What's the Best Air Jordan of All Time? | The Complex Sneakers Show

[@Complex]

What's your favorite Air Jordan of all time?

[@birdman3003]

Bred 11s HANDS DOWN!

[@cmn225]

Black Infrared 6s

[@charlesedwardsjr7194]

Black Cement 3's 🔥🔥🔥

[@charliemerten2706]

1, 4, 6....the eye likes what the eye likes.

[@Eric-xm7so]

White Cement 4's

[@hank3578]

cancel your next guest and do a full jordan tier list instead.

[@MetaMan09]

Facts 😂😂😂💯💯💯

[@Reckshop]

PLEASE

[@triniboy05]

No. More. Guests.

[@brendandunnecomplex]

My head hurts just thinking about it but we might have to.

[@merc7paul]

No

[@jaredculbertson3800]

Bruh, I love the Jordan ranking discussions/debates. It is oddly pleasing and makes me feel like the biggest nerd alive.

[@dagttv]

Its always going to be the AJ1 for me and the reason is simple: it represents the perfect, simple, sleek leather cupsole shoe that transcends design fads and time periods. I am a skater. From the moment I saw them on the feet of Lance Mountain and Tony Hawk in the Powell Peralta videos to today with Yuto Horigome wearing the Fragment highs in his video parts, they have always been it. It's the same reason we can still admire and wear a 1985 Jordan today and we can barely wear the 2's-up past 5-6 years. They will crumble and fall apart. The Jordan 1 didn't use any exposed EVA and the cupsole was stitched robustly onto an entirely leather upper. Today DC, Lakai and others still copy the Jordan 1 because it was the ultimate skateboarding shoe. It wasn't trying to be too futuristic or contain too many Nike tech marketing gimmicks. It's still to me one of the greatest, if not THE greatest shoe ever made; up there with the Chuck Taylor, the Stan Smith, and the Superstar.

[@paulkersey724]

I remember watching a KZbin video back in like 2015 of some 1985 jordan 1s in Japan and the dude was wearing them and I was floored they were still wearable. I started buying them from then on as I figured they wouldn't crumble like the foam midsole J's. I'm not a skater but I have tons of jordan 1s that I've thrashed and none have fell apart. If not the best jordan then the toughest.

[@alvarotoledo3696]

While I love the Jordan 11’s and are my personal favorite the concords in particular. Everything you said about the Jordan 1 is spot on can’t even lie.

[@alejandroramirez4470]

Missing FSR, had something to look for on Thursdays. I don't hear enough about 👟 news w/o it and more importantly celeb stories.

[@apenasmarcosfelipe]

me too, bro

[@alejandroramirez4470]

@@apenasmarcosfelipe 🙏

[@davidclarke7095]

Same. Prefer it to this.

[@mm11k3]

Seems to me they just wanted a weird way to cut Trinidad out

[@lucianocrippa2]

Matt was absolutely right regarding air 1 low. Again, that doesnt mean one is better than the other but in present moment in time, AJ 1 low has taken over...

[@Polo4201]

Middle school 6th grade, Concord 11’s in 1996 were EVERYTHING, and considered the hardest shoe to get for years until all the rereleases. NOBODY was wearing 1s until the past couple yrs and they are soooo played out and so uncomfortable, to me that is. I’ve lost my passion for sneakers but if you’re like these guys and have access I can see how they still get geeked.

[@rayleverette4547]

Jordan 11 playoffs,infrared 6s,black cements 3s, fire red 4s my favorite, when i was younger rarely seen ppl wear 1s

[@marklester1450]

I can honestly watch a full episode with you guys just talking about OG jordans

[@terrywilson6571]

On the top of AJ1 High vs Low! I was a teenager in the 80’s! Era is the key word… as someone who still at age 59 wear and love my AJ1’s! I have both but to your point I will often choose my low’s! Because they’re more “sneaker age appropriate looking” if I will! It still allows us older sneaker heads to express my ageless love of wearing Air Jordan’s!

