The low version of the Air Jordan 32 offers slightly improved traction and the same premium materials and comfortable cushioning as the mid. Unfortunately, the traction is still not great, especially on dusty courts. Overall, this is a great shoe for fans of the Jordan 32 that prefer the freedom and flexibility of a low-top basketball shoe.
See all 4 reviews
Expert Reviews of the Air Jordan 32 Low:
The Air Jordan 32 is a huge step in the right direction.
More details
I think this shoe is worth every penny and I like the low-top version better than the regular mid. The Air Jordan 32 Low offers slightly better traction and more freedom of movement.
More details
You get amazing cushioning, and premium materials. Unfortunately, the traction is a real dust collector. Decent performer, but probably not worth the hefty price tag
More details
I really enjoyed playing in these! The Air Jordan 32 Low is super comfortable and performs very well.
More details
It's Quiz Time!
Answer 6 easy questions and find your perfect basketball shoes!
Let's Get Started!
User Reviews of the Air Jordan 32 Low:
No user reviews so far
Traction of the Air Jordan 32 Low:
Expert Traction Rating: 8.0 (ranks
228 of 284)
User Traction Rating: NA
The Lows seem to uses better rubber overall.
More details
The traction is a huge improvement over the Air Jordan 31. I had no slipping issues at all, even on dusty courts. The Lows seem to have a slightly better traction than the Mids.
More details
The traction is better than the 31, but it's still not amazing. This traction pattern is a real dust collector.
More details
Performs very well on clean courts but you need to wipe a lot on dusty courts.
More details
Cushion of the Air Jordan 32 Low:
Expert Cushion Rating: 8.8 (ranks
110 of 284)
User Cushion Rating: NA
For me, this setup feels more balanced than unlocked setups in the past.
More details
The cushion setup felt a little clunky in the beginning. After the break-in period, the cushioning provides a really nice balance between responsiveness and impact protection.
More details
The Flightspeed midsole is amazing. Beautiful responsive cushioning that makes you want to dunk every time you catch the ball.
More details
Cushion is very responsive but the heel-to-toe transition is a little clunky.
More details
Materials of the Air Jordan 32 Low:
Expert Materials Rating: 9.5 (ranks
1 of 284)
User Materials Rating: NA
I absolutely love the materials on the Air Jordan 32.
More details
The tightly woven knit is very durable and feels very premium.
More details
This is probably the best Flyknit I ever felt in a basketball sneaker.
More details
The materials feel super premium and comfortable.
More details
Support of the Air Jordan 32 Low:
Expert Support Rating: 8.8 (ranks
85 of 284)
User Support Rating: NA
There is an internal heel counter, as well as the visible external piece — both do their job well.
More details
I like the feeling of a low-top and don't miss the added ankle support of the mid version. No heel slippage - no side-to-side movement.
More details
Lockdown could have been better as I had to relace the shoe every 30 minutes.
More details
Overall support performs well, but on aggressive crossovers my feet came out of the footbed a little bit.
Traction – The Air Jordan 30 and 31 disappointed many that played in them from a traction standpoint — especially compared to the 29 and 28 that came before them — but the 32 switched things up and used rubber that actually gripped the court. Not only did they grip the court, but it gripped really well.
Jordan Brand used an altered herringbone, which it also tried with the 31, and this time around it was a success. Dust only affected performance in a minor way; infrequent wiping was needed on a less than desirable court. If you play on a clean court, or at least one that is properly refinished once a year, you’re going to get a tacky experience that bites when you need it most.
After playing in both the mid and low version of the Air Jordan 32, the Lows seem to uses better rubber overall. I wouldn’t say it’s astonishingly better but I noticed it. If you have been unsatisfied with traction from the flagship Air Jordan model in the past year or so then I think you’ll be very happy with this year’s version.
I wasn’t able to take them for a spin outdoors so I can’t report on the outdoor performance this time around.
Cushion – Full-length Unlocked Zoom Air seems to be a thing of the past because heel and forefoot segmented Zoom Air returns — for the first time since the Air Jordan XX8 — on the Air Jordan 32. The forefoot section of Zoom Air is of the unlocked variety whereas the heel is bottom-loaded.
This year, the unlocked Zoom Air does not protrude out of the shoe so the extreme bounce isn’t here. However, stability is — the lack of it was my main issue when playing in the 31. You can feel the Zoom when you place enough pressure on the forefoot; it feels nice and it gives you the feeling that it springs into action as you need it rather than it lingering around while you may not be in need of the cushion. For me, this setup feels more balanced than unlocked setups in the past. While some get used to the feeling of a large volume Zoom Air unit protruding from the sole, this feels a bit more…normal.
