Earlier this 12 months, Jordan Model reimagined its golf lineup with the introduction of a brand new “flagship” golf shoe, the Air Rev.
A $280 golf shoe with the “newest” and “best” tech.
Extra like a $280 flop.
After spending a while enjoying within the Jordan Air Rev, I can confidently say two issues:
What I reported in my preliminary article (which I used to be flamed for, by the best way) was right, and secondly, that that is the worst golf shoe I’ve personally worn this 12 months.
Give me a second to elucidate. It ain’t fairly.
The Dangerous
So, why is the Jordan Air Rev so low on my listing? There are three large explanation why: building, traction and the Flight Lock know-how.
Let’s begin with building.
Low cost Building
If I gave you the Jordan Air Rev and requested you to guess the worth based mostly on really feel, I estimate most of you’ll guess someplace within the $100-$130 vary. In no world ought to an artificial leather-based shoe like this one value greater than the premium merchandise you’re getting from FootJoy, adidas and PAYNTR.
It’s one of many cheapest-feeling higher supplies I’ve seen shortly. It creases in all of the flawed spots, and hours of damage left my pair trying like they’ve been worn for months.
On prime of this, the {hardware} (the buckle) on the strap is made out of plastic, not metallic. Severely? If I’m paying practically $300 for a shoe, I count on the small print to really feel premium and polished. I don’t really feel like that’s asking an excessive amount of.
To not point out, Jordan Model is saving cash elsewhere on the shoe. The lacing system (a dial system) shouldn’t be an precise BOA dial, that means JB didn’t pay the hefty licensing price for that a part of the shoe, regardless that a number of NIKE footwear make the most of the actual factor. One other odd alternative, for my part.
Traction
I can’t perceive why Jordan/NIKE insists on creating their very own spikes reasonably than utilizing one thing from Softspikes or the likes. Clearly, the “spikes” on the Jordan Air Rev aren’t replaceable, that means as soon as they’ve worn down, the footwear are toast.
Oh, and so they aren’t significantly efficient, both. It was fantastic in dry situations, for essentially the most half. However a bit moisture begins to actually affect the grip negatively. If you happen to generate a whole lot of drive and torque, I doubt your swing will likely be suitable with this outsole.
Flight Lock Know-how
The Flight Lock tech is the massive promoting level for the Jordan Air Rev. It’s the tech story. The foundational pillar of its efficiency. But, in each situation I threw at it, I didn’t discover any efficiency distinction.
I didn’t discover the Flight Lock tech in any respect. I couldn’t even really feel it. Regardless of how onerous I attempted.
The concept is pretty easy. The shoe has a strap. On the lateral facet of the strap, there’s a slot to slip in a Air Zoom unit (on your path foot) and a Formula23 insert for the lead facet. In principle, you must be capable to push in opposition to the Air Zoom unit within the path foot that will help you get to your lead facet, the place your affect is cushioned by the Formula23 foam.
The issue? Any motion I made within the footwear induced the straps to bow outwards, making it inconceivable to really feel, push off, or up in opposition to the Air Zoom Unit.
Briefly, it’s primarily a $280 gimmick. Harsh? Positive. Correct? Yep.
One or two issues I favored
It wasn’t all unhealthy. Simply largely. The precise cushion setup isn’t unhealthy. It’s on the firmer facet for certain, but it surely did present respectable stability with some step-in consolation.
Oh, and regardless of not utilizing an precise BOA dial, I felt that the lockdown of the particular lacing system was nonetheless fairly stable. I did battle to get the underside few sections of the lacing system to tighten down, although, so these with a particularly slender foot could wish to look elsewhere.
Not price your time
If you happen to skipped to the tip, congratulations. You don’t must learn all the above to determine that this shoe isn’t price your money.
I can’t even congratulate Jordan Model on the try at doing one thing completely different right here. It feels half (perhaps even quarter) assed in all sides of design, efficiency and pricing.
Please, Jordan. Stick with retroes.
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