Today, Jordan Brand announced a new golf shoe. Called Air Rev, the shoes contain a mobile pillow system, among other things, aiming to bring the Jordan brand to speed in the gun race that is golf shoes.
While I don’t have them yet (I’ll do it as soon as I can), after I have the details, I have only one question.
“WTF is making Jordan Brand?”
On the surface, everything looks smart and deliberate. Personalized pillow? A custom jam call and a middle belt? Yes, everything sounds great in theory. But for me, Jordan Air Rev is a lot of smoke and mirrors.
And for a reported retail price of $ 250, you have to expect much less smoke and mirrors and a completely larger technology that focuses on reality.
Here’s what I mean.
1. The belt is unnecessary
Air Rev has what Jordan Brand is calling the flight blocking technology. A large part of this alleged technology is the middle belt that runs from the lateral vanguard to the medial instep. It looks good, safe, but it does not serve an actual goal, in my opinion.
See that dial that sits at the top of the shoe? It’s not boa. Custom Dials without Boa logo are not the same thing. A dial should ensure the lock that needs your foot. This is the whole point of running the cables across the sides of the shoes. Similar to many shoes on the Nike basketball line (around 2010s), the belt is almost very cosmetic.
I can prove wrong when you put on this pair, but I doubt that the belt will add anything to the stability or closure.
2. The pillow sounds fresh (in theory)
Reading in little release, Jordan Brand is relying on the mobile/modular pillow as the main point of sale of this shoe. Namely, a unit of air enlargement in the back of the shoe and chalk Formula23 in the front.
The idea is to have the Formula23 foam in the lead of the lead for stability, which means that both pillows are interchangeable from shoes to shoes. Translation: Whether you are left or right, you can change the pillow to create the best possible performance.
Other translation: Moving parts create more difference for error. Instead of using just a middle of foam or sockliner, having two interchangeable pillows leaves more room for… well, problems. What if shelter for the air enlargement unit falls or breaks while you are moving it around?
Again, I haven’t worn them yet. And the idea sounds truly, truly delightful in theory. But in practice, it can be a completely different experience. I think we’ll have to wait and see.
The use of two foams (or a double pillow configuration) is nothing new. Brands like ECCO, Under Armor and Adidas have done it for years. The difference is that their pillow does not move. As I said, less difference for error. (Also, as a left -hand golf player, the notion that the pillow is removable to serve both the left -handed golf player and the right hand is a kind of asinine. No one is buying a shoe based on the predominance of their hand).
3. I have no confidence in attraction
Nike is infamous for throwing proven and tested rivets and trying to do their things. There is a reason most of the top golf shoes in the game rely on attraction softspics. “Spikes” in Air Rev are slim and very far away and they do not look almost as flexible or versatile as rivets, say, Nike Zoom Victory Tour 4 or Zoom Victory Pro 4.
Attraction is very similar to Infinity Tour 2 which was best at best. Seriously, just license technology from another company rather than try to make yours, okay?
4 .. pricing is wild
I’m not normally one to complain about the price. Mainly because I like expensive things. But the Jordan Air Rev brand is reported to be packaged for $ 250. Are you kidding, right?
I wore a lot of golf shoes. I am up to over 150 different pairs tested and examined. None of them reaches the price of $ 250. Most of the leading performers, in fact, come with $ 200 or less.
There is no reason in hell that a golf shoe from a brand that has fought with nothing other than their retro models should cost so much money.
Remember, they are licensed either Tech Boa nor spikes which can usually increase cost.
A $ 250 flop?
Will the Jordan Air Rev brand be a success? Depends on your definition. I really hope that the “holes” I made in the shoes are simply because I am skeptical and that the shoes perform as it should wait for $ 250. But I don’t have much confidence. And this is coming from one of the biggest Jordan brand fans there.
Lots of smoke, not enough fire. I am afraid that Jordan Brand’s legacy and name will hold the shoe more than any of the alleged technology or innovation.
All that remains is to pick this pair at my feet.
If you are interested, the Jordan Air Rev brand falls on May 14th.
office Jordan Brand debuts new golf shoes. That is why it will crash first appeared in MygolfSSS.
