When the Nike Air Yeezy 2 Red October released in the spring of 2014, it was heralded as a radical new break in sneaker aesthetics. The colorway, in particular, was revelatory. Its permeating red upper beamed a new light into the existing dull market of black and grey sneakers. Other brands took notice and churned out imitations. Soon, every brand had their own version of an all-red sneaker.Ā
But contrary to popular wisdom, Yeezy didnāt pioneer the all-red sneaker style. That distinction belongs to Jordan Brand. In terms of performance sneakers, the Jordan 21 featured an all-red colorway as early as 2006. And in 2009, five full years before the Red Octobers hit the market, the Raging Bull Red Suede Jordan 5 turned heads with an all-red colorway that changed the street-worn sneaker game forever.Ā
Of course, red has been a prominent color in the Jordan signature line since the debut Air Jordan 1 Bred in 1985. Similar to the Red Octobers, the Bred 1 brought color to basketball shoes when alternatives offered only a bleak and minimal palette, thanks to the strict NBA uniform rules. Over the years, some of the most unforgettable Jordan releases have featured all-red colorways. With new red Jordans releasing every year, we ranked our favorites thus far.Ā
These are the top 10 best red Jordans of all time.
Top 10 Red Jordans
10. Jordan 2 Retro QF Candy Pack Red
To celebrate Halloween in 2010, Jordan Brand blessed candy buckets and pillowcases across the world with the release of a sweet new pack of Jordan 2s known as the āCandy Packā. This pack contains three different flavors of Jordan 2s: red, green, and yellow. Of the three, the Jordan 2 Retro QF Candy Pack Red was the most delectable and made for an easy transition into any wardrobe thatās used to showcasing red Jordans.
9. Jordan 11 Retro Win Like 96
Individual stats are forgotten over time, but championships are always remembered. In the fall of 2017, Jordan Brand celebrated North Carolinaās 1982 NCAA Championship and the Chicago Bullsā 1996 NBA Championship by releasing two new Air Jordan 11 colorways. The Chicago Bulls tribute pair, the Jordan 11 Retro Win Like 96, features a red mesh and patent leather upper that pays homage to the Chicago Bulls away jersey. Although the Jordan 11 has primarily released in black and white colorways, this release is the first of its kind to receive the red Jordans treatment.
8. Jordan 14 Retro Challenge Red
Sports cars and sneaker design go hand in hand. Both share the ultimate goal of high performance with a luxurious feel. While many shoes are derived from automotive design concepts, the Air Jordan 14 Retro Challenge Red takes inspiration to the next level. The Jordan 14 Retro Challenge Red is as close to getting inside a Ferrari as you can get without the insurance costs. Its red suede upper with Ferrari-inspired Jordan branding and black, tire-like heel tabs might have you searching the box for a set of keys. Even though you will most likely come out of that search empty-handed, these red Jordans are enough to have you gassed up.
7. Jordan 3 Retro Fire Red Cement (Nike Chi)
All-Star Weekend 2020 in Chicago introduced the Jordan 3 Retro Fire Red Cement (Nike Chi), the most recent all-red Jordan to date. Drawing a striking resemblance to the Jordan 3 Retro DJ Khaled Grateful, this Jordan 3 spins one of the most well-known Jordan 3 designs by switching out traditional black or white leather uppers with a red tumbled leather look. Cement print overlays, OG color blocking, and Nike Chi branding on the heels give Jordan fans everything they could want in a pair of red Jordans.
6. Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo
If the all-red look can turn heads and drop jaws on the Jordan 14 silhouette, you better believe it can look just as good on the Jordan 4. The Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo was the second silhouette to continue the Toro Bravo theme, following the 2009 Raging Bull 5. While the upper of the Jordan 4 Toro Bravo traded the thick red suede for Durabuck, it still gets the job done and delivers exactly what is expected out of a pair of red Jordans.
5. Jordan 5 Retro Trophy Room University Red (F&F)
Back in May of 2019, Jordan Brand joined forced with Marcus Jordanās Trophy Room store for a new iteration of the Air Jordan 5. Drawing inspiration from Michael Jordanās actual trophy room, this collaboration arrived in two colorways: Ice Blue and University Red. The Ice Blue colorway was made available to the public, but the University Red pair was not. It is rumored that only 223 pairs were produced and gifted to friends and family of Jordan and Trophy Room alike.Ā
Besides being extremely limited, itās easy to see why the Jordan 5 Retro Trophy Room University Red (F&F) is so highly coveted. Its red suede upper with black accents draws a striking resemblance to the Red Suede Raging Bull 5, a shoe that helped pioneer the red Jordans look.
4. Jordan 1 Retro Legends of Summer Red
When Justin Timberlake went on the Legends of Summer Tour with Jay-Z in 2013, Jumpman supplied JT with a multitude of player-exclusive Jordans. Each of the collaborative silhouettes was constructed entirely out of red faux snakeskin, suede, and metallic leather. While all of these Jordan PEs are extremely rare, the Jordan 1 Retro Legends of Summer Red has become stand-out in recent years due to rising Jordan 1 fandom and increasing preference for the monochromatic, red Jordan aesthetic.
3. Jordan 3 Retro Doernbecher (2010)
Nikeās annual Doernbecher collection has introduced many eclectic colorways to the world thanks to the unique design process. One of the most notable colorways to arise from this charitable cause is the Jordan 3 Retro Doernbecher (2010). The Jordan 3 Doernbecher was designed by Cole Johanson, a lymphatic cancer survivor and former patient at the Doernbecher Childrenās Hospital. While designing this shoe, Cole drew inspiration from the things he loves most; his two favorite foods, spaghetti and chocolate, are embroidered behind the heel tabs on this Jordan 3 Retro. The words āStrengthā and āCourage are inscribed on the insoles to highlight the two things Cole says helped him beat lymphoma. The Jordan 3 Retro DB is beyond just another pair of red Jordans. It represents a story of triumph and a great charitable cause.
2. Jordan 21 OG Red Suede
With all of the hype that surrounds all-red releases like the Jordan 3 Doernbecher and Jordan 5 Raging Bull, itās important to remember the original shoe that started the red Jordans trend. The Jordan 21 OG Red Suede is the first shoe in the Jordan lineage to feature a primarily red color scheme throughout the upper (sorry, but the Carmine 6 was half red, half white). Its Italian red suede upper went against the black and white precedent and reassured Jordan fans that even though the champ wasnāt in the league anymore, his shoes would continue to elevate the game.
1. Jordan 5 Retro DMP Raging Bull Red Suede
One of the best traditions in Jumpmanās history is their package releases. After the success of their first package release, the 2006 Defining Moments 6/11 Pack, Jordan Brand paid homage to MJās legendary career as a Chicago Bull and released the Jordan 5 DMP Raging Bull Pack in 2009. Two Jordan 5 colorways were included in the Raging Bull Pack: one featuring an all-3M upper and the other featuring an upper smothered in rich, red suede.Ā
The Jordan 5 Raging Bull Red Suede was unlike anything the market had seen. In the past, Jordan 5s typically featured more subtle colorways ranging from black suede to white tumbled leather. Seeing a completely vibrant red suede upper on the Jordan 5 Retro silhouette was refreshing and meshed well with popular street style in 2009. To this day, the Jordan 5 Raging Bull Red Suede is directly linked to popularizing the wear of red Jordans off of the court and inspiring some of the best all-red colorways that followed.
