Category: Air Jordan

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AIR JORDAN SUPREME ELEVATION Performance Review

Did many of you mistake this JORDAN SUPREME ELEVATION for AJ32 when you first saw it? Well, I think that must be the case for many of you. For me, to be frank, my first glance of the shoes did left me the impression that it was right the AJ 32 because their vamps are just very similar to each other.

Despite that, after getting some more knowledge of the shoes I found that the SUPREME ELEVATION actually has its own merits and deserves its own name rather than being called the substitute of AJ32.

Now that I’ve got used to the shoes and also got intimate knowledge of it, I’d like share with you my detailed thoughts and here’s my JORDAN SUPREME ELEVATION, based on 5 months’ hooping and shooting on indoor courts mostly. So let’s begin!

 

Vamp

Now that many people, including me, think the JORDAN SUPREME ELEVATION and AJ 32 are similar in their vamps, I’ll then talk about this respect so that you may know if this one suits you.

In terms of the wrapping, if you have experienced the AJ 32 before, you’ll find a similar feeling on these as well. Personally, when I first tried on the shoes, all I could feel was that my feet had been tightly locked in all directions and the vamp as well as the sidewalls both fit my feet snugly and tightly just like a pair of socks.

The merit of its excellent wrapping is that it makes me feel very secured even on high-intensity plays. In the forefoot portion there’s a Velcro which is no decoration but actually improves the wrapping to a terrific extent. Excellent as it is, it is somewhat a mixed blessing. With the Velcro I now feel it rather tight underfoot and sometimes even a bit burdensome. So while I was playing on court, it was sometimes a must to stop to adjust the wrapping.

Overall, in spite of problem, it just does what it’s supposed to do – lock you down, and the overall sense of security is definitely there.

Sizing guide

Along with the wrapping comes the sizing guide. For me, in order to get rid of the hassle mentioned above, I had to buy another pair of shoes with bigger size just two weeks after I got the first pair. So, to help you avoid this issue and make sure your feet feel more comfortable, here is the recommendation. For the regular foot types, the regular sizes should also be fine. But if you think you’ve got wide feet or high insteps or if you are flat footers, it’s highly recommended to go up 1/2 a size. Nevertheless, it’ll be best if you can try them on in person. After all, personal experience is always more accurate than others’ advice.

Support

While the wrapping is great, its support is good as well, but not to the point of outstanding. The vamp support is slightly weaker than that of the AJ32, and while there is no obvious vamp distortion during high-intensity runs, it is not as airtight as the AJ32 in this aspect. But, definitely, you can rest assured because it is never flimsy.

Inside the heel area, there’s plenty of padding and also a large TPU for ankle & heel lockdown and my feet just get jammed in there very securely. The overall torsional support still isn’t top-tier though, it is enough for most players.

Nothing really to complain about here, but just that its support is not as excellent and impressive as that of AJ32.

Midsole

Apart from the vamp, the other great thing about this pair of shoes is the midsole. There are two large Zoom Air separated sitting there as the core of the shoe’s cushioning setup. Aside from that there’s nothing new about it.

Unlike some relatively hard cushions, this setup of SUPREME ELEVATION doesn’t require me to take several sessions to get used to it and wait for it to fully break in and start working to its full potential. Instead, the moment I stepped on it I could feel the super nice comfort and softness it offered, though there do exist some differences in the feelings offered by the forefoot and heel areas respectively.

But have you found something special? Yep! I only said comfort and softness of the cushions but not its elasticity. That’s also the flaw of the cushion.

The foot feeling offered by the cushion is that it is soft enough but not elastic enough to provide forceful feedback when it is needed. In other words, the air pressure of the cushion is not enough and a bit unstable so that the rebound and impact absorption will be slightly insufficient. To make it more explicit, let me show you a brief comparison here. The LBJ16 is also equipped with visible air cushion, but the biggest difference is that its air pressure is high enough and so it feels quite hard to step on it. Of course there is no trade-off. The LBJ16’s cushion feels hard though, it also provides the top cushioning performance.

From my perspective, I cannot feel the rebound while playing. But my friend who weighs about 85kg said he could feel a bit cushioning performance from it. Though I cannot figure out the problem, I still think it unsuitable for bigger and heavier players.

Traction

The outsole of these is a bit novel and appealing. It is made of two thirds crystal and one third rubber. Then what about its performance?

The rubber area does give good feedback on the drive and the grip on both the infield and outfield is fine. Nevertheless, when it comes to the crystal area, there has appeared some obvious wear and tear after these several months’ play.

So since the durability on indoor courts has been that unsatisfying you can imagine how poor it would be on outdoor courts.

Overall

Another problem that needs mentioning is that the shoe’s center of gravity is high, which determines that it would be slow during startup. So for players who need explosiveness, these are not an ideal choice. And since I need not much explosiveness, I personally haven’t issues with this.

