The Nike Air Jordan 4 is enjoying yet another moment, riding the wave of recent, and much-hyped, collabs. The most notable arriving in the form of the Union x Air Jordan 4, which released in "Guava" and "Off Noir" colorways, and, of course, the "Sail" Off-White™ x Air Jordan that is now going for thousands at resale. Add that to The Last Dance still being watched and rewatched, and you've got some serious spotlight.
First hitting the court during an NBA All-Star Game in 1989, the AJ4 has long been a lauded member of the Jordan silhouette family. At the '89 NBA Playoffs, the Chicago Bulls were one point down to the Cleveland Cavaliers with just three seconds left of the game. Michael Jordan, wearing the "Black Cement" Air Jordan 4s, then hit "The Shot" and won the playoff series.
With Tinker Hatfield facing the difficult task of designing a follow-up to the iconic Air Jordan 3, Nike's approach was to make only subtle aesthetic changes to its already hugely-popular sneaker, betting big on leaving the AJ3's most important design features in place. It worked wonders.
Today, we're celebrating an icon, looking past the hyped collabs of recent months, and selecting our very favorite Nike Air Jordan 4 sneakers. You can shop all of them at Stadium Goods.
Shop some of the all-time best Nike Air Jordan 4 sneakers below.
Nike Air Jordan 4 "Bred" 2019
The "Bred" is one of the all-time most recognizable Jordan and AJ4 colorways, first dressing the silhouette 30 years ago. This 2019 retro featured the original "Nike Air" branding for the first time since the 1999 retro. An ultimate classic.
Nike Air Jordan 4 "What The"
If one iconic colorway doesn't satisfy you, then this might be a match. The Air Jordan 4 "What The" combines elements of the “White Cement,” “Military Blue,” “Fire Red,” and “Black Cement” colorways in one sneaker that also dropped in 2019.
Nike Air Jordan 4 Retro WNTR BG “Loyal Blue”
A winterized edition of the AJ4, this sneaker is built in weather-ready materials, making use of waterproof leather and rubberized materials. Perfect for the upcoming season switch.
Nike Air Jordan 4 “Metallic Pack - Purple”
Region-specific releases tend to be some of the most coveted around, and the Nike Air Jordan 4 “Metallic Pack - Purple” is exactly that. Released in the summer this year, this colorway was exclusive to the US and is inspired by the metallic releases of the AJ1.
Nike Air Jordan 4 “Metallic Pack - Green"
Also a part of 2020's "Metallic Pack," this sneaker again honors the original 1985 design of MJ's first signature shoe. The "Metallic Green" was exclusive to China.
Nike Air Jordan 4 Womens “Off-White™ - Sail”
OK, while we're mostly talking about the classics here, we just had to throw this one in. A women's sneaker, this Virgil collab is one of the most highly-coveted AJ4s in recent memory. Teased across a painful number of months for Jordan fans, the shoe comes in a pastel tone and bears Abloh's signature quotations.
Nike Air Jordan 4 “Black Cat” 2020
Murdered-out and absolutely perfect for winter conditions, the "Black Cat" is the second release of one of the most distinct, non-OG Jordan colorways. The name is an ode to one of MJs many aliases.
Nike Air Jordan 4 Womens "Rasta Green"
The "Rasta Green" sits on the relatively affordable side of Jordan sneaker shopping and was released to celebrate Kingston's Jamaica Festival, an annual event of music, dance, and food. Coming in women's sizes only, the shoe bears colors of the Rastafarian movement.
Nike Air Jordan 4 “Alternate Motorsports”
Dropping as an alternative take on the classic "Motorsport" Jordan 4 from 2017, the white and "Game Royal" elements of the OG shoe are swapped out for pretty much all-black, resulting in a winter-ready high top.
Nike Air Jordan 4 “Cool Grey"
Granted, the AJ4, and all Jordan silhouettes, can come in some pretty wild colorways. That being said, there are always subtle classics like the "Cool Grey" to shop if you like to go more minimal. This 2019 retro of a 2004 classic was warmly welcomed by collectors.
Our designated Selects section features products that we love and want to share with you. Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.
