The Air Jordan 32 Mid and Low have been wear-tested for our latest performance review.
You can find the Air Jordan 32 now at Eastbay.com
Traction – The Air Jordan 30 and 31 disappointed many that played in them from a traction standpoint — especially compared to the 29 and 28 that came before them — but the 32 switched things up and used rubber that actually gripped the court. Not only did they grip the court, but it gripped really well.
Jordan Brand used an altered herringbone, which it also tried with the 31, and this time around it was a success. Dust only affected performance in a minor way; infrequent wiping was needed on a less than desirable court. If you play on a clean court, or at least one that is properly refinished once a year, you’re going to get a tacky experience that bites when you need it most.
After playing in both the mid and low version of the Air Jordan 32, the Lows seem to uses better rubber overall. I wouldn’t say it’s astonishingly better but I noticed it. If you have been unsatisfied with traction from the flagship Air Jordan model in the past year or so then I think you’ll be very happy with this year’s version.
I wasn’t able to take them for a spin outdoors so I can’t report on the outdoor performance this time around.
Cushion – Full-length Unlocked Zoom Air seems to be a thing of the past because heel and forefoot segmented Zoom Air returns — for the first time since the Air Jordan XX8 — on the Air Jordan 32. The forefoot section of Zoom Air is of the unlocked variety whereas the heel is bottom-loaded.
This year, the unlocked Zoom Air does not protrude out of the shoe so the extreme bounce isn’t here. However, stability is — the lack of it was my main issue when playing in the 31. You can feel the Zoom when you place enough pressure on the forefoot; it feels nice and it gives you the feeling that it springs into action as you need it rather than it lingering around while you may not be in need of the cushion. For me, this setup feels more balanced than unlocked setups in the past. While some get used to the feeling of a large volume Zoom Air unit protruding from the sole, this feels a bit more…normal.
The midsole setup is pretty stiff to start. It does break-in with time so be patient and you’ll stop thinking about how stiff things start out. The Air Jordan 32 reminds me of the Air Jordan 12 in that aspect — maybe not quite as stiff as the 12s, but pretty damn close. I think the overall stiffness is due to the Pebax moderator plate. Once you get that plate to become flexible you’ll really start to enjoy the ride as you’ll receive cushion and stability.
Materials – I absolutely love the materials on the Air Jordan 32. It definitely isn’t the most breathable because of the layers, but this type of Flyknit is what I’ve been waiting for since Nike first introduced it into the basketball line. There is no heavy glue usage, no TPU strands or yarn. Just really thick Flyknit that moves well with the foot.
Certain areas are very tightly knitted while others offer some stretch. The areas that do stretch are still extremely thick so you’re getting the most out of the material. It’s been durable so far, although the eyelet areas potentially ripping is a concern of mine. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen to anyone, but there’s always Nike’s warranty if it does.
The heel area features synthetic leather or suede (depending on the colorway). I glossed over this area in the Air Jordan 32 video review because I don’t feel it’s anything of great significance and it’s very similar to last year’s Air Jordan 31 setup. It works well and adds strength to the rear section of the shoe ensuring lockdown, but premium it is not.
I suppose it doesn’t have to be premium, but that would have been awesome. This is more of a small gripe with the mid because the lowtops feature such a small amount of leather on the heel that it really doesn’t matter. The Mid on the other hand — it uses a lot of material at the rear overlay and it would have been awesome to have seen something similar to what was used on the red suede Air Jordan 21. Remember those? Italian red suede that pointed back to Jordan Brand’s past of manufacturing the AJ2 upper in Italy. Yeah, that would have been really awesome.
The Hall of Fame badge though, that goes to the Flyknit. It’s the real MVP.
Fit – When I initially put on the Air Jordan 32 width felt pretty narrow — and because of that, the shoe felt slightly long. However, after breaking them in I feel going true to size is the best option. I have a friend that bought a pair and he has a wider foot. He went true to size as well and was happy with them. Trying shoes on in-store is always the best option though (if or when it’s possible).
