So You Want The Black And Red Lows
The Air Jordan 1 Low in black and red is one of the most copied sneakers on the market. I've seen people spend weeks trying to find a legitimate pair at retail, and honestly, most of them end up buying fakes without realizing it. This isn't a beginner mistake that gets caught easily either. The reverse colorway, originally tied to the 2020 Chicago Bulls season, uses a black leather upper with red overlays and a white midsole. It's clean, versatile, and completely out of stock at every major retailer right now. What makes this colorway work is the contrast. The black leather takes up most of the surface area while the red panels on the toe, heel, and Swoosh create just enough pop to keep it from looking boring. White soles anchor everything. When you actually wear them, they go with basically anything—dark jeans, grey sweatpants, even black shorts if you're feeling confident about the ankle exposure. I had a situation last year where a friend asked me to verify a pair they bought from what they thought was an authorized reseller. The box was slightly off, the stitching on the Swoosh was too thick, and the red leather had a plastic sheen that real Nike leather doesn't have. I told them to walk away. They said they'd already worn them outside. That's the problem with this shoe—counterfeits are everywhere and getting better at looking convincing.
Where To Actually Buy Them
Official retail won't help you right now. Nike's website hasn't restocked this colorway in any size that matters. Your realistic options are: Sneaker consignment platforms like StockX, GOAT, and eBay authenticated. Prices typically range from $140 to $280 depending on size and condition. Size 10 and 11 tend to be the most expensive because that's where demand is highest. Local sneaker boutiques that had initial allocation. Some still have pairs sitting in the back. You won't find them listed online. Walk in, ask nicely, and sometimes you'll get lucky. I found a deadstock pair this way in Chicago for about $160 when the market was pricing them higher.
Thrift stores and garage sales. Unlikely but not impossible. People don't always know what they have. Check the men's section, look through the Jordan boxes specifically.
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How To Spot Fakes Before You Buy
The hardest part about these is the fakes have gotten really good. But there are telltale signs if you know where to look. Check the stitching on the toe box. Real ones have tight, consistent stitching that follows a specific pattern. Fakes often have looser thread or irregular spacing. The red overlay on genuine pairs also has a slight texture to the leather, not perfectly smooth like many counterfeits. Look at the Wings logo on the ankle collar. The embroidery should be dense and raised, not flat or sparse. On fakes, the wings often look stretched or the silver thread appears duller.
The box label is another area. Real Nike boxes have crisp, properly aligned labels with the correct style code (DM7806-003 for the standard release). The font on authentic labels is clean and sharp. Fakes frequently have slightly blurry printing or wrong font weights. I once spent twenty minutes arguing with someone on a resale platform about a pair that turned out to be repainted Jordans. The seller claimed they were "pre-owned" and had been cleaned. The black leather had an uneven sheen that only showed up under direct light. People repaint deadstock fakes and list them as used to justify odd coloring. Don't fall for it. If the price is too good, it almost certainly is.
Wearing And Maintaining Them
These shoes are comfortable out of the box but run slightly narrow. If you have wide feet, size up half a size. I wear a 10.5 in most Nike shoes and the 10 fits perfectly in these, but my brother with wider feet needed the 11. For maintenance, use a soft brush and mild soap with water. Don't soak the leather. Let them air dry naturally, stuff them with paper towels to hold shape while drying. The white midsole will scuff—use a Magic Eraser on light marks. For deeper scuffs, a white acrylic paint pen can cover them temporarily. The black leather does show creases naturally after a few weeks of wear. That's normal. Some people use crease guards, but they're uncomfortable and unnecessary if you don't mind the wear pattern. The red areas tend to hold their color better than the black, which can fade slightly with heavy sun exposure over time.
Should You Even Buy Them
Be honest about why you want these. If it's purely aesthetic, consider whether you'll actually wear them enough to justify the current resale prices. The black and red low is versatile but it's not a statement piece anymore. It's been around long enough that it's everywhere. If you're a collector, the market has stabilized. Prices aren't climbing like they were in 2021. Waiting for a restock or finding a reasonable resale price is fine. If you're on a budget, look at similar silhouettes. The Air Jordan 1 Low in other colorways often drop below retail, especially during seasonal sales. You can pick up a clean pair for under $100 if you're patient.
The black and red combo simply works. It's not trendy, it's not going anywhere, and that's why people keep wanting them years after release. Just make sure you're paying for something real.
