Air Jordan 5

The Air Jordan 5 from 1990 is the Jordan that borrowed its look from a fighter plane. Designer Tinker Hatfield gave it shark teeth on the midsole, a reflective tongue and a translucent sole. Within Air Jordan, the 5 is the pick for anyone after a tough, sporty retro sneaker.

The history of the Air Jordan 5

Hatfield drew his inspiration from the P-51 Mustang, an American Second World War fighter on which pilots painted a toothy shark mouth. Those teeth returned on the side of the midsole. It was his third Jordan design, after the Air Jordan 3 and the 4.

In March 1990 Michael Jordan scored 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers in this model, the highest total of his career. ‘Fire Red’ and ‘Black Metallic’ are among the original colours from that year. A year later came the Air Jordan 6, which carried over several details from the 5.

Design and technology

The upper is made of leather or nubuck, with see-through plastic netting panels on the sides. The tall tongue is lined with reflective 3M material and carries the Jumpman logo. A lace lock at the top keeps the laces in place, so you need to retie them less often. Visible Air sits under the heel, and the translucent rubber outsole gives the shoe its ‘icy’ look.

Popular Air Jordan 5 colorways

These versions are drawing the most attention on WOOVIN right now:

• Jordan 5 Retro ‘Wolf Grey’ (2026) – graphite grey and white with light grey accents.
• Jordan 5 Retro ‘Tokyo T23’ (2025) – a bright yellow version with Tokyo in its name.
• Jordan 5 Retro ‘Black University Blue’ (2026) – black with light blue details and white.
• Jordan 5 Retro ‘White Metallic’ (2026) – white with silver and black.
• Jordan 5 Retro ‘Wings’ (2025) (W) – medium grey with black and metallic silver.

What is the difference between the Air Jordan 5 and the Air Jordan 4?

The Air Jordan 4 and the 5 are one year apart and both have netting panels and Air in the heel. The 5 is taller, with a thicker collar, an upright reflective tongue and a lace lock instead of plastic wings. That makes it look chunkier and sportier; the 4 is more compact.

How does the Air Jordan 5 fit?

According to most retailers and wearers, the Air Jordan 5 fits true to size, so your normal Nike size is a fine starting point. The thick padding around the ankle makes it comfortable to walk in. Many wearers find it slightly roomier than the 4; if you have very wide feet and are unsure, go half a size up.

Buy the Air Jordan 5 at WOOVIN

On WOOVIN the Air Jordan 5 is available in recent retros, (W) versions and collaborations. With older pairs, check the sole: translucent rubber turns yellow over time, so an ‘icy’ sole may no longer be clear. Looking for a pair that goes with lots of clothes? Start with a grey or white version such as the Wolf Grey.