdoor of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
Expert Outdoor Rating: 75.0 (ranks #70 of 381)
User Outdoor Rating: NA
Good (100%)
2
Fair (50%)
2
Bad (0%)
0
fair
March 12, 2023
The outsole is thick.
More details
good
March 7, 2023
The durability is solid because of the thick grooves and rubber on the outsole.
More details
fair
March 7, 2023
The rubber and grooves are thick enough to take outdoors.
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good
May 10, 2023
The outsole has a lot of rubber, and the compound is hard enough for outdoor use.
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Width of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
very narrow
0
slightly narrow
2
regular
3
slightly wide
0
very wide
0
slightly narrow
March 12, 2023
I advise going up half a size if you have a wide foot.
More details
slightly narrow
March 7, 2023
The toe box is snug.
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regularly wide
March 7, 2023
The shoe seems wide-foot friendly.
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regularly wide
May 10, 2023
The base is average.
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Size of the New Balance Kawhi 3:
very small
0
slightly small
0
true to size
5
slightly long
0
very long
0
true to size
March 12, 2023
I went true to size.
More details
true to size
March 7, 2023
I went true to size, but I enjoy the snugness.
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true to size
March 7, 2023
I could have gone down half a size for a snug fit, but I went true to size.
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true to size
May 10, 2023
Go true to size
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