Air Jordan XX8

by Air Jordan Sneakers Guide Team

AIR JORDAN XX8 The Air Jordan XX8 is the 28th sneaker in the Air Jordan legacy series. The Tinker Hatfield/Josh Heard designed sneaker was unveiled to the media on December 3rd, 2012. The release date for the Air Jordan 28 is February 16th, 2012, at a retail price of $250.

The latest installment in the legendary Jordan Brand lineup, designed by Tinker Hatfield and released in February 2013, featured all the cushioning and stability technologies one might expect from Jordan’s flagship model. But it all lived behind a shroud, enabling the wearer to decide just how much to reveal.

Several AJs, from the AJ XVI on, featured a shroud or a lace cover of some type. The sock-like shroud of the AJ XX8, comprised of a high-end material from Schoeller textiles in Switzerland, featured a zipper front that folded down neatly to reveal a “2” on the medial (outside) of one shoe and a “3” on the medial of the other (denoting Michael Jordan’s iconic jersey number). It offers a blank slate that Jordan Brand has promised to use for a variety of eye-catching colorways during the shoe’s life cycle.

The AJ XX8 featured a number of technologies: Zoom Air unit for low-profile cushioning, all-new Jordan Flight Plate, dynamic Fit straps for flexible support, carbon fiber heel counter for support, mesh upper for flexibility and ventilation. The new Jordan Flight Plate that debuted in the midsole of the AJ XX8 was about two years in development. It consisted of a moderator plate, the Zoom Air unit, and rubber.

Designers started with a Nike Shox plate, added air bags, and knew they were getting close. It evolved to consist of a carbon fiber plate designed to deflect force and maximize the Zoom Air and its low-profile responsiveness. This enabled the separation of the forefoot and heel for the first time in the Air Jordan lineage.

The AIR JORDAN XX8 boasts an ultra-modern stealth design for elite performance including more technological advances than any AIR JORDAN to date. The AIR JORDAN XX8 – the most tested and lightest AIR JORDAN ever – has an industry-changing first: the Jordan Flight Plate, a Pebax® moderator plate that maximizes the responsiveness of the Nike Zoom units through compression and deflection for optimal performance by essentially unlocking the airbags in the forefoot and heel, unleashing the power of the Zoom bags.

Also featured in The AIR JORDAN XX8 is Dynamic Fit technology that uses internal straps to wrap up from the midsole and integrate with the laces for lightweight support that moves with the foot providing additional lockdown support and comfort.

The AIR JORDAN XX8 also features a high-performance, stretch-synthetic shroud that provides a sleek exterior, while a molded external heel counter is made of carbon fiber for lightweight support. A multidirectional outsole pattern provides excellent traction and durability for the court. Schoeller mesh, a Swiss fabric used in premium motorcycling jackets, is used in the shroud that encompasses the AIR JORDAN XX8 to provide an extra layer of support, stability and style for the athlete.

For added stability, the AJ XX8 included a molded, carbon-fiber external heel counter that served as a natural extension of the Flight Plate.