Nike’s Air Jordan line of basketball shoes, casual, athletic, and stylish clothes is located in the United States. Air Jordan was founded in Chicago and was made for a former Hall of Fame basketball player, Michael Jordan, who at that time was playing for the Chicago Bulls. In late 1984, the initial Air Jordan sneaker was explicitly created for Michael Jordan and distributed to the general public on April 1, 1985. Bruce Kilgore, Peter Moore, and Tinker Hatfield created the sneakers for Nike.
This article will compare and contrast two Air Jordan shoes: the Jordan True Flight and the Jordan Retro 7, to help you determine which one of the two shoes suits you best.
Jordan True Flight Vs Retro 7: Overview
Jordan Retro 7
Early in 1992, the first Jordan 7 was released. Nike tried a few innovative techniques in the shoe. They used their “Huarache” technology to remove all of Air Jordan’s distinguishing characteristics. The sole visible color that could be seen from the back row of the stadium on Michael Jordan Shoes was not there in Jordan 7, nor was the Nike Air branding. The door was also shown to the yellow sole. This elicited a response that none of the previous Air Jordan shoes had elicited. This may be why Nike released its first retro in 2002. Below is a quick performance review of the Jordan Retro 7.
Traction
Regardless of your position or motions, the overall surface area is excellent. Of course, clean floors are ideal, but even semi-dusty surfaces are no match for this sneaker. However, traction can be a problem if you’re playing on a debris-filled court, but it’s simply fixed by wiping the bottom. When the shoe is new, certain portions of the rubber are smooth and sticky, which will attract dust even on the cleanest of courts, necessitating some wiping.
The Jordan Retro 7 provides excellent traction for the price, allowing you to stay grounded and solid throughout the game.
Material
The materials will differ based on the coloring. Each material selection provides varying amounts of support, so choose the versions if you want to maximize support. The Nubuck version provides less support but more range of motion and flexibility. Overall, if the materials are held up well, the more obvious damage to the shoe is on the painted midsole areas, indicating that leather is a better option.
Cushion
The overall cushion is the most noticeable difference between the Jordan Retro 7 and prior generations. The original and initial batch of retro versions had a full-length Air unit incorporated in them. However, the current retro models have them placed right underfoot. There is a significant difference in cushioning from prior versions, and the midsole is also considerably more forgiving. The Jordan 7 Retro is the most cushioned and comfortable of all the Jordan’s Retro from 1 to 9.
Fit
These sneakers don’t quite fit right. A size 8.5 has an excellent mid-foot fit but is too short in length, whereas a size 9 is exemplary in length but might have a somewhat more secure midfoot fit. However, they’re not too horrible once fully laced, and the mid-foot is neatly held down while the collar pulls your heel down into the shoe, keeping your heel and ankle secure.
Ventilation
The thick material of the Jordan Retro 7 prevents optimum ventilation. However, you lose ventilation and gain supportive material as a result of the thick material.
Support
The model arch accomplishes its job, while the general fit and material handle everything else. As previously stated, the material you choose will improve the overall support.
Jordan True Flight
The Jordan True Flight, initially released in 2009, offered a fresh look to the Air Jordan 7, giving a revised rendition of the iconic Jay while maintaining a familiar feel. The Jordan True Flight shoe of today is a game-ready shoe that is also comfortable for all-day wear. They have a layered design to the upper, with genuine leather and Durabuck merging for a premium aesthetic and durability. Here’s a quick rundown of the shoe’s performance.
Traction
The Jordan True Flight takes the tooling from the original Jordan 7 and updates it for a more modern performance. The outsole was given a herringbone pattern, which is a nice upgrade. Because of its near-perfect traction, you can wear these shoes almost anywhere.
Material
The material will vary based on the colorway you choose, just like in Jordan Retro 7. The Jordan True Flights’ primary weapons are nubuck, leather, or a combination of the two. However, each material offers somewhat different qualities in terms of support, so a leather-based version is better if you want something that is more supportive. If you go with the nubuck model, you’ll give up a little support, but you’ll gain some mobility because the materials will break in quickly.
Cushion
The cushion is identical to that of Jordan 7. To get the job done, the shoe has a full-length Air unit. This offers you the responsive cushioning you require when crashing the boards or pounding the pavements.
Fit
The Jordan True Flight fit true too size. They do, however, feature a sloppy toe that may not keep your forefoot adequately contained. The mid-foot and heel lockdown are excellent, and you will have no complaints in that regard.
Ventilation
This shoe’s ventilation isn’t terrible. However, the moisture build-up is more noticeable due to the sloppy fit in the forefoot. This, combined with a sloppy forefoot fit, could be the explanation for why your feet might end up being covered in blisters.
Support
Again, different materials provide somewhat varied levels of support, but the poor fit in the front is a significant flaw. Fortunately, there is good torsional support as well as a large outrigger for added stability.
Final Take
Finally, we suggest that you go with the Jordan True Flight. This is because, while the Jordan Retro 7 has the best cushioning and doesn’t have the nasty sloppy forefoot feet, the Jordan True Flight outperforms it in terms of traction, design, and fit.