The best Air Jordan 4s of all time, ranked

Released in 2024 to coincide with the Paris Olympics, the Wet Cement edition of the AJ4 draws inspiration from Paris’ cobblestone streets with an all-grey colourway. It boasts a distinctively urban aesthetic, with its mix of nubuck leather and suede giving texture and dimension to the grey hues.

Back in 2023, the AJ4 sought some assistance from Nike SB to remaster the silhouette with minor tweaks and tech upgrades that, while honouring the OG version, ultimately made it more practical as a skateboarding sneaker. This Navy model is the first AJ4 x SB sneaker to appear on this list, but due to the widespread acclaim the revamped line has received, you can be certain that it won’t be the last. Some of the new features Nike SB introduced include a reworked sole construction, a Poron forefoot sock liner, and a dual leather and suede upper.

The first Oreo-inspired AJ4 – retroactively called Black Oreo – was released in 1999. It featured a speckled black and white colourway inspired by Oreo cookies. In 2020, they flipped the colourway around, introducing a new model known as White Oreo that took inspiration from the white cream inside an Oreo. We prefer the newer of the two, as the white base with grey streaks and black flecks is a little easier on the eyes.

One of the original AJ4 colourways, Michael Jordan frequently wore this Fire Red colourway on the court. The primary red and white tones meshed well with the Bulls’ home jersey, making it an obvious choice for Jordan. Those frequent on-court appearances only increased Fire Red’s appeal, and it remains a valued collector’s item more than 35 years later.

Like the Navy AJ4, Pine Green tinkers with Tinker Hatfield’s original design to make it more suitable for skateboarding. It boasts a reworked toe box for an improved fit, a deconstructed upper and plastic detailing. Nike Air units in the heel add some cushioning, while a zonal gum rubber on the outsole boosts traction. A colour scheme straight from the vault, the colour-blocking is a nod to the OG AJ4s, while the pine green accents serve as the flavour du jour.

In spite of some of the controversies surrounding the rapper, everything Travis Scott touches in the fashion world seems to turn to gold. He has collaborated on a number of Air Jordan silhouettes, but he saved his best work for the AJ4. The sky blue colour of the upper is an homage to Scott’s hometown football team, the now-defunct Houston Oilers, and the logo on the inner sole and the left heel are references to Scott’s Cactus Jack record label.

The pair Jordan was wearing when he hit ‘The Shot’, the Bred colourway is the most popular of all AJ4s. Debuting at the 1989 All Star game, Bred had sneakerheads hooked from day one. Colour coded with the Bulls’ away jersey, the shoes became synonymous with Jordan’s rise and have only grown in value over time. A 2019 re-release brought back Nike Air branding for the first time since 1999, further increasing Bred’s appeal. 

It may have only released in March of 2025, but we already believe that BMX rider Nigel Sylvester’s collaborative AJ4 is the best of the bunch. The all-red design immediately brings to mind images of Jordan rocking the OGs on the Bulls, but it’s actually inspired by New York City’s red-bricked streets where Sylvester grew up, hence the Brick By Brick moniker. The sail midsole and suede upper – which we’re told is not red, but is in fact firewood orange – enhance the look by delivering a striking contrast. On the heel, the traditional Nike branding is replaced by the word ‘Bike’ – a nod to Sylvester’s day job – atop a swoosh. Smaller details like the mini embroidered swoosh on the forefoot and reflective accents complete the design and help set it apart.