Putting that aside, the  JORDAN SUPREME ELEVATION is still an excellent model with its top-ranking wrapping and comfortable foot feelings. Anyway, depending on your personal needs I’ll leave it for you to use your discretion and decide whether it is a good one or not.

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Air Jordan React Elevation Performance Review

Want the forefoot Zoom and the rear React? Want that inviting setup with a competitive price? If these are what you want, you’ll probably love today’s Air Jordan React Elevation review then. Along with other sneakers, I’ve played in these for almost two seasons and the several outdoor courts in my neighborhood have also witnessed that. Although I’ve also jammed a few sessions on indoor courts, I am a big advocate of outdoor play, mostly on concrete and blacktop ones.

So as to put all things into perspective, I am gonna break down the shoe from a practical point of view so that you may better form your own idea as to whether these are your thing. So let’s waste no time and dive right into the review.

Wrapping

Can the sneaker wrap your feet very well? Will there emerge any issues like slippage on court?

Well, objectively speaking, the wrapping is merely mediocre from the actual-play standpoint. Although many AJ shoes are outstanding in this aspect, the Air Jordan React Elevation just acts in an opposite way, though not to the point of unplayable.

When in static conditions, the wrapping actually feels good and I feel my feet firmly locked inside the footbed. But to most people, it is the on-court wrapping that really matters. So, to my dismal, while I was running on court, I encountered several slippage inside the shoes, though not very obvious. So to avoid possible slippages inside the shoes, I had to turn to wearing relatively thick socks. With that and the laces tightened, the wrapping just turn out to be  nice.

In addition to that, I should say that you might as well get ready for the slight toe bumps. But don’t misapprehend that. The case doesn’t go for everyone. In other words, whether there will be toe bumps rest with personal foot type. So regarding this problem, it’s highly recommended to take a try in the flesh.

 

Cushion

How’s the impact absorption and what about the energy return properties? What about ride height, comfort, and stability?

A zoom sits in the forefoot of the Air Jordan React Elevation and a react accompanies the rear area of the foot. Sounds like a really nice cushion setup, isn’t it? Surely this is an ideal setup for many people and there’s no other way to put it.

As soon as I put the shoes on, I could instantly feel the energy feedback from underfoot. So unlike other sneakers, there’s no need for me to take a couple of sessions to really start feeling the cushion’s full potential. Things are just as awesome as they sound.

The Air Jordan React Elevation does offer super well-balanced and comfortable cushion that is terrific for guards but also works for almost everyone else. Could players of the explosiveness style feel too much in it? Well, hardly not the case! It’s safe to say that this is a happy medium for just about anyone who steps foot in these.

In fact, I was also surprised about the uncommonly heel impact absorption and protection. The rear cushion is actually a bit too thick and so the ride won’t be very low to the ground. If you are used to playing on both your forefeet and heels and you happen to be a heavier player, you’ll feel that this setup is quite omnipotent.

In spite of all that, I think these are still far from the potential of the shoe’s cushion setup and you can always expect surprises from it. But it should be mentioned that if you are the one who prefers having a very responsive ride that’s low to the ground and super agile, this cushion may not be as good as you expected.

 

Stability

As is mentioned, the rear cushion is thick and the ride is therefore not very low to the ground. The React feels good though, it cannot be said as a brag model. According to my own experience, I always feel a little unstable on court, which, I think, can be attributed to the heel’s being thick.

So the cushion in fact a mixed blessing. If you wanna its nice cushion performance, then you must take its good with the bad.

Traction

Can the outsole bite aggressively? How long will the outsoles last then?

Again the Air Jordan React Elevation features the herringbone pattern that is widely seen in lots of sneakers. But that is not the whole story. The herringbone areas are made of rubber while the area indicating “zoom” is made of crystal materials.

Usually I play 8 to 9 hours every week, on the abrasive surfaces mostly, and most of the time the traction was superior, if not top-ranking. In a word, I’ve so far hadn’t issues with the Air Jordan React Elevation in this respect.

Definitely, it’s not the most aggressive traction under the sun and not everyone needs much traction. For me, however, the traction bites aggressively on various grounds, right to the point, though a bit inferior on indoor smoother courts.

I also want to mention that dust and debris are both likely to get stuck in the grains, so a few occasional wipe-downs of the outsoles will help a great deal. But don’t be worried. Even if you don’t want to do the wiping, you won’t be sliding all over the place, either.

 

Durability

The React Elevation currently has two colorways for rubber outsole and crystal outsole. Personally, I’ve chosen the crystal one. So you may have guessed that the crystal one is no match for its counterpart.

At present, there are slight but visible wears on the front areas. Though the crystal outsole is not seriously damaged and the materials are not super wear-resistant, I think it is still playable, not least when considering the sneaker’s price.

