Verdict from 5 experts and 9 user reviews
6 reasons to buy
- A couple of reviewers appreciate that some elements of the shoe are asymmetrical. They state that because the human foot is also asymmetrical, they feel that their feet are “completely supported thanks to the outstanding shape and contouring of the upper.”
- Because of the Air Jordan 2010’s double-stacked Zoom Air setup, many wearers find the shoe to be very comfortable.
- The Zoom Air units allow these white Nike basketball shoes to have a lot of court feel without sacrificing impact protection. One tester says that he feels like he has more control over his movements.
- Once the shoe is broken in, the lockdown that it delivers is top-notch according to several wearers. They compare its lockdown goodness to that of the Kobe Bryant’s basketball shoes.
- A number of expert reviewers think that the Jordan 2010’s highlights are its fit and cushioning setup.
- The sculpted padding at the back of the ankle and forefoot and heel panels do a great job in containing the foot and reducing internal slippage.
6 reasons not to buy
- The shoe’s lowlight is its traction because there is a need to wipe the shoe every so often when it is used on dusty courts.
- Two users complain that the clear counters in the medial and lateral sides of the forefoot, and a specific apex near the Achilles dig into their skin and cause some pain.
- Many wearers experience some lockdown issues with their brand new Air Jordan basketball sneakers. They say that you will have to break the shoe in before you can enjoy a close-to-the-foot fit.
- A couple of users say that the shoe’s tongue annoyingly moves around during play.
- Wide footers will need to fit the shoe first as the clear counters at the forefoot can make the Jordan 2010 feel a bit narrow. They say it is almost as tight as the Kevin Durant signature shoes.
- One tester remarks that the transparent window can get foggy and sweaty during play and that the clear TPU counters get scuffed easily.
Bottom line
Aesthetically, the Air Jordan 2010 is another polarizing shoe from Michael Jordan’s famous line of signature basketball sneakers. It features a transparent window in its side panels. However, its technologies do not disappoint. They perform well especially after the shoe is broken in.
Tip: see the best basketball shoes.
Expert reviews:
- 88/100 by SoleCollector
- 80/100 by Sneaker News
User reviews:
- 5/5 by Amazon
Video reviews
Good to know
Considered a memorable shoe for its unconventional design, the Air Jordan 2010 features a clear side window that symbolizes how MJ sees through his opponents on the court. The basketball sneaker features a detached toe cap, a perforated leather upper, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) transparent window, and a double-stacked Zoom Air cushioning setup.
Cushion. Jordan is one to spoil hoopers with the Air Jordan 2010’s cushioning system and its double-stacked Zoom Air units. This setup is a cushioning sandwich where a thin Phylon foam is in between a top-loaded heel unit and a bottom-loaded full-length Zoom Air unit. The top-loaded unit brings stability while the full-length Zoom Air creates a more springy ride that absorbs shock even on the get-go.
Traction. The outsole features a herringbone traction pattern that is scattered all throughout. The tread pattern extends to the heel to assist players that land on the heel.
Length and Width. The shoe fits true to size, but it can feel a bit narrow at the forefoot due to the clear counters. It is best to try the shoe on personally in order to avoid shoe discomfort.
Lockdown. Several elements of the shoe’s design contribute to its lockdown power: the traditional lacing system, the TPU counters at the forefoot and heel, the foam pods on the heel, and the rigid heel cup. All of these work together to avoid both side-to-side and front-to-back internal slippage.
The collar is purposefully made asymmetrical in height so that it accommodates the foot's natural form and ultimately giving it a snug and sculpted wrap.
The shoe’s toe box is detached and completely wrapped in soft tumbled leather. Because of this, the wearer will be able to flex and bend without creasing the toe box nor the main body of the upper. The same high-quality leather material is used in the heel area. Underneath the leather toe box is a mesh fabric that contribute to the shoe’s breathability.
The clear windows on the side panels are made of TPU, which provides ventilation and takes off some of the shoe’s weight. TPU counters reinforce the medial and lateral sides of the forefoot and heel so that they keep the foot within the footbed during hard cuts and other movements.
The shoe’s Phylon midsole houses two Zoom Air units of differing sizes. Depending on the colorway, the outsole is made of either a solid rubber compound or a translucent one.
The clear panels on the sides are actually the designers’ response to Michael Jordan’s request for a transparent shoe. Both the clear window and the luxurious leather toe cap take the center stage, and they are often described as classy and over the top. The base of the Phylon midsole showcases a quote from Michael Jordan that says, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
In the year of its release, five colorways were debuted. These are the following:
- Air Jordan 2010 Black/Varsity Red-White
- Air Jordan 2010 Black/University Blue
- Air Jordan 2010 White/Black-Varsity Red
- Air Jordan 2010 Black/Dark Charcoal-Varsity Red
- Air Jordan 2010 Metallic Silver/Metallic Silver-White
Air Jordan 2010 XX8 (28) Days of Flight
The Air Jordan 2010 28 Days of Flight is a dual chrome shoe of black and neon green. The shoe is finished off with a solid rubber outsole.
The XX8 Days of Flight colorway celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Air Jordan shoe series. The basketball shoes of Michael Jordan have a 28 Days of Flight colorway from the first Air Jordan model to the 23rd. It also includes the Air Jordans 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. This collection is what sets apart the Jordan brand from its parent company Nike. The Jumpman brand dished out an entire line of basketball shoes in one special colorway. They had fans involved in a contest and released the XX8 Days of Flight collection a month before the All-Star Weekend and MJ’s birthday.
How Air 2010 compares
