I would not buy the Nike Book 2 blind. The forefoot cushioning gives it a reason to exist, but the fit and upper need to earn their place on your feet. For a player who wants an easy, flexible guard shoe, I would look elsewhere before being persuaded by a sale sticker.
My recommendation is narrower: consider it if you want a structured, forefoot-focused shoe, can try the exact edition and mainly play on a clean indoor floor. If your feet run wide or your regular court is dusty, those are reasons to be more selective—not details to wave away because you like Booker.
Testing disclosure: What’s Hot in UAE has not court-tested this pair. This is our buying judgment based on Nike’s specifications and attributed independent evidence, not a personal account of playing in the shoe. The original review’s useful distinctions between upper constructions, court conditions and fit remain central.
Related: our Dubai sneaker-store and authenticity guide covers buying checks. It does not certify a particular seller’s stock or a pair offered privately.
Nike Book 2: the decision in one minute
| Your priority | My buying decision |
|---|---|
| Forefoot cushioning and a structured upper | Worth trying; confirm the exact construction |
| An easy, flexible first wear | Not the pair I would order without comparison |
| Wide feet or pressure around the midfoot | Try in person; more length does not necessarily solve width |
| A dusty regular court | Do not rely on a clean-court review |
| A discount | Only useful if the fit and intended use already work |
| Outdoor basketball | Evidence disagrees; I would not make this my default outdoor purchase |
What is actually different from the Book 1?
Nike’s launch announcement describes forefoot Air Zoom, Cushlon 3.0 and a foam sockliner in a lower-profile design. It also distinguishes webbed-mesh versions from moulded-upper versions. That is the starting point, not proof that every edition feels the same.
I like the logic of identifying where the cushioning sits before choosing a basketball shoe. It is more useful than calling a sequel “better” because its number is higher. A player happy with their Book 1 should compare the actual fit and movement rather than assume the Book 2 is a compulsory upgrade.
The official Phoenix listing also calls for half a size up and gives an approximate 450g weight for men’s US 9. That is a specific product listing, not a fit guarantee for every foot. It makes the earlier broad instruction to start true to size too simplistic.
The test evidence worth keeping
RunRepeat’s tested pair returned 75.1% forefoot energy return, a 0.75 traction coefficient, 442g weight and 1/5 breathability. Its flex test required 26.9N versus 17.1N for the Book 1. The review also reports durability good enough for outdoor consideration. These are that source’s measurements and assessment—not our test results or guarantees for another upper.
Those data points explain my caution. I would not let one attractive cushioning measurement answer separate questions about weight, ventilation or fit. Equally, one lab traction value does not establish dependable stopping on your usual dusty floor.
HoopsGeek’s six-review summary shows a 7.0/10 expert average, with support at 8.3, cushioning at 7.9, fit at 7.2, traction at 6.6 and materials at 6.0. Its reported feedback highlights dust and upper concerns, but those sources did not all reach the same verdict. These are external aggregate scores, not a What’s Hot in UAE rating.
The original article also cites WearTesters’ purchased-pair review. Its indexed disclosure confirms the purchase; the full page returned a rate limit during this update, so I have not presented a fresh line-by-line recheck of its findings.
What the Book 1 comparison means for my shortlist
Using RunRepeat’s reported bending-force results, (26.9 − 17.1) ÷ 17.1 × 100 = about 57.3% more force for its tested Book 2 than its Book 1. That is our calculation from the published test—not a claim that every part of the shoe is 57.3% stiffer or that every colourway behaves identically.
If easier forefoot bending is the reason you want to change shoes, I would not buy this sequel on the cushioning story alone. The forefoot can return energy in one test while the shoe still resists bending in another. Those are different questions, and the second one matters when you want a fluid-feeling guard shoe.
Why the reviews disagree—and why I would not average the problem away
There are two distinct disagreements here. First, Nike’s mesh and moulded constructions are not interchangeable. Second, a durability result is not a grip verdict. RunRepeat’s favourable outdoor-durability assessment and HoopsGeek’s outdoor caution do not justify pretending there is unanimous support for either “perfect outdoors” or “unusable outdoors”.
My conclusion is to choose by conditions rather than use the average as a shopping instruction. If your usual game is on a dusty indoor floor, a reassuring clean-court report does not remove that concern. If outdoor wear is your priority, ask what edition and outsole the relevant reviewer actually used.
I would also keep the test question specific. A heavy, rigid shoe can offer containment without being the shoe you enjoy moving in. Those are different qualities, and I would not trade comfort away simply because a support score is the highest number in the table.
Cushioning: the reason I would still try it
The forefoot setup is the clearest reason for keeping the Book 2 on a shortlist. I would try it alongside another candidate with the same socks and compare how each fits under the ball of the foot, rather than chase a description such as “explosive”. No shoe description guarantees a quicker first step or higher jump.
For a player who wants a soft, maximal-cushion sensation, I would establish that preference before shopping this model. A responsive forefoot is not the same question as the amount of cushioning you want under the heel. Do not let one appealing feature stand in for the whole fit.
Upper, weight and breathability: my main reservations
I would insist on identifying the upper before paying. “Book 2” on a box is not enough when the brand itself describes different constructions. A review of a mesh version cannot promise the feel of the black moulded launch pair pictured here, and the reverse is equally true.
