Verdict from 17 experts and 35 user reviews
10 reasons to buy
- A great number of sneaker fanatics mention that the $200 price point of the Air Jordan 30 is worth it; the shoe model uses premium materials.
- The black and white packaging is classically simple and clean according to several buyers.
- Jordan’s idea of putting extra items like Jumpman pins inside the box is a huge plus.
- The ‘XXX’ on the heel counter looks better on hand than in online images.
- The rubber outsole of the Air Jordan 30 has thick grooves, making it OK for the outdoors.
- The Zoom unit at the forefoot works wonders, and it gets so much praise from users.
- The gradient colorways of the Air Jordan 30 are liked by many.
- The Galaxy print on the lateral side looks cool, according to plenty of wearers.
- The Air Jordan 30 works amazing on clean courts, claim several users.
- These Jordan shoes are lighter than many signature sneakers according to some reviewers.
5 reasons not to buy
- Some are not happy that the collar is not of the same height as the tongue.
- A handful of buyers claim that these Michael Jordan signature shoes run narrow.
- At $200, majority of buyers say the price is steep.
- A lot of wearers do not find the map design on the tongue aesthetically appealing.
- These Jordan basketball shoes attract plenty of dust and easily become slippery, comment some testers.
Bottom line
The Air Jordan 30 is a good performance shoe. However, there are cheaper performance shoe models that are as effective or even better than the Air Jordan 30. If the shoe is going to be a collection add-on or slated for casual use, then the Air Jordan 30 is worth it. The comfort, design, and colors that these basketball sneakers from Jordan come in bring delight to the eyes.
Tip: see the best basketball shoes.
Good to know
Designed by shoe geniuses Tinker Hatfield and Mark Smith, the Air Jordan 30 was released in February 2016 as a performance shoe. According to YouTuber Tyler Blake, Hatfield said in the Air Jordan 30 event that, “If we are going to sacrifice performance for aesthetic, we might as well stop designing sneakers because we always want to be at the height of the performance game.”
The Air Jordan 30 features the Zoom Air and FlightSpeed technologies in the midsole. These two technologies create a cushion experience like no other. The outsole rubber withstands any court floor. The Air Jordan 30 has attractive gradient colorways, making it OK for the shoe to double as fashion sneakers.
The 33rd and most innovative Jordan basketball shoes come with the same midsole technologies of Zoom Air and FlightSpeed. It is $25 cheaper than the Air Jordan 30 upon release.
Cushion. The cushioning of the Air Jordan 30 starts with the insole. It has rubber grips that grasps the foot, holding it in place. The midsole is equipped with a huge Zoom unit at the forefoot. This not only absorbs impact but also provides responsiveness. With the assistance of the FlightSpeed technology, weight received is evened out and a good amount of energy is returned in every step.
Traction. The outsole of the Air Jordan 30 is made of full-length translucent and icy rubber. It is designed to tolerate indoor and outdoor courts; however, it is upon the discretion of the wearer to use the shoe outdoors. The forefoot area has an elevated Zoom Airbag that provides better responsiveness than those that are only located in the midsole.
Length and Width. The Air Jordan 30 is designed to have the average length and width hence the majority of sneaker reviewers advise new buyers to go true to size. However, for wearers with wider feet, it is best to fit the shoe at the nearest shoe outlet before purchasing.
Lockdown. For fit adjustments, the Air Jordan 30 has a traditional lacing system with round shoe laces and loopholes. The Flyknit on the collar adds a nice touch to the rear panel aside from the comfort it brings to the ankle.
The forefoot area has good containment and no instability issues because of the TPU that surrounds it. Unlike the previous models, the heel counter has no TPU. Overall, the shoe provides a smooth heel-to-toe transition.
The upper of the Air Jordan 30 is made of performance woven material with a gradient effect. This material ensures a comfortable fit, lightness, and durability. The material in the front area of the shoe is purposely made softer than the rear panel to ensure flexibility. The material on the rear is thicker and harder for heel containment. The plastic toe cap makes the shoe durable enough for occasional toe drags.
The Air Jordan 30 is a mid-top with a half-bootie construction. The toe cap of the shoe has a fainted Jordan logo. This cap does not only provide durability, it also adds a nice touch to the design. The map design on the tongue has the African and North American continents. For Africa, of course, represents Michael Jordan’s heritage. North America is where Michael Jordan made his career. The small blue dot pays homage to the days he spent in North Carolina.
The lateral side has an outrigger that is made of thick plastic with a cosmic print design. The rear has a large “XXX.” The outsole has the XXX branding and a Jumpman logo, which are made noticeable through the icy and translucent rubber.
Love it or hate it, the Air Jordan XXX is taking the market by storm with its multiple colorways. These Jordan basketball shoes definitely make your style more personalized. Here are some of its most basic colorways:
- Black Cat
- Gym Red/Gym Red-Black
- University Blue
The Jordan brand is known to manufacture special colorways that allow them to market their products well. They subsections below discuss some of the more popular ones.
Air Jordan XXX Charlotte Hornets PE
The Charlotte Hornets are honored by the Jordan brand through their own Away and Home versions of the Air Jordan 30.
- Away. The Away rendition is a black pair with purple and teal accents.
- Home. The Home version has a white upper with a purple gradient detailing at the heel.
Air Jordan XXX Cosmos “Quai 54 “
Released on July 9, 2016 for $200, the Cosmos Quai 54 comes with a galaxy-detailed upper. It sports hints of black and white throughout. The translucent rubber outsoles of these Air Jordan basketball shoes feature gradients of light green and pink.
Air Jordan XXX Kawhi Leonard Gold PE Pack
Jordan Brand endorser Kawhi Leonard gets exclusive black and white versions of the Air Jordan 30. Both have metallic gold accents and translucent rubber outsoles.
Air Jordan XXX Marquette PE
This exclusive colorway for the Marquette Golden Eagles is dressed in the team’s colors. Different shades of blue grace the upper. The heel and Jumpman logos have gold accents.
Air Jordan XXX OKC Cosmos PE
In a Oklahoma City Thunders practice game, the OKC Cosmos player exclusive colorway of the Air Jordan XXX was seen on Russell Westbrook’s foot. With predominantly orange and black hues, the shoe’s upper sits on a white midsole and translucent rubber outsole.
Air Jordan XXX Russell Westbrook PE
As one of the famous endorsers of the Jordan brand, Russell Westbrook gets some special treatment with the release of the Air Jordan 30. The brand produced some player exclusive colorways for the basketball star.
- One of the Russell Westbrook PEs is the same as the Cosmos Quai 54 except for the the tongue, which is aptly branded with Russell Westbrook’s logo.
- The second colorway is a predominantly blue pair with orange accents. It is also referred to as the Away colorway.
- The third player exclusive is an all-white colorway with silver detailing on the heel.
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