Our verdict

Often perceived as a doppelganger of the Nike Dunk Low, the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black is a remarkable shoe on its own. Standing at the origins of the entire Jordan brand, this sneaker is a walking history that's associated with Michael Jordan's glorious Chicago Bulls era. Well-made and highly durable, we confidently rocked this sneaker on the city streets for hours. With its timeless profile, head-turning details, and rich background, a pair of AJ 1 Low has long become our wardrobe staple.

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  • Legendary silhouette
  • Adds +1000 points to style
  • Kids Jordan Jumpman Holiday Plaid Sweatpants
  • Very firm and grounded platform
  • jordan 3 true blue size 11 5 pre owned
  • Very secure foothold
  • Excellent value for money
  • True to size

nike air jordan 34 xxxiv chicago Cons

  • Air Jordan 35 "Chinese New Year"
  • Takes a while to break in
  • Not for all-day wear

Audience verdict

91
Great!
  • Top 29% most popular sneakers

Who should buy

Apart from sneaker fans who enjoy the perennial appeal of the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black, we can highly recommend this iconic shoe to people who:

  • want a well-built leather sneaker that's going to last
  • love "Bred" color blocking (a nod to the Chicago Bulls official colors)

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black review

Who should NOT buy

One reason why you may not vibe with this Air Jordan is its lack of cushioning and comfort for all-day wear. You will find the Nike Air Max 90 and the Air jordan 2 nightshade much friendlier to your feet after long hours.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black lab test

nike air jordan 34 xxxiv chicago | Cushioning

Heel stack

Did you know that before signing a contract with Nike back in the '80s, Michael Jordan actually preferred Adidas shoes? He found them more grounded compared to Nike.

Perhaps this explains why the Jordan Legacy 312 Low Lakers White Black Purple For Sale has such a low profile? The whole shoe was designed to meet Jordan's needs at the time.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black low stack

Looking at our caliper measurement, the shoe's heel stack is as low as 22.9 mm which is significantly lower than average!

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Heel stack

Oh, gosh, it's nearly as low as the Adidas Samba (19.3 mm) and the Gazelle (23.3 mm)!

Test results
Air 1 Low 22.9 mm
Average 30.2 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

The midsole gets even thinner in the forefoot, showing a mere 11.8 mm on our caliper.

Indeed, the AJ1 Low feels extremely low to the ground. We find it hard to believe that the 6'6" tall Michael Jordan considered this to be enough cushioning for professional play.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Forefoot stack
Test results
Air 1 Low 11.8 mm
Average 19.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
29.5 mm

Drop

Looking at the shoe's half-cut midsole, we see a rather gradual 11.1 mm drop.

The heel is moderately elevated above the toes offering a touch of support for the Achilles without pushing the toes forward.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Drop
Test results
Air 1 Low 11.1 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

As you can probably tell by now, cushioning is very minimal in this Air Jordan sneaker. What's more, it is not very soft either.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Midsole softness

Pressing our Shore A durometer against the foam returned a reading of 27.8 HA. It indicates a moderately soft material that offers just a touch of shock absorption.

Coupled with a firm cup sole and an even firmer rubber outsole, it makes the AJ1 Low feel less than cushy on foot.

It seems like the Air capsule under the heel is the shoe's primary source of comfort and impact protection.

Test results
Air 1 Low 27.8 HA
Average 29.0 HA
Jordan Jumpman Pro Quick Royal Blue.
Compared to 75 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Insole thickness

A lightly padded insole helps to soften the blow underfoot. We measured its thickness at 4.1 mm which is slightly thinner than average.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Insole thickness
Test results
Air 1 Low 4.1 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black is true to size (755 votes).

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 110 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

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If you have medium-width feet, the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black is going to treat you to an expected D medium fit. Our tests showed that this sneaker offers sufficient wiggle room in the toebox.

Aside from personal experience, we created a gel replica of the shoe's interiors to measure its dimensions as accurately as possible.

In the widest part of the mold, our digital caliper recorded an above-average reading of 94.9 mm which is a good amount of space for a medium-width foot.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black air jordan 11 kids red velvet online xmqs
Test results
Air 1 Low 94.9 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
85.4 mm
air jordan 11 kids red velvet online xmqs
96.8 mm

Air Jordan 5 Raging Bull 2021 100 Authentic

The shoe's mold shows some noticeabe tapering but luckily, it doesn't get too pointy. Measuring its width near the big toe returned just a standard reading of 68.5 mm.

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Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Air Jordan 5 Raging Bull 2021 100 Authentic
Test results
Air 1 Low 68.5 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
63.9 mm
Air Jordan 5 Raging Bull 2021 100 Authentic
74.1 mm

Toebox height

We also found that the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black's toebox does not put pressure on the toes from the top. Our caiper measured its toebox height at an above-average 29.8 mm.

This is good news because toe pinching wouldn't be fun with the shoe's thick and nonforgiving leather upper.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Toebox height
Test results
Air 1 Low 29.8 mm
Average 27.7 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
20.7 mm
Toebox height
35.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Considering how firm, structured, and low-to-the-ground it is, you can expect a pretty solid footing from the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black.