But for those of you who prefer playing on concrete courts, it is crystal clear that you should choose the rubber ones.

Surely I can’t say accurately how long the shoes can last, but judging from the condition of my shoes, I think they are still able to accompany me for another 2 seasons.

SIZING GUIDE

Can you go true to size or is it a must to deviate from your usual choice?

The React Elevation is a bit bigger in size and here it is recommended to go down 1/2 a size. On a personal note,  I usually pick up Nike/Adidas size 43 and for this, I chose the size 42.5 which is also US9.

Once again, to ensure a most satisfying experience, you are suggested to have a try so that any discomfort or hassle can be avoided. And if you cop the right size, the shoe will only be snug, near one-to-one fit.

 

Overall

The React Elevation is surely an awesome sneaker. It does deliver almost everything I require and impresses me deeply. Although it does have shortcomings, its flaws cannot overshadow its advantages. Most important of all, it is not as expensive as other AJ sneakers which are excellent though. After all, for many of us, when we meet some sneaker that is deeply after our own heart, we can also be scared off by its jaw-dropping price.

Being low-profile, the shoe doesn’t get as much attention as others. But it doesn’t mean it is not good. Instead , if you are someone seeking a nice cushion and traction, it should be a surprising package for you. And for those of you who play a lot on outdoor courts, you’ll probably dig this one a lot.

 

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Air Jordan 19 Performance Review

As the first generation of AJ after Jordan’s retirement, the AJ19, like AJ 18, is historic among the many AJ sneakers. Many consider it a good choice because it can be used for both daily wearing and actual plays. However, there are still many who think that the AJ original versions are not suitable for actual plays. Is that so? Well, to be frank, I don’t know much about the other AJ shoes, but this AJ 19, at least, has proven that it is a good one for actual plays.

Now that I’ve been played hooping and shooting in it for almost a season, let me share with you my detailed thoughts so that you may form your own idea about whether it is a HIT or MISS.

Cushion

Its cushioning, as far as I am concerned, is the most advanced setup in Nike’s history: the full-foot Zoom and the rear Zoom. Just like the FOG, KD12 and AJ18, the AJ 19 is also outstanding in this respect.

The AJ 19 has ditched the carbon plate that is seen under the insoles of the AJ 18, which,as a result, has some implications for players’ speed during startup. A trade-off for this is that the energy return can be more obviously felt and the cushion also becomes more soft and comfortable.

This, however, is only a mixed blessing. Why do I say that then? Well, this is really a super well-balanced setup that are fantastic for guards but cannot work for just about everyone. For me, I enjoy the cushion’s softness and comfort quite a lot. But, buddy, if you are the explosiveness type, you’ll certainly find it disappointing. Its forefoot feels quite soft, which is set to affect the speed when there are breakthroughs, startup or direction changes. So for those explosiveness players, it is suggested to think twice before taking action.

For the heel, it offers stellar impact protection thanks to the gorgeous rear Zoom and I don’t feel mushy or overly slow because of this. You can just rest assured because it isn’t like the Dame 7 whose heel is a little bit mushy while the forefoot feels quite firm. As for the forefoot and midfoot areas, they feel lower to the ground and the overall heel-to-toe stride just feels ultra-smooth, which does surprise me to a certain extent.

 

Vamp

We all know that the vamp plays a crucial role in a sneaker’s overall performance. But likewise, it definitely cannot satiate the needs of everyone. For instance, the AJ 19’s wrapping performance again receives quite mixed comments from many consumers.

Objectively speaking, the wrapping performance has also something to do with players’ foot type. Depending on the personal foot type, some may think it super excellent while others may consider it as a crap.

Personally, I am a little bit of a wide footer and during the period when I tried to get used to the shoes, my feet were a little crowded in there but that changed before long after the vamp started heating up and breaking in. So if you can give yourself some time to get used to the sneaker, things will then become awesome.

One big downside is , for quite a few players, that there’s no ventilation here. Almost zero. Actually, there’s a dustproof design but it is so bewildering that I can’t figure out why it is designed this way. Maybe for improving air permeability or something else.

In fact, the design concept of this one is very similar to that of AJ18. Possibly because of the poor air permeability caused by the leather vamp of AJ18, AJ 19’s dustproof setup is upgraded in such a way. Nevertheless, it is a sad story that the air permeability is not improved and the shoe’s appearance has also become less inviting. Just think that if AJ19’s vamp is changed to the AJ18 leather, the AJ 19 is sure to be more nice-looking！

So, since I don’t personally have a big sweating problem, I don’t really care about the poor breathability. But if your skin sweats fast, you’ll probably feel it a bit with it.

 

Support

If you happen to have experienced one of the successful Harden releases, say, the 3rd or 4th shoe, you should have known what a good, supportive sneaker is like. In terms of the AJ 19, the familiar carbon plate is reminiscent of AJ11. The setup of this ones, it’s safe to say, is equally excellent. So there is simply no need to worry about the torsion resistance of the midsole. In a word, the midsole can stabilize you torsionally.

