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Jordan Melo M10 Performance Review

Beefy…

Much like the Air Jordan XX8 SE Performance Review, the Jordan Melo M10 Performance Review will be short and simple due to the similarities.

The differences between these and the Air Jordan XX8/ SE are slim but prominent…

1. Materials are premium.
2. Premium materials provides greater durability.
3. Premium materials also means that break-in time is required.
4. Cushion feels a bit more firm in the forefoot, possible fix to Zoom Air unit popping and/ or shifting on some consumers.
5. TPU in place of Carbon Fiber at the heel… a change but not a significant performance difference.
6. Slight price increase compared to the XX8 SE but with the premium materials added and with the Zoom issue potentially fixed… could be worth it depending on who you ask.

I still love everything about the three models and since I’ve worn each of them I can tell that the original Air Jordan XX8 contains the foot well with the shroud, the SE offers a lightweight shoe that is supportive to a degree and the Melo M10 takes the support feature and beefs it up a few notches for those larger guys that may have felt as if the XX8 or SE were lacking a bit.

Hopefully this helps anyone out if you were unsure of which to get or even if the shoe will offer what you need in the first place. One thing is certain… the Melo M10 is how Air Jordan’s used to be made… handcrafted, ground breaking performance models with quality to boot.

Job well done, Jordan Brand… the story you’ve told with the Flight Plate System has been a great one. Can’t wait to see what the next flagship model brings.

Jordan Melo M10 Performance Review

98 comments
  1. awesome review… you break down every aspect of the shoe and make it easier for us to choose the best one of the three designed for our needs.

  2. Nightwing!
    You didn’t mention HOW LONG is the breakin time?/
    Otherwise, great review, i might get the YOTH or BHM melo m10!

  3. Awesome review NW! Just wanted to let you know i enjoy all of your videos and it helped me make a purchase on the anatomix spawn. Really like how you strive to be unbiased towards your preference and be objective as possible. Job well done sir

  4. Thanks NW. Just made my choice easier. I’m gonna save up on these. Because it’s more expensive here in the Philippines. Nice work man.

  5. It’s just a matter of which ones I can get to first, the BHMs or the Breds. February 1st can’t come soon enough.

    NW I haven’t heard a peep on the XX9 and Jordan’s bday is a month away. I mentioned his bday because everyone knows the new release is around that time.

  6. NW great job!!! You are lucky to try out all these kicks but if you had to choose one or suggest one for a 6 foot PG/SG what would you pick? XX8 SE or M10?

  7. “Cushion feels a bit more firm in the forefoot, possible fix to Zoom Air unit popping and/ or shifting on some consumers.” Possible fix??? I mean there are no hard facts about it, right?? Both my XX8s and a friend’s forefoot popped after something like 15 times of play. Dont get me wrong, the shoe feels awesome but it just doesnt worth it if its gonna pop so fast.

    1. I used the words “possible” & “potentially” appropriately. Meaning nothing confirmed, just assumed. I have friends along with myself that play in the tech without any popping at all, one guy is 6’4″ and loves his XX8 & M10’s so it seems to be different for everyone.

      1. Hey nightwing I’ve watched just about performance review you’ve had over the past year an I also watch kickgenius an in there review they say that the melo m10 cushion isn’t as good as the Jordan xx8 something about the unlocked zoom not being as bouncy is that true ???

  8. Hey NW i really want to experience the whole flight plate tech, i have a pair jordan superfly 2, do u think theres a big difference in cushion between these and the sf2 for me to grab a pair? Btw nice review as always, keep up the great work! 🙂

    1. im not nightwing, but ive owned the xx8s, superfly.2s and m10s. i think the flight plate is great. it didn’t necessarily give you better cushion, but better motion with your feet imo. your feet just feel less restricted and less clunky and just more natural in general. idk if it is worth is to you to spend more money just to get a shoe with flight plate, but thats just my 2 cents

  9. Hey nightwing. If the colorway is changed and some of the materials in the tounge can be mesh can it have a higher ventilation score? If yes then cop.

  10. Hope the YOTH and BHM release here in the phils. I don’t want to have to import some from the states. Otherwise great review nightwing i love your work and it definitely satisfies the info i need on my kicks!

