Jordan True Flight Performance Review
Posted by Nick Engvall | Feb 20, 2009 As one of the shoes on our list of Sneakers We’re Looking Forward to in 2009 and style cues from the Jordan 7 and the addition of full length Zoom Air, I was anxious to get the Jordan True Flight on the court.
The True Flight has only been seen on the feet of Josh Howard this season in our Kicks On Court series, but the silhouette and performance upgrades, it’s surprising. We did recently see a couple new PE Colorways though, so more on court action should be on its way. My first impression lacing these kicks up, is pure comfort. The Huarache-like inner sock liner and Zoom Air feels good, no questions about it. The ankle area above the sock liner does not have padding which is the only thing about the shoe I could see as a possible downside thus far. Click Here to see how the Jordan True Flight scored in our review. |
Jordan True Flight Performance Review
The shoes really didn’t need any break in time, with the exception of the ankle area, which I would attribute to that lack of padding. Noticing that when Josh Howard plays in them, his ankles are wrapped (I do not, though I did play in some high socks ala Walt “The Wizard” Williams for testing), I imagine wrapping your ankles would erase any of the negative aspects I found with the ankle area.
The traction on the True Flight’s is phenomenal, I didn’t pay attention to these type of things back when I played in the Jordan 7’s but I can only imagine that the herringbone traction and seemingly flatter outsole of the True Flight’s is light years ahead of its OG inspiration.
The cushioning is top notch as well, only a slightly noticeable difference between the heel area and the forefoot. The lack of padding in the ankle area however does keep you from being able to cut as easily as it should. For instance, when you move left you feel that the inside of the ankle does not give, therefore causing some discomfort, and slowing the reaction time of both the shoe, and yourself ever so slightly.
Durability of the True Flight’s should be excellent, as I got the chance to play in them quite a bit, both inside and outside and they show very little signs of wear on the sole or even creasing in the toebox area. Even with the nubuck upper of the colorway I hooped in the breathability is good on these kicks, thanks to the ventilation near the ankle and the mesh of the Huarache-like sock liner.
Overall these are excellent kicks, I’d suggest them for 3-4 type of player over a guard simply because most guards are not going to be wrapping their ankles heavily, that’s more of an “in the paint” type of protection.
Jordan True Flight Performance Review Scorecard
Aug 4, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I got a pair; got the white/neon yellow/black colorway. Reminds me of Space Jam. For the people that say these are a disgrace, your wrong. Look at all the other shoes that are loosely based on the original Jordans. Get over it. To be honest, I wear my to ball in and for fashion. A good look for both anyways.
Jul 18, 2009 at 10:47 pm
i got these they are great, i’m a guard too..i move fast in them
Jun 15, 2009 at 12:02 pm
these are soon to be classics.. good job jordan
Feb 27, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Man…whatever…I just got the White/black/red joints today and played for two straight hours in them…like I hardly had shoes on at all…I enjoyed them thoroughly and the traction and cushioning are a major upgrade…I can get over the ankle padding…didn’t really affect much…everyone that is hating is going to miss out on an incredible shoe…now i have to track down a pair of white/black/purple joints…lol
Feb 24, 2009 at 9:55 am
i rock em both 7s and these flights.. they look the same just a better version… the white and purple was a nice color way..
Feb 23, 2009 at 9:41 pm
dont like true flights
Feb 23, 2009 at 11:00 am
I sort of agree wit #27. The way I do it is when I buy a pair of jordans, it’s usually for style and retro purposes. If they are a good balling sneaker, I’ll wait until they are worn in enough then I’ll wear em on the court because I know that is their original purpose. Realistically though, I would never buy a new pair of jordans to play ball in only because in terms of comfort as related to price, there are a lot more comfortable, cheaper options out there
Feb 23, 2009 at 7:48 am
wearing these is like crapping on your feet
Feb 22, 2009 at 11:31 pm
i like these better than the 7s IDC if they have no history or are more recent and arent old and retro.. theyre a better version of 7s
Feb 22, 2009 at 2:10 pm
KEEP UP THE REVIEWS NICE KICKS!!!! I want to see more reviews of b-ball kicks.
Feb 22, 2009 at 1:28 pm
why do people prefer the 7s if this shoe has more things in them.. get over it they both look the same! and personally to me all jordan shoes are mediocre basketball shoes they put too much design in them and then they put some stupid foam and give them some fancy name like “aerospace foam technology” so idiot shoe buyers will get em.. no difference between jordan and addidas in terms of performance
Feb 22, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Just wait until sum real 7s drop then they will realize they made a mistake
Feb 21, 2009 at 7:53 pm
To #19 - People who play basketball hoop in $120 kicks (Dumb A**) If you were a basketball player…you might understand that..
To #21 - Are you retarded? “THEY’RE THE SAME FIT WISE..JUST DIFFERENT MODEL STRUCTURE! MY GOODNESS!” How can they be the same fit wise with different model structures lol There is new technology available for the true flights than back when the 7z were released
I can understand people not saying they dont like the true flights because of fashion reasons (comparing to the actual 7z) but this is the wrong place for that…This is a performance review..!!
Feb 21, 2009 at 6:29 pm
i cant stand true flights haha, they look awful. if you want a performance basketball shoe, lebron VI, kobe IV, or hyperdunks.
Feb 21, 2009 at 6:03 pm
thy keep stressing how this iz a “Performance” shoe and how its all about ball…but how thy still rockin it to show it off and to use it @ a “fasion” state of mind….c’mon ya fronttin on 7’s,Og look will always look better then the NEW things,but any ways ill stick to the old,cuz i think thy give a better look,one last thing….jays back in the days where still rocked for a fasion state of mind pplz ,its always been like dat,even till now.
