The Air Jordan 3 Retro "Laser" landed on August 22, 2026, and it's one of the most detailed Jordan 3 releases in years. Style code JA1369-001, dressed in Phantom, Palomino, Sail, and a hit of University Red, with the entire upper laser-etched with artwork built from Michael Jordan's career. It's a modern take on a one-of-one pair gifted to MJ for his 40th birthday back in 2003, and it retails for $230.
Straight out of the box, the Laser 3 ships with a white and brown lace setup that leans into the vintage, archival look of the shoe. We picked up a pair and tried two different lace swaps: a University Red lace that pulls straight from the Jumpman on the tongue, and a Sail lace that resets the whole shoe into one clean, tonal palette. Here's how both look, plus the exact lace length and color to buy for your own pair.
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Eyelet Count (Lace Holes): 6
Recommended Lace Length: 54"
Lace Style: Flat
Stock Lace Color: White and Brown (Two-Tone)
About the Air Jordan 3 Retro "Laser"
The Laser 3 isn't a simple colorway flip. The entire Phantom leather upper is laser-etched with graphics tied to Michael Jordan's life and career, from championship moments to personal interests, echoing the laser-engraving process Jordan Brand first used on Air Force 1s and Air Jordan 4s in the early 2000s. Palomino suede wraps the toe box, heel counter, and collar, and a University Red Jumpman sits on the tongue as the shoe's one bright pop of color. A white midsole and a brown-toned outsole finish things off underfoot.
Lace Swap #1: University Red (Pulling the Color From the Jumpman)
This is the swap we'd reach for first. The Jumpman on the tongue is already University Red, so swapping in a red lace does not add a new color to the shoe, it just pulls a color that is already there and makes it louder. It is the same "match the logo" method we use across our Jordan guides: find the smallest accent color already on the shoe and let the laces repeat it. On the Laser 3, that means the laces stop being an afterthought and start acting like part of the design.
Our flat Jordan replacement laces come in University Red at 54", the correct length for the Jordan 3's 6-eyelet setup.
Shop Red Jordan Replacement Laces
Lace Swap #2: Sail (A Cleaner, Monochrome Reset)
If the two-tone white and brown stock laces feel a little busy against all that laser-etched detail, a Sail lace is the fix. Sail blends into the Phantom base instead of contrasting with it, which quiets the upper down and lets the etched artwork and Palomino suede do the talking. It is the same tonal approach we recommend on Sail Jordan 1 and Dunk swaps: when a shoe already has a lot going on, a lace that matches instead of a lace that contrasts is usually the cleaner call.
Shop Sail Jordan Replacement Laces
What Lace Length Fits the Air Jordan 3 "Laser"?
The Air Jordan 3 has 6 eyelets per side, and the correct replacement length is 54". That holds for every Jordan 3 colorway, including the Laser, since lace length is set by eyelet count and shoe height, not by the print or materials on the upper.
We only carry 36", 48", 54", 63", and 72" laces, because those five lengths cover the fit range across Jordans and most Nike sneakers cleanly, without leaving customers between sizes. For the Jordan 3, stick with 54" for a standard criss-cross tie. If you like your laces looser with more room for a double knot or a fuller bow, 63" also works, though most people find 54" the cleaner fit. Measuring your stock laces flat, tip to tip, is always the most reliable way to double-check before you buy.
Not sure about a different pair in your rotation? Check our full Shoe Lace Size Chart & Guide.
How to Choose a Lace Color for Any Jordan Release
You do not need a design background to pick a lace color that works. There are three methods we come back to on every new release, and the Laser 3 is a good example of all three:
- Match the logo: find the smallest accent color already on the shoe, usually a logo, a stripe, or a stitch detail, and repeat it in the laces. On the Laser 3, that is the University Red Jumpman on the tongue, which is exactly why the red lace swap works so well.
- Go tonal: pick a lace color close to the shoe's base color instead of an accent. Sail against the Phantom upper is a tonal match, it blends in rather than standing out, and it is the move when a shoe's upper is already busy or detailed.
- Go contrast: choose a color that is not anywhere on the shoe for a deliberate pop. This is less common on a shoe like the Laser 3 with all that etched detail, but it is worth knowing for cleaner colorways with more open space on the upper.
For more on this, read our 3 Simple Rules for Matching Shoelaces to Your Sneakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size laces fit the Air Jordan 3 Retro "Laser"?
The Air Jordan 3 has 6 eyelets per side, and a 54" flat lace is the recommended replacement length. If you like a looser, double-wrapped tie, 63" also works.
What color do the Air Jordan 3 "Laser" shoes come with?
The Laser 3 ships with a two-tone white and brown lace setup that matches the Phantom and Palomino colorway.
What lace color pairs best with the Air Jordan 3 "Laser"?
University Red pulls directly from the Jumpman logo on the tongue for an on-theme match, while a Sail lace creates a cleaner, monochrome look against the Phantom base.
Can I use Jordan 1 replacement laces on my Jordan 3?
Not directly. Jordan 1 Highs typically take a 63" to 72" lace, while the Jordan 3 uses a shorter 54" lace because it has fewer eyelets. Buy the length made for your specific model rather than reusing laces across models.
Are Air Jordan 3 laces flat or round?
Flat. Air Jordan 3s use a flat woven lace, not a round or oval lace.
Shop Jordan 3 "Laser" Lace Swaps
Both colorways are available now in the correct 54" length for the Jordan 3, along with every other length we carry if you are lacing a different Jordan model in your rotation.
Shop Red Laces Shop Sail Laces
