[Review and Experience] Classic Upgrade · Legend Reborn 丨 Victory P8500II Hands-on Experience

Joyce September 6, 2024 3 0

Recently, Victory has also timely released its new masterpiece P8500II at the beginning of the year, marking the long-awaited upgrade of the classic legendary shoe P8500 generation.

Appearance:
The P8500II comes in three colors—black, white, and red—all of which are visually appealing. In design, it not only inherits and upgrades the classic side claw structure of the first generation but also incorporates Victory’s latest HYPEREVA material, which is used more extensively. This material reduces weight while ensuring sufficient shock absorption, quick startup, and a balanced combination of lightness, softness, and elasticity, providing a highly comfortable overall foot feel.

From the outside of the shoe, the overall design is dominated by red, featuring large areas of bright and dark red hyperfiber PU synthetic leather. The gold side claw support structure, resembling an eagle’s claw, is very eye-catching. In the middle of the vamp and the ankle area, there are gold triangles and lines, and the ankle area adopts a molded technology that gives the shoe surface a more geometric and three-dimensional look, enhancing both visual effects and shoe surface support for better protection.

The inside of the shoe is also dominated by red with a few gold lines, similar to the outside. The standout feature is the large area of wear-resistant KPU material that extends from the toe to the instep, with considerable thickness and large printed letters, including “tough,” indicating its reliable wear resistance.

Personal Opinion: The only flaw in my opinion is that the tongue seems a bit too high. Although this design provides better ankle protection, it looks slightly abrupt from an aesthetic perspective. Perhaps a tongue height similar to that of the 970ace would be more visually appealing. However, this is just my personal preference, and I respect differing opinions.

VSR Rubber Outsole:
The VSR rubber outsole has an original color for the forefoot and red for the heel, with intricate tread patterns providing excellent grip. The hollowed-out parts reveal the embedded black carbon fiber support plate within the midsole.

From the top view, the red hyperfiber PU synthetic leather features carbon fiber patterns, and the shoe surface has many ventilation holes for breathability and heat dissipation. The wide toe box design is friendly to players with wider feet. For those who love the 970ace but hesitate due to foot width, I highly recommend trying the P8500II—it’s sure to be a pleasant surprise. The large tongue with the prominent Victory logo is also eye-catching.

Weight and Performance Comparison:
The weight of the 43-size shoe is measured at around 339.5g, comparable to the S82 and 970ace. However, the P8500II excels in cushioning, lateral support, and wrapping, feeling more balanced overall and reminiscent of a wider version of the 970ace.

On-Foot Experience:
Wrapping: The shoe provides a snug fit with good fixation during movement. The extensive use of hyperfiber PU synthetic leather makes the vamp highly durable and offers strong wrapping. The ankle area is generously padded, and the enlarged tongue and raised heel provide ample ankle protection. Overall, the wrapping performance is impressive, surpassing the S82 and on par with the P8510 and 970ace.

Grip: The VSR rubber outsole with intricate tread patterns ensures strong grip during various movements, allowing for easy and worry-free play. The grip performance is comparable to the S82, P8510, and 970ace.

Cushioning: The shoe feels lightweight, soft, and bouncy, with the HYPEREVA midsole and heel cushion effectively absorbing and rapidly returning energy, enhancing stride consistency and landing stability. Combined with the ENERGYMAX 3.0 insole, the overall cushioning performance is excellent, with a lighter weight and quicker startup. The cushioning performance surpasses the S82 and P8510 and is on par with the 970ace, with slightly better forefoot cushioning.

Torsion Resistance: The upgraded side claw structure significantly enhances lateral stability, providing reassuring torsion resistance. The carbon fiber stabilizer and TPU further strengthen the support, ensuring ample protection even during intense confrontations. The torsion resistance performance is better than the S82 and P8510 and on par with the 970ace.

Durability: Both the vamp and outsole exhibit strong durability. The thick KPU material on the inside vamp outperforms the S82 and 970ace in terms of wear resistance, being on par with the P8510.

Breathability: After three hours of gameplay, the feet remain relatively comfortable due to the numerous ventilation holes. Although not as breathable as the S82 with its large mesh design, the breathability is sufficient and outperforms the P8510.

Overall Impression:
The P8500II is another powerful and well-rounded shoe with good looks. Equipped with HYPEREVA, upgraded side claw structure, lateral LS-S system, and thickened wear-resistant KPU, it offers a comfortable and reliable wearing experience. As a continuation of the legend, this high-end new year offering is definitely worth a try.