[@colin9608]

Jordan 3s - good mix of timeless and innovative and looks more casual than the Jordan 4 (they’re sportier/athletic looking)

[@ChildeRyan]

💯This is what I’ve been saying about the 3s.

[@tylongkicks8821]

3's, 11's and 1's are the most versatile to me you can dress them up or down

[@peteogrande]

1:05:35 The Game Shark is a deep cut! I remember borrowing a friend’s to max out the HP stats for a Togepi in Pokemon, but I forgot to max out the attack stats so it was useless.

[@brendandunnecomplex]

Shame on you. Real gamers would never.

[@killuminativ0118]

I agree with Welty on the aj1 low. How often do you see people walking around with aj1 highs? It’s handful of mids and mostly lows.

[@youngheero]

This was needed for all the people that got into Jordan's after 2010.

[@Eric-xm7so]

GREAT Jordan debate!!

[@TheMichaelMonroeDoctrine]

My favorites are the 14s “last shot”

[@ebelen1]

So in love with the Jordan discussion today. You guys are so knowledgeable!

[@nw6454]

Welty isn’t wrong tho!! He’s speaking from a consumer standpoint not a sneakerheads. Yes, the high og is better but right now regular consumers prefer the low. The one pair of j1s in my rotation right now are the neutral grey 85 lows because they have the og cut and easy to wear.

[@dplunk13]

Rare agreement with Welty on the 1 lows. They're more wearable day to day. I think I like the highs overall more. But because of that wearability factor I think it's super close.

[@DieselCreates]

Not rare agreement jordan 1 low ogs over highs

[@Majorhyphy]

Agree with their S Tier, can sneak in the 6 in my opinion because like the 4 when I think of the word “sneaker” what immediately comes to mind are 4s and 6s as a cool techy looking basketball shoe! As far as my Top Jordan’s for me would be Black Cement 4, White Cement 3, Bred 1, Space Jam 11 and Black Infrared 6.

[@kevincollins8620]

20:43 I've been a sneaker enthusiast for ages. The J.Crew Killshot2 eluded me the ENTIRE time it was a J.crew exclusive. It would always drop at times when I had major bills or other things going on in my life. I got on the list but when it was time to cop everytime id either be moving, or just getting a new job. They went on mega clearance after the jcrew thing ended and I grabbed 2 pairs. The og white and navy and the alternate with green. Still one of my favorite nikes!!

[@budgetsneakerh3ad]

Picking an Air Jordan to be the best is a difficult task. We each have different ages and moments in our lives and some sillhouettes mean a lot to us each individually. My first time falling in love with an AJ is probably the 13 or the 14 but I don't think those are making it to anyone's top Jordan model.

[@mikecolts21]

I like the ESPN style topic change graphic 🔥

[@heronshorts]

I daily air jordan 1s, love the ankle support, love the fit.

[@eddyhsu1978]

Jordan rank for a 44 years old sneaker head from Australia... started obsessing over sneakers at grade 6 because of Jordan and Agassi. I don't really care about hype or resell value of shoes. Its for me a nostalgia and obsession of the design and technology of sneakers that speaks to me. And here is my ranking. 1. 11s best colour concord: when i saw Jordan wore those against Orlando in the playoffs in his first comeback season my mind was completely blown. I was a size 9.5 the local store only had size 11 left and i was like fk it forced my mum buying me those. The only shoe i forced my mum to buy me ever. 2. 3s iconic design. Black cement is the only Jordans i buy every time they retro. Only one i would pay resell for. 3. 6s especially the Carmines as they were my first pair of "good shoes" that literally paved the way for my sneaker addiction 4. 1s best colour Bred: versatile non sneaker head recognises. Age well with wear. 5. 4s best colour White Cement 6. 8s best colour playoffs with purple laces 7. 13s best colour og release 8. 5s best color fire red 9. 12s best colour taxi 10. 7s best colour split between cardinal or Bordeaux 11. 9s OG 12. 2s release 13. 10s chicago 14. 14s last shot

[@tylongkicks8821]

Which pair would you choose Cherry 12 or Carmine 6

[@colinkelley7807]

A riveting and highly important philosophical discussion by the masters of the subject matter.