For UAE buyers who already struggle with hot feet, ventilation deserves attention even if the intended game is indoors. I would ask to try the exact pair rather than assume a colour change fixes the upper.
The large difference between brand language about light construction and the measured weight is another reason to read the specification, not just the adjective. Neither the manufacturer’s approximate figure nor a single independently weighed pair establishes every production pair’s weight.
Sizing: stop treating true-to-size as a universal answer
The official Phoenix page, style IB6687-700, recommends half a size up. Some reviewer sizing conclusions differ. My answer is to try the exact version in the relevant size system, checking toe room, heel hold and pressure across the midfoot together.
- Identify the edition and upper. Do not use the wrong colourway’s fit advice.
- Check the size system. UK, US and EU labels are not the same number.
- Compare adjacent sizes if possible. Added length does not automatically relieve a pressure point.
- Use your normal basketball socks. Do not judge fit using a setup you will not play in.
- Read the return conditions before use. Do not assume a worn court session qualifies as a return.
I would not buy a painful fit on the promise that it will eventually become a different shape. Nor would I automatically size up a full size because one online reviewer needed it. The useful instruction is to test the actual pair against your own foot, not follow whichever comment sounds most certain.
UAE price: distinguish the edition from the headline discount
Price rechecked on 20 October 2026, Nike UAE’s WNBA 30th listing, IR6333-100, displays AED 579 reduced from AED 879. That is one edition’s displayed price, not the price of the black launch pair, Phoenix or every Book 2. Size labels and an Add to Bag button do not establish availability for a selected size.
The difference is AED 300, or about 34.1% of the AED 879 reference price. The useful comparison is the AED 579 you would actually pay for that exact edition, plus any applicable costs—not the size of the saving in isolation.
I would compare a sale pair in the wrong fit with a correctly fitting alternative at its actual price, not with the sale pair’s crossed-out figure. A discount is not compensation for a shoe you will leave in the cupboard.
The earlier guide recorded Spiridon at AED 549 and Tiger Camo at AED 729 on 11 October. Those remain dated observations, not newly verified offers for every size. The collection page’s retrieval was inconsistent during this check; the specific WNBA listing above is the current local price example used here.
Check the exact product code, size, final basket and applicable return terms. The US Phoenix page displays a different dollar price and US returns wording; neither is a UAE checkout promise. No order or reservation was made for this review.
Before you try two sizes: the UAE return catch
I would sort out the return route before ordering adjacent sizes—not after taking one pair onto court. Nike UAE’s policy, checked on 20 October 2026, requires returns within 30 days of receiving the full order, with original condition, packaging and tags. It can refuse items unfit for resale. That is not a promise of a court-wear trial.
| Your purchase | The practical distinction |
|---|---|
| Several sizes in one online order | Only one return request per order, after all items arrive. Decide together which pairs to send back. |
| Online order, store return | The local store-return page offers free returns to its Nike stores within 30 days, subject to the return conditions. |
| Purchase made in a Nike store | The policy directs you back to the original purchase store. |
For this shoe, I would choose an in-store fitting over buying extra sizes on autopilot. The point is to resolve the midfoot pressure and heel hold before committing—not turn a discounted pair into an expensive mistake.
My verdict: try it for the forefoot setup, reject it if the fit loses
I would try the Book 2, not automatically buy it. The cushioning concept is interesting enough for a comparison; the upper and fit are important enough to veto the purchase. For wide feet, persistent pressure or a dusty regular court, I would be especially reluctant to order unseen.
For Booker fans buying primarily for the look, that is a legitimate preference—just separate it from a performance recommendation. The black-and-orange design has a clear visual identity. It does not prove that this is the right shoe for your next game.
Browse our sneakers coverage for other releases, but make the final comparison between exact products rather than marketing names.
FAQs: Nike Book 2
Has the Nike Book 2 actually released?
Yes. Nike announced January 2026 availability. Current retail listings establish that the Book 2 is on sale; a particular colourway, size or UAE price still needs checking separately.
How does the Nike Book 2 compare to the Book 1 for UAE hoopers?
Nike moved Air Zoom from the heel to the forefoot and uses Cushlon 3.0. The independent evidence raises concerns about the tested Book 2 upper, weight and dust performance. I would not treat it as an automatic upgrade: choose the exact edition around fit and your usual court, not the newer model number.
Sources and methodology
20 October source follow-up: Nike’s model announcement, Phoenix sizing/specification, UAE WNBA price and returns pages, RunRepeat’s tests and HoopsGeek’s aggregate were reopened. The bending-force comparison above is calculated from the attributed test figures; no new in-house wear or lab test is claimed. WearTesters’ full page could not be retrieved in this follow-up.
20 October buying-utility follow-up: the exact UAE WNBA listing and local return/process pages were checked again. The new return-route comparison is not an in-house wear test or a fresh recertification of every independent performance measurement in this review. Earlier review scope and dates remain recorded.
Updated 19 October 2026. Nike’s construction and Phoenix product information, RunRepeat’s test page, HoopsGeek’s aggregate and the specific Nike UAE WNBA listing were read. WearTesters was available only as an indexed purchase disclosure during this check. All three existing images were viewed and retained, including the design quotation corroborated by Nike’s launch page. No in-house wear test, personal fit assessment or original laboratory measurement is claimed.
