The Air Jordan 4 retro sits at an interesting crossroads. It's a shoe with genuine 1989 design pedigree, a devoted collector base, and a release calendar that Nike keeps stocked year after year. That makes it easy to find. It also makes it easy to buy a pair that disappoints if you don't know what to expect from the retro construction. This review covers what you actually get when a pair arrives at your door: the fit, the materials, the comfort, and which colorways hold their value after the hype settles.
Fit and sizing
The Air Jordan 4 retro fits true to size for most people. If you wear a US 10 in Nike running shoes, start at a US 10 here. The toe box is moderately roomy, not as generous as the Air Jordan 1, but it doesn't pinch. Wearers with wider feet tend to go up a half size. The heel cup is firm and holds well, so sizing up more than half a size risks slippage at the back.
Lacing matters on this shoe. The 4's molded plastic wings are there for structure, not just looks. Lace tightly enough that the wings sit flat against the ankle, and the fit locks in nicely. Go too loose and the shoe feels sloppy despite the stiff construction around it.
Upper materials: what the retro actually uses
The original 1989 Air Jordan 4 used a mix of nubuck and mesh. Most modern retros replicate that combination, but the execution varies by colorway and production run. Recent pairs (from 2023 onward) have used a nubuck-like tumbled leather that reads well at a distance but feels thinner than vintage stock when you press into it.
The mesh panels on the sides and tongue are functional. They breathe reasonably well for a basketball-heritage shoe. Nike has applied synthetic overlays on the mesh in some colorways that reduce breathability, so it's worth checking the material callout before you buy if ventilation matters to you.
The plastic wing eyelets are a polarizing part of the design. On quality pairs, they sit flush and click satisfyingly when laced. On lower-quality production runs, they can feel brittle. Yellowing of the plastic is common on older pairs and is worth inspecting if you're buying from the secondhand market.
Comfort and sole performance
The Air Jordan 4 retro uses a full-length encapsulated Air unit in the midsole. It's visible from the heel window. Underfoot, the ride is firm. It's not a modern foam cushion situation. The Air unit provides noticeable heel cushioning, but the forefoot is stiff by today's standards.
For casual wear and short walks, the 4 is comfortable enough. A full day on your feet will remind you this is a basketball shoe designed in 1989. Insole swaps help. A thin aftermarket insole added under the stock one makes the forefoot noticeably more comfortable without affecting fit.
The outsole is herringbone rubber. Traction on clean surfaces is solid. The outsole on retro pairs tends to be slightly harder than on performance releases, which extends the visual life of the pattern but reduces grip on wet pavement.
Which colorways hold resale value
Not every Air Jordan 4 retro is equal on the resale market. A handful of colorways consistently trade above retail; the rest settle below it within a few months of release. Understanding how Nike structures its drops helps set expectations on that front. For a breakdown of how the release calendar works and where to track pairs before they sell out, the article on Air Jordan release dates and how drops actually work is a good starting point.
The colorways with sustained demand share a few traits: they reference original 1989 colorways (Fire Red, White Cement, Black Cement), they were produced in limited quantities, or they carry a meaningful collaboration. The "White Cement" and "Bred" makeups have been retroed multiple times. Each re-release pushes resale prices for the previous version down, so timing matters.
Collaboration pairs (think Union, Off-White, and similar) carry the highest premiums at launch, but those premiums can compress quickly once the hype cycle passes. Standard GR (general release) colorways frequently dip below retail within 60 to 90 days.
Legit check basics
The Air Jordan 4 retro is one of the most counterfeited Jordan silhouettes. A few checkpoints narrow down authenticity quickly. First, check the tongue tag: the font on authentic pairs is tightly spaced and the Jumpman sits centered. Second, the heel tab should feel substantial and sit perpendicular to the heel cup. Flimsy or slightly angled tabs appear frequently on fakes. Third, the outsole Nike Air text should be clean and evenly debossed.
The mesh netting along the sides is another tell. On authentic pairs, the mesh is uniform in weave and slightly recessed behind the surrounding TPU frame. Replicas often have mesh that sits proud of the frame or uses an inconsistent weave pattern.
Bottom line
The Air Jordan 4 retro delivers a solid piece of sneaker history in a package that's wearable daily but honest about its limits. The materials are good, not exceptional. The cushioning is adequate for casual wear. Sizing runs true. If you're buying to wear, the standard GR colorways offer the best value per dollar. If you're buying for resale, stick to limited colorways tied to original 1989 makeups and pull the trigger close to release day. Pairs that sit on shelves after the first week rarely climb back.