Lockdown was really nice. I wasn’t sure what to expect because this was the first time I’ve played in proper Flyknit. Will it stretch too much? Maybe not enough? First few runs and the Air Jordan 32 was definitely tight but the Flyknit did stretch a bit — not to the point to where I felt insecure, but enough to where I needed to readjust the laces. Once I did that there was nothing else to worry about. The shoe just felt like it was made for my foot, something I really enjoy.
Last time I felt this way about an Air Jordan upper was with the 29 Low. Those were so awesome. The Air Jordan 32 gave me similar vibes but with a more structured heel — which is something I loved about the 31. I guess you can say Jordan Brand blended what’s been working throughout the last three years and we’re finally seeing the refined version of it all. Subtle evolution down the line, just like the glory days of the early Air Jordan line.
Support – If you’re able to find the size that fits you best then support shouldn’t be an issue. I rolled my damn ankle (same one) in both the Air Jordan 32 Mid and the Low and was able to continue playing every time. I really need to stop going after rebounds when someone with a size 14 is down in the post — especially when the most I am able to do is temporarily disrupt their eventual rebound.
Everything worked well though. The moderator plate works to increase torsional rigidity and the outrigger was solid. The midsole sculpt in the rear may be off-putting for some from a design perspective because it isn’t a clean line but it contains the rearfoot well upon lateral movements. There is an internal heel counter, as well as the visible external piece — both do their job well.
Overall – If I were to rank the previous Air Jordan signature models since the introduction of unlocked Zoom Air (based on overall performance) it would look like this: XX8, XX9 (Low for me), XXX2, XXX1. We won’t mention the XXX. Depending on the day, I might even be able to swap the XX9 and XXX2 with each other.
I feel that fit and lockdown are better in the Air Jordan 32, as is the cushion/stability, but I loved the decoupled heel and forefoot. However, the 32 is stiff at first and a bit heavy. As usual, it all depends on what you want or need out of your basketball shoe. Not every shoe is made for every person, but there’s something out there for everyone. You just have to know what you’re looking for.
The Air Jordan 32 is a huge step in the right direction. Everything feels refined. If Jordan Brand can keep the stability but increase the flexibility then it will have perfected the Flight Speed setup. I think people are going to like this one.
Thanks for the great review. Would you say these ride higher or lower than the XXXI?
Hi nightwing,
Great review as always.
Ive been waiting for the performance review bec Im so excited and thinking to cop a pair, but too bad the cushion in the xxx2 didnt get the HOF cushion badge. If I may ask, is it because the setup here is not soft as boost regardig impact protection or is it just ur personal preference. I would appreciate ifcyou hit me back.
Thanks!
29 lows for me were the best. Iam looking for my next hoop shoe. I was gonna ask you if which one is better this or the 31 lows but i think you allready answered it on ur review. ???
do you think the mid top will make a difference for ankle support?
or Ankle brace in low top still better?
There is no such thing as ankle support, only ankle restriction.
which version has better mid foot lockdown/ankle proprioception?
I guess I’m asking if the mid top will be better for someone with a history of ankle sprain.
I wear either Lebron Soldier IX’s or kobe ix lows (with rigid ankle taping) for games and it has been good for my ankle.
great review..what jumped out at me was the weight of the shoes…virtually no difference between the low {16.0} & high {16.01}…and it’s a big jump up from the weight of the 31’s: low {12.08} high {14.03}
Yeah, I thought my scale was broken. Couldn’t believe how little difference there was.
I was thinking the same thing just now when I noticed that.
Probably a must cop! Great review!
October 18th can’t get here fast enough.
Nice review as always
Thanks
Do these feel like tanks? 16 oz is insanely heavy for a low cut shoe, especially in 2017! I wish everyone would get back to lighter and lower like Kobe was doing with the 4-6, 8, 9. They have to feel clunky at that weight.
No, it balances out, think of it like riding a bike, or a motorcycle, a bike is much lighter, but at 50 mph, you lose control, because it lacks weight/rigidity, the XXX2’s don’t go unnoticed on your feet, but at speed, it helps you control your feet a LOT more than for example Kobe’s do.
The XXX2 are build to be played, and played hard, enhancing the experience, rather than being minimalist.
Nicely put Nene.
I never thought of the weight of the Jordan 32 would act like that. That’s sounds great
Never thought about it like that but its true. They don’t play heavy, they play balanced.
