[Review] Air Jordan 1 Retro Low "Shattered Backboard"

In this review, we'll be discussing the Air Jordan 1 Low "Shattered Backboard" that released in September 2019. This low-top variant of the highly-coveted Air Jordan 1 High OG "Shattered Backboard" retails for $90 and features a mixture of mid-grade materials.

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Air Jordan 1 Low “Shattered Backboard”

Released: September 2019
Retail Price: $90
Style Code: 553558-128

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Visual Review:

Sneaker Quality:

Materials

Coming in at a retail price of just $90, my expectations for the materials on the “Shattered Backboard“ lows weren’t high from the start, but overall I was not disappointed.

Nubuck: The black and orange portions of the shoe are made up of a material that I honestly don’t know how to classify. Part of me thinks it’s felt because of how it feels to the hand, but I’m sure it is classified as a type of nubuck material.

The black portions of the shoe are a dark rich color, however, the orange panels of the shoe have a sort of haze-effect that takes away from the depth of the color. It’s not a deal breaker, but definitely worth noting.

Leather: The white side panels are made up of a tumbles leather that looks good to the eye, but is less plush in-hand. It’s definitely not the type of leather that’s normally found on High OGs, but as mentioned earlier, I wasn’t expecting much more from a $90 shoe.

The nike swoosh that adorns the side of the shoe is made of a patent leather material that adds a bit of visual interest to the shoe, but isn’t quite Retro 11 quality.

Nylon: The tongue on the “Shattered Backboard” lows is made up of the traditional nylon material that we’re used to. It’s has a nice look and feel, but seems slightly stiffer that the High OG’s tongue material.

“The black portions of the shoe are a dark rich color, however, the orange panels of the shoe have a sort of haze-effect that takes away from the depth of the color.”

— Jared W. | @jaredxwatson

Construction:

I was pleasantly surprised at how well this shoe looked from a craftsmanship standpoint. All of the visible stitching elements were clean and the shape of the toebox was consistent on both the left and right shoe.

I purchased my first pair of Air Jordan 1 Lows back in 2008 and managed to get a lot of wear out of the shoe. I’m not sure if today’s lows are constructed the same way, but I will just assume that this pair will fair about the same, when it comes to durability.

Sneaker Fit & Comfort:

sizing

When it comes to Air Jordan 1 lows, I prefer to go true-to-size. For some odd reason, lows tend to fit a better than the High OG versions when I go true to size.

Of course, you should take this information with a grain of salt, as each my foot shape and fit preference is difference that yours.

If you’re unsure how Jordan 1 lows fit, I suggest going with your normal Nike size if you’re unable to try a pair on at your local shoe store.

“They don’t feel terrible, but they aren’t a shoe that I recommend wearing when you have to walk or stand for long periods of time.”

— Jared W. | @jaredxwatson

cushioning

There’s not much to write home about here. The Air Jordan 1 lows have a midsole cushioning setup that hasn’t been updated much since the shoes originally released back in 1985.

They don’t feel terrible, but they aren’t a shoe that I recommend wearing when you have to walk or stand for long periods of time.

Buying a pair of premium insoles would also be a good idea to help improve the cushioning of this shoe.

Sneaker Style & Value:

wearability

Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of any orange and black color-scheme. It reminds me too much of Halloween and doesn’t fit my personal style preference, however, that’s not to say this is a bad looking shoe.

The colorway is executed in a way that resembles the High OG which is easily one of the most recognizable Air Jordan 1s of the past few years. Some aren’t fans of the low-top silhouette, but I like how their versatility. They look well with both pants and shorts.

The Perfect Match

Premium Socks by Stance

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pricing

$90 for a shoe of this caliber and popularity level is a good value if you’re a fan of the colorway. Another plus is that these shoes are eligible for in-store coupons from stores like Foot Locker, Footaction, and Champs which could potentially bring this shoe’s price down to $70.

Although the materials aren’t the best, I’ve seen worst so anyone interested in getting a pair of these should not feel guilty getting them for retail.

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