5 Facts About the Air Jordan 4 ‘Military Blues’

If you’re a diehard Jordan fan, then I’m sure the Air Jordan 4s holds a lot of memorabilia for you.

Image Courtesy of @commonhype via Instagram 

From witnessing its on-court greatness to its relentless span of legendary and lifestyle-ready colourways - I mean, we wouldn’t be surprised if there is a mom ‘4s on the way. 

But that’s beside the fact, as we’ve delved deep into the archives to educate you on some ground-breaking facts (or merely common knowledge) on one of the most coveted colorways of all time - behold the Military Blues.

Gather around your screens sneakerheads as there’s a lot to learn about this icon, just before it gets re-released on our shelves on May 4th. 

1. The Colorway Was First Released In 1989

Alongside three other OG AJ4 colorways (Black Cement (AKA ‘Breds’), White Cement and Fire Reds), the ‘Military Blues’ first hit our shelves in 1989, sharing its stardom with the OG Nike Mags that were pictured on the feet of Marty McFly in the ‘80s blockbuster ‘Back To The Future’. 

The ‘Military Blues’ and ‘Nike Mags’ had another thing in common … their stealthy price tag. Despite that being a slight exaggeration from our end, when the Military Blues were first released they retailed for a $110 price tag - the most expensive Air Jordan model to have ever graced the ‘80s. 

2. The Silhouette Was Designed By Tinker Hatfield

After the success of the AJ3 model, Oregon-based designer Tinker Hatfield took the Jordan lineage under his wing once again, creating a functional but as equally as appealing as the Jordan 4 silhouette. Hatfield masterpiece comprised a durabuck ( synthetic leather) upper, characterized by polyurethane mesh inserts, a moulded heel tab and plastic wing eyelets for a durable completion. 

3. It Has Only Been Retroed Twice (Until Now)

After a long 17-year hiatus, the Jordan 4 ‘Military Blue’ returned as a Retro in 2006 but with some slight modifications. Tinker Hatfield’s titular shades of blue and white were tinted in a brighter hue to give the re-up a more luminous feel.

Cushioning was enhanced underfoot to increase on-court stability and one of the most controversial changes was the ‘Nike Air’ insignia on the heel that was swapped out with the Jumpman logo. Following suit in terms of design was the 2012 version, with the only thing setting them apart, being the hefty $45 price difference.

This year the silhouette gets its three-peat moment, with the 2024 rendition, drawing close affiliations to the OG ‘89 silhouette. But don’t fret! We will cover this in more detail in the point below.

4. The Latest Air Jordan 4 ‘Military Blue’ Version Returns With The OG Branding 

12 years after its second release, this year’s release of the Air Jordan 4 ‘Military Blue’ is arguably a sneaker purists’ dream come true. This can be solely down to the scrapping of the Jumpman logo, to revert to the OG ‘Nike Air’ branding on the heel. This attempt to spark nostalgia with many AJ4 collectors worldwide is yet another reason why its upcoming release in May is due to be a sought-after favourite. 

5. The Air Jordan 4 ‘Military Blue’ Was Never Worn On Court By Michael Jordan 

As dire as this sounds, the Air Jordan 4 ‘Military Blues’ were never seen on court during MJ's iconic 13-season tenure with the Bulls, presumably because they didn’t complement the team’s uniforms.

Nonetheless, Jordan was seen wearing the other OG colourways. He debuted the ‘Fire Red’ during the 1989 defeat in Inglewood, the ‘Breds’ was chosen for his appearances in the initial playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he donned the ‘White Cements’ throughout the 1989-1990 season, leading up to the unforgettable ‘The Shot’ event.

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