Besides, the toe area is super hard, avoiding any possible injuries caused by bumps during exercise. And pair that with its anti-rollover design that looks quite reliable even in high-intensity plays, you’ve got yourself a quick, comfortable, and well-thought-out machine.

Now that the support features are in place, the vamp can hold my foot in place wonderfully and there are no apparent restrictions. That’s for sure. So again rest assured and play to your heart’s content.

 

In terms of the startup which I think deserves one more mention, I’d take the well-known KD12 for example. You may also have experienced KD12 before. And based on that, the AJ 19 feels a bit softer. No more surprises here. So players who belong to the explosiveness type may as well seek other models because this one will only encumber their athletic performances rather than being a great assistant.

Overall:

Rounding the AJ 19 review up：Who’s it born for? Does it deserve the dollar?

As have been mentioned several times earlier, the shoe is definitely not suitable for explosiveness players. But for other players, it is a good one and maybe it is  awesome for some.

The only shortcoming, on a personal note, is that its leather can be damaged easily, which, I think, may make quite a few people flinch away from the shoe. But the flaws do not overshadow the advantages. It actually belongs to the top sneaker in terms of the setups: it has the full-foot Zoom and a carbon plate in the rear cushion; besides, its wrapping performance and weight both live up to its reputation of being an original AJ shoe.

To sum up, the sneaker surprisingly fits me very well while also sticking with my regular size and I think most people can go true to size likewise. Last but not the least, based on your own needs, I’ll leave it for you to decide if it’s right for you.

 

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AIR JORDAN XIII Performance Review

For a lot of experienced Air Jordan fans, whenever there are newly released AJs, they care more about whether the shoes’ colorways are classic. In other words, “being classic” depends on whether there have been similar colorways at some point in the past.

When it comes to the Air Jordan 13, the comments and opinions among the fans are somewhat polarized. Nevertheless, there is still a consensus that AJ13 is a masterpiece of 20 years ago, and even the standard for good basketball shoes. Like many of you, I couldn’t agree more with that.

All in all, when it comes to scoring a pair of basketball shoes, I think AJ13 can score up to 90 points. Simply put, even if it is a sneaker from 20 years ago, it is still capable of beating more than 70 percent of today’s sneakers by its actual performance alone. Well, that’s no exaggeration! Now that I’ve got it for over a year now, let’s break it all down in my long-term-based Air Jordan 13 review which, I hope, may help form an opinion of your own.

Midsole

How’s the impact absorption? What about the energy return properties? And the stability?

The separated Zoom cushions sit respectively in the forefoot and the heel area, the former one being fanshaped and the latter regular type. The position where the whole air cushions are placed is basically the same as that of CP11: under the insole and a layer of midsole cloth, there lie the air cushions. The setup is really nice and there’s no other way to put it.

Unlike many other cushions that require a couple of sessions of the players to really begin feeling their full potential, those of this AJ 13 offer instant feedback as soon as you put the shoes on.

On a personal note, they are more stellar than the goose-egg type Zoom in the later stage and the kind of Zoom air cushion placed near the outsole area in recent years. In comparison, there is no doubt that this is a far better setup.

In fact, I always think that the performance of separated Zooms are better than the full-foot one, which is why the separated setup is still maintained in the mainstream of sneakers.

With respect to the rear cushion, it’s more than enough for me as a guard. It is neither too soft nor too hard. The heel offers stellar impact absorption and protection and I don’t feel too mushy or overly slow due to it. It seems that the heel cushion can rise in response to the proper time and conditions when you call for it.

The heel is slightly elevated while the forefoot is a bit curved up. So one stunning point about the setup is that the running transitions and overall flow of movements are both ultra-smooth. And one is most likely to get deeply impressed by it.

Midsole stability

The AJ13’s big carbon plate provides nice stability. To make it more explicit, let’s talk briefly about the other sneakers of the current market. Their midsoles alone with relatively small TPU, even if installed with the same air cushions, may not have such good stability.

It seems there would be difference in how the heel feels vs. the forefoot. But hardly a scenario! Both are nicely balanced, stable and quick. Just right to the point.

Outsole

Is the outsole sensitive to the dust/debris on courts? Can it handle a variety of surfaces & conditions well and stand the test of time?

The pattern, of course, is very cool and handsome, but it is merely a small part of the whole story. What really matters is its performance on courts. Generally speaking, for those shoes of 20 years ago, the bigger their outsoles are, the more stable they will become. What’s more, they can’t be the spherical ones and without anti-rollover designs.

Indoor performance

I have never had my concerns with the shoe’s traction, which is not only because of my confidence in these “old” AJs, but most reviews I’ve seen/read were reporting on reliable grip these provide.

