The Air Jordan 13 Retro ‘Flint’ makes its return after a decade

Let’s take it back to ’98. Jordan Brand was officially a separate brand from Nike and MJ was on his last season with the Bulls. On MJ’s feet were the Air Jordan 13. Over the course of the season, MJ rocked the 13s to work, wearing all the OG colors (He Got Games, True Reds, and the Playoff 13s) except the Flint 13s.

The shoe was set to debut during the 1998 All-Star Game but the All-Stars wore their team jerseys as opposed to the All-Star Kits, thus MJ shifted to the Playoffs instead of the Flints. While Jordan never wore the Flint 13s to an NBA game, the Brand debuted them on highschoolers that year and collegiate players by 2005. By 2010, the Flint 13s have grown to be a favorite of Jordan fans all over the world. This weekend, Jordan Brand brings back the Flint 13s after a decade-long hiatus.

The Air Jordan 13 ‘Flint’ has been released 2 other times since they first dropped in 1998. They released in 2005 in time for Jordan Brand’s 20th anniversary and brought them back again for 2010. While the shoe will be quite difficult to replicate from the OG, this year’s Flint 13s pose as a decent retro compared to the 2010 reissue.

For this year’s iteration, Jordan Brand brings back the reflective vamps (which were absent from the 2010s). Both the 2005 and 2010 models used French Blue as opposed to the Navy that were on the OG pair. While the grey mudguard and heel aren’t as dark as the OG, we do appreciate the type of suede used on them. Tumbled leather was used for the tongue and throat, while the cat’s eye remains on the shoe’s lateral collar. On the base of the throat, the JORDAN tab is embroidered with XIII on the back, something that wasn’t on the OG or previous models. To complete this year’s retro, the Flint 13s come in its original silver box from ’98.

Purists will say that the OGs will remain to be the best iteration of the Flint 13s but we do have to remember that these are Retros and serve a bigger purpose off court than on it. The OGs were built with performance in mind, that’s why they were cut lower, had better perforation, and the vamps were set a certain way. But for a Retro in 2020, I must say these Flint 13s are worth picking up.

The Air Jordan 13 Retro ‘Flint’ is set to drop this Saturday, May 30, across select Jordan accounts such as Titan and Nike Park pending delivery issues or delays. The shoe is also set to come in full family sizing, with the adult size retailing for Php 9,445 and the older kids’ size for Php 6,295.

*UPDATE* The Air Jordan 13 Retro ‘Flint’ is also available via nike.com/ph.