Photo: Edward Berthelot (Getty).
Nike and Air Jordan are set to drop their spring lineup of retro Jordans, bringing another chance for sneakerheads to get their hands — or feet — on some fire footwear of years past. It’s like Christmas for shoe connoisseurs, except it’s not so cold out and your sneakers aren’t going to get wrecked by the snow.
With eight pairs of Jordans just weeks from release, we took the time to rank them from bottom to top, giving you a clear guide for making the decision every sneakerhead has to make: cop or drop?
Ranked! Every Air Jordan Sneaker Coming Spring 2018
Jordans are some of the most popular sneakers out there. From retailers to shoe consignment to straight-up trades, these kicks get passed around on a regular basis. It’s no surprise people are going to be ogling for some or all of this spring collection. Let’s get to it.
Still have other sneakers to cop ahead of spring? We got your list of ideal shoes to snag from the holiday season.
2018 Air Jordans Ranked
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8. AIR JORDAN XVIII OG
Photo: Nike
First up on the list is the Jordan 18s in their original colorway of white, metallic silver, and "Sport Royal" blue. Originally from 2003, these shoes mirrored the Washing Wizards' team colors back when Michael Jordan played for the team -- a time any Jordan fan wants to forget. This retro release is nearly identical to the O.G. version from 15 years ago with the exception of upgraded leather.
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7. AIR JORDAN IX BLACK/UNIVERSITY RED
Photo: Nike
The 9s don't get enough credit for being one of the hardest looking Jordans on the market. With the release of the black and "University Red" colorway, they just got even harder. The upper area around the sole is designed with patent leather, giving this pair a sleek look and likeness to Jordan 11s, which are in the discussion of the GOAT Jordan pair.
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6. AIR JORDAN XIII OLIVE
Photo: Nike
The Jordan 13s are a strong pair in almost any colorway. That being the case, another release of the "Olive" version is a no-brainer for the Jordan brand. The upper is designed with suede material in olive and black colors, with just a hint of red on the tongue and outsole. The look on this pair allows it to be a great addition to both casual wear and on-the-court gear.
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5. AIR JORDAN I ALTERNATE BLACK/GAME ROYAL
Photo: Nike
If you're a sneakerhead (and you probably are because you're reading this), you know the Jordan 1s will forever have a place in your heart. It's the first pair that launched what is arguably the most popular series of basketball shoes out there. With the Alternate Black/Royal Blue, the 1s are reimagined with a blue and white-dominant colorway that gives this classic pair an alternative but fresh look.
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4. AIR JORDAN XIII WHITE/HYPER ROYAL/BLACK
Photo: Nike
Ah yes, the 13s again, this time coming in a "Hyper Blue" colorway. Like we mentioned about the "Olive" version, the AJ 13s come strong in almost any shade the brand puts out. This version, however, is getting its first public release because the pair was originally reserved for Jordan brand family members only, making them a must-cop if you're into being the first on the block to rock a set of sneakers. This pair is a throwback to the O.G. red colorway, simply replacing that color with blue. Fresh.
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3. AIR JORDAN I BRED TOE
Photo: Nike
As you know, the Jordan 1s are iconic, and here we are 30+ years later still salivating over them. These AJ 1s are described as a reinterpretation of the Jordan 1 "Bred." They have a similar colorway to the O.G. pair worn by M.J. in his early days with the Chicago Bulls, but with slightly different placing of the colors while keeping the traditional Nike Swoosh surrounded by a color the brand describes as "Summit White." My guess is that color is supposed to make you imagine a snowy summit, but these joints are too hot for that.
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2. AIR JORDAN X “I’M BACK”
Photo: Nike
These Jordan 10s have an interesting backstory. As you can see, the colorway is a simple black and white, much like ink on paper. This is supposed to represent the fax that was sent by Michael to the Chicago Tribune newspaper back on March 18, 1995. The fax read, "I'm back," and this was the moment Jordan exited retirement to rejoin the Chicago Bulls before going on to win three more NBA championships. As for the sneakers, they pay homage to this moment with "I'm back" stitched into the left heel tab, while the date of the fax is stitched into the right heel tab. Never in my life did I expect to see sneakers celebrating fax machines, but here were are.
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1. AIR JORDAN X COOL GREY
Photo: Nike
Ranking in as No. 1 by just a hair ahead of the sneakers honoring a fax, the Jordan 10 "Cool Grey" colorway brings a special kind of shade to Jordan's opponents from his playing days. The upper of this pair is dominant grey suede and leather. The outsole lists all of Jordan's earlier NBA career achievements, just as the 10s have in previous releases. This time, though, each achievement is colored in his opponent's team colors for that particular milestone. Orange is for the Phoenix Suns, purple is for the Los Angeles Lakers, and so on. Damn, this pair reminds you how M.J. owned the competition down to the specific foe. Such a savage design has to make this the top pair of Jordans for this spring season.
