Jordan Zion 4 review

The Jordan Zion 4 is a clear-cut choice for the following players:

• guards, wings, and forwards who need great bounce and cushioning for linear speed (full-court sprints, drives, run-and-gun offense, etc.)
• nimble players who want a pliable, less blocky shoe for unhindered maneuverability
• folks with narrow feet who prefer one-to-one fit

Its tight fit surely narrows the Jordan Zion 4's target audience. If you want a shoe with similar characteristics but a more forgiving fit, try the Nike KD 18.

For a more lightweight alternative that feels nimble and dynamic, the Nike Sabrina 3 is the way to go.

Cushioning is arguably the top reason to choose the Jordan Zion 4.

This iteration features a full-length Air Zoom strobel with a drop-in midsole made of Cushlon 3.0. It is a winning combo that delivered some of the highest shock-absorption readings among our lab-tested basketball shoes.

We recorded above-average readings of 113 SA at the heel and 93 SA at the forefoot, confirming that the Zion 4 offers reliable impact protection during hard landings and abrupt stops.

In addition to its comfortable underfoot protection, this Jordan shoe also delivers a highly responsive, springy ride thanks to its above-average energy return.

Our lab measurements showed impressive results of 63.5% at the heel and 71.8% in the forefoot, confirming the brand's promise to help 'power an explosive game' with the Zion 4.

Comparing its rebound to other hoop shoes, we found that it sits up high, between the KD 18 and the LeBron 23.

We were amazed at how much cushioning this Jordan shoe provides, given its relatively low platform.

Our caliper measured a below-average heel stack of 25.2 mm, making it one of the lowest heel stacks among the basketball shoes we tested.

The shoe's forefoot stack also sits far below the average with a caliper reading of 18.7 mm. But at least it's not as low as the previous Zion 3 (15.5 mm), offering a little more protection for the ball of the foot and the toe joints.

A moderate difference in height between the shoe's heel and forefoot stacks results in a middle-ground drop of 6.5 mm.

It is neither too flat to put a strain on the Achilles and calves nor too high to cause too much forward leaning. It's going to hit home for most players without causing any discomfort.

Made from the brand's Cushion 3.0 foam (durable, responsive, rubberized EVA), the Zion 4's drop-in midsole proved to be moderately soft. With a durometer reading of 23.0 HA, it is on par with most other cushioning foams found in basketball shoes.

But it's not too plush to feel mushy or mute out some of that essential court feel.

The drop-in midsole sits inside a slightly firmer carrier made of Nike's standard Phylon EVA foam. It gives the Jordan Zion 4 an essential structural integrity for stability.

Pressing our durometer against the carrier foam indeed showed a higher reading of 26.0 HA. Even though it doesn't fall into the firm range (30 HA or higher), it has sufficient firmness to prevent wobbling.

There is no denying the fact that the Jordan Zion 3 was illegally tight and narrow. But did the new Zion 4 get any roomier? Well, it's a mixed bag.

By creating one-to-one molds of both shoes with a proprietary liquid, we were able to measure their interior dimensions precisely with a digital caliper.

Fortunately, the widest part of the Zion 4 did increase slightly in the ball-of-foot area, from 88.9 mm to 91.4 mm. So at least the shoe made it into the medium-width range.

Win some, lose some.

The toe-crushingly narrow toebox of the Zion 3 got even tighter in the Zion 4! Believe it or not, but the shoe's big toe area width went from 64.8 mm to an even narrower 62.7 mm!

So yet again, we see the Jordan Zion shoe at the snugger end of the basketball shoe spectrum.

On a positive note, the shoe doesn't skimp on the vertical space.

Its toebox height showed some of the highest readings of 27.4 mm, leaving us wondering why it couldn't use some of those millimeters to broaden the ZIon 4's horizontally.

The Jordan Zion 4 may not have the stickiest, most elite-level traction, but it is good enough to support dynamic cuts, crossovers, and hard stops.

Sliding the shoe's forefoot across a slab of professional hardwood in our traction-testing machine, we recorded a slightly below-average friction coefficient of 0.71. This indicates a more balanced, grip-and-give type of traction.

The Jordan Zion 4 introduces an entirely revamped outsole design with a new wavy topographical traction pattern on a fully translucent rubber.

With no internal shank or heavy upper overlays, nothing holds the Zion 4 back from bending freely and easily with the foot.

When measuring the force required to bend this Jordan shoe by 30 degrees, our shoe stiffness gauge returned a lower reading of 16.1N.