[@michaelmi7903]

I think they nailed this list. Also, the 3 and 4 has been popular this entire century. The 11 was massive when it came out in the mid 90s and again from 2000-2010 when nike/jordan brand started retroing everything. Coincidentally, the 1 was doormant and it's revival this past decade coincided with the fading popularity of the 11s. I don't see anyone wearing 11s and they haven't had nearly the hype of the 1, 3 or 4 for the past 10 years or so.

[@tylongkicks8821]

I see more people wearing 12's and 13's over 11

[@unknownuser9958]

Low is more comfy to wear as a casual shoe cause you don’t always want to be in a high top. The highs def loook better but if I had a choice to run out it would be a low the ankle comfort. The dunk def did push the low

[@chrisdragnet722]

The Dunk set up the lows. Nobody was messing with Jordan 1 Lows. They’re just Pandas……

[@kennygarcia5901]

They have a 11 for Christmas season every year and sells out instantly..it is definitely up there with the 1,3, and 4.

[@yamoms0919]

Zion 1 Low is the one Jordan I regret not getting for retail if it means anything here. I love those

[@kevincollins8620]

It means something here champ

[@AHenryAdventure]

been binging old episodes, glad to have our boys are back 🔥

[@bluiii]

Me too and I forgot how much Welty used to go off 😂

[@axeliruegas7260]

Missed you guys! Thanks for putting out a new episode, fellas

[@RichAlatalo]

Shouted out loud “thank you!” When he said 6’s were the best. that’s when Jordan’s became actual basketball shoes. from then on and actually performed. That’s why you see pro’s still wearing Kobe’s they were on that level after. Black cement 4’s are the best shoe ever made period. There’s no debate about that. The colors, silhouette and comfort when you actually wear them is unmatched. They were years ahead of there time when they came out. And are still popular almost 30 years after releasing

[@andrehightower9818]

The next episode, you guys should talk about the most underrated Jordans of all time.

[@bjay.217]

I agree that 1, 3, 4, and 11 are top tier. But my tier two is the 12, 13, and underrated 14

[@ryanrobicheaux3896]

On the Pro B...we didn't need the Nike Airships either, but that didn't stop Nike from bringing those back.

[@kevincollins8620]

Or Mac Attacks... you kinda right. I'm a tennis fan I need to grab Mac Attack OG

[@WHO-DAT-GUY]

Airship is fire

[@brendandunnecomplex]

Feel you but at least the Air Ship had a deep story and is materially different from Jordan 1s.

[@Air234evaa]

Welty is right 👍🏽 My Favorite: tug of war between Space Jam XI (2000) or True Blue 3 (2001)

[@City-iD]

I absolutely love Jordan 11s, but I do agree I wear them the least out of the other ones (1s, 3s & 4s). Tbh the older I get I find it harder to wear the high top silhouettes, and I’d say since 2015/16 I’ve been wearing 11 lows and 1 lows way more often than the original high tops.

[@tylongkicks8821]

I've been like that since 2022.

[@TheAxis1275]

Do tinker’s designs list. Yeah he was instrumental in the Jordan Brands success but one can argue that he did the same for Nike in general! Air Max line. Air Challenge. Air Trainers!

[@CT37BN]

I prefer wearing the AJ3 for that added comfort but the AJ4 is better in design, aesthetics and presentation, it's also the more interesting to look at and do a colour/material mix. Form and function is equally balanced. The not so special or typical AJ4 badly needs is to add a (FLIGHT) text in the background of the Jumpman heel logo to liven up that area. It's the sneaker's main weakness.

