The Definitive AIR JORDAN ESSENTIALS Shopping Guide

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Photography:
Tatsuro Nishimura

Before sneaker collecting exploded from a niche hobby into a mainstream phenomenon, and before the proliferation of aftermarket boutiques and Instagram posts changed the “game” forever, it wasn’t so easy to get your favorite Air Jordans. If you missed out on their release, you were relegated to endless scouring of message boards and sneaker “groups,” trying — often without success — to unearth your grails. However, there was one place that in-the-know collectors could and would find the shoes they’d been lusting after: eBay.

You see, eBay was (and still is) a veritable mecca of Air Jordans. Region-exclusive releases? Got ‘em. Collaborations? Check. OGs? On deck. No matter what you’re looking for, no matter how rare it might be, no matter where you reside, you can find the Jordan kicks you need on eBay. Although the game has indeed changed since those early days, that’s a fact that still rings entirely true today. Now, the Sneaker News team has partnered up with the online sneaker shopping icon to craft a carefully curated selection of our favorite Air Jordan footwear for you, our loyal readers.

Although there are certainly plenty of shoes from the Jumpman that stand out to us as we head into fall (the most welcoming season for dressing) there’s three that have specifically received our autumn stamp of approval, two of which are OG colorways and one of which is a non-OG colorway. It’s already obvious that none of the highlighted shoes are Air Jordan 1s, because despite the global embrace of the original, it was actually three other silhouettes that help build the house of the Retro.

First and foremost, there’s the Air Jordan 4 “Cool Grey,” a 2004 classic that recently re-released in all its original glory. The chromed-out details are on point, the soft grey base provides a versatile look, and the yellow accents offer a seasonally-appropriate touch of flair. Then, we’ve got the Air Jordan 6 “Infrared.” The shoe that was on MJ’s feet when his Bulls captured their first-ever NBA Championship over Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991, the “Infrared” returned for 2019’s NBA All-Star Weekend. One detail is more noticeable than most: there’s an original Nike Air hit on the heel in place of the Jumpman graphic that was present on previous re-releases. And last but certainly not least, we’ve got the Air Jordan 11 “Concord.” One of the most instantly recognizable sneakers of all time, the Concord brought a never-before-seen level of luxury to the court upon their November 1995 release, melding high-end fashion and sport in a way that was decades ahead of its time. Since then, its holiday drops have caused chaos, its look has influenced designers worldwide, and above all else it’s remained a veritable paradigm of Air Jordan history. Long story short, all three are more than deserving of a spot in your sneaker rotation.

Apart from these three silhouettes we’re highlighting, there’s dozens of other choices, ranging from, yes, the Air Jordan 1 to later models, from colorways that are classic to fresh new styles. Browse the entire selection over at our special eBay store page, and be sure to check back frequently as well: you never know what kind of steals, deals, and special shoes we’ll be able to dig up.