My Journey with the Jordan 37s
Alright, so I finally got my hands on a pair of the Jordan 37s. Been seeing them around, read a bit here and there, figured it was time to give ’em a try myself. Wasn’t like a big launch day thing for me, just saw a colorway I kinda liked and pulled the trigger online. Waiting for that box to show up always has that little bit of excitement, you know?
When they arrived, I opened the box up. First look? They definitely look different. That upper material, the see-through bits – they call it Leno-weave I think? Looked kinda flimsy at first glance, honestly. But touching it, felt surprisingly strong, yet really light. The overall shape is sleek, definitely has that modern Jordan look. Picked ’em up, yeah, noticeably lightweight compared to some older Jordans I’ve had.
Putting them on was interesting. Getting my foot in was easy enough. The fit? I went true to size, and it felt pretty snug, especially around the midfoot. Not uncomfortable snug, more like locked-in snug. The lacing system helped pull everything together nicely. Felt secure right away, which is a good start.
First thing I did was just walk around the house. You gotta do the carpet test, right? Felt good underfoot. The cushioning seemed decent just from walking. Didn’t feel super plush like walking on clouds, but definitely felt like there was something solid absorbing the impact. The heel felt particularly cushioned, which I liked.
Hitting the Court
Okay, the real test. Took them to my usual indoor court run. Here’s the breakdown from my experience:
- Traction: This was solid. The court I play on can get a bit dusty sometimes, but these gripped really well. Quick stops, changes of direction – I felt confident planting my foot. Didn’t have any major slips or anything that made me hesitant. Pretty good bite on the floor.
- Cushioning Setup: This is where it gets interesting. That foam in the heel, Formula 23 they call it, felt good. Took the sting out of landings. But the front, under the ball of my foot, that Zoom Air unit? Wow. It felt really bouncy. Like, you could feel it compressing and springing back on push-offs and jumps. Took a little getting used to, felt quite high off the ground initially, but I grew to like that responsive feel. My knees felt pretty decent after a couple of hours, which is always a plus.
- Support: Remember how I said they looked a bit flimsy? I was wrong. That Leno-weave stuff held up. My foot felt locked down. Paired with that sort of carbon fiber plate thing in the middle (I think that’s what it is) and the heel counter, I had no issues with my foot sliding around inside the shoe. Felt really stable during cuts and lateral movements.
- Breathability: With all those see-through panels, you’d expect them to be airy. They were okay. Not the most breathable shoe I’ve ever worn, my feet still got warm, but definitely not terrible. Better than some bulky leather shoes for sure.
After a few sessions, they’re holding up okay. The outsole rubber seems durable enough for indoor play. I wouldn’t take these outdoors much, that Leno-weave feels like it might snag or tear on rough surfaces, but inside, no problems so far. Just some minor scuffs here and there, normal stuff.
So, final thoughts? I actually really dig these shoes for playing ball. They’re light, the lockdown is great, and that forefoot bounce is addictive once you get used to it. The heel cushioning does its job well. They might look a bit strange to some, and the court feel isn’t the absolute lowest, but for performance, especially if you like that springy feel, they deliver. It was a good pickup for me, happy I gave them a shot.
