If it were 1986, the cheapest Air Jordan would be a deadstock pair of the Jordan 1 at a local mom-and-pop shop.

Today, however, acquiring unworn, high-quality Jordans for under $65 USD is improbable, if at all possible. Yet, participating in the most successful athlete-specific line of all-time can be done at a (relatively) affordable level.

Adult sizes of the most-coveted retros are typically priced at $190 USD, although the ever-popular Jordan 1 High sells at retail for $170 USD.

Kids’ iterations of the Jordan 3 and Jordan 4, for example, range between $60 USD (Toddler) and $140 USD (Grade School). Special Edition, or SE, pairs of these same silhouettes are sometimes priced $10 USD or $20 USD higher.

‘Cheap’ and ‘Jordans’ may seem oxymoronic, but [they’re out there].

You just have to know where to look. Luck also helps.

Air Jordan 1 Low

The Jordan 1 Low is the least expensive (read: cheapest) sneaker within the Air Jordan catalog.

General releases of the lifestyle-oriented sneaker retail for $90 USD. With news of the silhouette returning to its original, 1985-form throughout Spring 2021, pricing may see an increase, but should still fall well-below the Jordan 11 ($200 USD), which is currently the most-expensive model in the 34-sneaker line.

In case you got unlucky on the Nike SNKRS app and weren’t able to secure a given pair at launch, your best bet would be to redeem yourself on the after-market. A brief look on Stadium Goods or similar platforms, however, may discourage you given how resale prices frequently seek double and more a sneaker’s retail value.

Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Quai54’

As Business Insider has reported, Cowen & Co has estimated that the sneaker resale market is worth $2 billion, and on-track to increase to $6 billion by 2025.

So are you out-of-luck?

Yes – if you’re looking for highly-coveted, limited Jordans in brand-new condition for or around retail. But if you don’t mind owning pre-worn and/or less-popular pairs, the secondhand market is laden with gems and “steals”.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG

Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Low Cq4277 001

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG

As with any investment, it’s smart to know what you’re getting into. Fake Jordans are still rampant on the after-market, having gotten so close in quality to genuine pairs that some have been approved by sneaker authenticators. While there’s no sure-way of confirming whether or not a pair is “real” other than buying it from the brand itself, the Internet is full of resources to assist you in your after-market endeavors.

“Cheap” and “Jordans” may seem oxymoronic, but buying during sales, leveraging current pairs in a trade, and scouring well-established or local after-market communities may prove “cheap Jordans’” validity. Sometimes, all it takes is simply getting lucky.

Collaborative and special releases, however, may be off-limits due to their scarcity and hype.