The And1 Guardian Mids (performance)

[Sole Spotlight – 7.25.12] – The And1 Guardian Mids (performance)

Inks and Images: FLASH aka g_sk1lls

This month’s Sole Spotlight article shifts its focus on a yet-to-be-released shoe model that could make its way to local retail - the AND1 Guardian Mid.  Posted below some images for everybody’s reference.

Got two pairs of this model (this one is in metallic dark grey/black/red, while the other pair being in Energy Blue/black/orange) some two weeks ago courtesy of AND1 US (s/o to Rob Purvy, Becky Cheng, and AJ Vander Woude).

[Slightly off-topic] The last time I used an AND1 pair with ankle straps was back in 2009, with a championship run in the School U Mids.  I usually prefer low-cut to mid-cut models but during that time I just thought of using a high-top pair with an ankle strap and was never disappointed with its performance.

Since then, I never thought I would ever use another AND1 pair with an ankle strap feature (simply because there weren’t any models that incorporated that in its design) but this one sure proved me wrong.  The AND1 Guardian Mid takes a lot of different elements together from previously released models, meshes it (pardon the pun), and then takes it to a whole new level.

This model features a “stitch-less, no-sew construction for comfort” and the aforementioned ankle support strap that “…locks the foot in place.”   It also has “mesh panels (that) reduce weight and increase ventilation,” much like the previously released Empire Mids, including the full-length airbag that helps reduce impact. 

More pictures of the shoe below.  The Guardian Mid is a silhouette that you can use either indoors or outdoors, will give you maximum support for the ankle and heel, and on its own, is really eye-catching.  You can also click here to check out a Japanese blog that has images of the Guardian Mid in other colorways.

A closer look at the ankle strap.  

The "hidden" Player logo is a nice touch.

Since the pairs that I got were wear-test samples, it might vary a bit from the commercial version.  I’ve also included a picture of the Guardian Mid below in Team USA colors, made by AND1 for the 2012 London Olympics (this will be featured in the upcoming SLAM/Kicks magazine, likely September issue).

Sales Sample, Not for Re-sale.

Team USA colorway for the 2012 London Olympics

Check out more of Sole Spotlight in the succeeding months, only from And1 Ph.  ONE!

The "OKC" colorway, as I would like to put it.  Could be sold locally, more updates soon.