SOLE COLLECTOR: Sneakers

SPACE

SPACE
Key Tech: Large volume Air-Sole unit (heel), encapsulated Air-Sole unit (forefoot), full-length Dynamic-Fit inner bootie

Use: Hoops, Indoor

Position: Guards and light forwards

Colorway Tested: Black/Dark Charcoal/True Red

Price: $125

Pros: Very comfortable; generally good fit with exceptional fit at the heel; surprisingly good cushioning; good traction so long as the outsole is kept clean; light

Cons: Allows too much front-to-back movement within the inner; very little support around the ankle; lace eyelets may be too narrowly set for those with narrow feet; long-term durability of the upper is a concernS

PACE

PACE

HARE APPARENT

Well, since shoes can’t talk, the answer would have to be none, but if shoes had tongues-wait a minute, they do have tongues…well, you know what I mean-the only shoe that could lay claim to this trio of distinctions with documentary proof is the Air Jordan VII.

The NBA Championship part is simple enough; as most of you know, MJ won six rings, so a veritable gaggle of shoes can claim that distinction. The Olympic Gold claim, however, ipso facto involves a much more select group, as MJ played in only two Olympiads. The first was in 1984, at which point Jordan was a skinny kid fresh out of UNC wearing the chevron and star of the Tarheels’ shoe provider at the time, Converse. It wasn’t until his second Olympic appearance in 1992-this time as part of the first (and only true) Dream Team-that he had an opportunity to shine on the international stage in his namesake shoe, specifically the Air Jordan VII.

So the VII qualifies on both the NBA and Olympic fronts, but the coup de grace cementing its place in Jordan history is its association with Bugs Bunny. Anyone who was anywhere near a TV set in 1992 will remember Nike’s much loved “Hare Jordan” campaign. It featured the dynamic duo of MJ and Bugs taking it to a bunch of oafish ballers while repping the Air Jordan VII. In fact, a pair of Bugs’ VIIs is still on display at Niketown Chicago (they’re hard to find, but they were still there the last time I checked).

Okay, okay, enough with the shoe geekery. It’s time to move on to the aspect of the Air Jordan VII that matters most (to me at least), and that’s performance.

It turns out that the VII is as singular in this regard as it is in its hare raising associations. What makes it so is that it’s built around many of the concepts Nike developed for its Huarache line of shoes, which were introduced along with the VII in 1992. The raison d’être of Huarache was to deliver the comfort of a sandal and the performance of a sneaker in one shoe, which sounded even crazier back then than it does now.

To achieve these seemingly incompatible goals, Huarache-based shoes were built around a wonderfully plush elastic inner bootie (Nike called it a Dynamic-Fit inner sleeve) that hugged and supported the foot. This bootie was strategically reinforced by a minimal outer structure that placed material only where it was absolutely necessary, much in the way that sandals have straps only where they’re absolutely necessary. The end result was a line-up of shoes-one for running, one for cross training and one for hoops-that was extremely light and insanely comfortable, but not particularly durable.

But the Air Jordan VII was not completely Huarache-fied. Whereas the shoes in the Huarache line featured skeletal uppers with yawning gaps through which the inner bootie and wearer’s ankle were visible, the Air Jordan VII was built around a largely solid upper. This added material makes the VII a bit tougher than its “pure” Huarache counterparts, but it’s still rather dainty as compared to a shoe with a more conventional upper.

The benefit of this minimalism comes in the form of weight, or lack thereof. Though not as wispy as, say, Calista Flockhart, the 16.9 ounce Air Jordan VII is a good deal lighter than either the VI or the V before it (weights are based on a U.S. men’s size 11). It’s also the most comfortable Jordan released up to that point and was perhaps still until the XIX’s release last year.

But there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and the VII pays its dues in the form of compromised fit and near non-existent ankle support. Heel fit is actually awesome-a hallmark of all Huarache-based shoes-but during my two weeks with the VII I noticed persistent front-to-back movement within the inner, most pronouncedly during quick stops. In terms of ankle support, with no padding backing the material around the ankle, it’s as close to nil as a shoe cut as high as the VII could possibly provide and just sort of feels weird. This is an aspect of the Huarache concept that Nike has definitely improved upon in its most recent hoops implementation, the Air Zoom Huarache 2K4, as has Jordan with the Air Jordan XX. The XX, like the VII before it, isn’t a “pure” Huarache shoe, but does manifest some of the concept’s core principles (for more on the XX, see my review on page187).

The one area where the Air Jordan VII delivers without qualifications is cushioning. After my disappointing experience with the VI, the VII’s excellent balance of impact protection, court feel and cushioning response was a welcome change for the better. It’s not as “springy” as some of today’s more advanced cushioning systems, but even by 2005 standards it’s very good and was as good as it got circa 1992.

So, the VII is a funny shoe, and I mean that not in a “Bugs Bunny getting the better of Elmer Fudd” sense, but more in a manner of it being a unique proposition that’s hard to pin down. That’s because, in some respects, the VII still matches or even surpasses its modern-day competition, while in others it’s as flawed as Porky Pig’s diction. Of course, if you were really into the whole “Hare Jordan” thing or want to re-live MJ’s Dream Team glory, it’s a no-brainer. But, for purchase as a performance shoe, the VII requires more careful consideration.

On the plus side, if you’re looking for a minimal, lightweight, ultra-comfortable shoe with excellent heel-fit and solid, long lasting cushioning, the VII, to this day, delivers like few others. But be aware that you’ll be giving up a big measure of ankle support and sizable servings of both front-to-back fit and overall durability. And those with narrow feet should be doubly dubious, as the VII’s closely set lace eyelets won’t serve you well.

If your interest is still piqued after that list of caveats-and you have the roll to back it up-VII is your lucky number.

—From Issue 7, article by Professor K