The Air Jordan 4 Is Getting a ‘Rare Air’ Update With Unique Details
The fan-favorite retro sneaker brings back a familiar concept.
Update: Aug. 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Originally rumored to feature laser-printed etching on its upper, new information has surfaced about an upcoming Air Jordan 4 which provides a clearer idea of what to expect upon its release.
Newly shared updates from sources including Instagram’s @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files depict a fresh look for the 2025 “Rare Air” Air Jordan 4. Instead of the laser upper originally expected, the pair will reportedly don a more traditional two-tone suede upper in black and dark gray. Color accents are aplenty, with the sneaker mixing bright red and royal blue shades throughout.
The latest update indicates that a feature the shoe will retain is its signature “Rare Air” Velcro tongue patch, famously used on styles such as Undefeated’s Air Jordan 4 collaboration — which is also due for a ’25 launch.
In addition to its “Rare Air” tag, the sneaker is set to come in special edition packaging which references a 2000s-era Jordan Brand shoebox. That original box was silver, but this retro will reportedly come in a blacked-out version similar to what is pictured above.
As of now, in-hand images of the Air Jordan 4 Retro “Rare Air” aren’t yet available, but the “Black/Fire Red/Deep Royal Blue/Dark Smoke Gray/Tech Gray” makeup is expected to feature the color blocking pictured here. While release dates are subject to change, the sneaker is currently expected to be released on February 15.
What We Originally Reported on May 19, 2024
With the Air Jordan 4 firmly situated as Jordan Brand’s “it” sneaker of the moment, the Nike, Inc.-owned subsidiary continues to introduce fresh looks for the popular model. According to recent leaks, the shoe will soon bring back a concept of the yesteryear in a brand new color scheme.
Insider @zsneakerheadz reports that an Air Jordan 4 “Rare Air Laser” is set to release early next year. While it’s too far in advance for full details to have surfaced, the upcoming pair is expected to combine two nostalgic elements of past Air Jordan 4s.
First introduced in 2005 in black and white-based colorways, the “Laser” Air Jordan 4s were developed by former Nike and Jordan Brand designer Mark Smith. The laser-etched patterns found their way on to models including the Air Force 1 and Air Jordan 20, but may be most fondly remembered for their appearance on the Air Jordan 4. Following the aforementioned 2005 releases, the “Laser” theme was revisited on the Air Jordan 4 in 2015 for the brand’s 30th anniversary and again in 2019.
Along with the reappearance of the laser pattern, this new Air Jordan 4 is also said to bring back the shoe’s “Rare Air” status. Used seldomly on the Air Jordan 4 (famously on 2005’s ultra-limited Undefeated collaboration and 2006’s “Tour Yellow” release), it was a signifier that the pair was produced in limited numbers and included a Velcro tongue tag which could be removed to display its “Rare Air” status. The 2025 rendition is expected to feature a similar treatment.
In-hand images of the new Air Jordan 4 “Rare Air Laser” aren’t yet available, but a mock-up of what the “Black/Fire Red/Deep Royal Blue/Dark Smoke Grey/Tech Grey” colorway could look like is pictured below. Look out for the sneaker to release in February 2025 and check back for more updates soon.
In related news, find out about the latest Air Jordan 4 RM colorways here.