Jordan Melo M11 Performance Review
Lightest Melo to date.
Traction – Similar, but different, when directly compared to the Air Jordan XX9. I personally found it to be a little better given the court’s condition. Much like the XX9, when dust was present, a quick wipe and you’re good to go. However, 24 Hour Fitness courts tend to be so badly kept that you’ll need to wipe much more often to maintain solid grip. I was surprised to have them perform better outdoors than they had on the 24 Hour Fitness court. Just keep in mind that the rubber is a little on the soft side, so if you do hoop outdoors then it might not last too long.
Cushion – I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Unlocked Zoom is far superior to any other current Zoom setup around. Much like the Super.Fly 3, I found the Zoom Air to feel slightly more responsive than the AJXX9. Heel tech still lacks, but that hasn’t been an issue for me at all. For the occasional heel strike there is a cored out center to help with compression so it shouldn’t pose a problem for most.
Materials – The materials will vary between colorways. If you prefer actual leather then the Christmas colorway will likely be your best option, however, I found the synthetic leathers on the other colorways to mimic leather well enough. The synthetic uppers also don’t show wear as much… more so with scuffing, creasing is still present and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Fit – They fit true to size, slightly snug up front. They felt the same each time I put them on, so unless you get the leather upper version… I wouldn’t expect the fit the widen up much. Wide footers will definitely want to try them on. Once you get your size down, they lock you in perfectly. I enjoyed the built-in Phylon heel counter. It’s supportive while reduced their weight quite a bit… these are actually the lightest Melo’s to my knowledge, and they weigh just under the XX9 which was a surprise.
Support – They offer support in all the right places. Lateral outrigger, built-in heel counter and Flight Web all do their job. What I like most is that they support you without feeling bulky or heavy… the past Melo models all had a certain weight to them where you could tell they’ll accommodate a larger player while us smaller guys could get away with wearing them because they played so damn good. These still play damn good, they just do so in a lightweight package.
Overall – Much like the Melo M10, the M11 takes what made the XX9 so good and beefs things up a bit. More support in all the right places for players that require it, yet they aren’t as restrictive as the Super.Fly 3. I personally loved the fit, and while the performance woven upper of the XX9 will accommodate a wider variety of foot shapes, I prefer a narrow fit and love raw materials… so it’s a win all the way around.
You can’t go wrong with the Jordan Melo M11. If you are having a hard time choosing between the M11 and the XX9, just know that these will offer you more support along the upper while the XX9 is a bit more free in terms of upper mobility. That’s pretty much all you need to know.
If you were interested in grabbing a pair, you can grab them now at Finish Line.