It’s not the weight that you feel, its the stiffness of the midsole. Goes away after breaking them in.
Love the look of the low but not so much that white midsole. Any idea if they’ll drop a low and mid every time a new CW comes out?
There will be more lows and mids releasing but not that share the same color scheme. The other lows I’ve seen all have white midsoles as do the mids other than the OKC colorway.
Thanks for the review !
Great review as always !
in term of performance, which one do you prefer between the air jordan 32 or the lebron 15?
and which one feel lighter while u play on them?
The Lebron 15s have not come out yet. They release October 28th in the Ashes colorway.
Was going to ask this? Would be great if Nightwing could answer even without having the chance to push the lebrons for the moment.
By the way great review, thanks, got me really hyped !
You got me thinking of these in the low top. Also considering the DRose 7 low. Have you heard anything good or bad on those?
The biggest improvement from the 31 to 32 was going to a flat outsole, rather than the stepped outsole that the 31s had. THAT was the #1 reason for sketchy traction, not the rubber compound and/or outsole tread pattern. The drawback to that change, is the ultra plush cushioning of the 31 is now gone. I’m going to pass on the 32s until they release in the OG colorway. That red is too much.
Thanks for the great review Nightwing. I am a explosive guard that plays indoors and outdoors with a budget of $200. What would you recommend me among this sneaker, the d rose 8, crazy light boost, crazy explosive primeknit, kobe 9 elite, dame lillard 2, and hyperdunk 2016. Thanks.
When’s the Crazy Explosive Primeknit 2017 review coming out?
https://weartesters.com/adidas-crazy-explosive-2017-primeknit-performance-review/
I am always looking at your review in Korea.
If you look at the review, your basketball shoe taste preferences resemble me.
So I always appreciate and keep watching.
Thanks for always good reviews once again.
Really like the black and red lows. Before buying I’m still holding out hope for a new CP3 model. Any chance of this?
Chiming in late regarding the mid’s eyelets. There’s stitching at the base of each collar loop, then at the ends. For those ends, I’ve been wearing them down a bit already, and one (stitch) breaking up on the medial side.
That was a weak design to start and since day one I’ve been cautious about this issue. Hoping the base stitching holds up since there’s more of a tangential stress involved. The 32 Low has a much more robust traditional design, but the Mid’s collar looks way cooler imo that I had to take it instead.
Great review as usual. The only spot I would take issue is with traction on mildly dusty courts. It wasn’t awful but I found that I would slip pretty significantly on hard cuts. I had my PG 1s and changed into them on same court and they stuck like glue.
Nightwing, which shoe do you prefer to hoop in if you had to pick one. The adidas dame 4 or these Jordan 32 lows?
Good Reviews
What socks would You suggest to pair with these? Mostly cotton, or mostly synthetic? My prior experience with retro 12’s was that using anything synthetic resulted in red sweat burns on my toes, but I’ve never had flyknit shoes so maybe here it’s a bit different?
Finally got a chance to use these extensively, pair of mids in the MVP colorway. Versus the 31 they are a lot more stable and have better traction. I also think they have better materials and fit. The cushioning is way more plush in the 31, as is the ankle/achilles area. The 31 also breathes much better. So far nothing compares to the 28 in terms of overall performance in fact I would have loved to have seen a lot of retro models outfitted with the 28 tooling as nike has done with its air max classics periodically. That said, these are the most complete release since the 28. No containment issues like the 29 and more heel cushion. No slippage or wobbliness like the 31. The uppers and midsoles do require break-in time, these do not have the step-in comfort of the 28, 29 or 31. As far as sizing, I am a wide footer and went true to size. Going up half a size would leave too much dead space in the toe box. My only issue is that I cannot wear my thicker socks. I love playing in cushioned football socks but they won’t work here, the only drawback of the upper being form fitting.
I got a pair of Jordan 32 MVP version. In my opinion, everything is excellent except the traction. I played in this for 3 times indoor court so far, and I slipped so many times during last 2 practice games. I hurt my knee and almost hurt my ankle badly.
Is it only me experiencing this? or have i been playing in dirtiest court?