We recently received some pairs of the Nike SB Jordan IV in Navy and took two of our favourite local lurkers out for the day to put some through their paces…
When Nike first dropped the Jordan IV in 1989 it captured imaginations globally. While Michael Jordan himself was turning heads on the basketball court that year as the highest NBA scorer, every hoop was assisted by his striking, futuristic new silhouette. The mesh panels integrated into the upper, the visible air bubble, and the unique lace stays all represented Nike being at the forefront of technical innovation. In no time the shoe was turning heads on the street too, becoming an iconic, sought-after shoe that still holds that same appeal. For many this model remains a holy grail and its initial popularity also coincided with a magical time in skateboarding’s own evolution.
One thing about Tinker Hatfield‘s timeless design is how well the support it offers, and the build of the upper, translate to the demands of skateboarding. When Nike SB introduced this vital part of the brand history into the skateboarding line for the first time back in 2023 anyone doubting just how well the shoe performs would have been quickly reassured by Oski Rozenberg clips making the shoe look like an extension of himself. It seemed to work well for the rest of the team too. The first Pine Green colourway Nike SB released made waves in the skateboarding community and the greater sneaker community beyond.
To optimise the original design for the additional demands skateboarding puts on our bodies the Swoosh design squad made some tweaks. First they reworked the sole construction and introduced gum rubber to further enhance the grip. Impact cushioning and flexibility are covered by the introduction of a Poron forefoot sockliner, and the mix of a leather and suede upper aid performance and durability. None of these subtle integrations have altered the enduring aesthetic of this shoe apart from SB appearing on the heel tab. The second Jordan IV to grace the Nike SB line follows suit from the predominantly white shoe introduced two years ago only this time the build is accentuated with Navy. Our resident lensman Rich Smith took to the immediate streets with local legends Dembo Ceesay and Tate Rogers West to push around our surroundings, put the shoes to work at Mile End skatepark, and even hit the basketball court this model was originally intended for…
We’re thankful to Dembo and Tate for sharing their first outing in these shoes with us and hyped that Nike SB are continuing to keep things interesting. We know there will be some more releases later this year involving other storied silhouettes from the archives, one which is very much intertwined with London history. Stay tuned for more news soon.
Shop with us for all of the latest from Nike SB and check out our recent launch event for the Nike SB Wair Max Silver Bullet.