Air Jordan 5 Retro Low review

Who should buy the Air Jordan 5 Retro Low

Fans of the high-top Air Jordan 5 who are discouraged by that sneaker’s bulkiness will love this pair, since they are far more slimmed down than the original make of the shoe. It is also a perfect fit for those who value the uniqueness and limitedness of a sneaker, without sacrificing its wearability. 

Who should not buy it

nike air jordan 36 pe kia nurse:

• Estampado con una fotografía cortada de Michael Jordan en la parte frontal 
• like rocking basic colorways/color blockings
• cannot be bothered to go the extra mile to buy a sneaker 

You may instead check out the Air Jordan 36 Low for a more performance-based sneaker from the Air Jordan line. If you do not like the loud colors used by most Air Jordan 5 Retro Lows, you may be better off looking at the Air Jordan 5 Retro since they come in more colorways.

The Air Jordan 5 Retro Low keeps the OG’s unique details

The Jordan 5 as a silhouette has plenty of unique layers and details. You have the windows on the sides, the netting on the tongue, the lace locks, and more features that you do not see very often nowadays. Most, if not all, of these features were retained by the lows. 

Each pair is unique

Colorways are very different from one another, with some even sporting details and layers you will not find in other models. This uniqueness can be attributed to the fact that the most recent releases either celebrate an event or are a collaboration between brands.

One example would be the joint project of the Jordan brand and CLOT, a Hong Kong-based streetwear label with the aim of “bridging the East and the West'', which features Jade beads near the eyestays and the Chinese characters for “2” and “3” near the heel. 

The upper of the 5 Retro Lows depend on the colorway

While the uniqueness in the details of each pair is to be loved, it can also be an issue since the materials used in the upper of the shoe highly depend on the colorway. Some may feature leather that, according to some reviewers, is “tight just a bit”, while others may have a woven upper that  “can expand and contract as needed.” Moreover, this can pose the problem of you not finding the materials you want in the colorways you find attractive. 

The quality of the AJ 5 Low depends on the colorways too

An expert noted that the Air Jordan 5 Retro lows have “really good quality as far craftsmanship is concerned." However, the same cannot be said for the quality of the materials since they greatly vary from one design to another. Comments range from an expert saying “They nailed it with this one” to other sneakerheads expressing various concerns depending on the materials. 

One owner of the “Alternate 90”, a colorway that uses a leather upper, noted that “the shoe is dope” but his “only gripe was the crease you get.” A fan who has the “Neymar” colorway which features a woven upper said that “after playing only 2 games in these, the toe box area seems to be coming undone.”

It’s hard to grab this pair

The Air Jordan 5 Retro Lows seem to be released in limited quantities and in batches. The first two colorways dropped several years (2006) after the original high-top model. The 2nd batch of releases was in 2016, with only less than 10 colorways made. The most recent batch dropped back in 2021, which featured mostly special releases which are why a lot of people are going after this, both collectors and resellers.

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One of the main issues of an expert reviewer is the inconsistency in the shape of this shoe. The 2016 release had a bulkier appearance mainly due to its longer tongue and roomier upper. Meanwhile, the 2021-2022 releases had a shorter tongue, a lower cut, and a heel that curves inwards, giving this silhouette a slimmer appearance.

Air units for the win

Just like the original high tops, these use the standard Air Jordan 5 polyurethane midsole and the air units at the heel and the forefoot. That is not necessarily a good thing, since an expert also commented that these have “really cheap (expletive) insoles.” However, if you find the OGs comfortable then you will not have any problem with the retro lows. 

Releasing as part of Jordan Brand's Spring 2018 Women's Footwear Collection is | You can wear the J5 Lows everyday

This being a low top sneaker allows it to go well with a good amount of outfits. Since they do not have the same bulkiness you find in most high-top sneakers, they are easy on the eyes and definitely blend with jeans and shorts. This allows fans of the silhouette to be flexible in the way they dress - but not that flexible since it may be hard to pair these with more formal pieces of clothing.

Breathability is the name of the game

The netting on the sides and on the tongue allows air to circulate a bit better than in your average sneaker. 

Notable Releases as of late

Air Jordan 5 Retro Low x CLOT “Jade Anthracite”

Aside from the things mentioned earlier, this design features heavy Chinese influences as evident in the obvious tribute to Jade, which is a very important mineral in Chinese culture.

Air Jordan 5 Retro Low “Wings”

The “Wings” colorway is a graduation-themed sneaker to celebrate the class of 2020 and 2021. It is mostly black with touches of gold at the logo and at the sharktooth details on the midsole, resembling the colors you would usually see in graduations. You will find the numbers 20 and 21 embroidered near the heel and to top it off, the right pair has a tassel attached to it. 

Air Jordan 5 Retro Low “Doernbecher”

Since 2004, Nike has been in partnership with the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, an academic teaching children’s hospital, to grant patients the opportunity to design sneakers as part of a fund-raising initiative. This colorway is designed by Michael Wilson, a patient diagnosed with Krabbe disease, and features details that showcase his personality and interests.