The Best Air Jordans of 2022
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By Stadium Goods |journalRecommendations1
Air JordanThe Best Air Jordans of 2022
Our picks for the very best Jordan retro releases of the year.
Matt DeSciora
Michael Jordan has now spent more time in retirement than as an active player in the NBA. But don’t think for a second that his absence from basketball has precipitated a decline in Jordan Brand’s popularity. The sneaker company has dominated the athletic footwear landscape in spectacular fashion over the last two decades by collaborating with the buzziest artists, designers, and sneaker boutiques, and by bringing back original Air Jordan colorways. Of course, Jordan has also released innovative new products both in the performance and lifestyle footwear categories, as well. All of these moves have no doubt contributed to the brand’s success.
With 2022 coming to a close, it’s time to look back on the year that was and crown the very best Air Jordan releases from the last twelve months. Like we said all the way back in our January “Best Air Jordans of 2022 (So Far)” article, Jordan is liable to drop a “Sneaker of the Year” contender at any given time. As it turns out, the brand did so on more than one occasion this year.
In no particular order, these are the Best Air Jordan sneakers of 2022.
It seems like every year a beloved Air Jordan shoe from the vault returns in its original glory, complete with all the details that made it a classic when Michael Jordan wore it with the Chicago Bulls. This year, the Air Jordan 3 “Fire Red” became the latest original Jordan sneaker to receive a proper retro release. The modern “Fire Red” features elements that call back to the look of the original release, including iconic “Nike Air” branding and more period-correct shades of Fire Red accenting and grey elephant print. It took a minute for Jordan Brand to give us a version of the Jordan 3 “Fire Red” with details faithful to the OG release, but as you can see, it was worth the wait.
Curiously, while other Air Jordans have been released in dozens of colorways and been used in countless collaborations, the Air Jordan 2 has rarely seen the light of day. That is, until the shoe celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2022. Finally back in a regular release cycle, the Jordan 2 was the subject of a handful of great collaborations this year, including J Balvin’s creative design. Featuring a cloud-like graphic on its heel overlay, the popular Reggaeton artist’s spin on the Jordan 2 plays on the “Wings” branding that was originally found on its tongue. It’s another feather-in-the-cap moment for both J Balvin and the Jordan 2. Get it, feather? Wings? Clouds? Air Jordan? I’ll stop.
Air Jordan 1 High OG “Lost & Found”
The Air Jordan 1 High OG “Lost & Found” is not only one of the year’s best sneaker releases because of its “Chicago” inspired look, but also because of the storytelling concept tied to its classic design. Inspired by mom and pop sneaker shops that sold the original Jordan 1 “Chicago” back in the day, the “Lost & Found” features details that would have appeared on the OG Jordan 1 had you come across it years later in the storage rooms of said shops. The faux-aged look of the collar replicates the cracked leather that appears on almost every vintage Jordan 1 from 1985. The cream laces and cream midsole also replicate the look of a shoe that’s sat unworn for an extended period of time. Its packaging features a mismatched shoe box lid that nods to the fact that many independent sneaker shops stored the OG Jordan 1 rather haphazardly back in the day. It goes without saying that all of these details amount to one of the year’s best and most thoughtful releases.
Air Jordan 1 High ‘85 “Georgetown”
Looking back, it seemed like the “Georgetown” colorway appeared on every popular Nike silhouette in 2022. Including, perhaps most importantly, on the Air Jordan 1 High ‘85 model. Dubbed simply the “Georgetown,” the blue-and-grey shoe nods to the Georgetown Hoyas college basketball team, but is also inspired by a rare, unreleased sample version of the original Air Jordan 1 that the shoe’s designer, Peter Moore, created for the Georgetown Hoyas. The modern “Georgetown” eschews some of the details that were found on the sample shoe, including “HOYAS” text on the collar. But that doesn’t take away from the shoe’s greatness or change the fact that it was cool to see Jordan Brand acknowledge a shoe as rare and, frankly, forgotten as the unreleased Jordan 1 “Hoyas” from ‘85.
The Air Jordan 4’s popularity continues to trend upwards. So much so, in fact, that it would be fair to say that, aside from the Jordan 1, the Jordan 4 is the most desirable retro Jordan shoe. Of course that’s very subjective, but nonetheless a fair assessment of how desirable the shoe has become, especially when considering the appeal of colorways like the Air Jordan 4 “Military Black.” Inspired by the Jordan 4’s original “Military Blue” release, the “Military Black” features the same color block as the classic shoe, but with black accents instead of blue. The result? One of the most versatile Jordan 4s of 2022.
Sometimes, the best source of inspiration for a sneaker brand is its own archives. The new Air Jordan 11 “Cherry” that’s set to debut this Holiday season can attest. Based on the original Air Jordan 11 Low of the same nickname that debuted in 2001, the modern “Cherry” features a simple-yet-elegant white-and-red color block with a white ballistic mesh upper and Varsity Red patent leather mudguard. The combination of colors is undoubtedly inspired by Michael Jordan’s time with the Bulls, and a shoe that, had it been one of the model’s original colorways, would’ve been in Mike’s in-game rotation.
If Don C’s Just Don premium streetwear brand was the perfect collaborator to restore the Air Jordan 2’s luxury vibe in the 2010s, then James Whitner’s upscale clothing and sneaker boutique A Ma Maniére was the next logical choice to put premium materials on the shoe in 2022. Originally made in Italy, the Jordan 2 was the first basketball shoe that blended elements of high fashion with sportswear, and A Ma Maniére’s colorway does the same. Its simple cream, black, and maroon color scheme won’t immediately jump off your phone or computer screen, but it’s the details that count here, like the shoe’s black faux snakeskin textured midsole.
The 2000s were an interesting time to be an Air Jordan collector. Not only were original colorways coming back into the fold, but new “lifestyle” looks were being introduced, as well. Few were more popular than the Air Jordan 7 “Citrus” that debuted in 2006. After a few years in the vault, the colorway was reissued for the first time in 2022. Just like the original version, the modern “Citrus” features a fiery blend of yellow and orange accents throughout its design, and unique yellow contrast stitching along its overlay panels. In a day and age when bold sneakers are the norm, the “Citrus” still looks as eye-catching as it did when it debuted 16 years ago.
Women’s Air Jordan 3 “Dark Mocha”
A wave that doesn’t get enough attention, at least according to us, is the remix trend. What is the remix trend? It’s a movement that takes a popular colorway and does exactly what it says: remixes its design. If you’re looking for an example, one of the best from this year was the Women’s Air Jordan 3 “Dark Mocha.” Inspired by the Jordan 3 “Mocha” that debuted in 2001 and then re-released in 2018, the “Dark Mocha” features the same white leather construction with coffee-flavored elephant detailing and brown-accenting branding as the OG theme, but incorporates pink detailing for a decidedly neapolitan-inspired look.
Fueled by a string of great collaborations, the Air Jordan 2’s comeback story came full circle when the retro basketball shoe was released in its original, most iconic colorway to close out the year. Just like the version of the sneaker worn by Michael Jordan during his most impressive statistical season in the NBA, the modern Jordan 2 “Chicago” features a premium look and feel with faux reptilian leather overlays, fiery red accents, and vintage-inspired branding. The old school design details give the shoe a timeless look, one that not only still resonates with collectors after all these years, but stands up to any new-age spin on the shoe released by a who’s-who of collaborators in 2022.