Review: 2022 Air Jordan 4 “Military Black”
The Bottom Line:
They aren’t the OG “Military Blues” that we’ve all been waiting for, but they’re a VERY nice alternative. From the materials to the color-blocking, this is one shoe I can’t say too much negative about. Definitely worth a cop in my opinion.
Is The AJ4 The New “It” Shoe For Jordan Brand?
I know you’re here for a sneaker review, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t preface my thoughts on this sneaker with the following question….
“Is The Air Jordan 4 replacing the Air Jordan 1 as the most hyped Jordan in 2022?”
My answer is “kinda”, but feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below, after reading this review.
Now that I got that out of my system, let’s get into this sneaker. As usual, we’ll look at quality, comfort, and sizing from my perspective. in an effort to determine if this shoe is fit to be “King” and if it’s worth your hard earned money.
Quality
Air Jordan 4 “Military Black”
How Good are The Materials?
Sadly enough, when it comes to materials and overall craftsmanship, I don’t expect a whole lot from Jordan Brand these days. Even with the new $10 increase in retail prices in 2022, you just never know what you’re going to get on either front.
With that being said, I was pretty pleased with the pairs I was able to get my hands on. No glaring issues with construction, but as I eluded to above, your experience may be different due to inconsistencies with Jordan Brand’s quality control measures.
Suede The hits of light grey suede that appear in various spots on the shoe look and feel similar to suedes found on prior Jordan releases. It has a nice nap (texture) but isn’t what I’d call “buttery soft’ by any stretch of the imagination. To be honest, it reminds of the suede found on the $110 New Balance 550 models.
Leather: The white leather upper is the material I was probably most surprised with on this sneaker. At first glance it looks soft and when you touch it, you can definitely feel that it’s a decent cut for a general release.
Textile Sock-liner: I like what Jordan Brand did with the sock liner on this shoe. Instead of the traditional cotton material, they opted for a satin-like textile that’s smooth to the touch and has a slight sheen to it. I’m not sure many people pay attention to things like this, but it’s definitely worth mentioning in my opinion.
HOW WAS THE CRAFTSMANSHIP?
When it comes to most Air Jordan 4s, the main concern when it comes to craftsmanship is the glue stains and midsole paint. For the pairs I had it hand, all were fine on both fronts. The midsole paid was crisp, clean and even, and the upper and midsole were joined precisely.
Comfort
Air Jordan 4 “Military Black”
How Good Is the Comfort?
Let’s be clear….This Air Jordan 4 retro is essentially an ‘80s basketball shoe that hasn’t had any major tech updates since it’s original release. Because of this, you can’t expect to the blown away by its comfort, but it’s not a bad option for casual wear. It’s definitely not a bad option when you’re styling and profiling or just making moves around town.
Midsole Comfort: Initial step-in comfort is firm, but gets better with each wear. As a guy who wears a lot of runners, I can definitely fell how much more rigid sneaker’s midsole is compared to runners which are more flexible.
Upper Comfort The all-leather upper feels good to the foot upon entry. One thing to note is that the shoe obviously doesn’t offer much breathability so keep that in mind when choosing to wear your AJ4s in the warmer weather.
Fit & Sizing
Air Jordan 4 “Military Black”
How Does The Air Jordan 4 Fit?
For me, I choose to go with my normal Nike size (US12) when buying Air Jordan 4s and they fit comfortably. Going with this size allows me to wear my shoes untied without having to worry about foot slippage or foot pain.
In-Between Sizes: If you’re someone who happens to be in between sizes, I’d recommend going with your larger size.
Narrow Feet: For those with narrow feet, I’d still recommend going with your normal Nike size.
Wide Feet: I’ve come across some people who say they like to go a half-size up in Air Jordan 4s to alleviate any pressure on the pinky toe.
In-Hand Photos:
YOUR TURN
How do you feel about the Air Jordan 4 “Military Black”?
leave a comment below
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