If you're into sneakers and love staying active, you might have wondered if Jordans can be used for running. Well, you're in the right place, as this guide breaks down the pros and cons of lacing up your favorite Air Jordans for cardio sessions, helping you decide if they're the right fit for your training.
Let's kick things off by looking at one important factor—weight...
Are they too weighty?
We've previously discussed whether basketball shoes can be used for running, and, in our guide, we mention that more recent releases are typically made from the lightest materials possible. For example, this Flyknit Elevation 23 has a complete fabric upper which means this sneaker weighs just four pounds.
Although fabric material is certainly beneficial, Jordan's still won't compete with some of the best running shoes. Take the Brooks Revel 7, for example, which weighs around 0.57 pounds and is, therefore, much lighter by comparison.
With that being said, a 2016 study into the weight of shoes found that participants ran about 1% slower for every 3.5 ounces of lead added per shoe, meaning you may find yourself running slower in Jordans compared to lighter trainers.
How comfortable are Jordans for running?
Both Jordans and running shoes come with a ton of padding to protect your joints and displace high-impact shock from movement. For example, the Nike Alphafly 3 includes an Air Zoom unit in the midsole, much like the unit found in Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT 2s. Jordan boasts this mode is one of the most comfortable versions of the 1s available. So, in theory, they could be used to run in.
Why do you need padding for protection? Well, a 2018 study measuring basketball landings found regular-cushioned shoes showed significantly greater tibial shock compared with highly-cushioned shoes, thus explaining why Jordan includes Air technology into its shoes as much as possible.
What kind of support do Jordans provide?
One of the key differences between Jordans compared to running shoes is the amount of ankle support you get, which may act as a hindrance to your form while running. This is because you require a lot more lateral movement during basketball, which is why most sports shoes are high-tops.
Even some of the low-tops, like the Jordan 1 "Mocha", include padding around your ankles for added protection, but this could restrict your movement and it adds weight.
By comparison, adidas 4DFWD 4s, for example, are designed for forward motion with specially engineered midsole technology to generate as much momentum as possible to help you break your personal running bests.
Verdict - Can Jordans be used for running?
The bottom line is, we feel for longer distances or more serious runners, you should look for a pair of top running shoes instead of wearing Jordan's as they simply aren't light enough and don't support you in the same way running trainers can.
With that being said, you should wear what you feel comfortable in as this is a big part of staying motivated and performing to the best of your abilities during training.
Where you may find Jordan's to be more beneficial, however, is during weight training as their relatively flat soles and ankle supports can be great for exercises like squats and deadlifts which put a large amount of strain on your legs and feet.
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