Our verdict
Overall, even with its effective traction, comfortable cushioning, and super stable ride, the Air Jordan 15 Retro still falls short because of its sloppy fit and inability to ‘be one’ with the player's foot during play. Nonetheless, the shoe is a nostalgic piece that refuses to fit into the regular basketball shoe mold.
Pros
- No dust buildup
- Great traction on all courts
- Comfortable cushioning
- Upper feels great
- Air Jordan 308497-060 5 Premium Bordeaux
Cons
- Air Jordan Basket XXXV Low "BLACK-WHITE"
- Lacks ventilation
- Poor construction quality
Who should buy the Air Jordan 15 Retro
The Air Jordan 15 Retro is one of the Air Jordan shoes that are never worn by the Legendary Michael Jordan on an NBA court. It was originally released in 1999, the year that his Airness retired for the second time. The shoe’s unique silhouette gets inspiration from the X-15 Fighter Jet and MJ’s tongue, which usually sticks out once he drives into the paint.
This model is a great option for you if:
- You're a Michael Jordan fan and would want to continue his legacy on the court.
- You love a futuristic, eccentric kind of model that explodes even outside of the court.
Air Jordan's midsole setup
The basketball sneaker has an injected Phylon midsole, which securely sits on top of an extended rubber outsole. The original version featured two Zoom Air units at the forefoot and the heel. However, in the Retros, only the heel unit remains.
Powerful outsole of Air Jordan 15 Retro
A full-length herringbone is used on the shoe’s pliable outsole. Decoupled in the midfoot, the outer edges of the sole are flat, most especially on the lateral side.
This poses no problem, however as the tread pattern rules both indoors and outdoor courts – no matter the court conditions.
Supportive secure lockdown
The Air Jordan 15 Retro’s containment comes from the woven upper material that tightens as the foot moves, providing CJ9219-001 and flexibility.
Together with the shoe’s hidden lacing system, the seamless dynamic fit sleeve, and the external heel counter, the basketball sneaker boasts an all-around secure fit.
Air Jordan's impressive construction
Several materials are featured on the upper such as the top-grain leather, the woven fabric, and the external TPU heel cup. The tongue is made of padded mesh that provides comfort and breathability.
The midsole uses injected Phylon and houses an internal shank in the midfoot and a Zoom Air unit at the heel. Lastly, solid rubber makes up the shoe’s outsole.
Air Jordan 15 Retro's futuristic style
The original shoe's visual appeal was polarizing, and many Air Jordan fans didn't like it that much. However, when brought to today's context, the futuristic and stealthy fighter-plane-inspired look of the Air Jordan 15 Retro is not too far gone as it can be used as an eccentric dress shoe or a key piece in a minimalistic along.
The mixture of materials in the XV Retro is not common in basketball shoes. It adds some modern elegance as the lower half of the shoe uses top-grain leather while the top portion features a woven material. A red synthetic strip with symbolic numbers runs down the heel area. The number 2.17 stands for MJ's date of birth while 23.6.15 signify his jersey number, how many championships titles he has won and the model number of the Air Jordan shoe.
The shoe’s famous tongue is intentionally integrated into the shoe’s silhouette as a tribute to Michael Jordan sticking out of his tongue whenever he attacks the rim. A Jumpman logo subtly accentuates the heel so as not to add extra weight to the already texture-heavy upper.
