C202 v4.0 Upper – Very Vaporweave
Aside from the very fancy pink, white and blue colour which I personally like but others may find a bit much. The upper really reminds me of the original Vaporly. It has that reinforced, very thin, ultra breathable feel. Despite the very obvious layers of reinforcement, it is still soft to the touch and causes no issues on the foot. In fact, I have found the fit and feel of the upper to be very pleasant.
Other elements:
The gusseted tongue wraps the foot very well and has minimal padding. However, this padding is well placed and stops any pressure from the laces from causing discomfort. The heel collar of the Anta C202 v4.0 is actually quite plush for a more speed oriented shoe. Here, the fabric is soft and well padded which helps it hold the heel tightly. This is where I have found the first downside of the shoe.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have had some rather biblical levels of rain in the UK. This has allowed me plenty of opportunity to test the C202 v4.0 in the wet. After each of these deluges, it has taken the heel collar of the shoe an inordinate amount of time to dry out. This is also because there are a couple of thicker, more vinyl feeling wraps around the heel. These add to its stoutness and water retention.
Dampness issues aside, the upper of the shoe is breathable, holds well and has given me no comfort issues. The fit is true to size and is actually very pleasant.
Lockdown is easy to achieve. The lacing system is quite simple and the laces are easy to tie and hold tight. A good start for a shoe which can be had for well under €100 on the Anta website.