PickGuideAnta Splash 8 'Sky Vessel' Review: Is KICKSOWN's Trending Pick Worth It?
KICKSOWN doesn't publish a ranked best-seller list or per-product review counts, so instead of guessing at their literal #1, we picked the item the store itself flags as trending: the Anta Splash 8 'Sky Vessel,' a HOT-tagged restock in Klay Thompson's budget signature line. It's $117, currently orderable in most sizes, and has enough independently verifiable specs and store history to review honestly.
The Splash 8 is the budget half of Anta's Klay Thompson signature program — cheaper and lighter than the flagship KT line, aimed at guards who want a fast, low-cut shoe over a heavily cushioned all-court one. Independent retailer listings (shopnings.com, vjsneaker.com) put its weight at roughly 293g in a EU42, built around full-length Nitroedge N80 foam, a carbon fiber shank, and a 3-segment TPU torsion setup for underfoot stability. The upper is woven mesh with heat-fused TPU overlays for structure without much added weight, and the outsole uses Anta's AI-designed wave traction pattern in an ultra-light rubber compound, tuned for indoor hardwood grip rather than outdoor courts. KICKSOWN's own product page for this listing has no written description and no on-site review widget — no star rating, no review count — which is typical for this store; most product pages we checked on kicksown.com have an empty description field. That's the honest gap here: you're buying based on Anta's spec sheet and the store's overall reputation, not verified feedback on this specific shoe. That reputation is mixed. KICKSOWN holds a 3.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from roughly 105 reviews, with recurring praise for pricing and product authenticity alongside real complaints about slow customer service responses and orders stuck in customs for weeks. The 'Restock' tag on this listing — it sold out once already — plus its 'Trending Now / HOT' homepage placement are the closest thing to a verifiable demand signal the store gives.
Pros
- Full-length Nitroedge N80 cushioning plus a carbon fiber shank — genuinely supportive underfoot for a sub-$120 shoe
- Light for a basketball shoe at roughly 293g (EU42), noticeably lighter than Anta's own flagship KT8
- AI-designed liquid-rubber outsole pattern built specifically for indoor court grip
- Detachable wrap-around straps let you dial in midfoot lockdown without re-lacing
- $117 undercuts Anta's own flagship KT8 ($160 retail) and most Western signature shoes by a wide margin
- Restocked, HOT-tagged listing — a real, if informal, demand signal from the store itself
Cons
- No on-site rating or review count for this specific shoe/colorway — nothing product-specific to verify beyond the spec sheet
- KICKSOWN provides no written product description on its own page; you're relying on third-party retailer listings to confirm specs
- Store-wide Trustpilot rating is a mixed 3.4/5 (105 reviews), including real complaints about slow support and customs delays
- Traction pattern is optimized for indoor hardwood — not the shoe to grab for outdoor blacktop
- Anta footwear is widely reported to run half a size to a full size small; budget for sizing up, especially with wide feet
- As an overseas import, shipping commonly takes about two weeks, with a real minority of Trustpilot reviewers reporting customs delays of a month or more
Who It's For
Good For
- Indoor gym or rec-league guards who want a light, fast shoe and don't need outdoor-durable rubber
- Budget-conscious sneakerheads who want a Klay Thompson signature shoe without the $160 KT8 price
- Buyers comfortable ordering from an overseas importer and willing to size up based on reported fit
Skip If
- You need outdoor-court durability — this outsole compound is tuned for indoor hardwood
- You want to read verified reviews of this exact shoe before buying — none exist on-site yet
- You need fast, guaranteed-window shipping — customs delays are a recurring complaint for this store
How It Compares: Anta Splash 8 'Sky Vessel' vs Anta KT8 (Klay Thompson flagship signature)
| Spec | Anta Splash 8 'Sky Vessel' | Anta KT8 (Klay Thompson flagship signature) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $117.00 | $160.00 (retail) |
| Cushioning | Full-length Nitroedge N80 foam | AFlash Edge foam + Pebax forefoot cushion + 3D-printed Flow plate |
| Weight | ~293g (EU42) | Not published by Anta or WearTesters |
| Independent review score | None found for this listing | 8.5/10 (WearTesters) |
The KT8 is the more thoroughly reviewed, more plush flagship shoe with an independent score to back it up; the Splash 8 is the lighter, cheaper alternative built for speed over cushioning, with the honest tradeoff that no outside reviewer has published a verdict on this specific shoe yet.
See Anta KT8 (Klay Thompson flagship signature) →
Verified Ratings
Key Specs
| Model | Anta Splash 8 'Sky Vessel' (Klay Thompson Splash line) |
| Weight | ~293g in EU42 (per third-party retailer listings) |
| Cushioning | Full-length Nitroedge N80 foam |
| Support | Carbon fiber shank, 3-segment TPU torsion setup |
| Upper | Woven mesh with heat-fused TPU overlay |
| Outsole | Ultra-light rubber, AI-designed wave traction pattern (indoor-focused) |
| Closure | Lace-up plus detachable wrap-around straps |
| Silhouette | Low-top |
| Sizes at KICKSOWN | US Men 6.5–12 (10 size options) |
| Listing status | Restock (previously sold out), tagged HOT / Trending Now |
| Price at KICKSOWN | $117.00 (vs. $99.99–$149.99 at other importers; Anta KT8 flagship is $160 retail) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anta Splash 8 'Sky Vessel' actually KICKSOWN's best-selling product?
We can't verify that — KICKSOWN doesn't publish a ranked best-seller list or per-product sales figures. We picked this listing because the store itself flags it as 'Trending Now' and HOT on its homepage, and because it's a recent restock, meaning it already sold through once, which is the closest verifiable demand signal available.
Does this shoe run true to size?
Not consistently, based on outside sizing guides and buyer feedback on Anta footwear generally — the brand's shoes are commonly reported to run half a size to a full size small, especially for wider feet. We'd recommend sizing up rather than ordering your usual size.
Why isn't there a star rating for this specific shoe?
KICKSOWN doesn't run an on-site review widget for this listing, and we couldn't find an independent review of this exact colorway. The 3.4/5 rating we cite is Trustpilot's rating for the KICKSOWN store as a whole, not this shoe specifically — we're flagging that gap rather than implying a product rating that doesn't exist.
How long does shipping take from KICKSOWN?
Based on Trustpilot reviews, typical delivery runs around two weeks, though a real minority of reviewers report delays from customs holds of a month or more, so budget extra time if you need the shoes by a specific date.
Verdict
On specs alone, the Splash 8 is a smart budget pickup: real cushioning tech, a carbon shank, and a sub-$120 price for a Klay Thompson signature shoe. What you're trading away is verification — there's no review history for this specific listing, and the store's own reputation sits at a solid-not-stellar 3.4/5. If you're comfortable buying from an overseas importer, sizing up based on widely reported small fit, and you mainly play indoors, this is a reasonable way into the Splash line. If you want reviews of the exact shoe in hand before you buy, or need fast shipping, those gaps are real reasons to wait or look elsewhere.