via Nike
The holidays have come and gone, the wrapping paper is in the recycling bin, and hopefully, you made out like a bandit with some thoughtful gear. But the unsung hero of the season? That stash of cash and gift cards burning a hole in your pocket.
It’s the one part of the holiday haul you have total control over. No receipts or returns… just pure purchasing power. If you’re looking to turn that holiday loot into something you’ll actually wear every day, it’s time to upgrade the rotation.
Here are seven pairs of Jordans worth investing in to start the New Year on the right foot.
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Air Jordan 1 Mid SE
We’re starting the list with a bang for your buck. The “Mid vs. High” debate is dead, especially when the Mids look this good. This Special Edition (SE) release elevates the silhouette with premium materials and a sophisticated “Light Orewood Brown” and “Medium Olive” palette that feels very expensive.
It’s a neutral masterpiece that fits right into the current earth-tone trend (think Travis Scott vibes without the Travis Scott price tag). But the real reason this made the cut: You can snag an extra 25% off right now with the code STRONG TO SAVE 25% via NIKE.COM.
BUY NOW @ NIKE – $140
Jordan Spizike Low
If you can’t decide which retro era is your favorite, the Spizike is the answer. A literal mash-up of five classic Jordans (the 3, 4, 5, 6, and 20), this silhouette is a walking homage to Spike Lee and his Mars Blackmon character, who helped bridge the gap between Hollywood and hoops culture.
This “Anthracite/Light Wild Mango” colorway gives the hybrid model a rugged, utilitarian look that is perfect for the winter months, while the “Mango” pops keep it fresh for 2026. It’s a history lesson on your feet that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. As the product description says: Ya dig?
BUY NOW @ NIKE – $165
Air Jordan MVP 92 Men’s Shoes – $145
If the Spizike is a remix, the MVP 92 is a remaster. This silhouette asks a simple question: “How do you top the legendary Air Jordan 7?” The answer: You chop the top.
Inspired by the 1992 season—when MJ was busy winning a ring, an MVP, and a gold medal in Barcelona—this shoe takes the aggressive, layered upper and iconic midsole of the AJ7 and reimagines it as a low-top lifestyle sneaker. The “Sail” and “Sea Glass” colorway gives it a relaxed, vacation-mode vibe that sets it apart from the usual Chicago reds and blacks. It’s the perfect daily driver for when you want that ’90s aesthetic without the high-top bulk.
BUY NOW @ NIKE – $145
Air Jordan 3 Retro “Medium Olive”
This is the heavy hitter of the list. The Air Jordan 3 is widely considered the silhouette that saved Nike’s relationship with MJ back in ’88, and it remains a staple for a reason. While we love the classic Bulls colors, this “Medium Olive” edition brings a level of dirty martini sophistication that is perfect for your 2026 wardrobe.
It swaps the bright gym colors for rich, earthy nubuck and leather, paired with that signature elephant print. The real kicker? The gum outsole and the OG “Nike Air” branding on the heel—details that sneaker purists go crazy for. It’s a versatile, premium look that works just as well with dark denim as it does with sweats. It’s the most expensive pair on this list, but it’s arguably the most wearable.
BUY NOW @ NIKE – $215
Air Jordan 5 Retro “Medium Soft Pink”
Real men wear pink. Or, at the very least, they wear “Medium Soft Pink” accents on a crispy white upper. The Air Jordan 5 is already a head-turner with its WWII fighter plane-inspired design, complete with those aggressive shark-tooth midsoles and the iconic oversized tongue.
This release keeps all the original DNA (including the legendary lace lock) but softens the blow with a colorway that feels tailor-made for spring 2026. It’s clean, it’s classic, and it pairs surprisingly well with just about everything. If you want to break the cycle of buying the same black-and-red sneakers every year, this is the move.
BUY NOW @ NIKE – $215
Air Jordan 9 Retro
We are technically in the dead of winter, and while we all want to rock our fresh retros, nobody wants to ruin a suede upper in the slush and salt. Enter the AJ9 Boot.
This is what happens when Tinker Hatfield’s 1993 design meets a military-grade Special Field Boot. It retains the iconic silhouette of the Jordan 9 but beefs it up with a durable leather upper, metal eyelets, a water-resistant gusseted tongue, and a heavy tread that can actually handle the elements. Plus, the “Black/Gum” colorway is the undefeated champion of winter style. It hides the dirt and looks good with everything, making it the ultimate “don’t ruin my good sneakers” sneaker.
BUY NOW @ NIKE – $230
Air Jordan 1 Low
You cannot, and we repeat, cannot, go wrong with the classics. The Air Jordan 1 Low is arguably the most versatile sneaker in the history of footwear. It’s the Swiss Army knife of your rotation: sleek enough to wear to a casual dinner, comfortable enough for all-day walking, and iconic enough to get the nod of approval from sneakerheads.
This “Black/Particle Grey” colorway is essentially bulletproof. It avoids the loudness of some of the wilder retro colors, opting instead for a clean, muted palette that fits with literally every pair of pants you own. At $120, it’s also the most wallet-friendly option on this list, leaving you enough leftover cash to actually go out and do something in them.