Of course, I can’t say the grip offered by these is perfect, but I’d definitely give it a “nearly-perfect” title for it has offered deadlier and more consistent traction than did those I’ve worn over the years.

Again, the AJ 13 features a herringbone-like traction pattern that offers multi-directional coverage. Although such pattern is nothing new for a lot of us, we cannot deny that it is, to some extent, a “panacea” for players who are in badly need of excellent traction.

The herringbone is really great and with a certain extent of hardness, the traction becomes deadly. Thanks to its excellency,  I never end up even slightly slipping out on a stop, cut, or change of direction.

Indoors, though I don’t usually play high-intensity plays, the outsole doesn’t fail me, either. On the hardwood floors which is certainly not pristine, it doesn’t appeal to dust easily. So even if there’s plenty of dust, there’s still no need worrying about the grip performance. Also, the linear coverage seems to be as good as the lateral bite, though there’s still room for improvement to be perfect.

Outdoor performance

The outsole performance outdoors is also robust. As the summer approaches, I am more prone to playing outdoors. On the blacktop and concrete mostly, I hardly had any issues with these.

Although I know very well that some occasional wipes will keep the outsole bite more healthily, I seldom do so. Apart from my laziness, part of the reasons is that I know I won’t be sliding all over the place even if I don’t wipe them.

Some debris does get stuck in the outsole, but this can never be an obstacle to stop it from offering me nice traction. Not a perfect one under the sun though, it is robust and ideal.

Vamp

When asked about the disadvantages of the sneaker, I can still make a short list. While some of them are the kind of flaws that are bearable, the one that becomes my hassle is the air permeability.

In the “old” shoes, the most conventional shoelace system, the leather vamp and the super thick sponge lining are not uncommon, bringing on poor breathability. Perhaps this is the AJ13’s biggest weakness which, sadly, cannot be evaded. However, if you attach greater importance to its other prominent aspects, this shortcoming certainly won’t be a dealbreaker.

Despite the breathability, the inner lining is super comfortable and locks your feet firmly inside the footbed. No exaggeration! With that, you can go true to size even if you are wide footers. Good trade-off!

Besides the above, you are enabled to adjust the tightness of the wrapping without running into the problem of pressing the insteps, as happened in the Dame3.

Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that the shoelace system does have its problems: it can come undone or something during plays. To avoid this, you may need some precautions before playing.

Overall

Being a high-top sneaker in this era of low-top shoes, the AJ 13 is not as widely enjoyed as it was 20 years ago.

In spite of that, the AJ 13 is definitely a top-ranking sneaker in terms of the performances, such as the cushion, stability and traction. However, it is very important to point out that there are some changes in the current positioning of it and people’s opinions of it have also changed greatly.

For all that, it is still up to scratch and also a paradigm in the eyes of many fans even as years have passed. The odds are that should you give it a chance, you’ll dig this one a lot too. After all, I don’t think it need any hype because its excellence is just obvious.

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Air Jordan 3 Performance Review

Electrified was I when I received my first pair of Air Jordan 3. I think many of you, also fans of the shoe line, have had similar experiences and can therefore identify with me. Here I am gonna present to you my comprehensive Air Jordan 3 performance review.

As yet I’ve played in this sneaker for no more than 5 months, but I deem that this is enough for one to get intimate knowledge of a model. So after 5 months of hooping and shooting on both indoor and outdoor courts, I’ll break it all down from the fullest possible perspectives in this review.

AJ3 is actually the first pair of shoes with the LOGO of the iconic “wings” and also installed with quite a few hardcore technologies. But how does it feel in it? Is it suitable for outdoor courts? Can it stand the test of high-intensity play?

Let’s find out in the following review.

1.Wrapping

AJ 3’s wrapping is definitely the most satisfactory for me. But let’s dive right into the details. The biggest advantage of it is the full-foot inner-bootie that plays a significant role in offering excellent wrapping performance. As I have mentioned in another review that the lacing system of PG2 is unscientific because the lacing system is too far down, resulting in no significant difference in the wrapping performance between the inner-bootie and the anterior inner-bootie. But AJ 3 is a different story. The high-top design and the lace holes very close to the mouth together make it easy to adjust and tighten the shoe while also having the same wrapping effect as those one-piece models, which is quite satisfying, to be honest.

But what are the vamp materials and how about the vamp air permeability? Will it bring on stuffiness underfoot, not least in burning hot summer days?

Well, you need not worry too much. Although I have little aware of how the vamp materials are blended, they won’t cause any stuffiness at all. In the inner-bootie there is a mouth on either side, and the midsection of the vamp is relatively thin, leading to very good air permeability. You can even see the color of your socks from the middle area of the vamp, which is a testament to how breathable the shoes are.

