Choosing Men's Jordan Running Shoes for Optimal Performance

More than anyone, runners know the importance of finding the right shoe for performance, comfort, and injury avoidance. When you might put over 3,000 miles on your feet in a year of training, the right design and fit make all the difference.

Enabled by their years of shoe-enhancing technology, sports science, and design, men's Jordan running shoes offer a variety of options for runners based on training distances, running gait, foot shape, and performance goals.

Jordan React Havoc

Nike’s Jordan React Havoc is designed for those seeking a hybrid between a basketball shoe and a general-purpose running shoe. By striking this balance, it can be a good option for both cardio training and skills-based training. For long-distance runs, specialized running shoes like the Jordan Air Zoom 85 Runner may be a better option for those seeking the right men's Jordan running shoes.

The Jordan React Havoc utilizes a molded plastic heel, forefoot Air Zoom Unit, and midsole React Foam. This balanced design assists with energy return regardless of whether the runner is a heel or forefoot striker. The midsole React Foam provides a firmer-than-average midsole for better control while still providing an adequate cushion for longer runs. It also is designed for ample ankle stability to support a range of running styles and gaits.

Jordan Grind

The Jordan Grind is designed for more intense training overall and everyday use in track training runs. Several updates to the shoe keep it competitive with its peers. Updates include a lightweight mesh upper to provide breathability and extra support for heavy use. The midfoot is kept protected by a plastic cage, with a one-piece Lunarlon midsole foam providing firm but comfortable support and cushioning for high-impact strikes.

The midfoot cage is designed for extra support and durability. Utilizing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), the cage braces the midfoot with extra support, acts as the eyelets of the shoelaces, and yet yields to impact pressure and agility work due to its plastic nature.

Due to its use of Lunarlon foam, the Jordan Grind maintains a profile lighter than conventional Phylon yet sustains strong support through the use of strike zone pods. These pods absorb impacts in the heaviest strike areas on the shoe. This strike energy is contained and then returned to the runner via bounce-back contouring.

Lastly, the thin and lightweight mesh utilized in the upper portion of the Jordan Grind delivers breathability and odor reduction for heavy workouts. To provide the mesh with additional support and prevent ripping, synthetic leather skins are combined with the mesh for greater durability and shoe longevity.

Jordan Air Zoom 85 Runner

The Jordan Air Zoom 85 Runner is a classic option among men's Jordan running shoes. Rugged and supportive enough for serious running and training, it also maintains a casual look and basic comfort that makes it suitable for lower-intensity walking or even casual everyday wear.

While the Air Zoom 85 Runner is a new design from the Jordan brand, it draws inspiration from the Air Jordan 1 model. The upper unit of the Air Zoom 85 is almost translucent, utilizing thin synthetic leather and textiles to produce a smooth, breathable material.

The outer sole consists of harder, durable rubber. Its durability allows a much thinner layer of material to be used, cutting down on weight and assisting with a quicker, lighter pace. The cutout flex grooves improve grip but also allow the material to flex with each footstrike and further reduce unnecessary weight.

While the thin, hard rubber sole provides durability, the use of Cushlon foam and Zoom Air in the midsole of the Jordan Air Zoom 85 Runner ensures comfort and responsiveness for each footstrike. The Zoom Air section is composed of stretched tensile fibers knitted into a plastic cassette, with gaps then filled with air. These stretched fibers then compress to absorb impact energy and release that energy when they spring back to their default state.

Jordan 89 Racer

When choosing among men's Jordan running shoes, the Jordan 89 Racer offers a road shoe for casual walkers and running enthusiasts. It’s suitable for indoor, outdoor, or track running as well as general activities.

Its design is inspired by the original Air Jordan 4, though it utilizes thin prints and a full-length Cushlon platform. This system carries and protects the entire foot during training, spreading the force of impact over the whole shoe and foot by extension. The Cushlon layer is further protected by a rubber compound layer encasing the forefoot, heel, and the raised perimeter of the outsole to reduce damage from road running.

This compound layer utilized for the outsole unit serves two purposes: durability in support of the rest of the shoe platform when running outside, and providing additional grip for indoor running or training. Its Waffleskin system ensures grip at 360 degrees, allowing for mobility on the basketball court or in agility training.

The Jordan 89 Racer offers an additional soft insole that is removable. This allows for regular replacement as it wears down, or for the use of custom insoles for those with special needs or in recovery from a foot injury. The side panels securing the upper unit of the shoe most closely resemble the Air Jordan 4 side panels, but rather than being stitched in place, they are fused with the fabric for a cleaner, more modern look.

Jordan Grind 2

The Jordan Grind 2 offers a unique option for those seeking men’s Jordan running shoes. Distinct from other shoes, it can support both neutral pronation and supination. For runners with these running gait types, getting the choice of the shoe right is critical for both performance and injury avoidance.

Utilizing a secure midfoot strap integrated with the shoe’s regular lacing system, the Jordan Grind 2 provides a snug yet not overly tight fit. This can be crucial for both comfort on those long runs and also responsiveness for agility work on the track or basketball court. A soft Lunarlon core is encased in carrier foam, allowing adequate support and soft cushioning at the same time.

The Jordan Grind 2 outsole is focused on maintaining ground contact and avoiding slippage. It utilizes circular, deep grooving around impact strike areas, providing grip and additional footstrike support on those areas that take the highest forces. A traditional lacing system is utilized to keep the shoe snug on the wearer’s foot. Printed overlays on the forefoot and heel work with the lacing system to keep the foot locked into the center of the shoe for optimal performance and comfort.

The carrier foam encasing the Lunarlon core is utilized on both the midsole and outsole cushioning system. Its springiness allows for cushioning and responsiveness, yet also ensures longevity for the shoe as material tugging and sagging will take longer to damage the support platform. These design features are similar to the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 14, and both have a similar road running performance.

As has been common in men's Jordan running shoe design for some time, the upper unit is often focused on flexibility and breathability over additional support. The synthetic material is infused with breathing pores that allow free airflow into the interior chamber, self-ventilating the shoe during running or training.

Jordan 88 Racer

The Jordan 88 Racer is another casual option among men's Jordan running shoes. Focused on lightweight materials and a simple, stylish design with a variety of color options, it can serve as both a training shoe and a casual everyday wear shoe.

For road runners with neutral pronation and focused on style, the Jordan 88 Racer gets the job done. The synthetic upper unit is breathable yet snug, combining printed overlays and eyelets for support with open pores allowing airflow.

The use of Waffleskin technology and diamond-patterned traction nodes ensures a rugged response to road conditions while maintaining a multidirectional grip and stability for use on the court. One layer above, the full-length Cushlon core serves as the midsole unit providing stability, comfort, and support for a variety of arch heights and training goals.