Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan 4 debuted way back in 1989. Its signature details included quarter panel netting, Wing lace structure, elongated heel tab, Nike and Jordan logos, and, of course, the visible Air-Sole unit. Now, more than 35 years later, the Jumpman spins up a new sneaker that takes some of the elements of the OG — and does away with others.
The Air Jordan 4RM, for instance, retains the chunky, late-’80s vibe of the AJ 4, but the new, lower cut lifestyle sneaker refines some of the features. The mesh quarter panel netting is no longer. Rather, a tighter-woven mesh informs the area around the lacing system. This shoe also keeps wearers lighter on their feet, limiting the use of rubber and adding Zoom Air units for more advanced cushioning.
The sleeker build and thicker midsole of the AJ 4RM make it the perfect Dad shoe, complete with upper materials of suede, leather and mesh. TPU overlays, meanwhile, run along the shoe’s sides, with a gridded TPU overlay coating the heel. Branding-wise, the 4RM includes a Nike Air logo on the heel, a Jordan Flight logo on the nylon tongue tag and various Jumpman insignias embedded throughout. The Air Jordan 4 RM retains a similar rubber outsole, complete with varying herringbone traction patterns for precision and grip.
