Nike Is Making New Air Jordan-Inspired Walking Shoes
It goes without saying that Nike, Inc. and Michael Jordan’s Jordan Brand is best known for its basketball footwear. Yet despite having a decades-long hold on hoops, the Jumpman brand has also delved into numerous other sports and categories. In the late 1990s, the label combined running and training shoes with the cult favorite Trunner line. More recently, it’s become one of the hottest on-field brands in both professional baseball and football. One category where the brand has yet to fully plant its flag is in walking shoes — but that will soon change.
This year, the brand is set to debut a new sneaker known as the Jordan CMFT Era. First reported by Sneaker News, the low-top silhouette is reportedly intended to deliver long-lasting comfort while walking. Heavily inspired by the Air Jordan 1 model, the Jordan CMFT Era also utilizes elements of the first sneaker Jordan won a championship in, the Air Jordan 6.
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The relatively bare bones design features a mix of mesh materials on the base and is supported by a suede structure which wraps the shoe. Added support comes from a singular TPU piece on the lateral laces, while an angular midsole provides underfoot comfort. The toe features a strip of reflective material which in theory will add visibility during nighttime outings. Elsewhere, purely aesthetic features include miniature Jumpman stitching at the lateral toe, the brand’s iconic Flight logo tongue tag and OG-inspired Nike embroidery on the heel.
Walking-specific sneakers may be relatively new territory for Jordan Brand, but it’s something Nike has focused on in recent years. In 2019, inspired by brand co-founder Phil Knight’s tendency for walking eight miles a day (which Knight corrected to say he was merely running “really, really slowly”), Nike designer Tinker Hatfield introduced the CruzrOne model. Today, the brand stocks several walking-specific shoes including the Motiva, Promina and the Reina EasyOn.
The Jordan CMFT Era was previewed in two styles: a white, red and black colorway reminiscent of the iconic Air Jordan 1 “Chicago” and a white, black and sail look. Both are expected to hit retail this spring at a retail price of $115 each. Readers can find a detailed look at both pairs below.
