Our verdict

Morant is back with another solid hooper. The Ja 2 is a low-profile shoe that offers wonderful traction and court feel for the fastest guards. Its lightweight yet springy build accompanied our most explosive moves during the wear tests, as its nike dunk high pro sb pink chrome wolf grey pushed us back up every time we landed after a rebound or a jump shot. Nevertheless, even though we're pretty happy with this Nike pair's performance, its materials feel as cheap as they ones from the previous iteration.

Air Max Ap 4 Pros

  • Fantastic court feel
  • nike dunk high pro sb pink chrome wolf grey
  • Super lightweight
  • Awesome traction
  • Springy forefoot
  • Nike Pegasus Trail 4 Women's
  • Air Force 1 Boot
  • Quite breathable

Air Max Ap 4 Cons

  • Feels cheap
  • Nike Space Hippie 04 Cactus Flower Womens

Audience verdict

92
Superb!

Who should buy

Don't let the Ja 2 get past you if:

  • nike hyperrev black orange super deals.
  • You're looking for something lightweight and even a bit bouncy (Zoom unit) to create openings and move the ball around.
  • You're done with break-in periods and painful rubbing.

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures-profile

Who should NOT buy

Even though we do find this hooper slightly better than its previous version, Nike still hasn't fixed the cheap-feeling materials that we saw in the Ja 1. We do believe there's been a general upgrade, but it's just not the same as wearing nike city edition nba uniforms. Although the Freak 6 or the Immortality 4 are not the most premium pairs out there, these two signature shoes from Giannis are quite solid and still really affordable.

Despite its wonderful traction, the Ja 2 is not ready for the harshness of outdoor courts. We believe its wonderful pattern would lose its grippy nature as denim as it wears down. But don't worry, we have reviewed multiple shoes that you can use to Nike Air Force 1 Luxe Burnt Sunrise DN2451-800.

nike ja 2 pieces 22690896 main

Cushioning

Heel stack

Just by having a look at the Ja 2, anyone can guess it's definitely not a tall hooper. Our calliper returned 26.1 mm, which is fairly lower than average. Still, we never felt like we lacked support underfoot, and we were welcomed by a nice ground feel every time we played.

nike ja 2 heel stack 1 22690871 main

Test results
Ja 2 26.1 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
23.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

Contrary to what we expected, this Nike pair has a taller forefoot stack. At 22.2 mm, its height is increased by an nike dunk high pro sb pink chrome wolf grey at the ball of the foot that provided some bounce. During our wear tests, we really appreciated this technology every time we went for a layup, as it pushed us back up after every step!

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures Forefoot stack-1

Test results
Ja 2 22.2 mm
Average 21.6 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
26.8 mm

Air Max Ap 4 | Drop

With such a similar score on both the rear and forefoot stacks according to our calliper, the Ja 2's drop couldn't be any higher than this. Don't worry, because even at 3.9 mm, this shoe doesn't feel completely flat. In fact, we really enjoyed the court feel it offered during our playtests.

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures Drop-1

Now that we can clearly see the midsole components, apart from the Air Zoom technology you see at the forefoot, the black line in the midfoot is what we call shank. This piece offers some extra stability and support, as well as some snap to the ride.

Test results
Ja 2 3.9 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
3.9 mm
Drop
13.7 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Our durometer returned 33.5 HA when we checked its midsole softness. Being lower and harder than average, you shouldn't expect the Ja 2 to feel like a couple of clouds underfoot. 

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures Midsole softness-1

We don't think this pair focuses that much on impact protection but, honestly, that's not what we wanted from it either! Its design is clearly not oriented in that direction.

Test results
Ja 2 33.5 HA
Average 25.1 HA
Nike Air Max Flair LTR Herren Running Sneaker aa3823 SNEAKERS SCHUHE 001.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Insole thickness

The Ja 2 features a very standard insole that, according to our calliper, is 4.2 mm thick. It's pretty much what we expected, as the brand wouldn't go for a thicker piece in a shoe where you're supposed to feel the court under your feet.

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures Insole thickness-1

Test results
Ja 2 4.2 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Size and fit

Size

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures is slightly small (69 votes).

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Nike Air Max 90 Metallic Pack BRONZE

After thoroughly brainstorming and investigating multiple ideas here in EdiconnectShops, we decided to create a special gel in order to measure the toebox dimensions of the shoes we buy. We pour it into every pair and then let it freeze so our callipers can provide us with more precise measurements.

