The Air Jordan 5 Fire Red is one of the most iconic original colorways of the AJ5, debuting back in 1990. Michael Jordan wore these during regular season games, and the colorway has stood the test of time as one of the more recognizable looks for the model.
Interestingly, there are actually two Fire Red OG colorways — one with a reflective silver tongue and one with a black tongue. The black tongue version doesn’t seem to have been retroed as often as the reflective tongue edition. Another key detail is that the Fire Reds were the only OG AJ5s to feature the stitched “23” on the side, something later retros and lifestyle pairs eventually made standard.
For 2025, Jordan Brand brings back the Fire Red 5 with some important changes that bring it closer to the OG. The overall shape has been updated to better reflect the sleeker profile of the original release, moving away from the banana toe builds we saw in retros from the 2000s and 2010s. We also get the 23 stitched in the correct OG font and placement, plus the Nike Air branding on the heel instead of a Jumpman. These details, while small, really make the sneaker feel more authentic to the 1990 version.
This is one of my favorite Air Jordan 5 colorways, and I’ve always regretted letting go of a previous retro I owned years ago. If I’m remembering right, one of the first preowned Jordans I ever bought was a pair of Fire Red 5s, so this release carries a bit of nostalgia for me. Given the updates and improvements, grabbing these on release day through SNKRS was a no-brainer.
This pair comes packaged in the standard grey cement print Jordan box with a black lid. Inside, you’ll find the shoes with white laces and the red/clear Nike-branded lace locks that have long been associated with this colorway.
Materials
The materials on the 2025 Fire Red 5 are a smooth white leather. While not premium by any stretch, I do think they’re a bit nicer than some of the earlier retros I’ve had in the past. The leather feels a touch softer and more pliable out of the box, which makes for a slightly better first impression. It’s not luxury quality, but for a general release retro, I’d say it meets expectations and does its job.
Fit & Comfort
Fit is true to size, and like most Air Jordan 5s, these run a little roomy overall. Comfort is what you’d expect from a late ‘80s/early ‘90s basketball shoe — solid cushioning underfoot but no modern tech. They’re fine for casual wear and will hold up for a few hours out and about, though I wouldn’t expect them to feel amazing for all-day use. Still, they’re one of the more wearable retro Jordans if you’re just styling them casually.
If these are sold out at different stores online or your nearest retailer (these are everywhere at time of release), you can try looking for them on eBay.
Colorway: White / Fire Red – Black
Style Code: HQ7978-101
Retail Price: $215
Year of Release: 2025