All About Nike's Jordan 1 Retro AJKO Sneakers

The iconic Air Jordan 1s debuted right around the time Michael Jordan was enjoying his historic rookie year in 1985. Still, you may not have heard of Nike's AJKO version, which was designed to compete against other sneaker brands that were flooding the market. The full name was the Air Jordan KO, and the mystery of the KO part remains today, with some saying it means knockout. While they flew mostly under the radar initially, the Air Jordan 1 KOs, or AJKOs, have whetted the appetites of many retro sneaker enthusiasts on eBay.

What Makes Jordan 1 Retro AJKO Different from Jordan 1?

A few noteworthy differences from the Air Jordan 1 sneakers have made their way to their retro variations. An example of this would be the heel roll on the AJKO. With Air Jordan 1 sneakers, you might notice that the back heel of the shoe is completely flat for improved traction. With the Jordan 1 Retro AJKO, however, there is an upswinging heel roll that helps support walking.

Another difference between the Air Jordan 1 and the AJKO is the mid and outsole design. While the Jordan 1 Retro AJKO has the two circular sections found in many Jordan varieties, the sole is less complex. The AJKO also has more concentric circles that branch off from the central circle, while Air Jordan 1s have lines and curves along the rear sole.

Finally, the famous Wings logo that appeared on the Jordan 1s was kept, but the AJKO name was added at the top. This established the AJKO Jordan 1s as their own sneaker and made them easy to recognize for attentive shoppers.

Air Jordan 1 Retro AJKO Rereleases

The Air Jordan 1 Retro AJKO ran for several years after its initial launch in 1985 before being abandoned. In response to the retro sneaker push of the 2000s and 2010s, Nike decided to bring them back in 2010, in 2014, and most recently in 2021. These new releases also led to the introduction of new colorways, such as the Paisley colorway, that added star design elements to the sneaker.

Jordan 1 Retro AJKO Materials

During the first run of this shoe in 1985, the AJKO was made from different materials than those found in the main Jordan 1 line. Rather than use a leather body like other Jordans, much of the AJKO was canvas. Now that the line has been revisited for retro sneaker lovers, this has changed. There are now several Jordan 1 Retro AJKO sneakers with part or all leather designs.

The Jordan 1 Retro AJKO Air Sole

While the AJKO changed quite a few elements that were initiated with the Jordan 1s, the shoe did have some key similarities. Most important of these was the inclusion of Nike's Air technology, which had first been developed by aerospace engineer Marion Franklin. This technology, which reduces impact and makes movement more comfortable, was introduced to the Nike line of sneakers by Tinker Hatfield in the early '80s and later incorporated into almost all Jordan footwear.