Air Jordan 4 'Bred Reimagined' versus Nike SB x Air Jordan 4
The most anticipated release during NBA All-Star Weekend came and went in the . While have been reimagining sneakers for a few years now, the upcoming AJ4 was particularly exciting since the Jumpman used the same shape and cut as the from 2023.
We’ve compared the ‘Bred Reimagined’ with the SB x AJ4s, going through what’s different and what stays the same. Check out the differences below.
Taking it back to ‘89
Jordan Brand have said that the ‘Bred Reimagined’ 4s will use the same build and shape from the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 from last year, which is more true to the 1989 OG with more sleek angles.
The side-by-side comparison of the 2024 'Bred' and SB x AJ4 shows they have very similar builds, if not identical. The materials are of course different though, with the SB using a more supple and soft leather and hairy suede on the mudguard, whereas the ‘Bred Reimagined’ uses a thinner pebbled leather throughout. Quality control can be hit or miss with 500K pairs rumoured to be made, but we're more than happy with the finished product.
Tongue Tied
Not true to the OG, the ‘Bred Reimagined’ features a puffier tongue than the previous iterations, similar to the Nike SB x AJ4. Whether that’s due to the leather being used or the Jumpman just switching things up, the ‘Bred Reimagined’ 4s look a bit puffier due to the tongue and collar.
Materials Matter
Air Jordan 4s are not known for their comfort but sneakerheads still carry on through the blisters and bleeding. The SB 4 model addressed this though, switching things up for skaters with Poron foam in the midsole for impact protection and comfort and removal of the encapsulated Air unit in the forefoot for board feel.
Another big change is the heeltab. Gone is the TPU tab that can cut into your achilles area and give you blisters, and in its place on the SB x AJ4 is a softer rubber with Nike SB branding. The ‘Bred Reimagined’ still keeps things OG with Nike Air branding on the TPU heeltab, but a bit softer than previous AJ4s. Your achilles will be happy about that.
The ‘Bred Reimagined’ stays traditional, using encapsulated Air units in the forefoot with a visible unit in the heel but switch things up on the midsole. Gone is the dense and hard Phylon, which is replaced with a softer polyurethane, making them much more comfortable straight out of the box.