It’s a big year for the Air Jordan 1. The most famous sneaker silhouette of all time turns 40 this year—not quite old enough for an AARP membership card, but certainly a milestone most silhouettes on shelves can’t claim.
For four decades, it’s been the gold standard of sneaker culture, the shoe by which all others are measured. It attracts premier collaborators and has one of the most storied on-court histories of any basketball sneaker ever. This is the origin point of Air, of Mike, of signature sneakers as we know them today. And it hasn’t aged a day–you lace up a pair of 1s, you’re still golden.
“To me, the Air Jordan 1 represents more than just a shoe,” former Nike CEO Mark Parker told GQ in 2022. “It ignited the concept of letting an athlete’s personality shine through a product. Michael and our designers proved that footwear could be more than functional, it could be an expression of the person.”
With 40 years of colorways, collaborators, and PEs to comb through, it’s a great moment to look back on the best of the best. These are the best Air Jordan 1 colorways of all time.
16. Air Jordan 1 High ‘University Blue’
These days, the brand has dropped Air Jordan 1s in just about every conceivable color. It takes a lot for a simple colorway like this one to stand out, but the soft baby blue of Michael Jordan’s alma mater leaves a strong impression. In the very specific category of non-OG/collaboration colorways, this is among the best.
15. Air Jordan 1 High ‘Georgetown’