[@Frankthecollextor]

I think the BC3 might be the best sneaker of all time , elephant print is too iconic

[@mrt1035]

As far as wearing is concerned the Jordan 1 takes the top spot, but come on…. The Jordan 11 is the most iconic! Period! That was my first J, it came out when I was in high school and finally made even my parents buy me 2/3 models. It was just different than the previous 10 models. It’s just not as popular as the rest right now, buts that’s ok, it will cycle back through!

[@FreeTheColonized]

The y2k runners are more comfortable than Jordans. It’s hard to go back to Jordans at this point unless they protro them to add cushion

[@areksoo]

The ranking from 1st to 4th is generally the same for the vast majority. The real argument is what is 5th place. I personally have the 12. Good story, good CWs, and best comfort (only one with full length Zoom Air) compared to the original 14.

[@HERBALSDUDE]

Welcome back brothers love when you guys bless us with beautiful sneaker content

[@dpz1985dp]

When i think of jordans, i think of sneakers that jordan wore during his career. Not collabs.. my collection is only sneakers he wore. All the rest is just hype, i dont consider those "jordan sneakers" thats just my opinion tho.. My 5 fav. Jordans are 1. Flu games 12s 2. Taxi 12s 3. Last shot 14s 4. Fire red 5s 5. White cememnt 3s

[@CristyleP]

Being a 80s kid 1s, 3s and 4s were the best! By the time the 11s came out I weren't into kicks. Was rocking timbs for like a whole decade. Lol.

[@tylongkicks8821]

As a 90's kids it was the 11-13 for me

[@clintgarcia]

It’s all about the Lows! I only collect Jordan low tops. Much more wearable. Great convo in this episode guys.

[@jameshorton5395]

Definitely a female. I used to buy some of my shorties low to jodans back in the day. Respectfully

[@tylongkicks8821]

Low's during the spring and summer. High during the fall and winter

[@ryancourtney8053]

Welty great podcast! Excellent counters, takes and transitions. Man’s was dialed in.

[@ThaInfiniteone]

When these came out in 1993 my best friend had them and I thought they was hideous! As a 12 yr old kid, but as a Jordan sneakerhead these from a nostalgia sense are a MUST cop! for the collection, it's a beautiful shoe now to me in my adulthood.

[@jarrettbakersr]

Man this was great! Please do a full Jordan tier list episode

[@SilentYosef]

That Charles Hamilton line was a bar 😂

[@brendandunnecomplex]

Forgive me.

[@Eddiethebawse]

Olympic 7’s with the gold lace tips

[@MysticKoiFish79]

Bro, the 2016 retro was my first pair of J's during college and that's what got me into 7's.

[@fso_argy]

I was waiting for them to talk about it bc let's talk

[@cactusjack2264]

@@MysticKoiFish79Olympic 7’s haven’t retroed since 2012, tf type of Olympic 7’s are you talking about?

[@cl8070]

Best episode ever! Air Jordan discussion was 👏👏👏

[@marcop.525]

1:05:00 I find people's short memories memorable! Nike canceled collaborations with Travis Scott for 1 year because of the deaths at his concert where it did nothing to prevent nor took responsibility for it. Now no one remembers anything and everything is fine 💀

[@bjay.217]

Jordan 1 Low Metallic Navy, Jordan 3 White Cement, Jordan 4 White Cement, Jordan 11 Columbia, Jordan 11 Low IE, Jordan 12 Taxi, Jordan 13 Flint, and Jordan 14 Candy Cane are my fave Jordans

[@414riley]

AJ3 BC It’s universal for dress up or dress down and it’s the shoe that kept Jordan with Nike and probably tinker most Beautiful design ever made

[@TheCoolhanddan83]

Probably my favorite episode yet guys, thank you for the debate. Highlight of my 3rd shift tonight!

[@thisisjayeverydayyy]

I can’t make up my mind but all I know is there’s no other silhouette outside of the 1s, 3s and 4s that’s as versatile. However my personal favourite is the Jordan 6

[@cashclothes9947]

Fiiiiire conversation, I hope jordan brand brings back the early 2000's retro jordans 😂

[@GaryDhillon-iq8mv]

Guys fantastic episode…loved the Jordan section.. you guys killed it. Keep up the amazing work.. from the UK

[@mikekabashi]

Great show!

