Michael Jordan‘s most recent signature sneaker is getting a mashup with his very first.
The Air Jordan 40 “Black Toe” sees the recently launched performance basketball sneaker borrow several details from the Air Jordan 1. A Swoosh has been added to the lateral side of the upper, which is usually free of any marks, while the Jordan Wings logo is embossed onto the medial collar. A “Nike Air” tongue tag also carries over from the seminal Air Jordan, while the heel counter is now rendered blank rather than featuring “Nike Air.” Further up the heel, where a pad provides cushioning for the ankle, you’ll also find new “Air Jordan” embossing.
As the name suggests, the colorway is loosely based on the original Air Jordan 1 variant of the same name. Off-white leather forms the majority of the upper, matched by a translucent midsole, while black is applied more sparingly to the toe tip and heel stabilizer. Just like the AJ1, the outsole appears in red.
Jordan Brand launched the Air Jordan 40 in July, as the first sneaker to boast both a full-length ZoomX midsole and a full-length Zoom strobel. Even before the Air Jordan 1 tribute colorway, the model features design nods to at least seven prior Air Jordans, including a tongue taking after the Air Jordan 5 and a heel stabilizer invoking the Air Jordan 3. It’s also the sneaker in the line since the Air Jordan 6 features “Nike Air” branding.
Just two colorways of the Air Jordan 40 have been released thus far, with a third slated to launch in September. All three of them have been defined by more than swapping colors, as they each employ different materials throughout their respective uppers.
Earlier this year, a “Black Toe Remagined” variant of the Air Jordan 1 made its debut with “Air Jordan” text replacing the collar’s Wings logo, just like an unreleased sample from a 1985 promotional image.
The Air Jordan 40 “Black Toe” will release in November through Nike’s website and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $205.
Air Jordan 40 “Black Toe” (pair)
Air Jordan 40 “Black Toe” (lateral)
Air Jordan 40 “Black Toe” (medial)
Air Jordan 40 “Black Toe” (above)
Air Jordan 40 “Black Toe” (heel)
Air Jordan 40 “Black Toe” (outsole)
