2024 Air Jordan Rankings
Welcome to my completely arbitrary ranking of Air Jordan releases in 2024.
The year isn’t quite over but as far as I can tell, we have a pretty clear picture of what is coming out this year. If any adjustments truly need to be made, I’ll swing back here.
I reviewed the GOAT Sneaker Release Calendar and compiled the sneakers that I felt were top releases this year or were at least worth discussing.
S Tier: Best of the year, I think we’ll look back at these as classics
A Tier: Great to have in the rotation
B Tier: Eye catching, unique
C Tier: Eh but still notable
D Tier: Wearable
There were 827 sneakers released by Jordan this year, so if it’s on my list it is not a bad sneaker in my eyes(D tier are still awesome).
Things that I’m noticing in my taste:
- Jordan 1 highs continue a downtrend in attention
- Jordan 1 lows getting better colors and cuts
- Jordan 4s remain hot
- Jordan 3s are getting better colors
- Jordan 2 resurgence attempt by Nike is still in effect with lows leading the charge — don’t think they’ll get me to bite this year
- Strong line up in muted, neutral colors across the board
- Luxury versions of sneakers are noticably more substantial
- Bright colors feeling childish and hard to rotate in, especially red
- A Ma Maniere collabs continue to slap
- Some non-numbered Jordans caught my eye this year
If I didn’t include a sneaker here, it’s probably because I don’t like it and/or I didn’t have anything to say about it.
S Tier
Look. Both of these are crazy.
Jordan 3 A Ma Maniere — “While You Were Sleeping”
The AMM3s are a dressed up version of the Black Cement 3 (see it’s position lower this year). I had been comparing this against the Reimagined BC3s but once I got them in hand, I was stunned. Immediate re-order. Sneaker is truly incredible. Break is 100% right — if you don’t grab these, you will regret it.
These are sized in women's and also very slimmed down on the interior. I went for a size 11 womens (9.5 mens) and I think it’s the right size. I’ve been looking for sneakers to fit tighter with less slip when I walk.
Trust me. These are good.
It’s nice to have a black cement passing sneaker with less childish elements. A Ma Maniere has continued to add a luxurious bend to Jordans. By no means are these Hender Scheme Air Jordans — but it seems to be as close as we can get while maintaing some semblance of athletic wear comfort.
Jordan 4 — “Wet Cement”
Crazy. These came out alongside the Paris Olympics and are meant to represent the muted tones of Paris. The siding and tongue on these is different than most 4s. Instead of netting, the Wet Cemenets have embossed netting areas. Initially, I was put off by this feature but I have come to appreciate it. This styling seems more resistant to hard wear.
When these released, I was immediately reminded of the Kaws 4 (reselling for multiple thousands).
Again, this was an aspect I initially dislike and came to like.
Being hardier and cheaper than the Kaws pair, the Wet Cements maintain the comfy aesthetic while presenting perfectly in a concrete centric environment.
These two pairs stand above the below for me. None of the remaining releases that we’re aware of as of mid September touch this duo. If you come out 2024 and only buy two pairs of Air Jordans, I think you would look back and be happy with these.
A Tier
Back to basics.
Air Ship — “Diffused Blue”
Air Ship A Ma Maniere— “Stone Green”
Let’s start here. The Air Ship saw a resurgence this year with some nice colors, materials, and collaborations with A Ma Maniere and Awake NY.
The Air Ship is the Air Jordan 1 before it became the Air Jordan 1. We can see the similarity in the Air Ship and Jordan 1 silhouette and construction.
The two Air Ships that made my list this year are the Diffused Blue and Green Stone. The Green Stone is another collaboration with A Ma Maniere (seen in the S Tier Jordan 3s). The suede is long and the discolored outsole always makes it feel easier to wear a sneaker hard.
The Air Ships I’ve bought feel tight in the upper toe area for me. I’ve gone for a mens 10 and I am hoping they break in well.
Jordan 4 — “Military Blue”
We haven’t had the Air Jordan in this color since 2012. And we haven’t had it with the Nike Air on the back in a long, long, long time.
I went for a 10 in these. They are padded more similarly to the 2020 Black Cat 4s than the 2022 Violet Ore Jordan 4s. At the same time, these feels _less_ padded or stiff than the Wet Cement 4s from this year.
Both the Military Blue and Wet Cement 4s are absolute bricks — cinder blocks in the case of the Wet Cements.
Jordan 1 Low OG — “Oxidized Green”
I came across these on SNKRs last week and was floored. I have not bought them yet but the colorway is insane. The gum sole with the deep green is right up my alley. I see a similar energy to the Oxidized 4s lower on this list.
Prices on the Jordan 1 lows continue to remain far too low. I’ll likely pick these up soon. Sneaker is simply too beatable.
B Tier
Time for people to get mad.
Jordan 3 Reimagined — “Black Cement 3"
I know. I stand by it. This is an all time sneaker. The Black Cement 3 is being brought back under the Reimagined line to breath better shape and materials into an all time classic sneaker.
At least that’s what Nike says. Honestly, these are probably way better than the other recent releases of this colorway. Nike Air, higher rack rate. You can’t go wrong with these and you’ve probably made a mistake if you don’t end up grabbing a pair of these.
