The first half of 2014 has come and gone, leaving sneakerheads with more kicks in their closets and less money in their pockets. As has been the case the last few years, Jordan Brand has come on strong in the first part of the year and dropped a ton of looks in high, lows, and everything in between. With so many releases to keep track of, we decided to take a look back at check out the best that the brand had to offer over the first half of the year. From the Lab Series, to some originals colorways, to the something totally unexpected, Jordan Brand has been having a good year. Here are The Best Air Jordans of 2014 (So Far).
RELATED: The Best New Sneakers of 2014 (So Far)
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The first half of 2014 has come and gone, leaving sneakerheads with more kicks in their closets and less money in their pockets. As has been the case the last few years, Jordan Brand has come on strong in the first part of the year and dropped a ton of looks in high, lows, and everything in between. With so many releases to keep track of, we decided to take a look back at check out the best that the brand had to offer over the first half of the year. From the Lab Series, to some originals colorways, to the something totally unexpected, Jordan Brand has been having a good year. Here are The Best Air Jordans of 2014 (So Far).
RELATED: The Best New Sneakers of 2014 (So Far)
RELATED: The Best Sneaker Photos on Instagram of the Year (So Far)
10. Air Jordan X "Powder Blue"
Released: February
Jordan Brand kicked up the love for original colorways this year allowing 'heads to get a look a bit of history. The Air Jordan X in the "Powder Blue" colorway made a return over NBA All-Star Weekend. Once worn by the likes of Jerry Stackhouse back in his University of North Carolina days, the shoes were set in a mostly white upper, while the accent of light blue brought us all back to the early-'90s.
9. Air Jordan XI Low "Infrared23"
Released: June
Jordan Brand upped the Air Jordan XI Low ante this year and dropped a few pairs that made headlines. Although it isn't an O.G. colorway, "Infrared23" also deserves a shot at the top. A mixture of the Air Jordan XI, the famous cement print from the Air Jordan IV, and the infrared from the Air Jordan VI, the shoe was a good example of remixed things that Jordan Brand can do with its signature line.
8. Air Jordan III "5Lab3″
Released: May
Late last year, Jordan Brand revealed its new Lab Series. The series blended the look and feel of one sneaker in the Jordan signature series with another model in the series. During March of this year, the Air Jordan 3 entered the Lab and tossed in a heavy dose of the reflective material used on the tongue of the Air Jordan V for a look that will keep you shining at night.
7. Air Jordan VI "Carmine"
Released: May
When it come to releasing original Air Jordan colorways, Jordan Brand usually takes its time and spreads them out far and wide. Luckily for the Jordan fans in attendance, 2014 saw the return of the Air Jordan VI Carmine. Celebrating the 23rd anniversary of the silhouette, the white and Carmine upper looks just as good today as it did in 1991. And old 'heads were glad to get their hands on a pair again this year.
6. Air Jordan 1 Retro KO High
Released: March
When it comes to Jordan Brand, the Chicago colors of red, black, and white are easy winners, especially when it comes to the Air Jordan 1. Back in March, the brand brought back the Nike Vandal-inspired Air Jordan 1 KO in the Chicago colorway and it flew off the shelves just as quickly as you would expect for a shoe with such history.
5. Air Jordan VI "Infrared23"
Released: February
It is probably safe to say that the Air Jordan VI "Infrared23" has been the brightest release of the year thus far, while also being one of the best. The colorway on the upper dominated the entire sneaker leaving only the outsole, tongue, and heel pull in black. Also released over NBA All-Star Weekend, the shoe was a standout among a myriad of VIs that dropped these past six months.
4. Air Jordan XX8 "Bamboo"
Released: February
The Air Jordan XX8 received high praise for its performance, but a lot of people were not sold on the aesthetic of the shoe. For All-Star Weekend 2014, Jordan Brand decided to forego the fancy prints and flashy colorways and keep things nice and simple. The result, the Air Jordan XX8 "Bamboo." The all-white synthetic leather upper revealed the shoe in a new light and the addition of the bamboo panels made it even more premium.
3. Jordan XI Low "Concord"
Released: May
When it comes to popularity in the Air Jordan signature line, the XI is arguably the most popular of them all. For early 2014, Jordan Brand wanted to get us all right for the summer and dropped the top on the sneaker to reveal the Jordan XI Low "Concord." Now we all just need to get our beer pong game up to par and we can be just like Mike.
2. Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 "Lance Mountain"
Released: June
Though they don't seem like they would be best of buddies, the world of sneakers and the world of basketball crossed paths 29 years ago with the Air Jordan 1 and have been together every since. This year, Jordan Brand linked with Nike SB and Lance Mountain for a special edition of the Air Jordan 1 with a painted upper that wears off to reveal a different colorway as you actually wear the shoe for its intended purpose. Easy money as far as this list goes.
1. Jordan Future "Black Glow"
Released: March
The Jordan Future was officially announced back in January, but didn't make its way to retail spots until March. First responses to the shoe were mixed, but, eventually, most 'heads turn over a new leaf and took hold of the lifestyle sneaker from Jordan Brand. Whether that was because of the Air Jordan XI tooling or the soft woven upper is still up in the air, but the shoe looks to be one that is going to be around for a while. However, not all colors of the shoe have been widely accepted. For us, the first colorway is a clear winner for one of the best shoes of 2014, so far.