Closer Look: The Tinker Hatfield-Designed Air Jordan 1 Mid Oregon PE
Being an athlete at the University of Oregon doesn’t just mean access to one of the most prestigious sports programs around, it also means the possibility of being seeded some of the rarest sneakers ever made. Given its proximity to HQ – and the fact that Swoosh co-founder Phil Knight and legendary designer are alumni – the Oregon Ducks, across their multiple disciplines, more often than not get their hands on some serious heat. Speaking of Hatfield, he’s behind the latest Mid PE colourway designed expressly for the Oregon Ducks Track and Field team.
While the AJ1 Mid tends to be the runt of the litter compared to its other ankle height siblings, this PE ups the ante and holds its own. Supple suede uppers are a premium upgrade to the usual leather type, and the two shades of grey is a good look. It’s not an Oregon sneaker without hits of green, which this colourway delivers generously via the mesh lining and matching rubber outsole. But what really drives the Oregon theme home is the custom Jumpman and Oregon ‘O’ logo superimposed together on the tongue embroidery, plus the Oregon Ducks Track and Field heel badge.
As is the case with most Oregon PEs, don’t expect these AJ1s to be available for sale – at least through official channels.