  11. Tried this on, you can feel the zoom bags on the fore foot and heel. Fit is great but it’s on the heavy side and the upper durability is suspect.eventhough it felt phenomenal I decided to purchase sf2s cool gray because my wife said so, and I’m now feeling “turrible”.

    1. I wouldn’t get too hung up on the scorecard. Materials have a 10 because they are composed of raw premium materials the way Nightwing likes. The Spawn has the highest overall marks ever if you are a “score keeping” kind of person.

  12. Will the rubber outsole of the m10 can last on a smooth surface cement court?Coz here in the phi we usually plays on hardwood courts and smooth surfaced cement courts.

  13. I’m 44 years old and I remember what the original Jordan’s used to be before the age of the retro. I used to love my Jordan’s because they were the best at the time and felt like a real basketball shoe, IMO. I haves loved the Melo line for the last 3 years because I always feel the materials are a little “old school”, which I like. I will wait to purchase when they drop in price a little bit.

    NW I did purchase the UA Torch 2 and they give me that same kind of “old school” feeling to a certain degree. These shoes are comfortable as hell, with great lockdown, support and fit. I’m looking forward to your take on them. I’m going to get more CW’s and skip the Melo all together. It’s a thought. I also purchased the UA Spine Predator for my son and he loves them just as much as the UA Spine. He says they look “cool” and play similar to the Spine. Go figure.

  14. Perfect timing, my Allstar XX8 zoom bag popped, this time in the right forefoot. Great excuse for me to pick these up once the “Bulls” colorway releases supposedly on 02/01. Will probably be way too impatient to wait for that Nike Claims credit to come in by then.

  15. What’s the difference between aligning the zoom bag vertically like the Superfly2 compared to horizontally (laterally) like these and the XX8s?

  16. Hey nightwing, do you think that the zoom bag popping issue has something to do with the playing style or how some people distribute their weight on their feet or is it just a factory defect? I really want to get the M10 or the XX8 SE but i’m having second thoughts coz the zoom bag thing & i’m not from the states so i’m not sure if i can get a refund or a replacement if i get one & it pops…thanks for your time!

  17. My Super.Fly 2’s are making a whooshing sound when i walk and the air bag is squishy. Has the air bag popped and do I need new shoes?

  18. This is the first shoe that you’ve ever reviewed that got 10’s in the first 4 categories! (I think) Definite cop now that i watched the review. I love your channel and make sure to watch your review before I buy a shoe! Thanks Nightwing!

  19. Nightwing this was an awesome review, i really like these Melos M10, but… i have one problem, its just that i don’t know too much about the zoom air unit, so i don’t know if these worth it, i do like the shoe once again but i just want to know how bad and how does it looks when the zoom air pops because in my country is very hard to play in wood courts, so we play outdoor courts, but they are like… they have small rocks on the court so i’m afraid of these popping. THANKS

    1. dude get a shoe that’s for off court. as i can remember under that zoom air bag is just thin outsole rubber so not a good idea for off courts.

        1. Hyperdunk 2013 with XDR; Air Jordan super fly 2 with XDR; Or even LBJ 11 with XDR. All the AJ 28s; M10; and Kobes are no go.

  20. The firmer forefoot zoom definitely isn’t a fix for the “popping”. My friend’s M10 popped his forefoot zoom after a few uses. Still a really great use of zoom but a risky one.

  21. Just had a question for anyone who’s been playing in these regarding the fit. Do they feel like the XX8 or SE once broken in, or will they always be stiffer? I picked up a pair of SEs after trying on both today @ Footlocker, and was gonna either double up, or go with the M10s to change it up a bit, but am worried about the upper stiffness down the road. Any feedback would be appreciated.

    1. Double up on the SE. They are cheaper. Once adequately broken in, the M10 will be slightly stiffer. IMO, I think there is no significant difference performance-wise.

  22. Would somebody recommend the leBron 11 for outdoor?, is because i would like to buy them in “ntking’s pride” colorway and i don’t know how much will these last on pavement (i’ve heard about the XDR outdoor, but i can’t buy nike id things, and i like the king’s pride colorway)
    again THANKS…

    1. I’ve got the same issue as you because they city I live in mainly has outdoor courts. Some of my friends have bought the LBJ11s with XDR outsole. They are fine after few games. It looks cool which is what you want and they are not like Kobes which doesn’t last on out door surface. But I think another important issue is your playing style. Good luck.

