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Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison

1305 days ago - by Matt Halfhill - 120 comments
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro ComparisonThis weekend the Black/Red Air Jordan 4 returns for the first time in almost a decade. The last time this shoe released was when it was the first retro released after Jordan’s second departure from the NBA. Though many heads are amped for the long awaited return of the shoe, there are many who are not pleased with the changes made to the shoes.

We sat down with both the ’99 and the ’08 retros to get some good comparison shots so that you can see for yourself and decide if the changes are enough to pass on a classic. The most noticeable difference between the shoes was the back tab with a Jumpman rather than the Nike Air logo. Other differences we noticed were the netting on the side and tongue, lace piece at toe, the tongue, and a few color differences.

The Air Jordan 4 Black/Red will release in the Jordan 4/19 Countdown Package Saturday, July 19th officially; however, many stores have started selling them early in-store and on eBay.

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison – ’99 Retro left, ’08 Retro right

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison – ’99 Retro front, ’08 Retro back

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison – ’99 Retro front, ’08 Retro back

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro – Back

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro – Back

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison – ’99 Retro top, ’08 Retro bottom

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro – Sole

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro – Sole

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison – ’08 Retro left, ’99 Retro right

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Comparison
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red Retro Tongue Comparison – ’08 Retro left, ’99 Retro right

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro – Side netting

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro – Side netting

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro – Front Lace tab

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro – Front Lace tab

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 1999 Retro

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro

Air Jordan 4 Black/Red 2008 Retro
Air Jordan 4 Black/Red

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  • rod

    didn’t care about the logo back in 89 when i had the original bred iv’s… don’t care about the logo now.

  • peng76

    Anyone have the inside on what time they drop online on the 19th on Finishline, Nike, or Eastbay.com?

  • http://www.myspace.com/porn0graffiK Darneezy

    To add to the difference listed by kidxsole…

    - Length of the ’08 is longer than the ’99 (sole wise)
    - Height is shorter on the ’08
    - Heel tab goes up higher than the ’99 (due to it’s actual height)
    - Netting is horizontal, not angled
    - Jumpman logo, stitched on the tongue is bigger on the ’99 as well as there isn’t much of the underneath side (red) shown on the ’99 vs. the ’08
    - Toe lace tab has changes

    Still, all in all, I love the colorway, as many of us heads do, but there’s still a lot that differences with this shoe (no matter the subtleties) that will turn many off of with these.

    Especially those with the ’99 retro.

    And even though I never owned the OG nor the ’99 retro, wearing the Mars IV is VERY uncomfortable. The stitching from the netting on the toe, rubs against my foot. Meaning the she lacks in quality of production.

    I still rock ‘em though; nevertheless.

  • rudimus

    Y hold the 99′s as if they are grails when they are retros, just like these. Neither can touch the OG’s, and when everyone’s 99 falls apart in a year or two they are gonna wish they picked these up and pay 4 bills

  • swanson

    these shoes are a gift from above

  • http://www.nicekicks.com Nice Kicks

    “What gets me it that the heel tab was specifically designed to have the NIKE AIR on it, that’s why its shaped that way. The jumpman with all that negative space just looks retarded.” – Nia

    As much as I don’t care about the logo on the back, your point is 100% dead on. I have to agree with you that is what just doesnt look right with the Jordan 3 and Jordan 4 with a jumpman on the back compared to others because the TPU heel tab was designed with a larger logo to fit.

  • http://nicekicks bubba

    MAN I LOVE THE 4′S I GOT FO PAIR DIFF. COLORS MAN YALLNEED TO BRING OUT ALL THE 4′S COLORS B4 THE SUMMER’S OVA THOSE R SUMMER SHOES AND MY FAV. SHOES HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAHA I LUV IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://WWW.SNEAK3R.COM SNEAK3R TG

    It’s a cool shoe, but let’s face it…it’s the same shoe.

  • Biggins

    I think some points are being missed here. Its not as if those who are critical of the 08 retro DO NOT want to see Jordan Brand do well, or DO NOT anticipate on buying any more Nike or Jordan shoes based on these retro’s being released. If anything, its kind of a compliment in some ways to the brand when fans of these shoes are able to have in depth conversations about extremely subtle differences regarding shoes that are almost 10 years old.

    I will say this. Like some of you on this posting, I have owned the OG, 99 and Current released IV. And the differences between the OG AND 99 are VERY, VERY minimal if ANY at all. You CANNOT say the same thing about the 2008 retro. Thats almost fact.

    I love Air Jordans and the “jumpman” logo wont necessarily stop me from buying JB retros (although it has for a few)…but that doesnt mean I’ll covet them the way I do my 94/99/2000/2001 retros (1/II/III/IV/V/VI). You can call me a “hater” or what ever the hell else you want to, but I’d consider myself loyal to the brand, if anything.

  • Russ M

    All the retro IV’s have a toe that’s slightly flatter then the original. I know I’m gettin’ picky here, but the flat toe thing always bothered me. But don’t think I’m suggesting that these ain’t hot. Straight-up fire!

  • Bigwind

    Well they look more alike compared to the jordan 8 playoff retro and the og

  • barryb

    to reply to comment# 59 from Darneezy? ok you may have been right, the ’99 retro’s may not have been fully hated on, i mighta went a little overboard with that one, wrong choice of words, but like commment #57, try to see what i’m saying (big ups BIGGINS!)…what i was tryna say was kinda like what comment #74 said which is FURTHER backed up by #79…HOWEVER, i will say #69 and #84 make good points as well…that’s how i’m gonna explain what i meant to say, but didn’t say the way i really wanted it to say? make sense? lol sorry for the misunderstanding! =)

  • sngurl32

    Im definity copping cause I love the 4s and the color way is still hot…….

