WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIKE DUNK LOW’S AND AIR JORDAN 1 LOW’S?
Most people, excluding sneaker heads, with an untrained eye seem to think the nike dunk and the Jordan 1 are exactly the same shoe. It’s perhaps the most common mistake in all of nike footwear history.
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Price Comparison
The Jordan 1, at the time of release was slightly more expensive than the nike dunk due to Michael Jordan being involved in the design of the shoe. The Nike dunk high and dunk lows were intended to be a more affordable version of the sneaker back in 1985. So you can think of the Nike dunk as kind of a base model BMW and the Jordan 1 was the M8 competition. But in modern times, these shoes aren’t used for basketball anymore so the nike dunk is not really considered below the Air Jordan 1 anymore.
Logo and Back of Sneaker
The main difference between the nike dunk and the Air Jordan is on the back of the sneaker. The Jordan 1 has the Air Jordan logo stitched on the back of the shoe which can be seen in the picture above. The Nike dunk does NOT have the air Jordan logo stitched on the back edge. Both shoes have a nike logo on the side.
Nike Dunks also feature a thick heel strap shaped piece of leather. The Air Jordan 1 does not have this heel strap. On the nike dunk high and dunk low, the heel strap goes from the eyelets down to the bottom of the heel.
Outsole
The second most obvious difference between the two sneakers is the shape of the outsole (the blue rubber line on the very bottom of the shoe ). Nike Dunks feature a boxy shaped outsole outline while the Air Jordan 1 features a seamless smooth outline.
Eyelets
Sb dunks also have two more eyelets in the top to help you tie them tighter for skate boarding, as well as a nike logo printed on the back edge.
Toe Box
The toe box on both on the sneakers is also a slightly different shape but that can only really be seen from the side view. The nike dunk has a slightly bigger toe box. The rest of the sneaker is very very similar with just small details.
Nike dunk low vs jordan 1 low
The Nike dunks vs Jordan 1 low is a conversation that causes fights all over America. Many will argue that the aesthetics are simply just better with the jordan 1 low vs dunk low.
Is that true though or does it just seem better because it has Michael Jordans name on it?
History
These sneakers are so similar because Nike designed both of them at the same time, 1985, and the Nike Dunk Low was originally supposed to be the more affordable version of the Air Jordan 1 ! At the time, the Air Jordan 1 had better technology built into the basketball shoe which is why it was more expensive.
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Skateboarding Community
Nike Dunk Lows have since been adopted by the Skateboarding community. So the shoe that was originally designed for the basketball court is now being thrashed by the grip tape of skateboards !
Fashion
In the last couple of decades, fashion has taken a lot of tips from skateboarding culture. And so the rise of popularity of the Nike Dunk is due to people wanting to dress like skateboarders. If you were to ask anyone you see wearing a pair of nike dunks, what they were designed for, they would likely say skateboarding. And that is simply because people typically wear them to skateboard.
And that is because Nike recognized that the demographic that was purchasing the shoe shifted so heavily, so they started writing SB on the tongue. SB of course, stands for skateboarding.
And so Nike kept coming out with new colorways in this seemingly timeless shoe design !
And these shoes are now so heavily sought after that there are brand new Dunk color ways being resold for as high as $3,000 a pair !! Even just a basic color way can run you well over $200 these days.
Nike Dunk Low Panda
The Nike Dunk Low Panda has recently become the most sold Nike Dunk Ever ! Its classic retro design and simple Black and White elements make this shoe go perfectly with any fit you throw at them !
Arguably one of the most aesthetically pleasing shoes ever created, we’re likely to see this shoe for many years to come. Timeless and perfect is how we describe the Nike Dunk Low White Black Panda.
This sneaker is staple and honestly a must-have for any collection. And this shoe does not discriminate because it is worn by by both men and women coequally ! And the best part about this shoe is the Price !
AIR JORDAN 1 NOW
Michael Jordan and Basketball
The Air Jordan 1 was super popular in 1985 and it is still popular today. The skateboarding community also adopted the Air Jordan 1 and they are now also being sold in the Nike SB line as well.
But unlike the Dunk, The Jordan 1 never left the basketball world. Athletes wear Jordan 1’s with pride but sadly they aren’t seen on the actual court anymore because of their antiquated technology. New colorways, as well as revived old color ways, come out every month. And nearly every release results in a sell out.
This means that the reselling market for Jordan 1’s is alive and well. With multiple different styles being over the $1,000 mark. But the majority of them can be had for $100-$200.
Michale Jordan has come out with over 100 different shoes but the Jordan 1 is still by far his most popular. That’s an insane record seeing as it was his first shoe ever created !
Air Jordan 1 Retro Low Chicago
Probably the most famous nike shoe in existence is the Air Jordan 1 Chicago. This is the low top version of that legendary shoe.
The heart and soul of the entire sneaker community lies in this beloved sneaker by Michael Jordan. But this status symbol and leather perfection certainly comes at a price. A shoe this precious wouldn’t dare to be easy to get.
This Low Top Jordan 1 Chicago fluctuates around $1,200 USD !
Preference
In the Sneaker Community, both of these shoes are widely accepted and respected. Anybody seen wearing Dunks or Jordan 1’s is seen to be cool and have an athletic style. They are very safe choices for anyone looking for a sporty shoe.
They both also come in any color way you can imagine. No bad connotation is associated with either pair of shoes.
So here’s the deal… they are very very VERY similar shoes ! So if you absolutely have to choose one over the other, then we suggest this : If you’re more into fashion and just want the shoes because they’re cool and retro and in style, then we suggest buying the Nike Dunk Low’s.
BUT, if you watch or play any basketball at all, then as a tribute to the sport, we suggest going with the Air Jordan 1 for the nostalgia !