WearTesters WearTesters WearTesters
  • Best Basketball Shoes
  • Reviews
    • All Performance Reviews
    • Basketball Shoe Reviews
    • Running Shoe Reviews
    • Cross Training Shoe Reviews
    • Casual Shoe Reviews
    • Apparel Reviews
    • Sporting Goods Reviews
    • Tech Reviews
    • Best Basketball Gifts 2020
    • Best Fitness Gifts 2020
    • Best Gifts for Runners 2020
    • Best Gifts for Athletes 2020
    • Scoring
  • Bball Shoe Reviews
  • Brands
    • Nike
      • Nike Basketball Shoes
      • Kobe Bryant Shoes
      • LeBron James Shoes
      • Kevin Durant Shoes
      • Kyrie Irving Shoes
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo Shoes
      • Paul George Shoes
      • Nike Running Shoes
      • Nike Training Shoes
    • Jordan
    • adidas
      • Adidas Basketball Shoes
      • James Harden Shoes
      • Damian Lillard Shoes
      • Derrick Rose Shoes
      • Donovan Mitchell Shoes
    • Yeezy
    • Under Armour
      • Under Armour Basketball Shoes
      • Steph Curry Shoes
      • Joel Embiid Shoes
      • Under Armour Training Shoes
    • Puma
      • Puma Basketball
    • Reebok
    • New Balance
      • Kawhi Leonard Shoes
    • Converse
    • Brooks
    • Saucony
    • ON
    • Other Brands
  • Deals
  • Join
  • Shop
WearTesters WearTesters WearTesters

WearTesters is reader-supported. When you make purchases using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Basketball Shoe ReviewsJordan BrandKicks On CourtPerformance Reviews

Air Jordan I (1) Retro High Performance Review

March 12, 2012February 25, 2020

The Air Jordan Project has started out nicely so far, to my surprise, and the Air Jordan I is 100% playable 27 years after their release.

Hit the jump for more…

Air-Jordan-Project-Air-Jordan-I-1-Retro-High-Performance-Review-1

Traction – As you already know from the Performance Teasers, the Air Jordan I has great traction. I still won’t give it a full 10 out of 10 but a solid 9.5 will do.

From a front to back standpoint, the traction is incredible. Medial and lateral movements are just as impressive due to the multidirectional circles along with the soft and flexible rubber. This traction surface worked very well on clean indoor courts as well as dusty indoor courts and would probably work well outdoors as well.

Air-Jordan-Project-Air-Jordan-I-1-Retro-High-Performance-Review-2

Cushion – Again, this is something I went over previously and it’s pretty much a no brainer… cushion wasn’t great. In the video review I show an insole that could help but you can use any insole you feel would work best for you and it would be a huge improvement.

Air-Jordan-Project-Air-Jordan-I-1-Retro-High-Performance-Review-3

Material – Full leather uppers and a rubber midsole and outsole add some sturdiness as well as weight. They aren’t heavy per say but it is something you do notice while transitioning. The main thing is that the type of leather used allows for added strength and durability which can be a nice feature to have.

Fit – The heel offered excellent lockdown as did the midfoot. With more time spent on-court you will start to notice the fit loosening up due to the moisture and heat buildup so with that I did have to readjust the lacing after every game or so.

Air-Jordan-Project-Air-Jordan-I-1-Retro-High-Performance-Review-4

Ventilation – Not much of any but there are perforations featured on the toe as well as a nylon tongue for some ventilation, even if just a little.

Air-Jordan-Project-Air-Jordan-I-1-Retro-High-Performance-Review-5

Support – None… you can purchase an insole with arch support if needed but other than that they are pretty much a flat based sneaker.

Overall – These were playable, which is the main thing. If you wanted the look or styling of an Air Jordan I with modern tech you can either swap the insoles out for cushion or opt to purchase the Air Jordan I Alpha which offers many upgrades in every category, most notably the cushion with its Phylon midsole and full length bottom loaded Zoom Air.

Now… onto the Air Jordan II!

Traction – 9.5/10
Cushion – 1/10 (there is an Air unit in the heel so that deserves at least a 1)
Material – 7/10
Fit – 7.5/10
Ventilation – 3/10
Support – 0/10

Overall – 4.6/10

Nightwing2303

Nightwing2303 loves kicks and performance. He is the Founder of WearTesters.com and enjoys sharing his love and passion for sneakers... one review at a time.

Featured Posts

Puma-Clyde-All-Pro-Performance-Review

PUMA Clyde All-Pro Performance Review

Nightwing2303
January 19, 2021January 19, 2021
New-Balance-Kawhi-PR-Feature

New Balance Kawhi Performance Review

lookatleak
January 14, 2021January 13, 2021
Nike-LeBron-18-Performance-Review

Nike LeBron 18 Performance Review

Nightwing2303
December 17, 2020January 5, 2021
Curry 8 Flow

Curry 8 | Everything You Need to Know

Drew
December 9, 2020January 5, 2021
Scottie Pippen Shoes Guide Featured Image

Scottie Pippen Shoes: A Complete Guide

Evan
December 9, 2020January 19, 2021
How to Cop on Release Day

How to Buy Limited Shoes for Retail

Drew
November 25, 2020December 14, 2020
adidas-Don-Issue-2-Performance-Review

adidas DON Issue 2 Performance Review

Nightwing2303
November 5, 2020January 5, 2021
Air-Jordan-35-Performance-Review

Air Jordan 35 Performance Review

Nightwing2303
October 16, 2020October 18, 2020
Puma-RS-Dreamer-Performance-Review

PUMA RS Dreamer Performance Review

Nightwing2303
October 6, 2020October 16, 2020
Under-Armour-Embiid-1-Performance-Review

Under Armour Embiid 1 Performance Review

Nightwing2303
September 29, 2020October 26, 2020

Now you can join our community and help support WearTesters’ mission while getting some amazing benefits. Learn more.

About WearTesters

Contact

WearTesters is reader-supported. If you buy products using links on our site we may earn a commission.

COPYRIGHT © 2009-2020 WEARTESTERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Best Basketball Shoes
  • Reviews
    • All Performance Reviews
    • Basketball Shoe Reviews
    • Running Shoe Reviews
    • Cross Training Shoe Reviews
    • Casual Shoe Reviews
    • Apparel Reviews
    • Sporting Goods Reviews
    • Tech Reviews
    • Best Basketball Gifts 2020
    • Best Fitness Gifts 2020
    • Best Gifts for Runners 2020
    • Best Gifts for Athletes 2020
    • Scoring
  • Bball Shoe Reviews
  • Brands
    • Nike
      • Nike Basketball Shoes
      • Kobe Bryant Shoes
      • LeBron James Shoes
      • Kevin Durant Shoes
      • Kyrie Irving Shoes
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo Shoes
      • Paul George Shoes
      • Nike Running Shoes
      • Nike Training Shoes
    • Jordan
    • adidas
      • Adidas Basketball Shoes
      • James Harden Shoes
      • Damian Lillard Shoes
      • Derrick Rose Shoes
      • Donovan Mitchell Shoes
    • Yeezy
    • Under Armour
      • Under Armour Basketball Shoes
      • Steph Curry Shoes
      • Joel Embiid Shoes
      • Under Armour Training Shoes
    • Puma
      • Puma Basketball
    • Reebok
    • New Balance
      • Kawhi Leonard Shoes
    • Converse
    • Brooks
    • Saucony
    • ON
    • Other Brands
  • Deals
  • Join
  • Shop