But just get ready for stuffiness if you wear elite socks in the summer. Well, buddy, you can’t expect to enjoy super excellent air permeability while wearing the elite socks. With that kind of socks, the designs for improving breathability will be nothing more than ornaments.

2.Stability

How much security can this AJ 3 provide for us? What about the stability in these? Just like other Air Jordan shoes, this one’s also got TERRIFIC heel stability. Yes! I mean every single part of the word. On top of that, with the inner-bootie wrapping and the additional heel modules, the external colloid, the inner cortex and the inner TPU, you’ll feel quite secure for your heels are firmly locked and stability is also ensured in the ankle parts.

Meanwhile, the relatively hard midsole material combined with the high density of the heel also ensure the stability of the midsole, and the anti-torsion performance of the shoes is also extremely excellent. Although the forefoot support is a bit disadvantaged, the heel and midsole stability have improved the shoes’ protection performance to a great extent.

If you don’t care much about cushioning but attach great importance to wrapping and protection, the AJ 3 might be one of the best options among those of the same price.

3.Traction

The traction must be very good with so sophisticated grains in the outsole？Well, initially I also had great confidence in the outsole that is made quite complex, believing that it would bring me a dandy traction. And luckily, it turns out to be so, but on the other hand, unfortunately, along with the complex patterns comes the problem in durability.

In recent years, there are quite a few signature shoes whose outsoles are designed complex in order to look more fashionable, and this AJ 3 is no exception. Although the more complex lines can really enhance the traction, to tell the truth, however, the patterns seem somewhat flashy if compared with the traditional one-way corrugated lines, and the outsole durability therefore becomes kinda risk factor. What a sad trade-off!

When it comes to the traditional one-way corrugated patterns which I believe you have seen in many other models, simple as they look, they can also offer effective traction while ensuring good durability at the meantime.

As for the traction of AJ 3, for all the relatively poor durability, it is nonetheless very good. It is safe to say that it even prevails over that of many high-end sneakers. So the durability put aside, the traction can be said to be super satisfactory.

4.Cushion

You know what? Many reviewers including me all agreed that the cushion is a faulty part of the shoes. Though there are cushion techs, the cushion performance actually doesn’t live up to its reputation. For the heavier and bigger players, the cushion can be more obvious. But for me who weigh 80kg, I am awakened to the existence of the cushions only when I am deliberately feeling its performance.

Overall:

Is this AJ3 suitable for actual outdoor plays? Well, depending on what you require of it, the answer may be quite different. From my point of view, however, it is definitely not the ideal model for actual plays, but lowering my expectations, I found that it is not bad, either. To be more straightforward, I even feel it very good in a sense.

The AJ 3 features a surprisingly good traction which may be an equivalent to that of kyrie3. Over and above that,with solid inner linings, its wrapping is also dandy. But the cushion is not so soft and also disappointing. And adding insult to injury, the durability is poor, leading to conspicuous damages to the shoes. When there are sudden stops, you’ll find deformations and wears out there, not least in the high-use areas.

Although it is not an ideal model for me, I think it still has some merits that deserves compliments. But however good or bad you may think of the AJ3, I’ll just stop here and leave it to your own devices to decide if it is your right one.

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Unboxing: Air Jordan Legacy 312 Low

For the majority of Air Jordan fans, good news is that a pair of brand new shoes, Jordan Legacy 312 Low, will be available this year. And what’s more electrifying is that the brand is going to release two colorways of the shoes for its fans to chose freely, the Art.No. of which are CD7069-116(the red one) and CD7069-004(the black one).

Although it is true that Air Jordan has never fallen short of new excellent shoes, this Jordan Legacy 312 Low still gets a lot of attention among its various counterparts because there must be something special about it. Here are details of the shoes.

For this red one that adopts the colorway of “Chicago”, it is rather tantalizing for many people. It is actually an all-match with our everyday wear, be it relatively monotonous or fancy.

For the heels, they are decrated with  red crack patterns, inheriting classic elements of Air Jordan shoes, and at the same time making the shoes distinctive.

As for the other colorway, it has also the eye-catching black crack patterns. And along with the translucent crystal outsole and the blue logo at the side and the red one on the strap of the vamp, which forms strong contrast, this black Air Jordan Legacy 312 Low can stand careful appreciation. As a matter of fact,  this black colorway, a bit different from the red one, has some more lingering charm, and the more one looks at it, the more he is to get obsessed with it.

It is worth noting that the design of the inside and outside Swoosh, respectively red and light blue, is inspired by the city flag of Chicago, which is quite a particular innovation.

Both shoes are low-top versions and are more than suitable for exercises during spring and summer. In the front of the vamp there are quite a few air holes, ensuring air permeability that is badly needed in those seasons.

Overall:

According to the official, the two colorways will be available in 2022, but it is a pity that the exact release date is yet to be carved in stone. Priced at $130 which, objectively speaking, is quite cost-effective among the myriads of the AJ shoes, this Air Jordan Legacy 312 Low, I believe, will be a cult both inside and outside the sneaker circle.

