Hit the jump for full review…
Traction – The traction surface was much like the Air Jordan II, performed well no matter what you were doing. Texture is abundant throughout and the giant pivot point did not hinder their performance at all. Out of the first three Air Jordan models, the AJ1 has been the most equipped where traction is concerned but the AJ2 & 3 are well above average.
Cushion – As you already know, my knees and legs cannot handle the cushion. The polyurethane midsoles are far too dense for me and even with an insole swap I was only partially pain-free until a certain point. There is some compression which is good but overall… it’s just not an ideal setup. If you are young, you won’t have much of an issue but for some of us older players, especially older players who can still run quickly, we need to be able to absorb as much impact as possible so our bodies can endure on-court play.
Material – The leather upper is decent enough and has some durability to it. Flexibility of the material itself was actually pretty good and I had no real issues with it. As far as the lighter grey panels… quite possibly the cheapest materials one could find were used and that is where I was irritated. Had I used the White/ Cement colorway, this may not have been a problem but this particular version left much to be desired with those panels.
Fit – The areas covered with eyelets were great. I experienced a thorough lockdown from the midfoot to the heel. When moving at a rapid pace and quickly changing direction, the forefoot was unable to handle the torque applied to the materials so that was a slight drawback as you could feel your forefoot slip a bit when enough pressure is used. Overall, I can’t really complain as this is common amongst shoes from the 80’s & 90’s so for what it’s worth, it did its job for the most part.
Ventilation – There wasn’t any… While there are perforations, they don’t puncture through the material completely so they are more for looks rather than serve a purpose. This caused the material to soften up while playing – trapping heat and moisture inside – but again, ventilation wasn’t as popular back in this era so it’s to be expected.
Support – The arch is sculpted providing you with a better fit and support while flexing the foot. I wish I could say the rubber heel cup worked but it wasn’t used as well as it had been in the Air Jordan II. All things considered, the fit from the midfoot to heel was substantial enough to where this didn’t hinder performance too much as a whole.
Overall – The real killer here is the midsole. Polyurethane is still used today for insoles but rarely for midsoles. Even when being used in today’s footwear, it’s accompanied by some sort of foam which absorbs most of the impact before it reaches the PU insole. Had the cushion been more protective, I think the Air Jordan III would have made a very good performance shoe. This is actually a model I’d like to see receive the ‘.0’ treatment… Air Jordan 3.0 anyone?
Basically… if you are young, these won’t hurt you too much. For those of us who have been playing Basketball since we were 11… our bodies have been abused to a point to where we need a bit more out of our shoes than just the ’basics’.
I think the OG version were more comfortable than the older retros. One question, when will you review the Nike Huarache 2k4? I’m really for that review man! Thanks 🙂
They def were. Thatll be up soon.
Keep up the good work i love your reviews
Interesting review. Was hoping to hear better results for one of the most iconic sneakers in the Jordan lineup. I’ll probably still cop a pair because they look dope, and if they don’t play well for me they’ll be like my AJ X’s… dedicated to casual wear status only; albeit for different reasons.
Thanks for the review!
Would you rather play in a pair of 3’s or ZigEncores?
Man… Neither lol. 3 have better traction though.
I praise you for even attempting to play in any of the retroes besides 10 and up.
I hope your legs don’t receive any detrimental effects from these casual shoes.
Thanks, they should be fine with enough rest.
Although I somehow knew what to expect (based on what I’ve read on the original kicksology.com by professor K back in 2004), I still enjoyed reading your review because of your attention to details. So it’s safe to assume that these are best left for casual purposes. Just two quick questions though.
1. Which of the jordan bulls shoes (ranging from 1-14) today do you infer would perform at par with the latest kicks?
2. All brands considered, what do you recommend for a heavy guy (needs cushioning) with flat feet (needs flat friendly arch) who plays outdoors? FYI, ventilation is not an issue so long as there are no hot/sore spots (pinching spots) in the shoe.
Thanks in advance and keep up the excellent work!
Id say the XIII for performance… As for a recommendation; you may want to try the melo M8. Great cushion and the arch isnt pronounced like other shoes.
thanks so much for the feedback. however, i forgot to mention that my feet are wide as well. with that fact thrown into the mix, would you still stick with your initial recommendation? if not, what wuld you recommend now?
Id still go with the melos. I had to buy 1/2 sz down from my regular size bc they felt big so you should be good with them.
Hey Nightwing i know this isnt about the AJ3 but what r your thoughts on the Crazy Light 2? Is it gonna be a more legit shoe than the first version?
Not sure, havent been enough info or images for me to tell.
Great review once again, congrats.
Thanks
Bumer! I was expecting better resaults for this, guess i was wrong
Thanks for all the effort you put in all these review.
Now on to the 4’s!
thnx for reviewing my favorite shoes that i still like to play in (not for performance but to look cool lol)
if one day i go to Canada, i will definitely go to ball with you lol
If you go to Canada i wont be around but if youre ever in CA we can hoop lol
Great review! Keep up the good work!
Thank you
I’m 16 and thinking about getting these, would you say they’re okay apart from the cushion issues you pointed out for a young player like me
Check out the score card, that’s what it there for.
Hello I want to get a pair of casual jordan to rock super hard (walking around chillin) for comfort. Do you think these are good comfort wise? Do you have any recommendations?
Hello I want to get a pair of casual jordan to rock super hard (walking around chillin) for comfort. Do you think these are good comfort wise? Do you have any recommendation?
Great review. Are these shoes good for guards. I’m 15 by the way. Thanks!