Jordan 5

Color Combination: black, red,

Like the IV before it, the Air Jordan V improves incrementally on the cushioning provided by its predecessor. Its midsole feels a bit thicker (though still not quite substantial enough under the forefoot by modern standards) and more responsive, with that responsiveness in evidence pretty much right out of the box. This softer out-of-box feel provided by the V’s midsole marked a nice change from the rock-hard start-up characteristic of all prior Jordans.

Where the V takes a big step away from its predecessor is in its cut, which is substantially higher than the IV’s and very nearly in hightop territory. In fact, the inner, or medial, side of the V’s ankle collar extends above the big bone on the medial side of the ankle (aka the medial malleolus), which is what defines a hightop as a hightop. What qualifies the V as a mid in spite of this is that the outer, or lateral, side of its ankle collar dips almost an inch-and-a-half lower, placing it alongside, but definitely not over the big bone on the lateral side of the ankle.