no the reason is that Durabuck was lighter and more expensive than leather. the original shoes designed by Tinker were intended and designed using Durabuck and were intended for mj to play in so the designs had intentional performance reasons within the designs that included Durabuck. the grapes and other 6's were not intended for mj to actually play in they were basically early lifestyle shoes so they incorporated mixed materials. All the shoes that were colorways he played in were full Durabuck including Carmine 6's
Air Jordan V retro OG - Nike Air - Fire Red/Silver tongue - May 2, 2020
- Thread in 'Jordan Brand' Thread starter Started by salacious crumb,
- Start date
no the reason is that Durabuck was lighter and more expensive than leather. the original shoes designed by Tinker were intended and designed using Durabuck and were intended for mj to play in so the designs had intentional performance reasons within the designs that included Durabuck. the grapes and other 6's were not intended for mj to actually play in they were basically early lifestyle shoes so they incorporated mixed materials. All the shoes that were colorways he played in were full Durabuck including Carmine 6's
I can email Tinker and confirm if you would like to hear it from him. but I have honestly have had a similar discussion with him last year about this. MJ preferred Durabuck and Nike gave us the same shoes MJ actually wore despite people thinking his were different they weren't unless it was an injury specific design.
- Aug 4, 2013
- 760
- 2,791
Were talking production models not PEs which varies widely from the released versions. From the aging and feel of the OGs it looks like they went with a combination of both on the retail pairs. Also yeah I have Tinkers number too tell him ByRon is curious to know too
dhtowng
Supporter
- May 22, 2010
- 9,950
- 20,901
So you know what exact materials were on the pairs MJ himself wore? OG White infrared 6s were leather too.
- Jul 10, 2008
- 6,202
- 4,305
I’m waiting on that tinker email 
dhtowng
Supporter
- May 22, 2010
- 9,950
- 20,901
It just gets better and better lol. I’m also waiting on the “throw your whole pair of Jordan’s in the wash machine because this white leather is actually cloth” instructions.
Last edited:
The Fresh Prince
formerly airsakuragi
- Nov 17, 2014
- 13,559
- 9,648
Were talking production models not PEs which varies widely from the released versions. From the aging and feel of the OGs it looks like they went with a combination of both on the retail pairs. Also yeah I have Tinkers number too tell him ByRon is curious to know too
Would love to collaborate with Jordan on a Jordan 6. Think you could put in a good word
- Sep 11, 2012
- 234
- 170
I'll NEVER forget when these hit the outlets for 20 bucks the summer of 2000, I wanted to flex in summer school lol , biggest size the Lancaster outlet had was a 9, I had to settle for the Navy n white flight 89's...
Ok so after a word with Tinker it looks like the only difference in PEs and production shoes were slight padding differences in the ankle areas that’s it nothing else including materials were changed from retail pairs. Most of you I’m sure never owned original pairs because if you have we would not be having this discussion about various materials being used. If you have held originals it’s extremely obvious what pairs were full Durabuck and which pairs were leather.
- Feb 3, 2019
- 2,436
- 5,204
This is a pic of my dads old OG black tongues.. the heal and ankle are clearly the same material.. the material is also very porous looking if you zoom in on it.. none of my shoes in my collection have this kind of porous looking material.
Clearly an all Durabuck upper
This is a pic of my dads old OG black tongues.. the heal and ankle are clearly the same material.. the material is also very porous looking if you zoom in on it.. none of my shoes in my collection have this kind of porous looking material.
- Feb 6, 2018
- 552
- 1,827
Can someone tell me why there isn't the "23" on the side on the 2020s?
- Jul 10, 2008
- 6,202
- 4,305
Damn my guy got tinker on speed dial 
- Aug 4, 2013
- 760
- 2,791
Besides the PEs the regular Silver tongue Fire Reds didn't have 23 on the side. The retail black tongue Fire Reds did though.
- Feb 6, 2018
- 552
- 1,827
Hoping for the black tongue Fire Reds to drop as well 
- Feb 6, 2018
- 552
- 1,827
.
- Aug 4, 2013
- 760
- 2,791
Hoping for the black tongue Fire Reds to drop as well
first things first I need that proper Grape retro after that blasphemy that was the Fresh Prince retro
- Feb 3, 2019
- 2,436
- 5,204
Just throw some laces in em dawg.first things first I need that proper Grape retro after that blasphemy that was the Fresh Prince retro
- Aug 4, 2013
- 760
- 2,791
You need to punch actual holes in them in order to do that loll nah I'm good I'll wait.
- Dec 7, 1999
- 952
- 3,814
- Oct 10, 2014
- 2,536
- 12,231
Ya and it’s beyond easy. These will hold me over until we do get a Grape Nike Air with lace holes retro. When they’re on feet no one knows.
- Aug 4, 2013
- 760
- 2,791
Ya and it’s beyond easy. These will hold me over until we do get a Grape Nike Air with lace holes retro. When they’re on feet no one knows.
It's more the principal of it. I'm not spending resell now on a pair of shoes that I know will drop a few years down with the correct adjustments and that will cause me to basically dump this current shoe for that. Same reason why I passed on free throw line 3s.
- Apr 23, 2015
- 8,799
- 10,386
Were they?
dhtowng
Supporter
- May 22, 2010
- 9,950
- 20,901
Na they were durabuck. Is that what you want to hear lol
- Oct 10, 2014
- 2,536
- 12,231
Surprised no one brought this up. Edited the photo with marks to show that the Nike air logo and collar height don’t line up and are serious out of whack....