[@Matzs23]

For me this is the best episode ever. Hahaha these trio talking about the best air jordan silhouette and colorway is freakin' awesone. We need more like this complex! Keep it up! 🔥🔥🔥 1s will always be the greatest air jordan for me because it's the shoe that started it all and 11s is the second because why not!? 😅

[@Guyforkz]

1. Jordan 5 (Black Metallic) 2. Jordan 4 (White Cement) 3. Jordan 11 IE Low (Bred)....then Space Jams and Concords 4. Jordan 6 (Infrared) 5. Jordan 3 (Black Cements) 6. Jordan 7 (Bordeaux) 7. Jordan 9 (Olive) 8. Jordan 12 (Flu Games & Taxi's) 9. Jordan 1 (Bred) 10. Jordan 13 (He Got Game)

[@Benny_From_NY]

6s belong in the convo iconic and worn by many legendary tv personalities

[@johnd5521]

Which jordan was the first with jump man logo? The first with the cement print? The first with visible air?

[@havadd]

Those Iverson's are pretty nice

[@bloodshot6]

Great banter about the GOAT Jordan model. I’m with the Jordan 3 as the greatest. 2nd place Jordan 11, 3rd place, Jordan 4.

[@drewvan19]

Love this episode! best air max of all time show would be awesome!

[@kikster13412]

People forget how much influence Kanye West had in fashion in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s. Him wearing the banned 1’s from 01 and 2011 pair with the leather pants as well as the royals from that time frame made that shoe jump in popularity significantly then shattered backboards came out and another retro of the banned and royals and the shoe skyrocketed with casuals and didn’t die down till about a year ago.

[@jonsar713]

Why is there a J4 on the table next to JLP @3:14 mark then it’s suddenly not there?

[@millennial953]

11’s are the greatest. No other Jordan exceeds it’s NBA accomplishments, or pop culture status off the court. The greatest thing about the 4s isn’t even basketball/MJ related. Instead it’s a short scene from a Spike Lee movie. Plus, Tinker Hatfield himself said there’s no inspirational story about the 4s design, unlike the 3s and 5s that it’s sandwiched in between. This lessens it for me. I like the Bred 4 colorway, but I don’t think a colorway alone should decide whether a sneaker is greater than another. I put higher emphasis on who wore them, and what was accomplished while doing so. Plus the 11s literally have the holiday season on lock, and many people choose them for important milestones (weddings, prom, graduations).

[@boybleu1023]

Finally some sneaker talk about Jordans, a very new exciting topic in the sneaker world 🙄

[@triniboy05]

🤣🤣 they have almost 52 episode to do a year, cut them some slack lol

[@Pardcore]

I’d love toy hear more of y’all’s relationship with the Jordan 10s, obviously complicated with MJ retirement/returning but that shoe has some heat!

[@Derrick5240]

The outsole with the achievements so awesome

[@ZeroRegret16]

I disagree with Welty on the timeline. The Jordan 1 high was at their peak hype in 2013 when Kayne was wearing them. I feel like they were more hyped then as opposed to when they started releasing the remastered stuff 2015 onwards.

[@gg_2315]

Love this episode and debate My ranking S tier 3,4,11 & 1 A tier 12,13,5 & 6

[@jameshorton5395]

U skipped the 10's, shadows are probably the most universal beautiful shoe ever created but I understand u hype beast and I want yall to ignore the real heat. No mention of joran 6 is ridiculous. Young people 🤣😂

[@Fabo100]

Best Jordan of all time imo is BC3/WC3. Black if I have to pick one. Then Bred 4’s, Chicago 1’s, space jam 11’s, last shot 14’s, Concorde 11’s, he got game 13’s

[@JonathanMatthews-lh4gg]

🔥 topic fella’s, my goat Jordan shoe is black cement jordan 3 tied with the bred Jordan 1

[@Sneakahead555]

Kick game so properrrrr! Couldn’t wait for this one ! Beyond excited for the Lightning 17’s, an amazing sneaker Infrared 6’s are the best Air Jordan of all time. Forever my favorite sneaker Such amazing conversations Great job guys !

