Air Jordan XX: A 20th Anniversary Sneaker Retrospective

The Air Jordan series, as prestigious a line as basketball sneakers can get, survived early controversy, unfortunate injury, individual achievements, strings of failures, six championships, multiple retirements and comebacks and a team of next-generation Jordanaires before being treated to its 20^th anniversary. And the Air Jordan XX didn't disappoint.

The Air Jordan XX became the canvas for all of Michael Jordan's achievements from the past, displaying the technology of the present, and giving admirers a glimpse into the future.

The AJ XX is marked largely by its tattoo-like markings on the shoe, which in fact are laser engravings that are computerized from a patented machine that Nike has now used for many of its premium shoe products. The etchings/stampings were actually a huge printed, visual collage that dealt with the whole of Michael's life, not only in the NBA but personally as well. But in context of the XX ¾, the lasering became permanent stamping into the leather.

The ¾ cut of the XX allowed wearers the flexibility around the ankle, which varied from the fit of the two-strap original version of the XX. Beyond the tattoo impounding of the laser pattern into the leather upper, the lack of straps, and the lower cut, the XX ¾ does not differ from the mid-cut XX.

Technology-wise, the XX was ahead of its time. Largely thought to be the first Air Jordan to lack Nike's patented Air technology, which is in fact its namesake, XX did in fact include an Air pocket in the heel, but this was largely ignored due to the state-of-the-art I.P.S. podular system that other series-Jordan sneakers have also featured. With I.P.S., the XX was fitted with 10 dense foam pods (in each shoe) within the midsole and outsole of the shoe that actually sat the shoe off of the ground by a few millimeters; when the wearer would run or walk, the pods would respond by compressing and decompressing to accommodate the weight and stress of the foot, thereby making response on the court more efficient. In conjunction with the Air and augmented insole, not too much Nike's Sphere moisture-wicking fabric in the lining, the XX proved to be one of the most comfortable Jordans of all time.

The XX also took inspiration from Jordan's new hobby and interest in motorcycle, lending itself to a biker's look, with a toe guard on the medial side of the shoe, a black rubber outsole with basic lines and a vent-like design on the back of the shoe.

Motorcycles, pods, Air, Michael Jordan-what more could you want in a shoe?