  • K

    I got to get these

  • brinboy12

    im definitely gettin dees junts but da only rreason im gettin dem is becuz of da 4′s but dem 19′s is garbo

  • lADii jUMPMAN23

    i lOVE DA OG’Sz
    AND DA 08′Sz DEy
    HEllA fRESH GOTSz
    TO COP EVEN DOE iM
    NOT A BiG fAN Of
    DA 19Sz

  • lADii jUMPMAN23

    ANYBODii iNTERESTED iN
    BUYiN DA 19Sz fOR $105
    iN A SiZE 6.5 HiT ME UP
    lADiiJUMPMAN23@YAHOO.COM

  • ShoeHead23

    Theesee Are SICK ! cant we jst get the 4′s and not the 19′s ?

  • shoefungus

    jordan put on weight on the tongue for the 08′s lol but they are both sick sneakers. i actually like the jumpmans on the back but the quality is cheap. i’m still buying it on the 19th.

  • http://nicekicks.com OBI

    DAMN THESE R NICE BUT THE THING IS IM A SIZE 14 SO I DOUBT THEY WOULD HAVE THEM IN MY SIZE

  • william

    i mean c,mon wat real differance can u tell besides the major one the NIKE AIR. of coarse OG is always going to look better but that was then, and this is now, so good job JB do wat u do. to all the big time collectors that have OGs and have been collecting for that long who are fortunate enough to have the 99 retros, good for you. but just cause you have them doues not mean you can judge bad for a jumpman logo in 08. so stop the hating and enjoy the classics being REBORN instead of hating on them.

  • LoLo

    One of my favorite part about the 4′s was the Nike Air on the back and they killed it off…

  • Anthony

    screw me sideways but i think the “minor changes” took away from the overall shape of the shoe for me.
    because i look at shoes almost from the aspect of art it was easy for me to say i could tell a noticeable difference between the two pairs. so personally i’d rather cop ’99s then find myself stuck with 19s

  • Smokey Da Bear

    you CAN’T beat the NIKE AIR 99′S.say what you want, it will never compare.

  • tru3billion$

    da 4s always get love in my book these and the sevens i cudd wear dem all da time

  • oldjumpman35

    Got the 99′s retro’s, and getting this one too.

  • troy

    i missss my 99′s

    i got rid of them yesterday =(

  • giovanni

    if u live in the orlando area check the myspace page
    myspace.com/teamcool1985

  • quanvg

    I see the minor chnages in the retros. Being that I grew up on Jordans I wish the would stick to the original spec when they retro. I hate the Jumpman on the back of the IV’s but it is Jordan brand now. Just makes the shoe look like it came from a flea market or bootlegger. But overall its still worthing of coping. Im gonna have to pass with on the package due to the economic state. But if I can find these solo They will be in my collection.

  • Kacy

    Extremely low quality on Nike’s behalf, what a shame…I like the IV’s and the colorway but this particular release of the shoe disappointing and is an embarrassment to american industry, in much the same way modern American automobiles became in the last 20 years. I wonder how does a company go from such a commitment to high standards and quality to something like this. Weak quality. Nike please stop playing, i know somebody in corporate has to be combing this…ridiculous

  • Austin

    I cosign #28. I’m only 19 and I’m a student too so I can’t throw $600 on some OG kicks but I still got heat in my collection.

  • rsan

    i went to a local spot and i saw them on display the 4s look a little cheap i was going to cop but iam going to pass 19s dont look bad my fav 4s are the millatary ones i could have copped the pack today at retail price $310.00

  • http://deleted NoHyPe23

    i’ve got the OG bred 4s but theyre too cracked to wear =[

    the 08 retros look longer but i guess thats because theyre different sizes.

    i migh pass on that pack anyway.

    -NoHyPe23

  • onihc123

    i lost interest in these 4′s a while ago

  • ~JOE~

    ^^^^then y comment it n there hot n a very nice remake didnt change alot from the original witch was nice

  • http://myspace.com Anil

    these kicksz ur hot ii wanna no iiF there 4 sale?? cuz”z iiL bye em’

  • http://nicekicks.com Mattie

    i really like but i can’t fine them in me size.5inahalf

  • THE STANDARD aka THE FOOTWORKKING

    THE ONLY PACKS IM GETTING ARE THE X1 AND X11 FOR THE 11S AND THE V AND XVIII FOR THE 5S

  • daman

    ur shoes sick ass

  • daman

    suck ass

  • jorge

    i copped mine on saturday, and yes even tho they dont got the nike air on the back and do got some minimal changes, i am not disappointed at all, these kicks deff are fire, and i thought i wasnt gonna like the twentys but ima also have to say jb didnt do a bad job i was thinkin of getting rid of em but after seeing them in person i had a change of heart, ima have to give this pack a two thumbs up

  • FreakStylez

    the 99 retro our dead stock but they still look pimpin.the retro our raw as hell

  • bourne

    hey, the tip of the shoe tongue is different!!

  • bourne

    hey, the tip of the shoe tongue is different!!!
    i just noticed that!

  • Raphael D.

    After owning the ’99′s I couldnt wear these anymore I missed the Nike Air Logo sign to me it is what probably what made it so popular. SO i sold em for $200.

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