Adidas AE 1 Low vs High (Which One Is Better?)

Just got back from Foot Locker and I am super hyped to get this pair right here. I've been wanting a low-top pair of the AE 1s since we saw Anthony Edwards himself debut them—or maybe it was a leak; I can't remember the first time. Finally, we got our first pair released to the public, and surprisingly, I was able to just walk into Foot Locker and grab them. This shoe has been a hot commodity and pretty hard to get for retail. They don't go for any crazy resale prices, but they still aren't just available unless you get lucky.

I looked at them in the store but didn't really look at them, if that makes sense. I just tried them on to double-check my size because, obviously, I've been playing in these for the last 30 days. If you watch my review on these, I literally just dropped it. It might be the same shoe, but the low-top form might fit differently.

So, same box, nothing special—just the black AE box with the slants on the side. Anthony Edwards has been wearing these during the Olympics, the playoffs, and now we can start wearing them for basketball. Let me lace them back up and make them look nice and pretty for you guys.

Also, if you're new here, this is my sneaker review channel, Crew Kicks, not to be mistaken for my Crew TV channel, which is my vlog and bigger project main channel. This channel is all about dedicated sneaker reviews, so you'll see less editing, less crazy B-roll, and more simple reviews and discussions about sneaker-related stuff.

First Impressions and Sizing

Here they are. I went with the same size as the regular AE 1s, but we'll do a comparison later. For now, let's just talk about these first. In hand, Adidas basketball—you guys are killing it. The AE line, the James Harden line, and the Dame line—y'all are doing great things. I think y'all need to discontinue the Trey Young line; no offense to Trey Young. The Donovan Mitchell line—I'm not mad at it, but I've rarely seen people playing in his shoes.

These are very nice. I could see myself wearing these off-court. The shoe has a camo tie-dye vibe on the side panel, which is very cool. I noticed some differences between the highs and the lows. I went with the same sizing, but these seem a little bit big. I'm usually a size 10 in my hoop shoes, but I had to go for a 9.5 in these. If you're usually a 10, you gotta get a 9.5.

I tried these on, and they fit a little slim around the toe area. It felt tight on the top of the toe, similar to the Yeezy 350 V2s. The material on this pair is different, with suede on the toe versus a nice little 3M on the highs.

Performance and Comparison

The overall aesthetic is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to hoop in these. Differences between the highs and the lows include how the highs have a flimsy knitted material while the lows are expected to wrap around your ankle better.

Other differences:

The low top has some kind of modification on the inner side of the shoe.
Boost is protruding out of the midsole on the lows.
The heel cup and cushioning remain consistent between models.
The tongue on the lows looks more functional and wider as compared to the highs.

Performance-wise, I feel like I'll be more locked in with the lows. As for the high tops, the collar area padding was insufficient to lock the foot in securely.

Personal Insights

Honestly, I want another colorway of these to wear casually. They look very cool when worn unlaced. Concerning the toe box, the 3M material on the low might not break in as easily as the suede on the highs, which might affect comfort.

Conclusion

Let me know your thoughts and opinions on this shoe. Who's planning to pick these up? Who already picked these up? I will leave the links if they are still available.

Thank you for reading!

Keywords

Foot Locker
AE 1s
Anthony Edwards
Adidas Basketball
Sizing
High Tops
Low Tops
Camo Tie-Dye
Boost
Performance

FAQ

Q1: Is there a difference in sizing between the high tops and low tops of the AE 1s? A1: Yes, the low tops seem to fit a little larger. If you're usually a 10, you should get a 9.5.

Q2: Can the AE 1 lows be worn casually? A2: Absolutely, they look very stylish when worn unlaced and could be a great casual wear option.

Q3: Are there significant performance differences between the highs and lows? A3: Yes, the lows are expected to wrap around your ankle better and feel more secure compared to the highs, which have a flimsier upper material.

Q4: Do the AE 1 lows and highs have the same traction pattern? A4: Yes, both models have the same traction pattern.

Q5: Are the materials used on the AE 1 lows and highs different? A5: Yes, the lows use a 3M material on the toe, while the highs have a suede material.