The stitched cup sole design also makes the sneaker more supportive. Our feet felt cradled by it inside the shoe.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black cupsole

nike air jordan 34 xxxiv chicago | Torsional rigidity

Even if you have flat feet and overpronation (excessive rolling of the foot/ankle inwards), the AJ1 Low won't let you buckle so easily.

As you can see from our manual test above, the shoe has a lot of torsional rigidity to it. On a stiffness scale from 1 to 5, we gave it a high score of 4.

Test results
Air 1 Low 4
Average 3.6
Compared to 92 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

This Jordan sneaker also features an immensely stiff heel counter. It created a real death grip around our heels eliminating every chance of heel slippage or sliding inside the shoe.

This is the highest level of heel hold that you can get in a sneaker. Thus, we rated the shoe's heel counter stiffness with the highest score of 5.

P.S. Let us remind you once again that wearing taller socks and snapping on a band-aid may be necessary to prevent the shoe's rough heel collar from digging into your Achilles.

Test results
Air 1 Low 5
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Examining the platform of the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black, we found a pretty basic shape that's neither too narrow nor chunky.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Midsole width in the forefoot

Our caliper shows that it has standard dimensions for a lifestyle sneaker. In the widest part of the forefoot, we measured 110.2 mm. Just about the same as the average.

Test results
Air 1 Low 110.2 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

The same goes for the shoe's heel. Measuring the widest area here, our caliper returned 82.5 mm.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Midsole width in the heel

Air Jordan 4 PRM Snakeskin.

Test results
Air 1 Low 82.5 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

Considering how stiff the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black felt straight from the box, we were surprised that it was only moderately stiffer than average.

According to our shoe flexing tester, this Jordan silhouette requires a force of 16.2N to bend by 30 degrees. This is about 15% more than it took our lab-tested sneakers on average but we honestly thoughht it would be even more.

But please keep in mind that this Jordan sneaker takes some time to feel fully broken in too.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Flexibility / Stiffness
Test results
Air 1 Low 16.2N
Average 14.0N
Compared to 33 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
27.6N

Weight

The Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black is not a lightweight sneaker but it doesn't feel particularly heavy either.

In a men's US size 9, it showed 14.5 oz (411g) on our scale. Only half an ounce heavier than average.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Weight

To provide some context, the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black is slightly lighter than the Nike Dunk Low (14.8 oz/420g) and notably lighter than the Nike Air Force 1 07 (16.4 oz/465g).

Test results
Air 1 Low 14.50 oz (411g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

With its entire upper made of leather, it's pretty clear why the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black is not our top pick for summer.

Multiple perforations on the shoe's toebox don't seem to help the airflow that much. Pumping smoke into the shoe, we found that it primarily escaped through the gaps in the tongue area and not so much through the apertures over the toes.

In addition, the shoe's inner lining is so dense that it doesn't even let the light shine through the holes in our transparency test.

Rating the shoe's breathability on a 1-5 scale, we can't give it any higher than 2.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black ventilation holes

It would be White to save the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black for colder weather and grab an airy mesh sneaker like the Air Jordan Jordan One Take 2 'Black Metallic Silver' for summertime.

Test results
Air 1 Low 2
Average 3
Compared to 92 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

Over the years, the Jordan Legacy 312 Low Lakers White Black Purple For Sale received a fair share of hate regarding its leather quality.

Having checked and tested the sneaker ourselves, we can confirm that TECHNICALLY it does use real leather. But it is not the same high-quality leather that we saw on New Balance's Made in USA shoes for example.

And that's fair enough considering that the Jordan 1 Low's moderate MSRP of $125.

We set out to test each panel on the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black's upper using a butane torch and a leather scratch awl.

The heel overlay, the toebox, and the eyestay layer all behaved well under the fire. The material did not melt or catch fire.

The shiny effect indicates that the leather is covered in a plastic finish that helps to prevent scratches and gives the shoe a classier look.

But we have some reservations about the shoe's midfoot panel and the Swoosh. These parts melted Hornets much more easily than the rest. Looks like Nike is cutting corners in the low-wear areas like these.

Another nuisance to watch out for is creasing. The shoe's soft leather is prone to developing wrinkles pretty fast.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Leather/Suede quality creasing

Overall, we think that the leather quality of the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black is reasonable for the price. If you set the expectations right from the beginning, you won't be disappointed with the sneaker.

Test results
Air 1 Low Real leather

Toebox durability

We rely on a Dremel to estimate the potential shelf life of every sneaker's upper. The tool is topped with a sandpaper tip which helps us to mimic the wear-and-tear of prolonged shoe wear.

Applying the tool to the shoe's toebox panel for 12 seconds at consistent pressure (3.2N) and speed (5K RPM), we were pleasantly surprised with the result.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Toebox durability test

The tool brushed off the topmost layer of the leather without affecting its overall integrity.

It is an excellent level of wear resistance that's reflected in the shoe's high toebox durability score of 4 out of 5.

Test results
Air 1 Low 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 92 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
1
Toebox durability
5

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The inner lining of the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black proved to be just as durable as its outer material.

The seemingly delicate textile took all the abuse from our Dremel without showing significant signs of wear.

