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Year of Release: 2001
The Air Jordan XIV Mid “Columbia” is an interesting sneaker for a number of different reasons. Released just two years after the original low-top version, the mid-top ‘Columbia’ colorway was an Eastbay exclusive. You see, back in the day, old sneakerheads purchased shoes through a magazine! Archaic as it may have been, the mid-top Columbia XIVs were so hot, they sold out before the magazine could get to print. If you were one of the few to get your hands on these, consider yourself lucky.
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Air Jordan IV "Undefeated"
Year of Release: 2005Ah, the “Undefeated” Air Jordan IV. One of the rarest and most sought-after sneakers in the Jordan canon, broke a lot of hearts back in 2005 with an uber-limited release. The 72 pairs created were sold via a raffle that you could enter either in-store or online. Nowadays the UNDFTD IV is a rarity, even at the highest end of the resale market. Not since the 1985 NBA draft have so many people been sour and screaming about a conspiracy.
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Air Jordan XI "DMP" 'Gold Eyelets'
Year of Release: 2006Yes, the Air Jordan XI/VI “Defining Moments Package” is one of the best, and similarly most expensive colorway combos Jordan Brand has ever released. However, there are a few pairs out there, hiding in plain sight, whose rarity trumps it’s peers. Back in 2005, the release of the DMP had to be pushed back a few times due to an issue with the Air Jordan XI samples which had the word “Jordan” written in gold on the eyelets, bleeding onto the laces and upper. Usually, JB would have just chalked those pairs up as samples and called it a day. But, because of how many they had actually produced at that point, Jordan Brand actually released the existing “Gold Eyelet” versions to Nike Factory stores. So, if you were one of the lucky few to cop the DMP pack, and you got it from the factory store, you better double check to make sure as you could be sitting on a goldmine (sorry).
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Air Jordan I XQ
Year of Release: 2007Originally released in 2007, the Air Jordan I XQ was a China-only release. Even if you had a Chinese connect, production numbers were rumored at a paltry 240 pairs, so the chances of a pickup were slim. And, even though they recently retro’ed in wider circulation, those were also a China-only release, and were a high-top, as opposed to the OG mid-top version.
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Air Jordan XX3 "Finale"
Year of Release: 2008With rumors that the “Finale” colorway of the Air Jordan XX3 would be MJ’s last signature sneaker, the limited numbers produced were incredibly difficult to get your hands on back in 2008. Though nowadays that can be remedied by simply paying a lot of money for them, the XX3 “Finale” is still extremely rare. Each of Jordan Brand’s 23 top retail accounts received just 23 pairs of the Finale colorway, making just 529 pairs available worldwide.
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Air Jordan VIII "Quentin Richardson" & "Ray Allen"
Year of Release: 2008We’ve discussed player-exclusive releases on this site before, and specifically, their rarity. Typically, even if you could get them in your size, and you know, actually afford them, the opportunity simply doesn’t present itself often. Which is why in 2008, House of Hoops dropped bombs by releasing not one, but two dope PE colorways of the Air Jordan VIII. Limited to roughly 24 pairs each, sneakerheads who acted fast got to choose between a Quentin Richardson “Q23″ and Ray Allen “Sugar Ray” colorways, done up in their respective team colors at the time.
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Air Jordan IX Premio "Bin 23"
Year of Release: 2010Another significant release from 2010, Jordan Brand introduced us to the luxurious Bin 23 Collection. The second release from this “Premio” line was the gold-trimmed Air Jordan IX. Likely the most sought-after release of the Bin 23 collection, and with only 1,331 released, this gilded IX can set you back as much as four digits nowadays.
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Air Jordan V "Tokyo23"
Year of Release: 2011Just like the Air Jordan “Quai 54″ releases, the “Tokyo23″ Air Jordan V was a super limited, international-only release. Coinciding with the JB-sponsored Tokyo23 streetball tournament, in Tokyo, Japan, this mustard-color V commands a crazy price on the resale market…that is, if you can find them.
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Air Jordan V Premio "Bin 23"
Year of Release: 2011If the release of another installment of the Bin 23 collection wasn’t enough hype, the series’ final release, an Air Jordan V Premio, was also a Black Friday release. Dropping alongside the Air Jordan XIII “Flint” retro, those that didn’t come up on the Bin 23 Vs had a nice consolation prize as this premium iteration had just 2,133 pairs produced.
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Air Jordan I x Don C. "Just Jordan BHM"
Year of Release: 2013The most recent release on this list, is also one of the most limited. With only 37 pairs made, auctioned off via eBay, this collaboration between Jordan Brand and designer Don C. celebrated the 37th anniversary of Black History Month. Don C. provided his usual artistic flare to this pack, comprised of a crazy dope strapped version of an Air Jordan I High, and a plush black Jordan snapback.
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