Feb 21, 2009 at 4:55 pm
im stickin with the 7’s baby
Feb 21, 2009 at 4:37 pm
PERFORMANCE VERSUS STYLE..AS FAR AS THE MAKE (STYLE) OF THIS SNEAKER..IT’S NOT MESSIN’ WITH THE ORIGINAL 7′S LET’S GET THAT CLEAR CUZ I’M WEARING MINES RIGHT NOW..PERFORMANCE..WHO’S TO STAY THAT THE TRUE FLIGHTS ARE BETTER PERFORMANCE WISE AS OPPOSED TO THE ‘OG’S'? THEY’RE THE SAME FIT WISE..JUST DIFFERENT MODEL STRUCTURE! MY GOODNESS!
Feb 21, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I love how people just assume things in reviews like this. Does anyone remember that Jordan taped his ankles?
Feb 21, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Naw BIG PASS,who plays and trash their 120.00 j’z plus(dumba&&)
Feb 21, 2009 at 12:09 pm
i absolutely agree with lou. The OG &’s are an impeccable shoe. But the True Flights are a concept and were designed with the COURT in mind. I think that most of us would agree that retro 7’s are used mainly for looks, and i respect that. Apparently JB does too, because they created a shoe with more COURT benefits, that will allow those to have retro’s a little more option on the court
Feb 21, 2009 at 11:44 am
to say these are better than the sevens is like saqying that rob zombie halloween is better than the original halloween.
and for yall who ball in your kicks(you morons)/ id school your azz with some timberlands on
Comment by lord of kix — February 21, 2009 @ 4:13 am
Incredible. I hope jordan brand endorses general education seminars in the future. Performance wise, the true flights are a superior shoe, in that respect. However in regards to the jordan VII, this shoe has legitimate history as well as its ground-breaking performance during the early 90s. But strictly based on these “performance reviews,” I’m sure that style, fashion, and “breaking neckz” as you so called sneaker heads like to exclaim, has nothing to do with this new addition to nicekicks. So get over yourselves (kingkenley), because this is a “performance review,” not a “style” review.
Feb 21, 2009 at 4:13 am
to say these are better than the sevens is like saqying that rob zombie halloween is better than the original halloween.
and for yall who ball in your kicks(you morons)/ id school your azz with some timberlands on
Feb 21, 2009 at 4:11 am
if you think these are better than og viis; you are smoking dope
(crack cocaine)
50 more weeks in kuwait/ go army
Feb 21, 2009 at 12:57 am
I don’t get the “trueflight hate†- u nerd Jordan “purists†who insist that the 7 is the better way to go don’t know what your talking about- true the 7s are more of the classic Jordan and had the “history†to them ( I’ve got 4 of em) but the trueflights are a redesign with BETTER cushioning (I personally like there look too!) . U guys aren’t “purists†- u guys (jthan etc.) are closed minded know nothings who will in time realize the things they missed…not true sneakerheads.
Comment by lou — February 20, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
i totally agree with you
Feb 21, 2009 at 12:10 am
oh and never would i hoop in the viis!!! lol wow man. put on some nikes. huaraches are the butter man. i mean really? the 7s are sick dont get me wrong and i dont think they a bad ball shoe but why hoop in em when better comforts are out??
Feb 21, 2009 at 12:05 am
man i cant agree with you more lou. these “sneakerheads” and “purists” are only in it for the fashion and the name brand. i hate that. these true flights are dope. i got a pair and love em. you can compare them to the huarache series. most def happy with this new jordan idea. i was starting to fade away with all these fusions and crap. cant wait to see what other classics get a boost to their performace
Feb 20, 2009 at 11:52 pm
NEVA EVA will i get sum damn true flights dey a disgrace 2 da 7’s
Feb 20, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I will say this, I said it before… The retro 7s are a great performance shoe. They are in my active rotation of ballin’ shoes (the vii’s, the viii’s, 6 rings, and xii’s), and probably my favorite.
If you have the vii’s that’s good, i highly recommend them to ball in (I play PG or SG). But if you don’t I’m sure these true flights may be a reasonable alternative. But judging from the scores, I’m not sure if they are even better than the OGs.
I break necks whenever I wear my vii’s (the black with red and purple accents). Folks think I’m crazy for wearing them to ball. Unlike a lot of sneakerheads, I use J’s for what they were meant for… to play basketball. Not to walk around the mall to show off.
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:51 pm
can you guys try to do a performance review on the 15’s(the ones from the package) those shoes are very light… they just wrinkle fast.
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:50 pm
get over the retros this is a sick shoe
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:46 pm
no, still not a fan of it!!! Sorry, I really prefer the real Jordan 7s!!
Feb 20, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Shid im happy wit mines…
Feb 20, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I wanna see more reviews from this site. good idea nicekicks
Feb 20, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I don’t get the “trueflight hate” - u nerd Jordan “purists” who insist that the 7 is the better way to go don’t know what your talking about- true the 7s are more of the classic Jordan and had the “history” to them ( I’ve got 4 of em) but the trueflights are a redesign with BETTER cushioning (I personally like there look too!) . U guys aren’t “purists” - u guys (jthan etc.) are closed minded know nothings who will in time realize the things they missed…not true sneakerheads.
Feb 20, 2009 at 6:03 pm
i thought they woulda scored higher actually
Feb 20, 2009 at 5:59 pm
No true flights for me
I rather be rocking some 7s than these
Feb 20, 2009 at 5:58 pm
no true flights for me
Rather be rocking some 7s