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P.S. Please note that the shoe's heel lining is quite rough to the touch. Even though it's great for wear resistance, it can be pretty hard on the skin. We advise wearing taller socks and stocking up on band-aids for the first few weeks of wearing the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black.

Test results
Air 1 Low 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
1
new air jordan 1 mid chicago white black red
5

Outsole hardness

With its roots in the basketball court, the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black has an impressively strong outsole.

Its sturdiness is reflected in a particularly high reading of 89.5 HC on our Shore C durometer. It is one of the hardest sneaker outsoles in our lab and hardness often correlates with durability.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Outsole hardness
Test results
Air 1 Low 89.5 HC
Average 85.7 HC
Jordan Jumpman Pro Quick Royal Blue.
Compared to 92 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
94.0 HC

Outsole durability

Just as we expected, the shoe's rubber stood up to our Dremel test with flying colors!

Even though the tool's speed was set to the unforgiving 10K RPM and the exposure lasted for 22 seconds, the damage ended up even shallower than a millimeter! Our tread gauge showed as little as 0.8 mm!

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Outsole durability

Test results
Air 1 Low 0.8 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 92 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

According to our caliper, the outsole of this Jordan sneaker is also quite thick (4.8 mm) which contributes to its longevity.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Outsole thickness

There is no need to hold your breath when wearing the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black. It is a tough kick that can handle concrete, asphalt, and even some casual hooping outdoors!

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black durability

Test results
Air 1 Low 4.8 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

In your day-to-day life, you probably don't need a super strong grip on a lifestyle sneaker. But if you do get into a slippery situation, the AJ 1 Low has got your back!

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black outsole

DQ4909-100 Air Jordan 4 WMNS Canvas Sail.

Reflective elements

The Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black comes without reflective elements.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Reflective elements
Test results
Air 1 Low No

Tongue padding

The shoe treated the tops of our feet to a very well-padded tongue. Showing 15.9 mm on our caliper, it muted the lace pressure entirely.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Tongue padding
Test results
Air 1 Low 15.9 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
air jordan summer 2020 lineup release dates
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Air Jordan 6 Gs Game Royal

The tongue of the AJ1 Low doesn't have any attachments to the upper on the sides but it's not an issue. We didn't experience much tongue-shifting in this sneaker.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Air Jordan 6 Gs Game Royal
Test results
Air 1 Low None

Heel tab

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Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Heel tab
Test results
Air 1 Low None

Removable insole

If you wish to enhance the in-shoe experience, you have the option to replace the stock insole with your custom orthotic.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black Removable insole
Test results
Air 1 Low Yes

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black vs. Nike Dunk Low

Unless you are an experienced sneakerhead, it is very easy to mix the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black with the Nike Dunk Low. The resemblance is striking!

Both designed by Peter Moore, Brand New Jordan Legacy 312 Low Lakers White Black Purple For Sale1 Retro Gs Jubilee 25th Anniversary.

air jordan 1 low vs nike dunk low 21512368 main

Nevertheless, there are a few notable features that set the two sneakers apart:

  • Zoom Air unit: The Nike Dunk Low does not have that technology. The Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black, on the other hand, carries that iconic Air-Sole tech nike air jordan aj bomber jacket black.

air jordan 1 low vs nike dunk low comparison 21512370 main

  • On the Dunk, the Swoosh intersects the heel counter and heel tab. Meanwhile, the AJ Lows display various stitching panels on the heel with the Swoosh tail above the heel counter.
  • The Air Jordan Low 1 flaunts the iconic Wing logo on its heel counter, while the Dunk Low also has the common Nike branding embroidered on its heel tab.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black vs Nike Dunk Low heel

  • The toebox shape of the Dunk Low is broader and taller, while the AJ 1 Low has a narrower, tapered profile. That's why we can't recommend the AJs to wide feet.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black vs Nike Dunk Low toebox shape

The origins of the Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black

The very first Jordan Legacy 312 Low Lakers White Black Purple For Sale sneaker saw light in 1985.

It was designed by Peter Moore, Tinker Hatfield, and Bruce Kilgore as a performance basketball shoe that catered to Michael Jordan when he played for the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black style

The name "Air Jordan" was suggested by Michael's agent David Falk. It reflected the athlete's graceful soar during his legendary dunk shots.

The idea of flying through the air also lies behind the shoe's famous Wings Logo.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black wings logo

But the story of the Jordan Legacy 312 Low Lakers White Black Purple For Sale began with a scandal ignited by the now famous "Banned" colorway of the shoe.

According to NBA rules at the time, the shoe colors of all team players were supposed to match. However, Michael's pair of AJ 1s only had 23% of white as opposed to the 51% worn by the rest of his teammates. Nike had to pay a fine of $5,000 each time Michael played in his "BRED" pair.

Jordan Series ES Men's Shoes Black history

It is a popular opinion, however, that Nike violated the rules on purpose to boost the crowd's interest in the newly released Jordan shoe.

Offered as a casual sneaker for the general public, the Jordan Legacy 312 Low Lakers White Black Purple For Sale earned the company over $150 million in sales from over 50,000 sold pairs.