    1. Honestly compared to the original XX8, the unlocked zoom in my SEs and M10s feel firmer for me, but I like it. I still play in a pair of blue camos that have survived amazingly enough, and I can definitely feel a difference. Who knows, maybe I just forgot that a little break-in time is required for the cushion to be like what I feel with the OG XX8.

    1. These are more firm to help prevent the zoom bag from popping. You get more security of mind, but also a more firm zoom ride

  23. Got my M10s yesterday and the XX8 SEs last Saturday. I popped the SEs after 3 days of pick-up in the right forefoot, but got them exchanged for another pair no problems. The M10s felt better out of the box than I thought it would. I like the lacing system in the SE and regular XX8 a little better, but the toe box in the M10 is much nicer for me than the SE. Definitely a little stiffer with the leather, but they were loosening up fairly quickly the more games I played.

    Glad I picked these up, but when I’m done popping all my Flight Plate based shoes (just a matter of time with these, or I’m really unlucky), I’ll refund them for the CP3.VII until the XX9 comes out. It’s really hard to enjoy hooping in any other shoes after being spoiled by the XX8 style flight plate system.

      1. Oh yeah, did you get yours and play in them already?

        I like playing with my custom orthotics, so the Kobes don’t work too well for me with that midsole + insole combo. Although the 8s molded perfectly to my foot and were fun to play in (still do every now and then), after a while I kept messing up my big toes with the lack of cushion. If the 9s are legit with beefier lunarlon, I’d definitely consider scooping up a pair. I love that cool grey Detail coming out in March.

        1. I’ve played in the M10s, but just shot around in the Kobe IX elite(no ballers showed up yet). That lunarlon cushion in the Kobe IX is boss. I swear that I didn’t want to take them off. I can slide the insoles in and out with ease, so I would think that you could run with your orthotics if you wanted too.

          I’m with you on the “Detail” out of the upcoming 3 in March. I’m not feeling the All Star which will be here next week.

          Getting back to the M10 though, that decoupled flight plate is golden. I’m thinking that all performance shoes should be designed that way.

          1. With the orthotics, I would, but they rely on a shoes having cushion. Like I said, the 8s molded to my foot perfectly, just wish they had a little more cushion/density.

            On the M10s, and XX8s I agree. Love the decoupled outsole setup which is perfect for sprinting up and down the court.

          2. What do you like better out of the Kobe 9 and the Jordan XX8 SEs/Melo M10?

            Have you worn the Kobe 9 enough to say yet?

  24. The containment on the Jordan xx8(keep in mind that I never messed with the SE) is still better than the Kobe IX in my opinion. That Lunarlon cushion is my style though. I even slipped my Lebron XI lunarlon/zoom combo into the Kobe IX elite, but I still prefer the standard cushion with those. The comfort is amazing on the Kobe IX elite, which tells me that I dig Lunarlon foam cushion over Zoom Air.

    I have only hooped in the Kobe IX elite for 2 days. That really isn’t enough to say, but I can see myself grabbing them over my xx8. The Melo 10 is nice, but it doesn’t really touch those two in my opinion. Maybe it’s because they are sturdy for a big man and I’m 5’10 165lbs. I wear size 12, so they can feel more clunky for someone like me.

    1. Yeah, it’s different strokes for different folks. If I had to rank JBs Flight Plate shoes, I’d have to say the OG XX8, Melo M10, then the SE. I love the fit around my ankle with the M10 more so than the SE. There’s also something about playing in leather that’s just fun. The more I play in ’em, the better they feel, and they felt pretty great out of the box. Just hope those zoom bags can hold up with my fat ass! (6″1′ 196 lbs) haha.

      As far as the KB IX Elite goes, I’m interested, but need to see Nightwing’s review first. Those Details are fire.

    2. Foot in the mouth. I may have to rescind some of what I said. The M10 can and does touch the Kobe IX elite. Both of the cushion systems feel great as far as step in comfort, but the Zoom Air feels more adequate in protection in games that I really get aerial in. Also I think that I have finally broken the M10s in because they don’t feel as stiff as they did before. It’s tough to get a time table for when/how a shoe will get better until you do it yourself. That’s what I get for having too large of a rotation.

