5 Thoughts From Sneakerheads On The Air Jordan XX9

August 21, 2014 - 5:37 pm by Terrence Watson

It’s almost hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since the first production of Air Jordans, but here we are anxiously awaiting the release of the XX9 like thirst-buckets waited for that Nicki Minaj “Anaconda” video drop. September 6 is the day you can finally get your hands on a pair from local retail spots, but the good folks at Jordan Brand invited us and a few other media outlets to come test out the kicks before they officially hit the streets.

What we loved about the shoes is how comfortable they fit, thanks to the performance woven upper that allows the shoe to stretch and mold immediately to your foot. The XX9 also provides stability and bounce thanks to the new, enhanced Flight Plate. Playing in these was like running on air, but enough about what we thought. Hit the arrows above to see what our friends and fellow sneaker aficionados thought about the latest J’s.

Photo Cred: Ben Draper

Jarrel Harris | Hoop Mag | @_JarrelHarris The XX9 is a awesome product that just shows how advanced Jordan Brand is with innovation and technology. As the lightest Air Jordan ever, you can really tell the difference between these kicks and others. I felt like I was Russell Westbrook. When they said these shoes are tailored for flight, they really meant it.

Chris Chase | WearTesters.com | @Nightwing2303 The XX8 was fantastic, but flawed. Jordan Brand has managed to take what was great about the XX8 and master it with the XX9, while continuing to introduce groundbreaking technology with the performance woven upper. Remarkable shoe, plays fantastic and they look good. It’s exactly what we came to expect during the brand's glory days in the 90's. Happy to see them return to that mindset.

Alvin Blanco | HipHopWired.com | @Aqua174 The Air Jordan XX9 is fresh out the box comfortable. Since the beginning Michael Jordan's signature has been the top of the line model and this latest version has the tech to carry that weight, feels great on the foot and looks damn good (I'll only co-sign the version with the big Jumpman logo on the side). Ball players and sneaker aficionados should like these when they get to see them in person.

Abe Schwadron | SLAM | @abe_squad The great thing about the Jordan XX9 is that it feels broken in from the moment you lace it up for the first time. They’re cushy, like wearing padded slippers, but still strong enough to cut hard. Personally I prefer the big Jumpman colorway to the elephant print, and honestly I'm a little surprised that Jordan didn't come stronger on the style side, given that with this new weaving process on the upper, they could have pretty much created any print imaginable. Of course, performance comes first, and without a doubt the XX9 is the new pinnacle in that department.

Rich MaZe Lopez | Kixandthecity.com | @MaZe1er It's great to see Jordan Brand using the resources available to them to continually innovate and push the game shoe technology further. The implementation of the digitally printed jacquard woven proves that the the Air Jordan is ready for the future. The retooling of the Flight Plate chasis also shows the the brand is listening to feedback which is always vital in the progression of high performance footwear.