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Nike Air Jordan Melo 9 Performance Review

When the Air Jordan Melo 9 was available, I was deeply attracted by its cage zoom in the heel, and it was because of this that I copped two pairs at one sitting. After numerous tests of the two shoes, I think I’ve got intimate knowledge of them and here is the performance review.

The shoebox of this Air Jordan Melo 9 is low-key, but as a Jordan Brand fan for many years, its iconic logo alone is enough to get me excited.

At the side of the box, there is a fingerprint that is rarely seen and distinctive.

The brand released quite a few colorways at the time, but what I got here are the black and silver, and the one with wool at the welt.

The logo of melo is printed on the tongue, inside of which there are filled with two wisps of foam.

Besides the wool in the welt that is used as decoration, there isn’t much difference with the other versions.

The herringbone  pattern of the outsole provides a very good grip that is still excellent and impressive even on smooth wooden floors. Over and above that, the separated Zoom in the front and rear parts are also the best setup for actual matches.

When the shoes were released, the Flywire has only ushered in its early stage of development. But with the advent of the tech, this Air Jordan Melo 9 , which has also adopted the tech, is greatly improved. Using the tech, the shoes not only become more lightweight, but also offer solid vamp support for its wearer.

The Flywire extends from the hollow upper to connect to the shoelaces.

As for the caga zoom that is, for me, the most inviting, it is, however, much bulkier than the average zooms. But to tell the truth, I’ve never liked air cushions are that exposed because they are subject to get scratched. Fortunately, the cushions of Melo 9 is not entirely exposed so that I am relieved of this worry.

The rear Zoom is also exposed to the air, which, nevertheless, has quite puzzled me because it get blasted easily.

In the middle part, there is the tpu and the signature.

The outsole of the shoes has also been changed to the crystal one.

The fan-shaped zoom on the forefoot  is made protruding for easier and better startup. And because of this, the cushion can be obviously felt when you are landing on your  forefeet.

The “wool” version also comes with a pair of red shoelaces.

Personally speaking, the wool is kind of trouble because it gets dirty easily and is difficult to get cleaned. Therefore, whenever it is possible, I won’t pick this one for any matches.

The toe of this version is a bit narrow, which is most likely to result in squeeze of our toes. Therfore, it is highly recommended to purchase a larger size so as to avoid any discomfort.

Overall:

This melo9 is definitely not a perfect work of Air Jordan, but that it is an excellent one is out of question. The separated zooms are, in the first place, a hardcore setup for playing, but with the upgrade of the zooms in the shoes, their performance is further improved. Besides that, the grip performance of the outsole is also excellent and impressive. But there also exist some disadvantages. The outsole is shy of durability and the toes also cut back on one’s good impression of the shoes. Nevertheless, nothing in the world is perfect, and with its overall performances, it will never be surplus to requirements.

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Unboxing: Air Jordan 6 UNC

The signature blue of the university of North Carolina, Alma Mater of Michael Jordan, has long been a classic colorway for Air Jordan shoes, which will only make whatever shoe versions that adopt this colorway fresh and unique. With March just around the corner, the Air Jordan 6 UNC that is  highly anticipated will also be released on March 5th.

This pair of Air Jordan 6 UNC uses a color scheme similar to Air Jordan 6 carmine. Its toe and sides are complemented by UNC blue frosted leather while the other parts are mainly white, which, as a whole, seems like a fresh and eye-pleasing view not least in summer.

The design of the tongue is similar to that of the Air Jordan 7, both adopting the geometric texture, and the outer layer is covered with translucent rubber material, which looks hazy and impressive.

The light blue and white outsole goes very well with the black midsole, with a Jumpman logo in the arch part, which has been a standard configuration of this colorway, continuing the traditional design of the previous shoes.

It is reported that this new Air Jordan 6 UNC will be available on SNKRS from 9:00 am on March 5th. Therefore, if you are considering purchasing it, it’s highly recommended to get prepared for there must be many Jordan Brand fans waiting for it.

Over and above that, it is worth noting that except for the sizes for adults, there are even various ones for children ranging from infants to teens.

Overall:

To sum up, from the upcoming release of this Air Jordan 6 UNC we can see that the brand always keeps pushing the envelope and makes breakthroughs. Therefore, as the fans of the brand, we might as well use this opportunity to our advantage and also push the envelope for ourselves.

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Air Jordan 12 Performance Review

Air Jordan 12 is now one of the cults of the fashion world, so many people are naturally concerned not only its appearance and colorways, but also about its performances that really count. With the shoes being available, I’ve also copped one pair, and after over 6 months’ testing the AJ12, its performance review is finally here, which, I hope, may help those interested in the shoes make better decisions.