      Bravo Jordan Brand on an amazing setup. NW said it in his personal top 10. You’re always trying to find the next best thing in your rotation, but you still come back to the xx8(Flight Plate System shoes). I don’t see how JB doesn’t implement the same setup with very little deviation from the xx8 on the upcoming xx9. Obviously the Zoom popping issue that I keep reading about has to be addressed.

      1. Sounds awesome. I might consider getting a pair of the Melo M10s over the XX8 SEs, as I think I would prefer the raw materials of the M10s, that is, if I can get over taking a chance on the Zoom Air bag issues.

        1. I just finished a run in my SE’s the other night and can finally comment on the M10 vs SE’s debate.

          Flexibility in the M10 is not an issue once it’s broken in, but minimal upper featured on SE’s feels like paper mache in comparison. I’m not saying the SE’s are incapable of containing your foot on lateral cuts and such, it’s quite the opposite actually. On other end of the spectrum, the M10 has that protective shell type of sensation. The leather eventually molds to your foot leaving little to no dead space. If you’re the type of player who’s physical and/or dabbles in the low post, I’d recommend the M10s. If you’re a free-flowing, up-and-down type of player, go for the SE’s.

          As a 5’7 point guard with more of an all-around game, I prefer the M10s. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. They’re both A-grade shoes. I hope that helps.

        2. I read a comment from NW on his Instagram of the M10s that Nike will refund up to 2 years on an issue like this. Good thing that I keep all receipts at the bottom on the boxes.

          NW confirm.

          1. I thought it was only 1 year, if it’s 2, then that would make me a lot more willing to take a chance.

            Any idea if I can send them directly to Nike from Australia?

            The store I’d be buying them from is Eastbay, and they said that they only have a 1 year return policy on defective shoes.

  25. Hey Nightwing! Thanks for the review! Been wondering tho, what material would last longer? Nubuck or Leather? I think its nubuck but I just have to ask LOL! Thabks again!

    1. As posted below. The zoom bag shifted after 1 week for me son.
      Hope you have better luck than us. It was a great shoe otherwise.

  26. Buyers Beware!!!
    Zoom bag shifted after 1 week!
    Got Melo 10s from East Bay for my son. The bag shifted and bulging on left forefoot after 3 practices and 2 games only.
    He is a 140 lb 14 year old only – can’t have put too much pressure on them…
    Can’t believed this is happening! Sending them back to Eastbay. Hopefully they will be replaced.

  27. Hey!

    You rated M10 with a 9 Overall, just like the M9. So, comparing these two, would you say they are similar (regarding Overall Rating) or would you prefer one of them?

  28. Hi nightwing is the melo m 10 supposed to have cracks in the traction.I played outside with them once andthere were these small cracks in them.Also, i use disenfecting wipes to clean them is that the reason?

  29. i’ve only worn my M10s twice now and already the unlocked zoom popped in the forefoot, the same thing happend with my previous show the Jordan Superfly 2. Both the shoes still had the fresh new sneaker smell too… i was saving my Melos to go to a five star basketball camp which is in 5 days ahah

  30. ey guys. im bout to buy these. i just have lebron 8 soldiers here. and they are a little tight around the mid section. are the m10 broader?

  31. Hi Nightwing,

    I got the M10 All Star and want to know if the transculent rubber will get yellow too as it does on the Jordan 11 etc..

    Best regards

  32. Nice review again and thanks for answering me on my last comment for the drose 5

    Would u say that this is the best cousioned and best responsive shoe other then the Aj 28 for heel and forefoot

  33. Totally agree with 2 points in the review –

    1. The bend on the inside of the forefoot is wanky. I don’t know any other way to describe it, but it just feels funny (even more weird that it’s just on the right foot and not the left). It actually feels better when I wear thin socks as opposed to thick ones. I tighten the laces from the top of the shoe and leave the lower 3 eyelets loose to keep the material from bunching up.

    2. In terms of the break in time, I agree 100% as I bought these in December of ’17 and I’m still breaking them in (~2.5 months later)! In addition, the Zoom bags (both in the forefoot and heal) do feel stiffer than the Jordan 28 SEs. To combat that, I added a 3/4 length plastic insert (ripped off my orange Superfeet) underneath the insole, which has helped tremendously. Having another firm platform pressing against the flight plate somehow makes the Zoom Air bags feel more bouncy/responsive.

    I know I’m tardy to the party on these, but just wanted to share my thoughts!

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