The midsole setup is pretty stiff to start. It does break-in with time so be patient and you’ll stop thinking about how stiff things start out. The Air Jordan 32 reminds me of the Air Jordan 12 in that aspect — maybe not quite as stiff as the 12s, but pretty damn close. I think the overall stiffness is due to the Pebax moderator plate. Once you get that plate to become flexible you’ll really start to enjoy the ride as you’ll receive cushion and stability.
Materials – I absolutely love the materials on the Air Jordan 32. It definitely isn’t the most breathable because of the layers, but this type of Flyknit is what I’ve been waiting for since Nike first introduced it into the basketball line. There is no heavy glue usage, no TPU strands or yarn. Just really thick Flyknit that moves well with the foot.
Certain areas are very tightly knitted while others offer some stretch. The areas that do stretch are still extremely thick so you’re getting the most out of the material. It’s been durable so far, although the eyelet areas potentially ripping is a concern of mine. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen to anyone, but there’s always Nike’s warranty if it does.
The heel area features synthetic leather or suede (depending on the colorway). I glossed over this area in the Air Jordan 32 video review because I don’t feel it’s anything of great significance and it’s very similar to last year’s Air Jordan 31 setup. It works well and adds strength to the rear section of the shoe ensuring lockdown, but premium it is not.
I suppose it doesn’t have to be premium, but that would have been awesome. This is more of a small gripe with the mid because the lowtops feature such a small amount of leather on the heel that it really doesn’t matter. The Mid on the other hand — it uses a lot of material at the rear overlay and it would have been awesome to have seen something similar to what was used on the red suede Air Jordan 21. Remember those? Italian red suede that pointed back to Jordan Brand’s past of manufacturing the AJ2 upper in Italy. Yeah, that would have been really awesome.
The Hall of Fame badge though, that goes to the Flyknit. It’s the real MVP.
Fit – When I initially put on the Air Jordan 32 width felt pretty narrow — and because of that, the shoe felt slightly long. However, after breaking them in I feel going true to size is the best option. I have a friend that bought a pair and he has a wider foot. He went true to size as well and was happy with them. Trying shoes on in-store is always the best option though (if or when it’s possible).
Lockdown was really nice. I wasn’t sure what to expect because this was the first time I’ve played in proper Flyknit. Will it stretch too much? Maybe not enough? First few runs and the Air Jordan 32 was definitely tight but the Flyknit did stretch a bit — not to the point to where I felt insecure, but enough to where I needed to readjust the laces. Once I did that there was nothing else to worry about. The shoe just felt like it was made for my foot, something I really enjoy.
Last time I felt this way about an Air Jordan upper was with the 29 Low. Those were so awesome. The Air Jordan 32 gave me similar vibes but with a more structured heel — which is something I loved about the 31. I guess you can say Jordan Brand blended what’s been working throughout the last three years and we’re finally seeing the refined version of it all. Subtle evolution down the line, just like the glory days of the early Air Jordan line.
Support – If you’re able to find the size that fits you best then support shouldn’t be an issue. I rolled my damn ankle (same one) in both the Air Jordan 32 Mid and the Low and was able to continue playing every time. I really need to stop going after rebounds when someone with a size 14 is down in the post — especially when the most I am able to do is temporarily disrupt their eventual rebound.
Everything worked well though. The moderator plate works to increase torsional rigidity and the outrigger was solid. The midsole sculpt in the rear may be off-putting for some from a design perspective because it isn’t a clean line but it contains the rearfoot well upon lateral movements. There is an internal heel counter, as well as the visible external piece — both do their job well.
Overall – If I were to rank the previous Air Jordan signature models since the introduction of unlocked Zoom Air (based on overall performance) it would look like this: XX8, XX9 (Low for me), XXX2, XXX1. We won’t mention the XXX. Depending on the day, I might even be able to swap the XX9 and XXX2 with each other.
I feel that fit and lockdown are better in the Air Jordan 32, as is the cushion/stability, but I loved the decoupled heel and forefoot. However, the 32 is stiff at first and a bit heavy. As usual, it all depends on what you want or need out of your basketball shoe. Not every shoe is made for every person, but there’s something out there for everyone. You just have to know what you’re looking for.
The Air Jordan 32 is a huge step in the right direction. Everything feels refined. If Jordan Brand can keep the stability but increase the flexibility then it will have perfected the Flight Speed setup. I think people are going to like this one.
Is Jordan 32 true to size?
Fit – When I initially put on the Air Jordan 32 width felt pretty narrow — and because of that, the shoe felt slightly long. However, after breaking them in I feel going true to size is the best option. I have a friend that bought a pair and he has a wider foot. He went true to size as well and was happy with them.
Are the Jordans made in China authentic?
Jordan Brand is a subsidiary of Nike, and like many other big footwear brands, they have factories in China where they make some of their shoes. That doesn't mean all Jordans imported from China are fake. In fact, many authentic Jordans are made in China, which is also home to several Nike factories.