But before that, I’d like to talk briefly about my style of play. On the court, I am a small forward who rely on speed and explosive power to make breakthroughs and I tend to make the most of my advantage of speed and bouncing to finish the games.

Although this Air Jordan I got is a new version of 2017, its appearance, however, is not outdated and its performances can even prevail over  many famous shoe versions of today.

Its vamp is made of artificial material and 3M reflective material on the surface rather than the ordinary leather commonly seen in other shoes. In the midsole, besides the full-foot Zoom air cushion, there is also a large carbon plate for support. Therefore, when asked about the texture of the shoes, I’d say it is so brilliant that I can barely think of any flaws of it. However, there is one thing that may be a bane for those who can’t put up with stuffiness underfoot. That is the relatively poor air permeability which might somewhat overshadow the shoes overall performances.

It should also be made particular mentioned of that if you wear it in practice, the forefoot will inevitably be pleated. Nevertheless, I personally feel that the problem doesn’t matter much and does not affect the shoes’ appearance at all.

For its cushioning, the Zoom along with the carbon plate actually offers me a nearly perfect experience. However, speaking from the actual demand on court, the cushioning performance is definitely not qualified.

In fact, there are two fatal shortcomings of the Zoom. The first one is that the Zoom is a large setup but not elastic enough. The forefoot sinks easily when there are startups, which is much more serious than do the KD 12, KD 10 and Why Not Zer0.1. What’s worse for me is that my joints, including the arch and toes, became quite tired with time passing by. The other one is the lack of solid foam for supporting, the most serious part being the heel. Although it is full-foot Zoom, the heel part of the midsole is made of very stiff material, and this part also happens to be rarely used when walking, but badly needed when landing. Therefore, in conclusion, this AJ 12’s cushion is unqualified for not offering due performance and protection.

In terms of the outsole, I think it is above the average level. With the pattern of herringbone in the fore and heel part, the outsole provides me with nearly all-direction grip. However, good as it is, it may be a bit dominated when it comes to the clean smooth wooden floors. Despite that, given the variety of demands for different styles of play, this blemish may have no bearing on other players.

Different from the AJ13, the wrapping of this AJ 12 is inferior. Although the shoelace system is excellent, it still can’t fully wrap my feet during actual playing. At the same time, now that the cushion of the forefoot sinks easily, the wrapping, which is not top-ranking in the first place, becomes worse. In a word, the wrapping for me is not excellent.

With regard to the support, it is at the top level. The carbon plate, which is 2/3 sole length, and the excellent anti-torsion design keep the support performance of these shoes outstanding. Even if I don’t play high-intensity matches, I can effortless feel its excellence from its performance.

For this yellow and black colorway, it is quite similar to that of the Air Jordan 12 PE. With the eye-catching yellow outsole and black vamp, this colorway is sure to be the focus of crowds.

As for this black colorway in the picture below, it is also a favor for quite a few people.

Overall:

To sum up, after numerous tests, I found that this AJ 12 is not so suitable for me. However, I’ll stick with the point that different people have different style of playing and just because these shoes don’t fit me doesn’t mean they don’t fit you. Therefore, if you are interested in the shoes, you might as well have a try because only by trying in the flesh will you know whether it is the right one for you.

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Unboxing: Air Jordan 1 KO “Syracuse”

Last year Jordan Brand reintroduced some classic shoe versions which, however, were not as welcomed as Air Jordan 1. Following the equally classic “Chicago” and the AJ1 KO, a joint production between Jordan Brand and Billie Eilish, a brand new colorway of Air Jordan 1 KO, the Syracus, has been unveiled. In order to satiate the needs of Jordan Brand fans who are waiting for the release of the shoes,  we’ll first take a close look at it with some details about them available here.

with respect to the upper , it mainly consists of white and orange, a rather classic Syracus, adding some vigor and vitality to this drab and cold season.

From my perspective, this Air Jordan 1 KO Syracus can become a finishing touch for us when it meets our everyday dressings that might be relatively monotonous. However, when we are wearing some florid clothes, it still does us a great favor by adding brilliance to our present splendor.

The shoe body, paired with a leather Swoosh at the side and the leather upper, is made of canvas which together becomes quite eye-pleasing.

The original wing logo on the shoe side has been converted into “AIKO”, which I believe many people will ignore, but it remains to be a quite classic design.

When it comes to the soles, the off-white midsole matched with the orange outsole not only echoes the colorway of the shoe body, but also conforms to the current retro trend, which is set to win the favor of many trendsetters.

Overall:

This Air Jordan 1 KO “Syracuse”, which is the attention of millions of Jordan Brand fans and brings together  the expectations of lots of people, will be launched this year, having been priced at $140. I think that when this Air Jordan 1 KO “Syracuse” is available in the near future, chances are that it will  be a cult for quite a period of time. Therefore, if you are also interested in it, you might as well wait with patience and take a shot then.