Technical Description

The Air Jordan 5 Retro OG "White Metallic" (style code HQ7978-103) arrives in a White / Metallic Silver / Black colorway that stays as close to the original as the silhouette has ever looked in retro form. The upper combines real and synthetic leather in crisp white, with translucent mesh on the side panels and tongue for the see-through detailing that defined the AJ5's original design language. The reflective Metallic Silver tongue is one of the shoe's most iconic features, catching light with every step. Metallic Silver flames run across the white midsole, nodding to the fighter jet-inspired design lines Tinker Hatfield drew from WWII aircraft when he created the shoe in 1990. The "23" embroidery on the lateral heel adopts a vintage-style font aligned with the 1990 OG look — and critically, this 2026 release replaces the Jumpman logo at the heel with Nike Air branding, restoring the detailing from the silhouette's original release for the first time since the colorway debuted. An icy translucent blue rubber outsole completes the look. Available in full family sizing.

Storytelling

The "White Metallic" colorway has never existed in OG form — it first appeared in 2000 as part of Jordan Brand's early retro program, then returned in 2015. But the 2026 version makes it more OG than it has ever been: by bringing back Nike Air branding at the heel instead of the Jumpman, Jordan Brand is aligning this colorway with the actual 1990 design intent. It's a subtle but significant correction — one that collectors and purists have been waiting over two decades for.

A Retro Done Right — April 25, 2026

The Air Jordan 5 Retro OG "White Metallic" drops April 25, 2026, via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers including Foot Locker, Finish Line, Hibbett, and DSG. It's one of the most anticipated Jordan retros of the spring — clean enough to wear anywhere, historically significant enough to matter. All authorized shops carrying this release are listed below.

Pics via Nike & Sneaker Politics