Air Jordan 12 “International Pack” Performance Review

Someone has given a very high evaluation to Air Jordan 12 “International Pack” ; that is the shoe is the most beautiful sneaker of Air Jordan series that is ever made in recent years. What a high reputation! Inspired by the behavior of Michael Jordan’s Tokyo in 1996, this Air Jordan 12 “International Pack” is created as an unique oriental culture shoe and it is full of mysterious atmosphere.

The shoe’s slender  body, the classic up and down asymmetrical design and radioactive lines make up the visible shoe. Equipped with a full palm Air Zoom, outstanding appearance and outstanding wrapping and support, the shoe quickly become very hot a sneaker that many retailers have lacked recourse.

The upper is dressed in navy and white, and the simple color scheme creates a youthful look for the shoe.  The upper is made of suede material which feels especially nice and the toe leather is also fish scale pattern, making the shoe as a whole full of Japanese style.

The color scheme is mainly  blue and white, which is simple and clean.  The asymmetrical design is full of personality and the cloud pattern on the suede upper is rather novel and full of oriental charm. Besides that, there is TWO3 embroidered on the tongue and the red logo of the little flying man and the blue logo form a contrast, which is very cute.

The smooth side lines, the fish-scale pattern in white leather and the litchi pattern in midsole perfectly match with the cloud pattern. The two perfectly matched with cloud pattern are also the classic features of Air Jordan 12.

The Japanese words for “Air Jordan” are at the heel which is very much in agreement with the shoe theme. And there is also “23” representing Jordan on the shoe.

Objectively speaking, the shoe is one of the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever wore. The upper uses soft suede to ensure full flexibility, to offer more free foot movement. Thanks to the material, there is no binding sense for the foot and it is rather friendly to our skin.

The inside foam and cushion are nice as well because they do a tremendous job for the wearer.

As you can see, a  single shoe weighs 455 grams, which is of an average level.

However, a big problem which is also a downside of the shoe is that whether it is made of suede or leather, it can not offer an excellent breathability. The breathability is simply poor, which is rather  sultry in summer days.

For all the poor air circulation performance, the vamp can still provide excellent support and there is simply no need worrying about the support.

The tough leather on the outer side and the outsole extending upward provide good support as well as the TPU which has certain anti-rollover ability and keeps the foot stable.

The Air Jordan 12 is a middle-high-top model with a thickened foam inside the heel, providing a very tight wrapping. When there are breakthroughs, the heel is always in a very stable state, giving the ankle a strong support.

The outsole adapts the traditional herringbone pattern and the dense grains can provide a better effect of biting the ground. Surprisingly, the grip performance is rather good and it arises in time when I need it and “stays aside” when there are no need. I just quite like it. However, in the middle part of the sole  there are big grains which attracts gravels easily, resulting in frequent cleaning for the shoe. As for the durability, the thick and wear-resistant rubber outsole can stand the test of all kinds of actual combat. Even on cement floors, its performance is not affected.

The Air Jordan 12 uses Air Zoom cushion, which feels comfortably both during walking and combat. Although it is equipped with air cushion, Air Jordan 12 has no obvious rebound feeling when running and you may not feel the energy feedback from the sole. You can only feel slight cushioning in combat. But according to some, the cushion can be enough when the exercises are not high-intensive or when you are just walking. Anyway, not every sneaker is perfect and so is this one. You can expect something of it, but never require too much of it.

Verdict:

The Air Jordan 12 “International Pack” is surprisingly “superior” with premium suede and leather uppers whether in the laces or in embroidery details. The vamp  provides strength and support to fully stabilize the feet; the foam inside also brings a full wrapping; Air Zoom cushion is loaded on the midsole though it performs a bit disappointing. In short, the above are my personal experiences. To know more about it, you might as well take a try by yourself; after all, whether a shoe fits you only your feet “know”.