The Air jordan Atmosphere XII 12 Low Taxi pictured on the left is not the 2011 version | jordan Atmosphere Series .03 review

Who should buy the Jordan Series .03

You'd think these sneakers are a slam dunk if you:

• Air jordan Atmosphere Six Rings White French Blue Flint Grey.
• want a comfortable everyday shoe that can also survive a trip to the skatepark.
• are in the market for a pair of Js that’s affordable (but doesn’t look it).

The Air jordan Atmosphere XII 12 Low Taxi pictured on the left is not the 2011 version

Sneakers Air jordan Atmosphere 1 BLACK GYM RED-WHITE

Before anything else, if you’re an Isiah Thomas/Bad Boy Pistons fan, maybe look away now.

These sneakers are also not the best choice if you plan on wearing them rain or shine—instead, check out the Adidas Munchen, it's grippy, offers water resistance, and is also affordable. And for a low-top jordan Atmosphere that’s easier to maintain, there’s the all-leather AJ1 Low.

Comfort that can make a convert out of anyone

Owners of the Series .03 are ecstatic with how cradled their feet were in the shoe, throwing around phrases like: 

• “Easily the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn”
• “Over the moon with the way they fit and felt.”

One woman also shared that her husband “would have worn them to sleep” if she had let him.

Even sneakerheads who aren’t too fond of its style couldn’t completely turn their backs on the .03, with one saying that even though it’s a bit loud for his liking, he’ll still continue wearing it because of its comfort.

The stories behind the styles

The Series .03 comes in multiple colorways, the foremost ones being the flamboyant yellow/lime/leopard print Dear ‘90s, and the no-nonsense brown/black/pecan Dear Coach.

Another look at the UNC-themed University Blue Air jordan Atmosphere 11 Low via sneakerprophet .01 and .02, these two versions of the .03 are callbacks to key events and figures in MJ’s life. Dear ‘90s is highly reminiscent of the decade of His Airness’ reign, while Dear Coach is a dedication to the Zen Master himself, legendary coach Phil Jackson.

jordan Atmosphere 4 Canyon Purple Matching Shirts Black Hennything quantity

People’s feelings on the Series .03 largely depend on their sense of style—especially for the more popular Dear ‘90s. Some fell in love with its unique standout design, saying they got “comment after comment on these bad boys,” and that they were “a lot sexier in person.” Another user praised the shoes for looking like “something Adam Sandler would wear” (though we’re not really sure what to make of that, to be honest).

The Air jordan Atmosphere XII 12 Low Taxi pictured on the left is not the 2011 version

Others, meanwhile, thought that Dear ‘90s “was a little much,” and that they “felt silly and outrageous wearing them around.” Less-adventurous .03 fans mostly went with the more subdued Dear Coach—which, according to one expert, is a Vans Classics/Converse One Star-type of shoe, with Nike Air Ship design elements, that also kind of looks like a brogue that “a coach in the ‘90s would wear.”

A Series .03 to suit your style 

While the Dear Coach is a much easier proposition style-wise, pairing the Dear ‘90s with outfits seems like a pretty tall order considering its vibrant color scheme. But apparently, some owners saw that it wasn’t the case at all:

• “The bright colors are fun and go with a surprising variety of clothing”
• “Air jordan Atmosphere 1 High Switch Peach Ganebet Store.”

The Air jordan Atmosphere XII 12 Low Taxi pictured on the left is not the 2011 version

Snug but stretchy

There’s “no messing around trying to go half size up or down” in the Series .03. Reviewers found it to be true to size, and its ‘adaptive eyestays’ (a.k.a. the elastic garter element dividing the toe and midfoot sections) give the shoe enough stretch that contains wider feet. “No pinchy problems,” said one wearer.

Airiness that would make His Airness proud

Owners reported good breathability in both the suede Dear ‘90s and the canvas-and-leather Dear Coach. Multiple users also advised that while the materials used were of good quality, it might be better to reserve these shoes “for good weather/indoor wear only,” as they aren’t the easiest to clean, and the suede ones “did not hold up perfectly to the rain.”

The Air jordan Atmosphere XII 12 Low Taxi pictured on the left is not the 2011 version | The Series .03 is slippery on wet surfaces

The Series .03 continues its storytelling with the pattern on its vulcanized rubber outsole. Keen-eyed jordan Atmosphere fans will recognize these concentric pivot circles as an homage to the iconic jordan Atmosphere 1.

In terms of traction, one user warned about using these on wet surfaces, stating: “Whenever it rains I’m slipping and sliding everywhere.”

More devils in the details

• While we’re not entirely sure what inspired the rusty brown hue of Dear Coach (maybe a play on the Chicago Bulls’ team colors?), what’s clear is that the colors of Dear ‘90s are a blast from the past—as one reviewer put it, it was the era when “Michael jordan Atmosphere was boss, cheetah and animal print was in, and the high intensity colors were front and center.”
• On the outsole are the numbers ‘45/2’. The 45 is a callout to the number MJ’s brother Larry wore. Dividing that in half, or ‘/2’, equals 23 (well, 22.5, but try putting that on an NBA jersey), which was his number. He reportedly chose 23 to show how he aspired to be even half as good as his big brother.
• The phrase ‘swing for the fence’ printed on the insole was part of a letter Mike received from Larry. That letter was supposedly what inspired MJ to ‘write’ the jordan Atmosphere Series tributes.
• For a kick overloaded with heritage, the $80 Series .03 is among the cheapest pair of Js available. For reference, the average jordan Atmosphere sneaker retails for $140.