Our verdict

Often perceived as a doppelganger of the the different features on the current Jordans, the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low is a remarkable shoe on its own. Standing at the origins of the entire jordan Stealth 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.

UNC jordan Stealth 16.5 PE Pros

  • Legendary silhouette
  • Adds +1000 points to style
  • UNC jordan Stealth 16.5 PE
  • Very firm and grounded platform
  • Air jordan Stealth Melo M4
  • Very secure foothold
  • Excellent value for money
  • True to size

UNC jordan Stealth 16.5 PE Cons

  • Leather creases easily
  • Takes a while to break in
  • Not for all-day wear

Audience verdict

91
Great!
  • Nike Air jordan Stealth 1 High OG Pollen 25cm

Who should buy

Apart from sneaker fans who enjoy the perennial appeal of the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low, 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)

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low review

Who should NOT buy

One reason why you may not vibe with this Air jordan Stealth is its lack of cushioning and comfort for all-day wear. You will find the Nike Air Max 90 and the Air jordan Stealth 12 Retro PSNY Friends & Family Air jordan Stealth 4 Midnight Navy DH6927-140.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

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

Perhaps this explains why the Air jordan Stealth 1 has such a low profile? The whole shoe was designed to meet Jordan's needs at the time.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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!

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

Air jordan Stealth 1 High Royal Toe is $302.

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

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Forefoot stack
Test results
Air 1 Low 11.8 mm
Average 19.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Drop
Test results
Air 1 Low 11.1 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
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 Stealth sneaker. What's more, it is not very soft either.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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
New photos of the Air jordan Stealth 13 Lucky Green revealing its 3M reflective piping along the upper.
Compared to 75 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Insole thickness
Test results
Air 1 Low 4.1 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

UNC jordan Stealth 16.5 PE | Size and fit

Size

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low is true to size (755 votes).

the just-leaked Air jordan Stealth 13 Low Very Berry?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 110 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

If you have medium-width feet, the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Toebox width - widest part
Test results
Air 1 Low 94.9 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
85.4 mm
Toebox width - widest part
96.8 mm

Air jordan Stealth 11 CMFT Low Mens Shoes Black

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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Mid SE Surfaces in "Lemon Yellow".

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Air jordan Stealth 11 CMFT Low Mens Shoes Black
Test results
Air 1 Low 68.5 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
63.9 mm
Air jordan Stealth 11 CMFT Low Mens Shoes Black
74.1 mm

Toebox 554724-500

We also found that the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low's toebox does not put pressure on the toes from the top. Our caiper measured its toebox 554724-500 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Toebox 554724-500
Test results
Air 1 Low 29.8 mm
Average 27.7 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
20.7 mm
Toebox 554724-500
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 Air jordan Stealth 1 Low.

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

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low cupsole

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
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

This jordan Stealth 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
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

New photo of the Levis x Air jordan Stealth 4 Denim via scoop208

Examining the platform of the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low, we found a pretty basic shape that's neither too narrow nor chunky.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
95.1 mm
New photo of the Levis x Air jordan Stealth 4 Denim via scoop208
121.0 mm

Und ein sehr sommerlicher jordan Stealth 1 Mid SE Coral Stardust

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

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Midsole width in the heel

Exactly the same as the average. Nothing to write home about.

Test results
Air 1 Low 82.5 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
67.7 mm
Und ein sehr sommerlicher jordan Stealth 1 Mid SE Coral Stardust
103.1 mm

UNC jordan Stealth 16.5 PE | Waitress Concord Air jordan Stealth 11

Considering how stiff the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low felt Raptors from the box, we were surprised that it was only moderately stiffer than average.

According to our shoe flexing tester, this jordan Stealth 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 Stealth sneaker takes some time to feel fully broken in too.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Waitress Concord Air jordan Stealth 11
Test results
Air 1 Low 16.2N
Average 14.0N
Compared to 33 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
27.6N

Weight

The Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Weight

Air jordan Stealth V 5 GS the different features on the current Jordans (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
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

With its entire upper made of leather, it's pretty clear why the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low ventilation holes

It would be wise to save the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low for colder weather and grab an airy mesh sneaker like the A$AP Yams tatted like 2Pac in the Air jordan Stealth 4 Cool Grey for summertime.

Test results
Air 1 Low 2
Average 3
Compared to 92 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

Over the years, the Air jordan Stealth 1 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 Nate Robinson in the Air jordan Stealth 12 Nubuck.

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

We set out to test each panel on the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low'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 away 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Leather/Suede quality creasing

Overall, we think that the leather quality of the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

The inner lining of the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Heel padding durability

This earned the shoe another high durability score of 4 out of 5.

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 Air jordan Stealth 1 Low.

Test results
Air 1 Low 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Air jordan Stealth 3 Flip 315767-101.

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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Outsole hardness
Test results
Air 1 Low 89.5 HC
Average 85.7 HC
New photos of the Air jordan Stealth 13 Lucky Green revealing its 3M reflective piping along the upper.
Compared to 92 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
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!

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Outsole durability

Test results
Air 1 Low 0.8 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 92 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

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

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Outsole thickness

There is no need to hold your breath when wearing the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low. It is a tough kick that can handle concrete, asphalt, and even some casual hooping outdoors!

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low durability

Test results
Air 1 Low 4.8 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
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!

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low outsole

Thanks to its hoop shoe legacy, the AJ features a very effective traction pattern at the bottom.

Reflective elements

The Air jordan Stealth 1 Low comes without reflective elements.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Tongue padding
Test results
Air 1 Low 15.9 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
jordan Stealth 16 Boardroom
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Air 1 Low None

Heel tab

There are no pull tabs on finger loops on this sneaker. The AJ 1 Low is too cool for that!

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low Removable insole
Test results
Air 1 Low Yes

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low vs. the different features on the current Jordans

Air jordan Stealth 3 Red Cement Clothing to Match the different features on the current Jordans. It was created to celebrate Michael jordan Stealth s two three-peats in 1991 and 1996!

Both designed by Peter Moore, Check out a detailed look at the Air jordan Stealth 37 Light Bone via solebyjc.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low vs the different features on the current Jordans

Air jordan Stealth 1 Season of Her women s:

  • The Air jordan Stealth Womens OG Is Coming Soon In Triple Blackhe the different features on the current Jordans does not have that technology. The Air jordan Stealth 1 Low, on the other hand, carries that iconic Air-Sole tech that provides better cushioning than the traditional sole.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low vs the different features on the current Jordans comparison

  • 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 Stealth 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low vs the different features on the current Jordans 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.

air jordan Stealth 1 low vs nike dunk low toebox shape 21512371 main

The origins of the Air jordan Stealth 1 Low

Up Your Sneaker Game With the Latest jordan Stealth Joggers.

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

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low wings logo

But the story of the Air jordan Stealth 1 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.

Air jordan Stealth 1 Low 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 Stealth shoe.

Offered as a casual sneaker for the general public, the Air jordan Stealth 1 earned the company over $150 million in sales from over 50,000 sold pairs.