Jordan 1 Mid vs High: What’s The Difference
The Jordan 1 High was the first signature sneaker made by Nike, which has since spawned several mid-top variations, like the upcoming , but what exactly are the differences between the two?
As temperatures start to rise, knowing the key differences between them is key as Jodan’s are consistently some of the around.
So, to help you find the answer, we’ve put together this guide comparing them in terms of their price and performance, before giving our overall verdict on which we think is best.
We’re kicking things off though by taking you back to where it all began by discussing the history behind the two silhouettes…
Jordan 1 Mid vs High History
In 1984, basketball rookie Michael Jordan was selected as the Chicago Bull’s third overall pick in the NBA draft.
By 1985, the world saw the first Nike Air Jordan 1 High, which is now arguably one of the most popular sneakers ever to be made.
The model is so popular in fact that new colourways are still being produced to this day despite the silhouette being almost 37 years old.
While the Jordan 1 High has continued to grow exponentially in popularity, the mid-top variation never really took off in the same way, and often comes under scrutiny from sneaker purists.
This is mainly due to the fact that the Jordan 1 never saw a Mid variation until 2001 because, despite MJ expressing a preference for mid-tops, he had already begun wearing the lower-cut Jordan 3s by the time he’d decided upon this.
By 2001, MJ had passed his peak in popularity despite making a comeback with the Washington Wizards on 25 September. As a result, the Jordan 1 Mids simply got lost in the shuffle.
Jordan 1 Mid vs High Price
At this point, you may be considering picking up a pair of either the mid-top or high Jordan 1s. If so, you’ll probably want to know which of the two is the cheapest.
Generally, speaking mid-top Jordan’s, like the Jordan 1 Mid “All-Star 2021” featured in our list of the , are cheaper than comparable Jordan 1 high-tops.
The popularity of the Jordan 1 High is probably one of the main contributing factors behind this; however, you’ve also got to take into consideration that more materials are required to create the slightly higher collars of the high-tops.
That, some Jordan 1 Highs, like the “University Blue” featured in our list of the , are only a tad more expensive than most of the Mids, thus demonstrating that not all Jordan 1 Highs come with sizeable price tags.
As an aside, if you’re looking for a way to keep your Jordan 1s clean, check out Crep Protect and .
Jordan 1 Mid vs High Performance And Comfort
If you’re comparing the two to use on the court, then we believe the mid-tops may have a slight edge over the Highs.
The Mids offer almost identical amounts of ankle support and lateral stability; however, they should be slightly less restrictive on the court due to their lower collars.
This is supported by reports claiming MJ found both the Air Jordan 1 and 2 too tall and, in turn, too restrictive, hence why the 3 began life as a mid-top.
The unrestrictiveness of the Mids may also help to improve comfort, but this will ultimately come down to personal preference as the two can’t be separated in terms of underfoot support.
To ensure you get a secure lock-in though, make sure you check out our right here.
Which Should You Buy?
Once again, this will come down to personal preference.
In our opinion, while the Jordan 1 High comes with a ton of nostalgia and history, the most popular colourways are often hugely expensive and, while they may be a great collector’s piece, they’re probably not entirely practical to wear every day or during a game.
Also, Nike seems to be pushing Mids in 2022, with a number of great colourways due to arrive soon like the deconstructed design, and the .
As a result, we believe the Jordan 1 Mids make for a slightly better purchase at this moment in time.
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