Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue: The Best Re-Release Of This OG Colorway

The Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue, like all Jordan 11s, features a very durable outsole, that combines solid and translucent rubber. It’s not the best OG Jordan traction-wise, but it’s up there. Usually, when you have a sticky, translucent outsole like this one, you lose traction when dust or debris is present on the court. Thankfully, the Air Jordan XI has solid rubber traction pods where you need it.

The clear sections are nice and sticky straight out of the box, which is good and bad depending on court conditions. But, in any case, at most, you will just have to wipe the sole from time to time, and all around, the Jordan 11 is a very solid shoe when it comes to traction. On outdoor surfaces, performance is equally as consitent, and the outsole is built tough.

Jordan 11s always feature a lightweight Phylon midsole, which houses a full-length Air unit. This combination offers a very smooth and comfortable ride on court. What may vary from release to release is the firmness of the Phylon midsole. The foam Jordan Brand used in this version feels on the firm side, making it feel slightly less comfortable than your average Jordan 11.

That being said, 11s are super comfy on court no matter what, without sacrificing too much in terms of court feel and reactiveness. This cushioning setup is another reason why this shoe is a great outdoor option. Impact protection and compression are comfortably above average, which will help to keep your legs as fresh as possible on the black top. Not many people play in Jordans these days, much less outdoors, but, if you were so inclined, they’re a great pick.

The Jordan 11 Legend Blue is the only OG Jordan colorway to NOT feature the classic combo of patent leather and ballistic nylon mesh. The Jordan 11 Legend Blues still have the iconic patent leather (which is white in this case) but, instead of ballistic mesh we have… more leather. As far as material quality goes, this build is good, not great, but everything that looks like leather is real leather.

The shoe still features ballistic mesh. In this colorway, it’s placed on the tongue. As far as performance goes, the shoe works great on the court, but you have to be a fan of retro builds. If you enjoy modern minimalist, textile-based hoop shoes, you will find the Jordan 11 cumbersome and restrictive. The lockdown and containment that the nylon speed lace system and the materials of the shoe provide are top-notch, but, again, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Support is a standout feature in any Jordan 11. It’s the same in the Legend Blues. First off, as we have mentioned, lockdown and containment in this shoe are fantastic. As long as you get the right fit, and once the shoe has had time to conform to your foot, you’ll be securely locked in. The shoe is equipped with a substantial heel counter, a stable midsole, and a full-length (black and blue) carbon fiber shank plate

This was a stand-out feature back in 1995, and it still is in 2024, where we can still see Nike release hoop shoes with no torsional plate whatsoever. This carbon fiber plate provides torsional rigidity, arch support, and a good amount of spring in every step. All around, the Jordan 11 is a very stable and secure-feeling basketball shoe.

The Jordan 11 Legend Blue fits true to size, so go with whatever size you usually use in Nike or Jordan. Now, if you plan on playing in your Jordan 11s, you may consider going down half a size for a snug 1 to 1 fit. If this is the case, we suggest you go in-store to try them on and see what works best for you. Lastly, keep in mind that this shoe will need a bit more time than most to break in.

The Jordan 11 Legend Blue is a great all-around retro release. It’s an OG colorway, the material quality is decent, all the performance features are there and, simply put, they look fantastic. Out of all the re-releases that have appeared over the years, this is the closest the Jordan 11 Legend Blue has ever been to the original.

And, on top of that, the Jordan 11 is, at the very least, a very fun performance basketball shoe. Most won’t choose to play in this model, but you should, and you would enjoy it if you did. The Jordan 11 is one of the best-performing OG Jordans. Even by today’s standards, they’re pretty great.