No Longer Just Flight: Air Jordan 37 Technology About Every Aspect Of Jumping

The Air Jordan 37 has three underfoot technologies dedicated to every element of the jump.

For 36 iterations, the Air Jordan line has been known for flight. The Air Jordan 37 adds to that emphasis with a brand-new Formula 23 foam designed for the landing. Set for a September release, the Air Jordan 37 technology has taken on the three-step "crash, load and launch," giving each element of jumping—and flight—a unique view on technology.

"Ultimately, we approach the game shoe as the pinnacle expression and crown jewel of our brand," says Chad Troyer, senior product line manager of the Air Jordan 37. "Where the game shoe sits for us is the ultimate hybrid, blending the best of speed and the best of flight. Those two elements in one shoe are the ethos and was our mission."

The AJ 37 works as a system, designed to help an athlete jump higher. New for the 37 is the importance of the crash with a brand-new Formula 23 foam encased in TPU, only available in the Jordan Brand products the Air Jordan 37 and the Luka Dončić signature model. "It is a soft foam," Troyer says, "and strategically placed in the heel to help crash harder. The crash part is something we haven't focused on in the game shoe for a while."

Underfoot technology a key focus for the AJ 37.

He expects that by giving athletes more confidence in landing, they will jump with additional force.

Working with the Nike Sport Research Lab at the company's worldwide headquarters in Oregon, Troyer says they opted for a much softer foam than the average basketball shoe. "It is going to feel unique," he says. "It helps even the stride out and engages the rest of the system."

If the heel is about the crash, a carbon fiber shank in the midfoot helps with the load. Carbon fiber isn't new to Jordan basketball. The Air Jordan 11 was the first to debut carbon fiber and it has made on-and-off appearances throughout the line ever since. Last appearing in the AJ 32, carbon fiber returns in the AJ 37, connecting back to the original use of the material by AJ designer Tinker Hatfield. "Our whole team did a lot of research, going back to the mind of MJ (Michael Jordan) and the mind of Tinker," Troyer says. "Carbon fiber was new and different and iconic. Carbon fiber is extra, extra strong and has a unique visual that we are excited to bring back."

The Air Jordan 37 has a September 2022 release date.

The forefoot takes on the launch aspect with a double-stacked Zoom Air unit. "We wanted to maximize the amount of Zoom we can place under the foot and get it as close to the foot as possible while being as light as possible," Troyer says. The forefoot Zoom Air includes the thin Zoom strobel design that runs the full-length of the shoe, spreads out at the forefoot for optimal coverage and locates "right up next to the foot." Designers supplemented that by adding another Zoom Air bag underneath the forefoot to create a double-stack system with "extra pop."

"It was definitely a challenge to get it right," Troyer says about marrying the three key underfoot technologies. "We anchored with the Formula 23 in the heel, then we have carbon fiber, then it was choosing the right bags in the forefoot for the right coverage to give maximum experience and allow the product to stay lightweight and flexible. There was some shifting around as we went through rounds and rounds of testing."

By featuring an AJ 37-specific Lenoweave upper, Troyer says they provided a bit of a wink to the Air Jordan 7. The original AJ 7, designed by Hatfield, took inspiration from the Huarache and the idea of an exoskeleton protecting the foot only where needed to keep the shoe light. The AJ 7 was also inspired by the hand-shaped craftsmanship of West African basket weaving, so the AJ 37 brings that same feel, but with modern performance by using a monofilament Arkema yarn for strength and flexibility that allowed designers to keep the upper "super strong where we need it and very open and flexible where we don't need it," Troyer says about the overlays and openings. "It harkens back to the approach with the AJ7 and Huarache."

Expect a rich mixture of colorways throughout the shoe's season. It launches with the Beyond Borders colorway before shifting to the Hare colorway. The brand plans a balance of new storytelling, high energy colors, designs highlighting a moment in time, player-exclusive models seen on the courts in the NBA and WNBA and an original colorway too.

"We are all really excited about taking the 37 to a new place from a performance perspective," Troyer says. "A lot of history and heritage has fueled this process."