The Nu'Retro 2 by Air Jordan: Sneaker Retrospective Series

As the Jordan Brand has expanded under its larger Nike parent company, Air Jordans have become much more prevalent in the selling place, in particularly shoe stores across the U.S. With Michael Jordan having retired, come back, retired, come back, and having finally (!) retired for good, his image and his staying power has become much more of a marathon of memories for sports and basketball aficionados. In memory of his on-court genius, the Brand Jordan empire has undertaken many new concepts in its shoes approaching the open market of the sneaker world. Now with retro styles now in full effect, Jordan Brand has now only taken to re-issuing its older models, but now the Brand has taken to redesigning its own classics. Enter the Air Jordan Nu'Retro 2.

With its inspiration aimed solely at the original Nike Air Jordan II, the Nu'Retro 2 takes direct cues from its predecessor. From the cup sole, high-top cut, stitched bordering and even the original Air Jordan wings logo, the Retro 2 is trim and sleek in a truly credible way. But along with similarities, there are differences as well. For one, the Retro 2 makes use of a full-length Air sole unit for more comfort (the original used only an Air pocket in the heel); the Retro's foot bridge also has a synthetic leather cover that shields the laces, making adding new shoelaces a near-impossibility (as the original uses a traditional lace-up system). Then there are the details on the bottom of the shoe, where his career achievements through 1987 are documented, the addition of the Jumpman logo that was first introduced in the 1987-1988 NBA season, and an all-black/silver colorway (as the original Air Jordan II was the only mainline Jordan shoe that was not released in black).

The Retro 2 is definitely a stylish shoe, but performance on the hardwood can be varied. While the Retro does have good ankle support, due to the high cut, and while the Nubuck synthetic leather on the shoe doesn't stretch or degrade as quickly as natural full-grain leather, there are some issues that can halt a player on the court after a game or two. One reason is that the shoe underfoot lacks the support of most modern shoes; while the comfort of the Air-sole is much appreciate, the lack of external arch support (such as a carbon fiber plate) makes landings, fast breaks, and quick cuts on the floor more of a conscious job than an effortless hobby. Also, as the shoe is made up entirely of man-made materials (including a shiny polyester lining), the Retro 2 has near-zero breathability, making feet hot quicker without a place for heat to escape at all. The high cut of the Retro also makes the Achilles tendon vulnerable if playing low-cut socks is a must. Compounded with the thickness of the outsole and insole, and court feel underfoot can be like playing in astronaut boots.

The best thing about the shoe for collectors is that the Nu'Retro series was cut out of Jordan's plans after this model was released in 2003. But then again, on-court performance isn't everything-casual style in a premium, moderately comfortable shoe is still much appreciated, even if it does better on the pavement than on the hardwood. Plus, if a true retro sneaker can't be had, a Nu'Retro can be just as good.