First Opinion:
If you look at many iconic models from the Jordan signature line, one of the more prominent one would be the Jordan 5. And as you know, from the Jordan 30 onwards, each new model will feature a feature from a past Jordan Model. At first glance, you could see it on the Jordan 35 right away. That collar is so recognizable and it looked really good.
The cushioning system of the Jordan 35 looks to be the same as the Jordan 34, with the Jordan Eclipse Plate and the Zoom Units. The traction looks really really aggressive and that just raised my expectations of the shoe. The upper looks like a beefier version of the 34s so that’s something that I’m curious to see if it works, especially when people are moving towards minimalistic setups.
Significant Tech Present in the Shoe:
- Variable-Material Upper
- Internal Heel Counter
- Jordan Eclipse Plate
- Heel and Forefoot Zoom
Materials & Aesthetics (9/10):
As mentioned initially, there are elements of the Jordan 5 found on the Jordan 35 and I absolutely love it. The upper is covered in layers of many syntheric materials and that reminded me more of the Jordan 5 which had a lot of bulk to it. The materials may be different depending on the colourway but the setup is the same. If you want me to compare the 35 and the 34? I’ll take the Jordan 35 for sure.
The Jordan 35’s collar is well-padded with achilles pillows that made the shoe very comfortable. The synthetics also gave the shoe a comfortable feel overall. It may be a little warm for some but that’s really subjective.
Although they are Jordans, they are not like those retro models so I would think that they are for on-court only. Many players have been seen wearing these in the NBA, most notably Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
Fit (9.5/10):
The Jordan 35 fits true-to-size… like really true-to-size. The shoe is really snug and there’s really not a lot of breathing room in the shoe. That is especially true length wise (From toe to heel) as the shoe is a little on the short side.
From midfoot forward, the shoe structure, together with the lacing setup ensured that your feet aren’t going to slide around within the shoe. Some of the BBallEquips crew members did find some discomfort coming from the cables extending from the Jordan Eclipse Plate or from the plate itself. In those cases, you might want to get a bigger size and put on an extra pair of socks? Just a suggestion.
What about the heel area? Well, there are achilles pillows at the back of the shoe that not only provide comfort but also keeps your heel in place. Basically, once you laced these up, your feet aren’t going anywhere.
Support (9.5/10):
Support on the Jordan 35 varies depending on whether you got the right size for you. It is a really snug shoe with a really solid structure so you really have to get the size right before you can enjoy the full experience.
Once you get the right size, the upper and the Jordan Eclipse Plate is probably enough for you to feel very secure in the shoe. The plate provides above average lateral support and torsional support. Not only that, the midsole setup also creates a seamless heel-to-toe transition that does not make the shoe feel disconnected. The Jordan 35 also features an Internal Heel Counter at the already beefy heel to provide heel support.
One point to note is that although the base of the Jordan 35 is very flat and wide, there is no obvious outrigger. So far, we haven’t experienced any issues with that but it could be a concern to some.
Cushioning (9.5/10):
If you thought that the cushioning on the Jordan 34 was great, the Jordan 35 packs an even greater punch. The Jordan 35 features the same large volume Zoom Unit at the forefoot that works in tandem with the Jordan Eclipse Plate, just like the Jordan 34. However, what’s different is that instead of the Hexagonal Zoom Unit at the Heel, it is now a large volume unit that covers the whole heel.
The impact protection is top notch and honestly, this is a close as it gets to the Zoom Strobel found on recent models. Not only that, if you are familiar with Zoom Unit, you would know how much responsiveness and bounce-back you will be getting.
One thing that I have mentioned before is that the Jordan Eclipse Plate worked really well with the Zoom Units to provide smooth transition throughout the shoe.
Traction (9/10):
It is as simple yet as effective as it gets. Similar to the Jordan 34, the Jordan 35 also features Multi-directional Herringbone traction but just with a slightly different implementation. In terms of the coverage, it is great just like its predecessor so nothing to worry there.
If you are talking about the grip of the traction, well, it’s aggressive as you can possibly wish for. Whether you are trying to change your direction, sliding on defense or pulling up for a jump shot, you are pretty much covered.
Unfortunately, unlike the Jordan 34, the Jordan 35’s groves are shallower and rubber is more pliable hence it is strictly not something that I would recommend for outdoors.
Final Conclusion: (9.3/10)
Overall, the Jordan 35 is really an excellent performer. Some of these performance benefits depends heavily on whether or not you got the right fit for yourself but once you do, you will be equipping yourself with one of the sickest shoes in the market right now.
The only issue is that in Singapore, or other Asian countries, some might find the Jordan 35 to be little hot and not only that, with access to only outdoor courts, the durability of the traction may be an issue too.
All that said, this is something that impresses not just performance wise but also visually and I can’t wait for the next one to come out. Hopefully features of the past Jordan (Jordan 6) will be as significant on the Jordan 36 as the Jordan 35.
credit: bballequips