Air Jordan XX8

Today Jordan Brand unveiled the 28th shoe in the Air Jordan franchise, the Air Jordan XX8. Legendary shoe designer Tinker Hatfield and Jordan Brand Developer Josh Heard led a team who worked hand-in-hand with Michael Jordan to create a new ultra-modern stealth design that takes cues from the Nike SFB.

Featuring more technological advances than any Jordan yet, the XX8 is the lightest Jordan to date and boasts a number of impressive design features including a “Jordan Flight Plate” that maximizes responsiveness of Nike Zoom units, internal Dynamic Fit straps, a stretch-synthetic exterior that includes Schoeller mesh and a molded carbon fiber heel counter. Standing at 8″ high, this is also the tallest Jordan ever created, though the zip-up portion easily folds down to reveal a mid-height shoe inside.

The Jordan XX8 will release first in Houston during NBA All-Star on February 15, 2013, followed by a nationwide launch on February 16. The suggested retail price is $250 USD.

Air Jordan XX8 ‘Christmas’ Debuted by Russell Westbrook Yesterday

When the Air Jordan XX8 was first unveiled earlier this month, we asked Russell Westbrook how he’d be rocking it this year. He wouldn’t give us any hints, and basically left the question unanswered. What we took from that? He’ll be rocking them every which way possible. Sure enough on Christmas in Miami, Westbrook brought out a crazy colorway for the XX8s, and then proceeded to wear them with the shroud flapped down in the first half before zipping them all the way up in the second half.

These sneakers feature a white upper and a blue articulated print (designed by Nike designer and former Jordan Creative Director Mark Smith) that matched OKC’s Christmas uniforms.

This shoe is the lightest and most-tested Air Jordan sneaker ever, and it features the Jordan Flight Plate. This new technology maximizes the responsiveness of the Nike Zoom units in the forefoot and heel, creating some of the most advanced technology we’ve ever seen in a shoe. This version of the XX8 will be available on February 15, 2013 (only in Houston), before going nationwide on Saturday, February 16, for a suggested retail price of $250.

Yesterday, against the Heat, Russell Westbrook debuted the Air Jordan XX8 Christmas, and it’s an absolute beauty.

A sort of watery “tidal” blue print covers the shrouded upper, matching up with a special blue uniform the Thunder donned for their Christmas clash with the Heat. Black carbon fiber contrasts at the forefoot, midfoot plate and heel, while white covers the shroud’s liner and the “inner-shoe” goes grey.

The Air Jordan XX8 release date is set for February 15th in Houston; it then drops nationwide on the 16th.

Air Jordan XX8 – Christmas 2012 Edition | Unveiled by Russell Westbrook

So close yet so far… Given how close the game was and the aggressive style of play by both teams, it wasn’t all too surprising to see OKC Thunder‘s Russell Westbrook punched the commentator’s table out of frustration when Oklahoma City lost to the Miami Heat. One small conciliation to the loss, however, was Westbrook got to debut a new colorway for the Air Jordan XX8. Dubbed as “Blue Camo”, the Christmas 2012 Edition got its start as a way to match the special all blue OKC uniform for Christmas Day. A blue articulated print tipped with white upper, the design originated from Mark Smith, Jordan Brand‘s Creative Director, during the early part of Air Jordan XX8′s development stage and a throwback to the “Carolina Sky Blue” concept envisioned by Michael Jordan himself.

While there are no official comments on the availability of this particular design, other AJ XX8 colorways will be available starting on February 15th, 2013, in Houston as the city hosts the 2013 NBA All-Star Game.

Air Jordan XX8 “New York”

Spike Lee was indeed in the house for the latest Knicks victory last night as the team continued their dominance in the East by taking care of the shaky looking Lakers. On his feet: the all new Air Jordan XX8, a particularly exciting mismatch pair of that which comes as the first to show off a bit more color beyond the initial black/volt. The right shoe sports royal and the other goes for orange, those colors hitting on both the inner bootie and the translucent outsole. Stick with us after the jump to see the official photos of the Air Jordan XX8 ‘New York’, which are an apparent custom for Spike-no word on a retail release yet.

Spike Lee has been down with the Air Jordan legacy for ages, so it’s not exactly a huge surprise when he shows up in a never before seen pair. For tonight’s Knicks/Lakers matchup at Madison Square Garden he’s done just that, blowing us away with a mis-match pair of the Air Jordan XX8-one in orange and one in royal to pay tribute to his beloved New York Knickerbockers. Click through with Sneaker News for one of the earliest looks at some new colors on the Air Jordan XX8 and let us know what you think of Spike’s pairing in the comments below.