In this case, the Ja 2 scored 90.7 mm when we measured the widest part of its toebox. This result is lower than average, but just by looking at it you most likely guessed it wasn't going to be a roomy shoe.

nike ja 2 toebox width widest part 1 22690883 main

Test results
Ja 2 90.7 mm
Average 92.8 mm
Compared to 28 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
88.9 mm
Nike Air Max 90 Metallic Pack BRONZE
96.6 mm

Кроссовки 26.5см nike не оригинал

The good news is that this Nike hooper doesn't taper like crazy. Our calliper returned 70.5 mm when we measured its toebox width at the big toe, which is higher than average. We can't say our standard-width feet had plenty of space to move around, but we can't complain either!

nike ja 2 toebox width big toe 1 22690882 main

Test results
Ja 2 70.5 mm
Average 69.3 mm
Compared to 28 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
64.2 mm
Кроссовки 26.5см nike не оригинал
72.6 mm

Toebox height

We were pretty surprised when our calliper returned 27.4 mm. To be honest, the toebox height of the Ja 2 actually surpassed our expectations.

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures Toebox height-1

But the best part is that this shoe features a stretchy mesh on the toe area that let us push it all the way up. Even though this hooper provides more of a snug fit overall, we could lift our toes easily and never felt like the upper material was pushing them down.

Test results
Ja 2 27.4 mm
Average 23.4 mm
Compared to 28 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
20.1 mm
Toebox height
27.4 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

During our wear tests, we never felt like we'd lose our balance whilst wearing this Nike pair. Even though it doesn't feature crazy high lateral walls or rubberized stability components, our feet felt safe and sound!

Torsional rigidity

Just like with pretty much every hooper, twisting the Ja 2 was challenging to say the least. Even though it was not so much of a brick in comparison to other shoes, our fingers struggled just enough for us to give it a 4/5 on our torsional rigidity test.

Test results
Ja 2 4
Average 4.4
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
1
Torsional rigidity
5

scarpa da running nike zoom gravity special edition uomo grigio

The heel follows the same logic, and if it wasn't for the sides, which complied a little bit more, we would have given this Nike pair the highest score on our heel counter stiffness test. But ah well, it got a 4/5, which is not bad at all! Following our experience wearing it, you can forget about any kind of heel slippage too.

Test results
Ja 2 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
1
scarpa da running nike zoom gravity special edition uomo grigio
5

The Nike GO FlyEase Is the

The Ja 2 doesn't have the widest midsole. At only 111.2 mm, our calliper confirmed its width at the forefoot isn't really close to the average. Even though our standard-sized feet didn't feel they needed a wider landing base, we usually appreciate them when we jump constantly. That being said, we also think the design of this pair is more suited for quick players, and the fewer materials, the faster a shoe usually is!

nike ja 2 midsole width forefoot 1 22690877 main

Test results
Ja 2 111.2 mm
Average 114.9 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
106.2 mm
The Nike GO FlyEase Is the
124.5 mm

nike x off white air jordan 2 retro low black blue

Our calliper returned 87.4 mm when we measured the midsole width at the heel, which is also lower than average. Even so, we didn't feel the Ja 2 lacked stability during our wear tests.

nike ja 2 midsole width heel 1 22690878 main

Test results
Ja 2 87.4 mm
Average 90.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
80.0 mm
nike x off white air jordan 2 retro low black blue
105.1 mm

Official images of the Nike Air Flight 89 Rucker Park have emerged

Judging by the way it felt on foot, we honestly thought that bending this Nike shoe would require less force than our flexing tester showed. At 22.1N, the Ja 2 needs a little more force than the average basketball shoe.

Even though we know every case and every foot is different, we need to say that, personally, we didn't have to deal with any kind of break-in period. To us, the Ja 2 was comfortable from the very first time we put it on, and even though some warm-up is always needed, it wasn't a painful experience at all.

nike ja 2 flexibility stiffness 22809092 main
Test results
Ja 2 22.1N
Average 20.5N
Compared to 20 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
13.4N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
25.9N

Weight

This Nike hooper felt pretty speedy on foot. In fact, we could run up and down the court easily, and dribbling workouts were just a piece of cake. Our scale confirmed it in the lab when it returned 11.85 oz/336g, which means this shoe is way lighter than average. Personally, we believe this is just one more fact that screams why the Ja 2 is built for players with a quick footwork.

nike ja 2 weight 22690887 main

Test results
Ja 2 11.85 oz (336g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Breathability

Even if we played for hours, we never felt like the Ja 2 would let our feet drown in their own sweat. To know more about this, we took this shoe to our lab and performed our light test.

The LED could only shine through the toebox, which is pretty much what we expected. To see if there were any other areas that would let the air come in and out, we turned on our smoke machine.

