June 22, 2025

Written byJestan Mendame

Air Jordan 8 “Aqua” Releasing On 19th

You know how some Jordans get all the love while others fly under the radar? That’s the Air Jordan 8 for you. It̵7;s never been the most hyped model – everyone goes crazy over the AJ4s and AJ5s instead. But when those first pics of the 2025 “Aqua” colorway leaked last week, my timeline blew up with OG sneakerheads freaking out.

I get it. There’s something special about the AJ8 that real collectors appreciate. Maybe it’s those crazy straps, or how it represents MJ’s three-peat era. The new Aquas look identical to my buddy’s beat-up 1993 pair – same bright teal hits, same bold black contrasts.

Will these sell out in seconds like the latest Travis Scott collab? Probably not. And that’s what makes them perfect. They’re for the heads who actually remember watching MJ dominate in these back in the day. If you’ve been waiting for a quality AJ8 retro, this might finally be your year.

Let’s talk about how the Air Jordan 8 stays refreshingly faithful to its roots. While most Jordan retros get tweaked to death, the AJ8 especially this 2025 version and the 2018 retro—keeps that chunky ‘90s silhouette we fell in love with. The light grey panels and collar trim? Still identical to the 1993 OG, making the all-black 2007 version the odd one out in the lineup.

But here’s the real win: that polarizing glitter midsole from the originals is finally gone in these new shots. And honestly? Nobody’s complaining. This might be the rare case where breaking from OG specs actually makes collectors happier kind of like how everyone preferred the Jordan 10 “Steel” without its original toe cap.

It’s proof that sometimes, staying too faithful to the past isn’t what fans want. The AJ8’s bold lines speak for themselves it doesn’t need disco-era sparkles to stand out.

Mark your calendars – July 2025 is shaping up to be a big month for AJ8 fans. While we’ll definitely get better pics and details as we get closer to launch day, these early shots give us a solid preview of what’s coming. The Air Jordan 8 “Aqua” is locked in for a full family release, meaning everyone from hardcore collectors to parents looking for matching kicks can get in on the action.

Keep it locked here for updates – we’ll be refreshing our Jordan Release Dates page regularly as more info surfaces. Something tells me this retro is going to hit different when we finally see it in hand.

Author

Jestan Mendame