The 15 Best Jordan Shoes to Buy, According to Style Editors

SHOP AIR JORDAN 1 LOW

Another fun fact about the AJ1 is that Michael Jordan was fined $5,000 each time he wore the model on the court because of the NBA’s strict uniform policy. That, of course, only fueled the popularity and cult status of the sneaker. That is not to say the Air Jordan 1 is all style and no substance—as previously established, the cushioning in the midsole meets the athletic standards. But that’s not enough, even in the redo of AJ1 above. Hence, Jordan introduced the CMFT model—short for, obviously, “comfort”—which is a thorough upgrade that’ll really make you want to wear it every day.

Overall, the Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT 2 feels comfortable even for long hours on your feet, and the upper and toe are both made in suede to be able to break in easily while conforming to the shape of your feet. No doubt the wearability is improved. But the performance is just as robust if not more: the Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT 2 still has the Formula 23 foam for added underfoot cushioning, and the Zoom Air unit in the midsole absorbs impact while providing energy return.

Overall, the fit feels extra cozy and lets wearers score 100% on both comfort and performance on or off the court.

Next to the Air Jordan 1, the AJ3 is perhaps the second most iconic: released in 1988, it is the first model of the line to be designed by Nike’s legendary designer, Tinker Hatfield, and it is the first Air Jordan to don the Jumpman logo. As for the model’s court history, MJ in fact was considering leaving Nike, but after seeing Hatfield’s design, he knew he’d better stay and make history with the AJ3. Later, MJ won his first MVP award in these Jordans, and the rest is history.

Really, the AJ3 was like nothing anyone had seen before on the court when MJ wore it in 1988, and its future as a streetwear icon was surely secured as soon as it was released. This updated version is both a throwback and an upgrade. It has all the classic style motives of the OG AJ3: elephant-print panels at the toe and heel, Jumpman logo branding, a visible Air unit in the heel, and TPU lace eyelets. But the performance is spiced up now with a plush foam midsole that provides stable cushioning and ankle support, an Air-Sole unit in the forefoot for energy return, and a circular traction pattern in the rubber outsole for enhanced traction.

Look-wise, this is truly the best retro Jordan style. Made with a leather upper in the wild elephant print, it’s easy to style and easy to stand out.

As the latest Jordan model, the Air Jordan 37 is every bit as good as its inspirational source, the Air Jordan 7, if not better. The tongue and overall upper design take on the outer of the AJ7, but the performance of the AJ37, trust us, is superior by a large margin, thanks to the model’s innovative, modern technologies.

Designed for hoops, the AJ37 uses double-stacked Zoom Air units in the midsole to provide as much energy return as possible so you can start, burst, and stop like a piece of cake. Additionally, there’s the new Formula 23 foam cushioning in AJ37 that feels thick and provides support for bouncing right back after you crash land. What’s more, the upper comes with a shank that holds tight onto your ankle—sans the weight—to keep your feet always in the shoes so you’ll never slip.

All in all, for takeoffs or landings, the AJ37 is specifically built to accommodate your speed and all sorts of hops you perform.

This particular Jordan model is less Michael Jordan and more Russell Westbrook: it’s the sixth and latest iteration of Westbrook’s signature basketball shoes. As such, it turns up the heat on all three factors needed for peak performance on the court: support, stability, and speed.

For support, these Jordans feel explosive with the Zoom Air unit that provides nice bouncy cushioning. For stability, the model has a midfoot plate that runs through the shoe to keep wearers surefooted, an interior bootie that makes sure the shoes never slip off as you are in action, and a herringbone outsole that provides traction to every step.

For speed, the energy-returning midsole helps players generate bursts of velocity, and the lightweight upper feels airy but still sturdy to never slow you down; more importantly, the rubber outsole is wrapped nearly up to the midsole to ensure stability when your speed goes from 0 to 100. Looking as good as it performs too, the Why Not .6 lets you stand out on the court, do quick bursts of speed, as well as stop on a dime with ease.

This Jordan model is a fun one, full of collegiate varsity flair and retro-ness. Overall, the design is inspired by the original look of the AJ1 low-top. The “Nu” stands for “new,” meaning the style, especially the side look, is upgraded to look modern, such as the Air Jordan Wings on the side panels, or the mini Jumpman logos.

Another thing that’s “nu” about this model is that it’s equipped with a cus