Air Jordan 18 (XVIII):

About Air Jordan 18 (XVIII)

The Air Jordan 18 was released in 2003 and was the shoe for Jordan’s last season (part 3). Jordan played for the Washington Wizards, but his knees didn’t hold up for all of the games. Jordan returned towards the end of the season and ended his career on April 16, 2003 in a loss against the 76ers. Though many would love to see Jordan back yet again, its pretty safe to say that Jordan has retired…for good. Creator of the design of the Air Jordan 18 was Tate Kuerbis (Jordan Senior Footwear Designer). A person that had been part of the Jordan footwear design team since 1999 and with Nike since 1995. The inspiration of the design is a combination fo a number of things; Sleek racing lines of the auto world, Carbon fiber-based monocoque of F1 race cars, Race car driving shoes (rubber heel wrap) and Fine Italian dress shoes (bold stitching on the soles). With the Air Jordan 17′s having had a briefcase and a CD-rom the big question was how the Air Jordan 18′s could possibly match this. “What is next?” was the big question for all the sneakerfreaks out there. Well the Air Jordan 18′s was no disappointment. With a new Jordan box with a nice cut out 18 with foil behind it and a new pull-out opening the box itself was just SUPER! Ok, it wasn’t a briefcase, but c’mon I’d rather pay $175 than $200 for Jordans. In the package there was also a brush (black suede hi-tops) and a towel included. A great set of tools that simplifies the cleaning of the shoes. Jordan + .5 Both the Air Jordan 16′s and the Air Jordan 17′s had a modified model called “+”. With the Air Jordan 18′s this was taken a little bit further and a 18.5 was released. The design was pretty similar but the lace cover was lifted off and the Jumpman was brought forward on the side of the shoe. The Air Jordan 18.5 also featured a plastic pants leg-stopper with the years 1985-2003 written on them. Rumors are circulating that the Air Jordan 18 will return in 2008.

Tate Kuerbis was head designer of the Air Jordan 18. Tate was a part of Nike since 1995 and Jordan Brand since 1999. So designing shoes was nothing new to Tate. Inspirations can be seen from different places on the Air Jordan XVIII, for example the “rubber heel wrap” idea came from race car driving shoes, the Carbon fiber-based monocoque (F1 race cars), and the bold stitching came from Italian dress shoes, but the overall outlook was from the automobile world (one of Michael’s adorations). The Air Jordan 18 did not come with a fancy carrying case, or CD (which many of us enjoyed), but they did come with a nice slide out box, towel, brush, and an “Air Jordan XVIII Driver’s Manual” pamphlet. Like always with the newest Air Jordan to release, Jordan Brand wanted to bring out the latest in technology. The Air Jordan XVIII contained air vents, carbon comfort plate, hidden quick lace system, suede leather uppers and zoom air sole. Since the uppers were made out of suede, they did attract a lot of dust, dirt marks and scuffs. Also the soles and mid sole were made of rubber, and just like the Air Jordan V they collect dust, which can make someone slip and fall. If you played in an indoor gym, you were OK. On the Air Jordan XVI and XVII, Jordan Brand would use the “+” for a modified model. The Air Jordan XVIII used a XVIII.5 or 18.5, which ever way you wanted to write them. Pretty much nothing changed except the removal of the cover, and the jumpman was now on the side of the shoe, also the date 1985-2003 was put on. In 2003 when the Air Jordan 18 released, three models released, and retail for them was $175.00. Two low models released with a retail of $150.00. Later in 2003 the Air Jordan XVIII.5 released in two color ways and retail was set at $175.00.