Air Jordan 40 Performance Review

The time has finally come. Here’s a detailed performance review of the Air Jordan 40, the latest model in the long and storied flagship series from Jordan Brand.

Air Jordan 40 Box

The box is pretty interesting. It’s hefty and thick in feel but simple and plain in design—just all black with a red Jumpman. When you open it, it feels very premium inside, reminding me of the Air Jordan 23 box. Since I first saw the Air Jordan 40, I’ve been wanting to talk about all the little Easter eggs to be found. There are lots of “Air Jordan-isms” within this shoe from both the Team line and the main flagship line.

Air Jordan 40 Design Tributes

If you’ve noticed elements from any of the following models, you’d be correct. The shoe loosely resembles the Jordan Team Strong Premiere, which itself took inspiration from flagship models like the Air Jordan 20 (mostly at the heel). The Jordan 40 also has a little of the Air Jordan 21‘s flavor in its overall lines and some similarities to the Air Jordan 22.

These shoes are premium-crafted, much like the Air Jordan 23. They also look a bit like the Air Jordan 2009 (which, fun fact, was the subject of the first performance review on our YouTube channel and the first on YouTube in general). The Jordan 40 is also similar to the Air Jordan 2010, and it would have been cool if Jordan Brand made the toe cap semi-independent like on that model. It also looks a bit like the Air Jordan 16.5.

In terms of more concrete, direct tributes physically on the Air Jordan 40, the sole has a Jumpman logo at the toe, and the portion with the hand and ball pokes up around the tip of the toe—much like on the Air Jordan 12. The rear of the shoe features a Nike Air tab which was introduced on the Air Jordan 3. This particular colorway, with its white cement look and splatter paint, pays tribute to the Air Jordan 4.

A small line on the side is from the Air Jordan 14. The asymmetrical collar, which is a low-top on the lateral side and a mid-top on the medial side, was introduced in the Air Jordan 13 and also used in the Air Jordan 14.

The internal lacing system is another feature introduced on the Air Jordan 13, designed to bring the upper closer to your foot. The nylon lace loops pay tribute to the Air Jordan 10, though here they are on the interior of the shoe instead of the exterior.

Also like the Air Jordan 10, the shoe pays tribute to Michael Jordan’s accolades. But rather than on the outsole, it’s a hidden feature located between each nylon lace strand. You’ll find the year he was drafted (1984) and the years of his first back-to-back championships on one side. On the other side, you can see 1992 (the year he won Olympic gold) followed by the years of his final three back-to-back championships.

The tongue and laces further pay tribute to the reflective 3M mesh from certain Air Jordan 13 colorways. The sides of the tongue are a gusseted neoprene sleeve made like the Air Jordan 7. The tongue itself is inspired by the Air Jordan 5 not just in shape but also by its 3M reflective nature. A modified Air Jordan Wings logo is also visible on the tongue.

The insole has the phrase “QUALITY BASKETBALL PRODUCTS INSPIRED BY THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME”—a paraphrased tribute to the Air Jordan 11‘s tongue tag and the Air Jordan 12’s heel. 

From a top-down view, the shoe reminds me of the Air Jordan 16. On the medial side, there’s a seeming tribute to the Air Jordan 14’s air scoop, and there’s a direct tribute to the Air Jordan 18‘s ventilation flap, even using the same material and lenticular look. And finally, the collar has perforations that represent the Air Jordan 6 and are also reflective.

That was a lot. If you’ve spotted even more tributes, let us know what else you found down in the comments.

AJ 40 vs AJ 39

The Air Jordan 40 is a significant improvement over last year’s model, the Air Jordan 39.

Outsole and Traction

The traction on the Air Jordan 40 is excellent, though not without minor issues on dusty courts, a problem that also affected last year’s model. The pattern, while not a traditional herringbone, is designed to provide consistent coverage from every angle. This consistent traction is key because it allows you to trust your footing no matter which direction you’re moving. Inconsistent traction, where a shoe performs well for linear movements, but fails on lateral cuts, can undermine your confidence on the court.

With the Air Jordan 40, the traction feels reliable and covers all bases. I wouldn’t recommend using these outdoors, however; they are too expensive for that kind of wear and tear.

Cushion and Stability

The cushioning system is where the Air Jordan 40 truly shines and corrects the major flaw of its predecessor. Last year’s model had amazing cushioning but was incredibly unstable, making it borderline unplayable and even dangerous. It caused a lot of stress on my joints and felt wobbly with every movement.

The Air Jordan 40 has all the great cushioning of the Jordan 39 but encases it in a robust rubber sidewall that provides much-needed stability. The outsole, the sidewalls, and the toe piece are all reinforced with rubber, effectively caging the cushioning. This eliminates the stability issues from the previous model.

The cushioning itself is a combination of the great cushion from the Jordan 39, along with a full-length Zoom Strobel unit on top of the ZoomX, my current favorite cushioning setup. If cushion is your top priority, the Air Jordan 40 is a top contender. The only potential downside is that the abundance of cushion reduces court feel, so players who prefer to feel more connected to the ground might find this setup too soft. This is one of the reasons why being able to try the shoes on in a store would be beneficial before making a commitment.

Materials and Durability

The materials on the Air Jordan 40 are a major plus. I’ve said it in the videos about this shoe—the materials are phenomenal. This is the kind of premium leather and construction that I remember from my youth. While not every shoe needs to be all leather, it’s great to have it available occasionally. These materials move well with the foot, offer performance benefits, and are durable. This is something I’ve missed in modern basketball shoes. Leather lasts a lot longer than textiles and can withstand more wear. Since we’re paying a premium price for these shoes, it’s great to see a return to high-quality materials.

Fit and Support

I have a few minor critiques, but they could be easily resolved if the Air Jordan 40 were available to try on in-store. Hopefully, future colorways will be more widely accessible. It’s a bit odd to me that a signature shoe isn’t readily available for consumers to see, touch, and try on. The goal is to get people to engage with the product, so making it available in physical stores seems like a logical step. Fingers crossed that this changes with future releases so you can find the right size.

The fit is the one major issue that highlights the need for in-store availability. For me, my left foot fit perfectly, but my right foot, which is slightly bigger, felt painfully tight. A half-size up would have been ideal, but since the Air Jordan 40 is so difficult to find, I had to stick with my pair. The lack of ventilation caused my feet to swell, and the tightness in the forefoot led to pain in my Achilles tendon.

The lockdown itself is great, but the snug fit can be a problem for many. I would recommend that most people consider going up a half-size, unless they have a very narrow foot and prefer a one-to-one fit.

The support, however, is fantastic and a huge improvement over the Jordan 39. The wide, stable base, a substantial outrigger, and a reinforced heel all contribute to great support. The extensive sidewall wrapping acts almost like a cupsole, preventing the foot from twisting excessively. The lockdown is great, thanks to the lacing system, and the asymmetrical collar provides the benefits of both a low-top (for range of motion) and a higher cut (for extra support where needed).

Air Jordan 40 Overall

The Air Jordan 40 is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, fixing the major stability issues of the Jordan 39 while retaining its excellent cushion and traction. The premium materials and enhanced support make it a top-tier performance shoe.

While the tight fit and lack of court feel may not suit every player, the overall performance is outstanding. The biggest drawback is the shoe’s limited availability, which makes finding the right size a challenge. Overall, the Air Jordan 40 delivers on all fronts, but whether it’s worth the retail price will heavily depend on your personal finances.

Buy Air Jordan 40 at Nike

Disclosure

While Jordan Brand did provide a pair of the Air Jordan 40 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.