SOLE COLLECTOR: Sneakers

SPACE

SPACE
Key Tech: Full-length Air-Sole unit, polyurethane sockliner, “lite” implementation of a Dynamic-Fit inner sleeve

Use: Hoops, Indoor and Outdoor

Position: All

Colorway Tested: Black/Dark Shadow/True Red

Price: $125

Pros: Excellent all-around performance; great support underfoot; excellent support around the ankle without feeling overly restrictive; very good traction; suitable for players at any position; light considering its all-position performance profile

Cons: Midsole starts out on the hard side (though, as noted in the “Pros” above, this improves markedly with wear); many report that traction degrades quickly, though this was not my experience over the course of two weeks of wear

SPACE

PACE

AIR RODNEY

I HAVE TO ADMIT, I’VE DONE IT MYSELF. I’VE DISRESPECTED the Air Jordan X simply because it looks so, how shall I say…un-Jordanesque.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the best shoes in the Air Jordan line have always been clearly recognizable as Jordans. Rock the III and anyone with a remote interest in shoes will know you’re repping the Jumpman. Bust out the XI and even your grandmamma will call out your kicks as J’s. But roll out in the X and, depending on the colorway, most won’t even realize you’re wearing hoops shoes, let alone the tenth shoe in the Air Jordan line.

But an Air Jordan it is, and one deserving of more respect and recognition than it’s received in the decade-plus since its release. That’s because, as of its launch in late 1994 the X was, without question, the best J yet-at least when viewed through the prism of on-court performance-and props for that distinction are due, in large part, to its midsole.

The X was the first Jordan manufactured using a midsole material dubbed Phylon, which is Nike’s take on molded EVA. Prior to the X, all Js were built on a polyurethane (PU) base, which was not a bad thing as PU does a great job soaking up impacts and is very durable. But the material has its downsides, namely that, when used in a big chunk as in a conventional midsole circa the late ‘80s/early ‘90s, it’s too dense to provide much in the way of cushioning feel and is relatively heavy.

Phylon, though a bit light to be used on its own in a conventional midsole setup, is a perfect complement to the full-length Air-Sole unit spec’d for the X. With its combination of lightweight Phylon and a firm, durable air bag, the X retains the benefits of the PU-based shoes that came before it, but with noticeably better cushioning response (the X’s midsole starts out about as hard as the Js preceding it, but breaks in much more quickly-inside of one wearing in my case) and less weight.

But impact protection was not the midsole’s only strong suit. With its flat bottom and sculpted perimeter, it provided exceptional support both under and around the base of my foot. Not only did the support simply feel good, it helped keep foot fatigue at bay over the course of several marathon wearings. The midsole also contributed to the X’s overall protection mix by arcing high up alongside both the rear and forefoot. This enabled it to cradle and stabilize my heel on impacts and act as a sort of guardrail during hard cuts, preventing my dogs from ever wandering too far off the footbed. The net result of all this was a feeling of total security underfoot at all times, which allowed me to play in the Air Jordan X with utmost confidence.

The upper was equally good, building on the support provided by the midsole and doing its part to keep my foot locked down within the inner. To quote Tinker Hatfield, Nike’s VP of Design and Special Projects and the driving force behind the design of every Air Jordan from the III through the XV and now the XX, “Comfort is the absence of notice,” and that’s about as good a way as any to describe the feel of the X’s upper. It just does its job and stays out of your way.

Actually, that last sentiment pretty much sums up the entire shoe. While I usually find myself comparing Jordans to Porsches, Ferraris or other such automotive exotica, the car the Air Jordan X most reminds me of is the Honda Accord. It’s not a particularly interesting vehicle visually, but what the Accord lacks in loin-stirring sex appeal, it makes up for in mile devouring competence-to a point. As excellent as the Accord is at getting you everywhere you need to go safely, reliably and efficiently, it lacks that certain special something that makes little boys shut up and take notice and grown men gush like Star Jones on awards night (or at an all-you-can-eat buffet, take your pick). And that’s where the X falls short as well, at least by the measure of the Jumpman on its sole.

So I can understand the Rodney Dangerfield treatment it’s been subjected to over the years, but from a performance perspective the Air Jordan X demands respect. It may not be the most memorable Jordan ever, but, over 10 years on from its original release, the X is still among the best when game time arrives.

—From Issue 7, article by Professor K