The brand known for mastering performance on the court is aiming to master performance off of it.
Michael Jordan built his undeniable legacy on the hardwood, allowing his signature sneakers to become the standard for a signature line. That exact signature line eventually evolved beyond optimizing for on-court performance, though.
Launching in 1998, the year Jordan would win his final NBA Championship, the Air Jordan Trunner line changed the perception of Jordan Brand sneakers. The intended focus was on creating a market for cross-training sneakers. Jordan Brand used its impressive roster that featured the likes of Derek Jeter, Roy Jones Jr, Randy Moss, Donovan McNabb, amongst others, to bring the sub-label to life. The idea was to platform some of the biggest stars in sport while creating buzz around Jordan Brand’s new direction away from performance basketball sneakers.
Roy Jones JR in an ad for the Air Jordan Trunner Line
Ultimately, the line was a success. The Trunner line was among the first hybrid training-running shoes. The innovations and designs showed Jordan Brand was ready to evolve. As Micahel Jordan was nearing his second retirement from the NBA, it could not have come at a better time for the Jumpman.
Of course, in the years since 1998, Jordan’s Trunner line has evolved- and developed a loyal following. As things go, sneaker collectors have long dug through the archives hoping the brand to spotlight the Trunner line once again.
And it looks like that time in the spotlight is nearing.
Back in July, sneakerdenn shared with the world a sample of what would be the latest chapter of the Trunner line- the Trunner O/S SP. The sneaker immediately made the rounds across sneaker social media accounts. How could it not- with the chunky silhouette, and it’s familiar and nostalgic colorblocking? That sneaker now is finally upon us. And it is poised to take a huge bite into the captivating dad shoe space.
The dad shoe phase of sneakers has lingered within the trend cycle longer than many other trends have in the past decades. If one were to theorize as to why– brand’s efforts to constantly deliver comfortable sneakers with great colorways that lean into the nostalgia of growing up would certainly be a big factor.
Those aforementioned reasons are why the Trunner O/S SP is picking up steam among sneaker heads.
The Trunner O/S SP brings together everything one could ask of a sneaker in 2025. It has a super flexible and cushioned midsole to maximize comfort. It nods back to previous Trunner models with it’s branded cage, allowing fans to reminisce on past Trunners. And, similarly, they are releasing in Nike ACG like colorways ( specifically the Lake Side and Magic Hour colorways featured here) that channel everything a sneaker head could want from a nostalgic story-telling perspective.
Let’s face it, the demographic that obsesses over sneakers is getting older, but it is also getting wiser. Comfort is a higher priority, and the O/S SP delivers that. All the while, the sneaker gives the hits of nostalgia that often tie sneaker stories together across generations.
Today’s youth likely never saw Jeter turn a Double Play, but that doesn’t mean that the execution of the latest Trunner isn’t made for them. In fact, it is that delivery, those hits of color especially, that are likely to grant the Trunner the ability to cross over to different generations.
The Air Jordan Trunner O/S SP has begun launching at participating Jordan Brand boutiques. The official launch from Jordan Brand will be on October 1st.
Images of the Trunner O/S SP courtesy of CNCPTS
