A Shoe He Can’t Wait to Grow Into
I picked up these Jordan Son of Mars Low sneakers for my girlfriend’s 8 year old son, and they were an instant hit. The second he opened the box, he wanted to put them on. His exact words were, “These are so cool,” and ever since then he’s been asking when he can wear them again.
The pair we got is just a little too big right now, so we’ve had to lace them up pretty tight. Because they’re one of his nicer pairs and don’t quite fit perfectly yet, we’re not letting him wear them for basketball or running around outside. That doesn’t seem to matter to him though. He’s already talking about wearing them on the court and showing them off to his friends once they fit properly. You can tell he absolutely loves the style.
What really caught his attention was the design. The black leather upper with the elephant print around the toe and heel looks awesome in person. The red speckled details on the midsole give them a little extra pop without being too flashy. If you’re a Jordan fan, you can immediately see some of the inspiration from classic models. The elephant print is straight out of the Jordan 3, and the shoe blends design elements from several iconic Jordans into one unique sneaker.
I also like that these aren’t just about looks. The upper uses a combination of real and synthetic leather, which gives the shoe a sturdy feel and should help it hold up well once he starts wearing them regularly. The perforated side panels add some breathability, and the overall construction feels much more premium than a lot of kids’ shoes I’ve seen lately.
As far as comfort goes, he never wants to take them off. Even though they’re slightly oversized on him right now, he keeps putting them on around the house. The full length foam midsole provides good support and stability, and the visible Air unit in the heel adds some cushioning. Once these fit him properly, I can easily see them becoming his go to shoes for everyday wear.
One thing I appreciate is that they have a lot of Jordan history behind them. The Son of Mars line was created as a tribute to the connection between Michael Jordan and Spike Lee’s Mars Blackmon character from the classic Jordan commercials. It’s a fun sneaker that combines retro Jordan details with a more modern low top design.
Overall, these have been a great purchase. The materials feel solid, the cushioning seems good, and the design is eye catching without being over the top. Most importantly, they’ve earned the approval of an 8 year old who can’t stop asking when he’ll finally be allowed to wear them everywhere. That’s probably the best review a kid’s sneaker can get
