The Air Jordan Alpha 1 has been both criticized and praised since its release earlier this year. You either love the idea of it, or you hate it, and bannish it to your ‘pass’ list with the likes of Team Jordans and Fusions. This shoe is definitely not for everybody. OG Jordan fans probably cringe at the thought of mid top 1’s with Jumpman symbols. However, I for one really like the Alpha 1, not just as a performance shoe, but just as a great concept. They took the most basic, yet iconic silhouette, and upgraded it to meet modern performance needs.
I recently took a trip to New York and chose the Air Jordan Alpha 1 to be my ‘go to’ shoe for the trip because of its comfort. The timing of my trip happened to end up falling on the weekend of one the most intense snowstorms New York has had all winter. Instead of doing the most logical thing and picking up a pair of snow boots for the trip, I stayed true to my Alpha 1’s and hoped for the best. I was pleasantly surprised at how durable and water resistant they actually were. Not only were my feet dry for the entirety of the trip (with 1 exception of stepping into a foot deep puddle), but they also made it back home to sunny Las Vegas with minimal creasing. So, after a trip to NY/NJ, countless miles of stomping through snow, and 1 thorough cleaning later, they are still in great condition and are definitely the best choice I could have made as a travelling shoe: comfortable, durable, easy to clean. Maybe that’s why I’m so fond of these shoes. What can I say? I’m loyal. I tested these shoes in the harshest possible conditions (not necessarily on purpose) and they came out with barely a scuff.