The reality is we’re ranking Air Jordan releases in 2024 and we got the While You Were Sleeping 3s this year… and just scroll up. They’re better.
Jordan 4 RM Nigel Sylvester — “Pro Green”
Let me show you the back of these real quick.
Okay now the bottom.
I’ll talk more about this sneaker later. Just wanted to show you these cuts.
Jordan 4 — “Oxidized Green”
I’m a bit apprehensive putting two oxidized green sneakers so high on the list without having seen either one in person yet. Overall, these takes feel much more palatable than the pine green push at the start of the 2020s and far more approachable than the glow green takes we’ve seen this year.
The metallic touch is nice, something that is starting to catch my eye again and feels accessible without being audacious. This is a pair I am dying to see in the wild.
Jordan 1 Low 85 — “Metallic Blue”
Another metallic, another approachable colorway. The metallics Jordan 1s from way back in the day trade at VERY high prices. They weren’t appreciated at their release time and they haven’t really been brought back since. I generally see 2 categories in Jordans when it comes to metallics.
- Metallic Components
- Metallic Materials
Compoenents are seen most often in Jordan 4s and 3s when wings, lace locks, etc are metallic presenting. Materials are most common on Jordan 1 Highs and Lows. Components have historically seemed tacky to me, but as I mentioned are coming back into style as far as I am concerned. Material metaliics on Jordan 1s have always been cool to me, so I am surprised that the 1s we’ve seen the past few years with metallic swooshes are not getting bought at higher rates.
C Tier
Sneakers I wish I had and sneakers I wish I hadn’t bought.
Jordan 4 Reimagined — “Bred (Playoff)”
No one really knows what to call this colorway anymore. The original is suede (read: nubuck). These are cool. Nike Air is back. I’ve seen them in person and they don’t do anything for me but it’s a respectable sneaker.
Jordan 3 Craft — “Ivory”
There are a ton of features on this sneaker that list it highly for me despite not buying it. It looks exactly like the lighter colored A Ma Maniere Jordan 3. The details are fantastic. I’m a sucker for the layered logos on the back of Jordan 3s — we’ve seen the same done on the Demin 3s that came out in 2020. It allows Jordan Brand to get their nut while giving fans what they really want with the Nike Air on the heel. They layered element is icing on the cake for everyone involved.
The translucent gum sole is fantastic.
The layered jumpman on the tongue is a nice touch.
The Craft series continues to be strong.
Jordan 4 — “Retro Sail”
They’re giving Pure Money. These go silly. I want a reason to wear these.
Jordan 1 85— “Metallic Burgundy”
They even slap “1985” on these things and can’t sell them. The metallic materials will have a renaissance when no one can get them though. I’m telling y’all now…
Jordan 4 RM Nigel Sylvester — “Light Bone”
I honestly almost put these higher than the more limited Pro Green colorway. This color blocking is very stormtrooper and reminds me of another Jordan 4 that makes the list below.
I’ve seen this color blocking across a number of sneakers now, particularly in Adidas (see below).
This color blocking rocks. It makes it feel like you’re wearing two sneakers, one for the ground and one for your fit.
Jordan 4 — “Fear”
The orginal Fear Pack dropped in 2013 and featured a Jordan 3, 4, and 5.
This sneaker is one that looks best to me in person and fails to communicate its appeal in stock photos. People are excited for the return of this sneaker, rightfully.
D Tier
They’re still on the list 🤷
Jordan 4 RM Nigel Sylvester — “Oxidized Green”
It’s a more accessible version of the higher tier shoe, idk. It was nice to see a new take on the Jordan 4 presented through a BMX influencer who got to throw “Bike Air” on the back. They’re dope.
Air Ship — “Awake NY”
So many things that I want to work but everything that results in this sneaker sitting in my closet. Awake NY is one of my favorite brands right now. I love their shirts, hoodies, shorts, pants, socks, etc. BUT these look like an Alamaba Air Ship, the plastic snake skin is low quality and tacky in a way metallic components wish they could be. The outlined swoosh wants to be the 2019 Phantom 1s so bad.
The discolored outsole should feel nice but next to the snake skin which attempts to present luxuious it clashes. Overall, I am bummed that Awake and Nike couldn’t crush an Air Ship.
Jordan 1 Low 85 — “Metallic Black”
It’s like the blue one but it’s black.
Jordan 1 Low — “Pale Vanilla”
I hadn’t seen these until I was scrolling the release calendar. The colors are so buttery and nice. I don’t like the exagerated anke collar on the non-OG/85 cut of the Jordan 1. But I’m a fan of these. They’d break my neck.
Jordan 2/3 — “Varisity Red”
I do kind of love them. Not buying any 2s this year tho.
Jordan 1 — “Dusted Clay”
It’s fall, this sneaker is gonna do numbers on instagram in the leaves. It’s PERFECT. Materials seem nice, colors are great. I’ve only seen these in person a couple times but I continue to think they will get a look this fall.
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That’s it y’all. If you read this, you’re crazy and I appreciate you caring enough about this as I do. If I missed any sneakers, let me know on twitter.