Together with the shoe's below-average forefoot stack, this pliability enhances proprioception and maneuverability during quick cuts and direction changes.

Our scale readings confirmed that the new Zion 4 gained almost an ounce of weight over its predecessor. It now comes in at an above-average 14.4 oz (408g) per shoe in a men's US size 9.

We wouldn't say that it drags the foot down, but visually, its construction suggests a lighter weight.

Although its heavily layered upper design with thick synthetic panels doesn't scream breathability, we were surprised that the shoe's toebox perforations kept the ventilation going!

But let's not expect too much just yet. Hovering the shoe's half-cut upper over the LED light, we found no other pores or ventilation channels that could provide some extra airflow.

The overall breathability of this Jordan shoe is limited, but a few thin billows of smoke saved it from getting the lowest score, landing at 2/5.

It's not the best option for sweaty indoor courts or scorching summer heat.

With no shank or plate embedded in its midsole, we found that the Jordan Zion 4 still provides some decent lateral support through its stiff TPU sidewalls and grounded platform.

In addition to the external frame, the drop-in midsole of this Jordan shoe also features raised edges that form a cradle around the foot on the inside.

However, the shoe's narrower base and the absence of any strong stability components make it a better choice for nimble players who don't expect top-tier ankle support and stability from their hoop shoes.

But even light and agile guards and forwards require strong side-to-side containment for their dynamic cuts, crossovers, and eurosteps. And the good news is that the Zion 4 delivers that.

Twisting the shoe sideways proved impossible during our manual test, resulting in a maximum torsional rigidity score of 5/5. Quick and forceful changes of direction feel well-supported in this Jordan shoe.

The heel counter got a touch more pliable in the Zion 4, but we kept it at the same 4/5 stiffness score as the Zion 3.

The new version still provides a decent heel hold, but the slight changes to its shape and collar padding made the lockdown feel less rigid.

The containment is still secure for those who generate a lot of torque during cuts, but the new design also lowers pressure on the Achilles and offers a lighter, more agile-feeling setup.

Just like its predecessor, the Jordan Zion 4 relies on a slimmer platform to accommodate high-speed drives and crafty footwork.

But we were glad to find that the shoe's forefoot outrigger is still prominent enough to support landings at odd angles. The distance between its widest points showed 112.2 mm on our caliper.

The heel, on the other hand, proved to be one of the slimmest, measuring only 81.6 mm at its widest.

While it contributes to Zion 4's maneuverability, it's not the most reliable surface area for hard stops and off-center landings.

Overlapping synthetic overlays help this Jordan shoe's upper resist abrasion rather effectively.

Even the textile panels proved to be hard-wearing, based on the results of our Dremel test. Sustaining very mild damage, the shoe's toebox durability earned a high score of 4/5.

We also found that the inner lining of the Jordan Zion 4's heel collar is ready for some rigorous in-shoe friction.

Remaining practically unscathed in a battle with sandpaper, we rated the shoe's heel padding durability as 4/5.

But it was the shoe's outsole rubber that impressed us the most!

Even with the Dremel set to 10K RPM and the test time extended to 18 seconds, the outsole blend refused to give in! We recorded a barely noticeable dent depth of 0.4 mm, indicating excellent durability compared to the category average.

In addition to being hard-wearing, the Zion 4's outsole is also quite thick. Our caliper measured 3.8 mm of rubber at the heel.

We could almost recommend this Jordan sheo for outdoor use, but we have reservations about the thin nature of its treadlines. They may not fare well on the blacktop over the long term.

Technically, there is no insole in the Zion 4 because it features a thick drop-in midsole. Measuring its thickness in the feel returned 7.9 mm.

You don't want to take it out because it is essentially the core of this Jordan shoe's cushioning.

We rarely see reflective elements on basketball shoes, but the Jordan Zion 4 treated us to a reflective Zion Williamson signature logo on the back.

Padded interiors envelop the foot and ankle inside the Jordan Zion 4.

Measuring the thickness of its tongue, our caliper recorded a standard reading of 8.9 mm.

The shoe's tongue is non-gusseted, so you might experience some mild tongue shifting.

With a slight $5 price increase, the Jordan Zion 4 stays in the same price range as its predecessors. We believe that the shoe's overall performance, technologies (i.e., full-length Air Zoom strobel), and material quality justify the price tag.

The shoe features no heel tabs or finger loops.