Air Jordan 32 REVIEW: They’re Back With a BANG?!

I honestly slightly lost interest in what Jordan Brand has to offer with each new shoe after the 30th. The two previous ones were pretty good but nothing spectacular, so with all the hype around the latest 32nd, I have some faith in these. After weeks of playing and testing, I bring you my comprehensive Air Jordan 32 review.

I’ll talk about the shoe’s tech specs, the fit, performance, the upper and decide it it’s worth the price. Let’s start the Air Jordan 32 review!

THE TECH

ZOOM AIR & FLIGHTSPEED

AJ brought back the old-school setup with a ZOOM unit in the heel and forefoot areas which is pretty rare these days with all those full-length setups out there. The FlightSpeed plate which is a bridge between the forefoot and heel areas make for smoother step transitions and more efficient cushion.

FLYKNIT

This is the type of Flyknit you can call “legit”. The material is up at the front and it’s as pure Flyknit as it gets. More on the Upper section.

FIT

OVERALL SOLID

A very similar construction to the 31 is here but I will say that the 32 feels just a bit softer, comfortable, and more forgiving to the feet. The materials are the similar but everything seems to be improved.

As a wide footer, I went true to size and after a break-in period (which was way quicker than I expected) they fit completely fine.

One thing about the main Jordan line is they’re not the lightest and quickest/mobile feeling shoes, and this one’s no exception. You won’t be as quick on your feet as you would on a dedicated guard shoe but that’s not really a con – it’s more of a personal preference.

Other than that, the whole comfort experience is solid. Lockdown and containment is great, there is plenty of softness inside the shoe and I didn’t feel any major discomfort throughout the sneaker.

PERFORMANCE

CUSHION

Nothing really special here but gets the job done more than well. Two ZOOM units in the heel and forefoot that are better than your regular bottom loaded units found on $120 budget Jordans.

Impact protection in the heel is fine, not on a BOOST level but plenty for a lighter, even a heavier player. The forefoot is what’s really cool ’cause I actually felt a good amount of response and softness throughout the area.

So, a very nice cushion that’s stable, balanced, not too bouncy and not too firm. Either you’re a guard or a forward, these will offer you a good experience.

TRACTION

The outsole is completely reworked from the XXX1 and for the better. These gripped the floor very well, without any inconsistencies or slip-outs. They are a bit prone to collecting dust, so you better be cool with occasional wiping.

The rubber compound and the pattern itself looks really not aggressive or strong enough to make the XXX2 a solid contender for outdoor play.

SUPPORT

Thanks to strong leather and plenty of support features, the shoe does protect you properly. One main gripe with the support is it’s a bit restricting and the internal construction doesn’t feel flexible or soft enough in my opinion.

It’s just that the shoe feels a bit bulky and restricting. Not on a crazy uncomfortable level, but something I don’t appreciate too much. I felt the difference clearly because I came out of a Crazy Explosive Primeknit.

UPPER

A COMBINATION THAT WORKS

We have Flyknit at the front and synthetic leather at the back of the shoe. Just as on the Jordan 31, this combo works very well to accommodate to as many players as possible.

The Flyknit is as awesome as it gets – it’s 100% pure, there’s nothing backing it up or reinforcing it. Many think it would be unsafe and unreliable that way but they really did a great job designing it and thinking forward. The material stretches a lot in certain areas, but also doesn’t stretch and is super tight in other areas that need that support.

This Flyknit is super soft, comfortable, secure and pleasant to play in. This is exactly what my forefoot needs.

The leather area at the back is also nice since it does what it’s supposed to – protect, support and lock-in. It is a sturdy material but for that you get maximum security and structure stepping on the court. Overall, the materials on this shoe are pretty premium, well-thought out and done right.

OVERALL

BEST FOR ANY MEDIUM-HEAVIER PLAYER

I actually wouldn’t recommend the Jordan 32 for super light, quick and low to the ground guards. This is a different shoe that does offer great performance but not a lot of mobility.

This is a great shoe though and an improvement over the 31. If you were deciding whether you should get the Jordan 32 over 31, I think you should.