Nike Air Maestro 2 review

Who should buy the Nike Air Maestro 2

• You are looking for a basketball sneaker that offers a supportive ankle hug to prevent unintended shoe removal.
• You prefer a ball game companion that offers enough impact shield during landing ideal for players with a hefty build. 
• You love collecting retro-inspired footgear. 

Profile of the Nike Air Maestro 2

The Nike Air Maestro II Trifecta was re-released on May 10, 2018 for $140. As part of the ‘Art of a Champion’ collection, these signature shoes come with a gold Larry O’Brien Trophy hangtag.

The design of these high-top Nike basketball shoes is inspired by the early 90s. These retros come in a combination of synthetic and nubuck leather. The leathers in the retro Nike Air Maestro 2 are not as good as those in the original release. However, they are still of premium quality and comfortable.

The outsole of these Nike shoes is made of durable solid rubber. The midsole features a lightweight and full-length polyurethane foam and an encapsulated Air unit at the heel for impact protection.

The Air Maestro 2 in modern days is considered a collector’s item. This model is said to be not appropriate for gaming anymore. Nike has had the Hyperdunk series for ten years and buyers are excited to grab them every year.

Performance

Cushion. The responsiveness of the Nike Air Maestro II comes from the full-length polyurethane in its midsole. This classic midsole foam is lightweight and absorbs impact really well. The heel has an encapsulated Air unit that provides impact protection during landing. This cushioning setup suits heavy and big players well.

Traction. The Nike Air Maestro 2 comes with a durable solid rubber outsole. It is designed to withstand both indoor and outdoor surfaces. The sole features a herringbone with circular patterns on the side and heel. The midfoot has two thick and wide grooves. These deliver good court grip and flexibility.

Fit

Length and Width. Nike follows shoe sizing standards. However, because of their unique designs, shoe models might run long or narrow. As for the Nike Maestro 2, there are reports from both narrow- and wide-footers that the shoe is true to size. The inner sleeve conforms to the shape of the foot for a one-to-one fit.

Lockdown. To deliver excellent lockdown without compromising comfort, the inner sleeve of the Nike Air Maestro II is filled with foam. This setup securely keeps the foot in place. As classics, these Nike shoes make use of traditional lacing systems.

Material

The upper of the Nike Air Maestro II is made of synthetic and nubuck leather. The combination of the dual leathers delivers durability. There are perforations in the sides of the shoe to help wick away moisture during play.

Style

The Air Maestro 2 is considered one of the best-looking signature shoes from Nike. The Swoosh logos are seen on both sides of the shoe. The ‘Flight’ callout on the tongue grabs people’s attention. Another Nike branding element is found on the heel. There is also a dainty and sturdy pull tab on the heel.

Special Colorways of the Nike Air Maestro 2

The Nike Maestro 2 is one of the shoes in the ‘Art of a Champion’ collection of the Swoosh brand. The shoe comes in the Trifecta colorway. This version is a predominantly red basketball sneaker with white Swoosh logos on both sides. It also has details of black and white throughout.

The other colorways of the Nike Maestro 2 are as follows:

• Black/White
• Gym Red
• Hyper Jade
• Rush Orange
• USA
• White Metallic

Kith X Nike Air Maestro 2 Red Suede

Kith and Nike collaborated to re-create the Red Suede colorway of the Air Maestro 2. In 1994, Scottie Pippen wore the Air Maestro 2 Red Suede and won his first NBA All-Star Game MVP award.