[@savagebyreason]

I’ve always loved the Fear 4s everything about that shoe is perfect

[@meluvYT]

BC3, BC4, BM5 - my top3

[@peterchristian__]

S: 1s, 4s A: 3s, 6s B: 5s, 11s C: 2 lows, 8s D: 13s, 12s, 14s F: 7s, 9s, 10s wearability > history

[@evilutionvj]

I love the AJ1 chicago of course...but loving the AJ 12 royalty taxis and AJ 13 court purple recently!

[@kevincollins8620]

24:53 How yall not remember those. Im not a jordan head but I wanted either pair with my skinnies or joggers back then. Them shoes are still HARD. I could see em with baggy denim too

[@TrabduB]

🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 episode

[@colin9608]

Favourite OG colorway? Favourite non OG colorway? Favourite collab/special edition? 1s - Banned, rookie of the year, union black toe 3s - white cement, wizard, a Ma Maniere 4s - white cement, cool Grey, union off noir 5s - metallic, Olympic, grape fresh prince laceless

[@Taylor-dr7wz]

Carmine 6s...pops everywhere everytime!

[@King_Trigg]

My fav 6 colorway

[@jisungkim6136]

Hope y’all talk about the rosewater 1906 release next week…

[@cmn225]

they most likely will

[@lucianocrippa2]

Can we call that a release?

[@jisungkim6136]

@@lucianocrippa2 fair lol

[@F4GRAPHICS]

Next should be Asics Gel series/the current big three shoes; the Gel Kayano 14, GT 2160, and 1130, and maybe mention the Gel NYC. That or the New Balance 9-series shoes, namely all 6 of the current 990 models, and 991v1, 991v2, 992, and 993.

[@7GOD718]

Totally right about the 11’s. I got ds breds (2019) and gratitudes just sitting. Such beautiful shoes lol

[@Bev-ish]

S Tier: 4s and 1s A Tier: 3s and 11s Everything else: Below it. Personal Favorites: 4s, 1s, 13s, 7s. ✨

[@golfinguru11]

First dunk collab was Wu tang, not Alphanumeric. First skateboarding collab maybe.

[@RUY2323]

Keep in mind, Air Jordan 3 introduced the air bubble in the Jordan series

[@sc239]

Its a tie between 3 and 11 for me...What I 100% miss are OG LOWS for everyday wear, at cheaper retail. . I had UNC 11 Lows, 12 Taxis lows, 5 lows, all white 9 lows.... Copped a ton of 2 and 11 lows past few years.. . A million Jordan 1 lows a pass on... Everything else seems to be golf only... I know people dont like lows but IMO.. The 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 all have awesome low top versions..

[@dmoneyyy1863]

Welty was talking about the suede 18 pack that Frank Cooke worked on 24:00

[@SantiagoJaramillo-fw8ht]

More episodes like this. 🔥

[@victorthequick]

Next episode do a top ten sneakers of the year thus far, we are halfway through the year!

[@lil-hawk3]

Reimagined 4’s

[@Reckshop]

Wow This Episode is exactly what I was looking for. I love when you guys speak on an era that the new snekerheadls like myself are unaware of. I enjoy snakers because of how they make me feel when I wear them. Also the story behind a snaker and its cultural relevance.

[@Reckshop]

My favorite Air Jordan currently is the AJ1 Low, Esay to wear, OG color ways releasing, Just the most consistent wearable colorways releasing on top of Travis Leading the Hype wave. (AJ4 forever favorite, Air Max 1 = perfect.

[@tberg3131]

hope you guys talk about the action bronson release next week and how bad it went