Jordan 1 vs Blazer – Which is best?

Few sneakers have achieved the timeless status and enduring appeal of the Jordan 1 and Nike Blazer. These iconic silhouettes have solidified themselves as icons of footwear over the years to the point where they are still incredibly popular today. This begs the question though – Jordan 1 vs Blazer, which is best?

There’s no doubt they’re two of the best sneakers ever made, but we’re here to delve a little deeper into their histories, designs, and prices to help you figure out which to buy.

Whether you’re an avid sneaker enthusiast, a casual collector, or simply intrigued to know how the two shoes transcended basketball, we’ve got you covered. Like most good stories, we begin at the start and discuss how the Nike Blaze and one of the best Jordan 1s ever made first came around…

History

Although both have been around a while, the Nike Blazer is the older of the two. The story begins in the early 1970s when Nike, formerly known as Blue Ribbon Sports, decided to directly challenge adidas and Converse in the realm of basketball. Stepping onto the court for the first time, Nike unveiled a shoe called the Blazer, paying homage to the local NBA franchise, the Portland Trail Blazers.

At the time, adidas and Converse were creating some of the best basketball shoes on the market, and their sneakers were worn by the NBA’s top stars. However, in 1977, the popularity of the Blazer gained a significant boost when George “The Iceman” Gervin became the first player to endorse the shoe and acknowledge its exceptional on-court performance.

As Gervin’s career progressed, his bond with the shoe developed. Nike went as far as creating a special edition version of the Blazer exclusively for him, replacing the “Nike” branding on the heels with his iconic nickname, “Iceman.”

At the time, player exclusives like this were essentially non-existent, and although Nike never officially released that particular model, this clever marketing tactic undeniably contributed to the growing reputation of the Blazer.

However, Nike was still a relatively young company and lacked the financial resources to compete with the best sneaker brands of the time. Consequently, the Blazer gradually shifted away from the court and found its place in the realms of everyday fashion, streetwear, and even skateboarding, as evidenced by the later release of SB variations. Nevertheless, the Blazer’s timeless style ensured its continued existence, resulting in it still being in production to this day.

In many ways, the Jordan 1 had a similar upbringing to the Nike Blazer, which makes the Blazer a great Jordan 1 alternative if you’re looking to purchase a pair. It all began after the 1984 NBA draft when the then-rookie Michael Jordan signed with Nike over the market leaders adidas and Converse to a deal that revolutionsed the basketball shoe industry.

At the time, Nike still lacked the pull and financial muscle in basketball compared to the aforementioned leaders. However, Nike had faith in this talented youngster, so threw everything they could at him to get him to sign. As a result, Nike agreed to pay Jordan 5% of the earnings from the new Jordan brand rather than a fixed fee. This was practically unheard of, especially for a rookie.

A risk, yes, but one that paid off tenfold. Nike debuted Jordan’s own signature shoe named the Air Jordan 1 in 1985 in two colourways, the first a white and black “Chicago” design, the other in red and black which later became known as the “Bred” or “Banned” colourway.

Why “Banned”? Well, the story goes the NBA fined Jordan every time he stepped foot on the court in the sneakers as the shoes violated the league’s uniform policy.

Nevertheless, Nike cleverly capitalised on this situation and transformed it into the centrepiece of its “Banned” advertisement. This, combined with His Airness’ extraordinary performances on the court, propelled the Jordan 1 into superstardom, becoming one of the most sought-after sneakers of its time. A testament to its popularity is the fact it’s still being made to this day as it’s just as if not more popular now than it’s ever been.

Design

The Jordan 1 and Nike Blazer are visually quite similar. To us, this is unsurprising as both were originally designed in a similar era of basketball. However, there are some pretty significant differences inside the two sneakers.

One of the most notable omissions from the Blazer is Nike’s Air technology. First debuted in 1979, Air uses pressurised air within a resilient and pliable membrane to deliver lightweight cushioning. As the name suggests, the Air Jordan 1 features these bubbles in its midsole, while the Blazer debuted too soon to capitalise on this technology. As a result, you may find the Jordan 1 slightly more comfortable and supportive.