Nike’s Air Jordan brand is the most successful and iconic sneaker in history, earning the NBA player more than double his career earnings year after year.
It seems these iconic sneakers are everywhere nowadays, and no self-respecting sneakerhead’s collection is complete without at least one pair.
Are you ready to join this ongoing trend? Keep reading to find out more about Air Jordan sneakers for men.
Which Model of Air Jordans is Right for You?
Since the then-fledgling footwear brand first invited Michael Jordan into the fray in 1985, they’ve released a new style of Air Jordans every year.
To date, Nike has released 37 different iterations of this shoe, roughly one per year, each a little distinct from the one before. Every version of the Air Jordan has a number from I to XXXVII, except for the 2009 to 2012 models, named after their year of origin.
Besides its annual releases, Nike has also brought out some of these shoes with unique variations of some models, adding fuel to the collecting frenzy surrounding the iconic Air Jordan.
These are some of the most collectible, wearable, and popular Air Jordans manufactured to date.
Air Jordan 1
The original, and largely considered the best, Air Jordans come in a huge variety of colors that complete any outfit. The Air Jordan 1 Obsidian UNC is one of the most eye-catching of these.
The Obsidian pays homage to MJ’s alma mater, the University of Carolina, with its light blue heel. It’s made from tumbled and smooth leather, making it super comfortable and ideal for everyday wear.
If you want a standout classic, the Air Jordan 1 High Court Purple with tumbled leather uppers is a good match for you. Metallic purple detailing on the swoosh, collar, and wings logos are the trademarks of this interesting design.
Air Jordan 3 Black Cement
You can’t go wrong when you choose the original colorway for this Air Jordan model. Plus, black goes with everything.
This staple colorway was one of Jordan’s favorite tones for matchplay, and the newer iterations closely mimic the original with tumbled leather and Elephant print.
Air Jordan 5 Fire Red
Step back into the 90s with this classic sneaker design featuring a reflective tongue, red lining, and the Nike Air logo on the heel. Along with Michael Jordan, Will Smith helped make this colorway super popular in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
Air Jordan 7 Bordeaux
This sneaker has one of the most unusual colorways created by Nike. It has more gray, burgundy, and black features than the usual Chicago Bulls-centered Nike coloring.
Design features include burgundy hints on the Jumpman, zig-zagged graphics on the tongue, and gray and graphite Durabuck uppers.
Picking the Right Size Air Jordan Sneakers for Men
You’ll find no shortage of websites advertising “shop for Jordans here now“, but how do you know they’ll fit your feet if you can’t try them on?
The good news is that most Air Jordans fit true to size. If you have narrow feet, you can go down a half size for a closer fit. You can choose half a size larger to give wide feet the space they need.
Some types of Air Jordans may seem to run larger due to their design. If you’re buying Air Jordan 2s, 5s, 6s, 7s, or 11s, you might consider buying a half a size smaller, especially if you have narrow feet.
Air Jordan 3s and 12s have a snugger fit, so you can order half a size bigger when you choose these sneakers.
While shopping for Air Jordan shoes, you might come across the terms ‘GS’ or ‘Y’, which are abbreviations for ‘Grade School’ and ‘Youth’ respectively. These Air Jordans suit older kids, and they’re the same as US sizes 3.5 to 7.
So, if you wear a size 7 shoe, the larger of these sizes might work for you too, although they’re slightly narrower around the toe box than adult sizes.
Air Jordan Highs and Lows
You can buy most Air Jordan models in high, mid, and low-top versions. The Jordan 1 High is the ultimate style icon, with a timeless silhouette and a hefty price tag.
The Mid-length Jordans are the least popular as they’re not considered traditional. This makes them more easily available than classic high-style sneakers.
Jordan 1 Low sneakers are becoming more popular and harder to find, but they’re a great fit for warmer weather as they go very well with shorts.
Styling Air Jordan Sneakers for Men
Despite their origins, Air Jordans are more of a fashion statement than a sports shoe nowadays, although you can buy specialized models for a variety of sports.
Assuming you’ll be hitting the street and not the field in your Jordans, these are some of the best ways to make your new shoes pop:
Jordan 1s are easy to style, but they’re best suited to streetwear like baggy jumpers and T-shirts with shorts or tapered pants that show off the tongue of the shoe. Baggy pants will overshadow your trendy kicks, so if you must wear them, fold them up a little.
Many men swear that cargo pants and Air Jordans are the best style partnership in their closets.
A handy tip for showing off your sneakers without being too obvious is to match them with parts of your clothing. For instance, if your Jordans have red features, choose an outfit with discreet red accents to tie your look together.
Subtlety is key when you opt for this type of style statement.
You can opt for Air Jordans in normal leather, patent leather, or suede to suit your particular style.
If the Shoe Fits
Air Jordan sneakers for men have hit the sweet spot that incorporates fashion with comfort and durability. They’re timeless classics that have captured the imaginations of generations of style-savvy individuals.
Whether you’re an avid collector or simply appreciate a versatile, easy-to-wear fashion, there’s a place in your shoe closet for a pair of Air Jordans. If you enjoy following the latest trends, browse our blog for more snippets and tutorials on a wide variety of lifestyle topics.