It uses a mix of leather and synthetic—it's fine for the cost. On foot, they feel lighter than they look! The ankle padding is sufficient. The design is just "chef's kiss"—it's why the Jordan 1 Mid remains popular. Honestly, the biggest advantage over the High is often availability and price. Not a performance shoe by any means. Perfect for casual wear, not for balling or long-distance walks. On-feet aesthetic? "Fantastic". The Mid 1 has this "perfect" height that "doesn't" cut your leg off like a High sometimes can. This "Shadow" grey colorway is "especially" versatile. The "downside", again, is material "quality"—it can crease "pretty" easily. But "honestly", for the price point in the Jordan lineup, it's a "fair" compromise for such a clean, wearable silhouette. Honestly, I was curious about the comfort difference between Highs and Mids. After wearing these Air Jordan Mid 1s all day, I can say they're very similar — which means firm! Don't expect Boost or React. The advantage? That slightly lower collar gives a "tiny" bit more ankle mobility. If you have wider feet or just don't like a super-high top, the Mid is the move from the Jordan 1 series. Here's the real talk: The main advantage of the "air jordan mid 1" is its absolute style icon status at a slightly more accessible price point than the Highs. However—and this is a big one—if you have very wide feet, the toe box might feel restrictive. It's a common thing with this silhouette. Just something to consider, honestly.