A lot of people will complain how this iteration of the Air Jordan 1 is just a mashup of history and hype. The main issue is the combination of the original "Air Jordan" words with the non-existent in the 1980's Jumpman logo. However, if you like the shoe, don't let sneakerhead purists use history ruin your taste.
The shoe comes in a black combination of synthetic pebbled leather on the upper panels and a thin-cut leather on the inner panels, as well as grey mesh underlays. They also come with black laces, but there are no additional sets of laces. The all-white outsole gives it a clean look, contrasting how quickly they get dirty, but a few swipes of the toothbrush will effortlessly get any mess of the bottom of the shoe. They are also accented by a black embossed Jumpman logo on the heel and a red leather swoosh, as well as removable Jumpman and "Rare Air" patches for the tongue, attached by Velcro. A very cool feature in my opinion.
The cushion is exactly what you'd expect from a 30 year old shoe: stiff and unforgiving. Even so, after breaking them in over 4-5 wears, they feel more tolerable, and the initial pinching you'll feel in your pinky toe will subside. There is an Air Sole unit in the back, and while being unsubstantial, it can be felt. The high top heel will also be difficult to forgive unless you're used to this cut of shoe. Moreover, an internal heel counter is present, but there is no midfoot shank.
They fit half a size big, so keep that in mind when picking up a pair of 30th anniversary Air Jordan 1s Rare Air in the red, black, and white colorway. And, like any shoe of this design, they will crease in the toebox area, but it honestly only helps to give the shoe more of a retro feel.
