The 15 Best “Bred” Sneakers
This weekend, Jordan Brand will be officially celebrating the Air Jordan 4’s 35th anniversary with the new Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined.” Unofficially, the brand will also be honoring the legacy of the “Bred” colorway, one of the most influential and recognizable designs in sneakers history.
The legacy of the “Bred” colorway runs deep. In the mid-1980s, the “Bred” colorway was the inspiration for Nike’s legendary “Banned” campaign that centered around the NBA’s refusal to let Michael Jordan play in Chicago Bulls games in the black-and-red Nike Air Ship and Air Jordan 1 due to team uniform policy. By the end of the ‘80s, the “Bred” theme once again found its way onto an iconic Jordan shoe when it appeared on the Air Jordan 4 in 1989.
“Bred” sneakers continued to drive the popularity of the Air Jordan collection in the 1990s when the Air Jordan 11, Air Jordan 12, and Air Jordan 13 (and a few other models) were released in a black and red color combination. Today, there isn’t a sneaker brand around that doesn’t release a “Bred” colorway, which is a pretty clear indication of its popularity after all these years.
With the “Bred” theme back in the headlines thanks to the new Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined,” we’ve put together a list of 15 of our favorite “Bred” sneakers in our collection for your shopping experience. Expect to find plenty of Jordans, sure, but also a few slept-on “Bred” colorways that are absolutely worth your while.
These are 15 of the best “Bred” sneakers available now at Stadium Goods.
Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined”
The newest addition to the black-and-red Air Jordan family is of course the Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined.” With a new leather construction in place of the original “Bred” Jordan 4’s nubuck design, the “Bred Reimagined” continues the Jordan 4’s incredible legacy while also celebrating the model’s 35th anniversary year. (And Michael Jordan’s birthday, as well, because the “Bred Reimagined” releases on February 17th, the day of MJ’s 61st birthday.)
Air Jordan 1 High OG “Bred”
Without the Air Jordan 1 High “Bred,” there would be no “Bred” sneakers. That’s all that needs to be said about the legendary Air Jordan 1 High OG “Bred” colorway.
Air Jordan 11 “Bred”
It’s hard to rank the best “Bred” colorways, but if you were to, you’d have to rank the Air Jordan 11 “Bred” high on the list. The black-and-red Jordan 11 was Michael’s shoe of choice when he and the Chicago Bulls capped their incredible 1995-96 NBA season with an NBA Championship. Also, the Jordan 11 “Bred” is just a really, really great looking sneaker.
Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred”
Did you know that Jordan wore the Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred” as a Player Exclusive colorway in the ‘96 NBA Playoffs? It’s true. The “Bred” Jordan 11 Low didn’t actually receive an official retail release until 2015, which was 20 years after the Jordan 11 made its debut.
Air Jordan 11 Low IE “Bred”
While the Jordan 11 Low “Bred” wasn’t released at retail in the mid-90s, another version of the shoe was: the Air Jordan 11 Low IE “Bred.” An alternate, summer-friendly version of the Jordan 11 (according to the shoe’s designer, Tinker Hatfield), the Jordan 11 Low IE “Bred” was also worn by Jordan in the NBA. It was re-released in September 2021 in near-original form.
Nike Air Max 1 “Bred”
The Nike Air Max 1 “Bred” was released on Valentine’s Day in 2015, but really, the colorway is a lot more inspired by the Jordan 1 “Bred” than it is the lover’s holiday. Either way, the Air Max 1 “Bred” is an all-time great “Bred” colorway, and shoe in general.
Air Jordan 8 “Bred”
Just like how the Air Jordan 11 is available in multiple “Bred” colorways, so is the Air Jordan 8. You can catch the silhouette in this “Bred” colorway from 2017, and its original “Playoffs” colorway that Jordan wore in the ‘93 NBA Playoffs is basically a Bred colorway, too.
Nike SB Dunk High “Bred”
From the “Rivalry Pack,” the Nike SB Dunk High “Bred” is inspired by the Air Jordan 11 of the same nickname. The SB Dunk High “Bred” features the same materials and colors as the iconic Jordan 11 shoe, making for a classic release.
Air Jordan 13 “Bred”
Before retiring from the NBA for a second time in 1998, Jordan wore the Air Jordan 13 “Bred” on his way to yet another championship season with the Bulls. The “Bred” 13 remains an iconic shoe in the Air Jordan lineage, and was last retro’d in 2017, which means it could be due for another re-release in the near future.
Women’s Air Jordan 1 High OG “Satin Bred”
The Women’s Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Satin Bred” from 2023 is a women’s-exclusive colorway that was originally released in this satin construction in limited quantities in 2016, but in men's sizing. The two “Satin Bred” Jordan 1s are nearly identical to one another, save for a few minor differences.
adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Bred”
The adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Bred” was one of the most hyped sneakers in the entire adidas Yeezy line. That should tell you a lot about the “Bred” 350 V2, because the Yeezy series had more than a few talked about releases in its heyday.
Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game”
Michael Jordan’s performance while battling flu-like symptoms in Game 5 of the ‘97 NBA Finals is the stuff of legend. So is the sneaker he wore that day: the Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game.”
New Balance 650 “Bred”
Given its 1980s roots, it’s no surprise that the New Balance 650 is available in a “Bred” colorway. It’s refreshing to see another company besides Jordan or Nike outfit a sneaker in the classic, two-tone “Bred” look.
Air Jordan 9 “Bred”
A turn to baseball in the mid-90s meant that we didn’t get to see Jordan hoop in the Air Jordan 9, but that never impacted the shoe’s legacy. Or stopped Nike or Jordan Brand from giving us colorways like this “Bred” style that Mike could and would have worn had it been released in 1994 and he had been playing in the NBA.
Air Jordan 14 “Last Shot”
Before bowing out of the NBA for a second time in 1998, Jordan wore the Air Jordan 14 “Last Shot” against the Utah Jazz in the ‘98 NBA Finals. It was the last shoe he wore with the team he helped guide to six NBA Championships in the ‘90s, and will be forever known as the last of the “original” Air Jordans.