John Kim 
These days, Air Jordans are prized for their visual appeal and their performance aspects. But be reminded that the Air Jordan sneaker is first and foremost a performance sneaker, as Tinker Hatfield’s process in designing sneakers begins with creating a shoe around the human foot. Air Jordan comfort took an interesting turn when Zoom Air cushioning was first introduced to the Air Jordan legacy via the Air Jordan XII, and here we have a look at the two Air Jordans that bookend the Air Jordan XII and it’s full-length Zoom; the Air Jordan XI was supported by full-length Air embedded into the midsole, while the Air Jordan XIII utilized a combination of Zoom Air compartmentalized on the heel and forefoot – a set-up used on Hyperdunk 2011. So which type of cushioning bodes better for on-court performance? Well, Michael took the Bulls to 72 wins, won his fourth NBA title, and took home the MVP trifecta (All-Star, Finals, and League) while wearing the Air Jordan XI. In the air Jordan XIII, he also won a title and the trio of MVPs, scored more during the Playoffs, but won 10 fewer regular season games. A strong case can be made for either season, but check out the detailed juxtaposition of the Air Jordan XI and Air Jordan XIII soles below and let us know which season – ’95-’96 or ’97-’98 – was better! via hoopchina.
