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Home Air Jordans Air Jordan 3

The Air Jordan 3 RTNA Is The RoboCop Jordans We Always Wanted

Jordan Brand's stylish Air Jordan 3 RTNA sneaker is among the label's most inventive and futuristic designs of all time.

Caryn Ganess by Caryn Ganess
March 4, 2025
Air Jordan 3 RTNA RoboCop

Image Credit: English Sole

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From gold-dipped sneakers to pairs featuring miniature diamonds, Jordan Brand has produced some pretty awe-inspiring designs over the years. Yet despite all of these limited editions and rare styles, their Air Jordan 3 RTNA is arguably one of the most inventive on the roster.

More About The Air Jordan 3 RTNA

These truly incredible sneakers were the result of a years-long collaboration between research firm Lifescaped, Jordan Brand, and legendary Tinker Hatfield. But what makes their design so unique? Well, the sneaker has an extremely thin RTNA coating—less than 1/100,000th of a hair thick—that can be moulded and shaped to selectively reflect specific wavelengths of light. This means that the shoes can reflect particular colours to the eye without needing pigments or dyes.

As such, you get an unparalleled iridescent effect that mimics the look of butterfly wings and beetle shells without the use of any pigments or dyes. If this isn’t the most cutting-edge technology in sneaker design, then we don’t know what is.

A Closer Look At The Sneaker

In addition to its revolutionary RTNA coating, the sneaker also has a sleek and futuristic look that reminds us of something out of a sci-fi movie, more specifically, Robocop.

You have silver leather uppers that give it a robotic feel, iridescent heel and toe details to resemble his metallic armour, and a black midsole detailing that replicates the look of his visor.

To add even more distinctiveness, the sneaker features an insole made of recycled cork materials complete with laser-etched details and an outsole made of Nike’s eco-friendly Grind substance.

You can’t look at these kicks and tell me you don’t see the future of footwear.

Will We Ever See a Release?

Unfortunately, the design will not be made public—at least not just yet. The sneaker’s futuristic-looking coating isn’t yet strong enough to withstand daily usage, so the working model is still only a concept. But it’s undoubtedly a dream that many people hope will one day come to pass.

However, you can find more rare Jordans and unique Nike sneakers on our website or browse upcoming AJ3 releases, including the model’s latest A Ma Maniére collab. While you’re at it, remember to follow us at Sneaker Fortress for more sneaker drops and news.

Would you want to own the Air Jordan 3 RTNA if it released to the public? Should Jordan Brand drop a version of the innovative design for their 40th anniversary celebrations?

Air Jordan 3 RTNA
Image Credit: English Sole
Air Jordan 3 RTNA
Image Credit: English Sole
Air Jordan 3 RTNA
Image Credit: English Sole
Air Jordan 3 RTNA
Image Credit: English Sole
Air Jordan 3 RTNA
Image Credit: English Sole
Air Jordan 3 RTNA
Image Credit: English Sole

Source: Wired UK

Tags: Air JordanAir Jordan 3FeaturedSneaker News
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About the Author: Caryn Ganess

Caryn Ganess is a South African writer with a sharp eye for sneaker culture and a knack for digging into the psychology behind pop culture. From breaking down the legacy of the Nike Cortez to exploring what makes movie villains tick, she blends academic insight with real-world flavour.

Our favourites. Available now at Nike.com

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