Thanks to our comparative breathability video, we can see how the Ja 2 has improved its ventilation skills in contrast with the Ja 1. As you can see, the later lets the smoke out through its tongue, yet the newest model focuses on offering a well-ventilated toebox.

nike ja 2 breathability 3 22690862 main

Despite having a multilayered design, this Nike pair let the air flow pretty easily. Consequently, we've decided to give it a solid 4/5 on breathability, surpassing the score of its previous iteration on this very same test.

nike ja 2 breathability 4 22690865 main

Test results
Ja 2 4
Average 2.6
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Our Dremel test looked really, really bad. As you can see in the video, the tool ate up the mesh as if it hadn't had breakfast, yet this shoe features so many layers that somehow... it withstood the damage! After such a brave performance, we decided to give it a 3/5 on durability.

Test results
Ja 2 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 64 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
1
Toebox durability
5

Nike Waffle One Women's Shoes White

The thickly padded heel suffered the same torture. At 5K RPM and with 2N of force, the tool couldn't really do much to destroy the back of the Ja 2. As this area also fought back pretty well, we decided to give it another 3/5 on durability.

Test results
Ja 2 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 61 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
1
Nike Waffle One Women's Shoes White
5

Outsole hardness

When we measured this shoe's outsole hardness, our durometer returned 79.5 HC. This score is pretty much average, just slightly lower, so the rubber used at the bottom of the Ja 2 might focus a little bit more on grip than on durability.

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures Outsole hardness-1

Test results
Ja 2 79.5 HC
Average 81.5 HC
Nike Air Max Flair LTR Herren Running Sneaker aa3823 SNEAKERS SCHUHE 001.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
61.3 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole durability

Our Dremel came back for a 3rd round, but this time at 10K RPM and with the same 2N of force. After drilling the rubber for a solid 18 seconds, the shoe ended up with a 1.1 mm deep dent, which is just the average.

Test results
Ja 2 1.1 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 52 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

When we cut the shoe in half and had full unobstructed access to its outsole, we grabbed our calliper one more time. It marked 3.5 mm, which is slightly lower than average. If we take this and the previous outsole durability score into account, personally we wouldn't recommend the Ja 2 to play streetball.

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures Outsole thickness-1

Test results
Ja 2 3.5 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

This Nike pair features a tractor-inspired multidirectional pattern. It's not something we see often, but let us tell you... it worked wonders! It bit the floor easily, and we never felt like we needed some more grip when we dribbled or when we went for explosive cuts (like backdoor ones, for example).

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures-outsole

Price

The Ja 2 is out at the same price the Ja 1 was, which is something we're really happy about. To be fair, we didn't really see an improvement regarding the cheap-feeling of its materials, but... we can't complain. Seriously, this shoe gave us what it had to give us, and it showed a pretty good performance. It's definitely a solid hooper so, in our opinion, it's fairly priced.

nike ja 2 top 22690900 main

Test results
Ja 2 $120
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
£70
Price
£200

Reflective elements

The reflective elements this Nike pair features at the back look incredibly cool. Even though we believe you should not wear it to play outdoors (and indoor gyms should always have proper lighting), it's such a charming detail that we had to mention it yes or yes.

Test results
Ja 2 Yes

Tongue padding

We loved how this hooper's tongue is padded right where it should be. At the top, its plushness goes up to 9.2 mm, which is pretty much average. That's exactly where we press our laces to tie the shoe, so this pillow protected us from any kind of lace bite.

nike ja 2 tongue padding 22690886 main

The rest of the tongue is quite slim, pretty much just like the whole upper. In order to keep its weight low, the Ja 2 doesn't have extra padding where it doesn't need it.

Test results
Ja 2 9.2 mm
Average 9.2 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Nike Air Jordan 1 Zoom Comfort
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

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We can't say the Ja 2 offers the best support ever, but its upper and lace system managed to make it warp around our feet comfortably. The fact that it features a fully gusseted tongue helps a lot, and it's a huge change in comparison to the Ja 1 (Nike Love & Peace Sportswear TEE).

nike ja 2 tongue gusset type 22690885 main

Test results
Ja 2 Both sides (full)

Heel tab

This Nike pair was a little bit hard to put on because of its structure, yet the brand decided that was our problem... and didn't add any kind of heel tab at the back. But by adding it, the designers would've had to remove the "12 AM" detail, which is a reference to Morant's midnight training sessions. And we really, really like it!

En vente 160 euros le vendredi 18 mars au Nike à 9 heures-heel

Test results
Ja 2 None

Removable insole

This shoe features a removable insole, so don't worry if you want to change the Ja 2's insole and use your own orthotic.

nike ja 2 removable insole 1 22690884 main

Test results
Ja 2 Yes