Air Jordan 4 RM review

Updating your wardrobe with this retro-modernised AJ might be a good idea if:

• You're a big fan of the Air Max technology and the worldwide popular AJ4, but you're looking for a more state-of-the-art version.
• You need great traction and a solid, supportive structure to run errands and enjoy your day even if the streets are wet.
• You want a comfortable pair of shoes with premium, good-looking materials.

We're gonna go straight to the point: the Air Jordan 4 RM is heavy! We definitely wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for something to wear all day, every day. If you love Nike pairs but you need something more lightweight, don't worry, we've got you! These are the Swoosh trainers that have got our VIP pass to be in our featherlight category.

Adding stiff fuel to its "don't wear it from sunrise to sunset" fire, the rigid structure of this AJ shoe might not get along with your feet. If you're looking for a more flexible companion from the same brand that also has a clean and iconic style, the Killshot 2 might be a great option!

With its ever-popular Max Air cushioning at the heel, the AJ 4 RM managed to score 82 SA in our shock absorption test. It's pretty close to the average, so we really can't complain! The impact protection level of this Nike's ageless technology made us enjoy every step even in longer walks.

With an energy return of 45.0%, the 4 RM isn't as bouncy as the average of its category. But this came as no surprise: personally, we didn't really expect it to be responsive. If you did, you might want to have a look at other Air Max pairs with a more explosive ride.

Making good use of its Air tech to add some extra height at the heel, this AJ showed off a higher-than-average 32.5 mm. It offered us a good mix of a low-profile, clean and simple vibe with the protection we needed to enjoy each and every wear test.

The forefoot stack followed pretty much the same route. With a solid 21.0 mm, it surpassed the trainers category average, offering enough support for our feet to be comfortable.

This leaves us with an average drop of 11.5 mm. Basically, the heel is slightly higher than the toe area, which doesn't feel any different from the standard for trainers.

With a moderately firm score of 43.2 AC, our durometer let us know this AJ pair doesn't have the softest foam out there. But wait, before you jump to conclusions, this doesn't mean it's not comfortable! It just feels more supportive than plush, which actually comes in handy when you need to run errands for a while.

In order to measure the 4 RM's properly, we created a gel replica of its inner space with that funny-looking green slime you can see on the video.

Once it was solid, our calliper could measure it easily. At 94.5 mm, it's wider than average! In fact, we appreciated its comfort in every step, as it offers a solid amount of space for standard-width feet.

And the best part is that it doesn't taper like crazy! Our calliper returned 70.2 mm, surpassing the average once again. Consequently, we didn't feel like our toes were cramped during our wear tests with this AJ pair.

And the standard toebox height finishes the "I will not squeeze your feet" fit of the 4 RM. As you can see in the video below, the material didn't try to fight our toes. 

At 28.2 mm, we can't say it's crazy spacious, but it never pressed our toes from the top, offering enough room.

Showing us heritage is not only about looks, this Air Jordan pair scored an incredible 0.74 on our traction test. In other words, its grip levels are so high, you can basically wear them even if bad weather is trying to ruin your day. They will not let you slip!

Apart from offering great traction, the 4 RM's outsole showed off a very cool design. For a start, it has a massive Jumpman right in the middle, which instantly caught our attention. It also features the popular herringbone pattern that we see pretty much everywhere and that, once again, has proved its effectiveness!

Nike says this shoe has a strong, flexible cage, and we definitely agree with the former, but the latter adjective... is questionable, to say the least. In our stiffness test, we needed 17.9N to make the 4 RM bend all the way up to 30 degrees, which is substantially higher than its category's current average!

Without a shadow of a doubt, after our wear tests, our feet would have asked us what kind of ankle weights those were if they could talk. When we took this AJ to our lab, our scale marked a mouth-dropping weight of 16.9 oz/479g!

Even though we can't say this makes the 4 RM uncomfortable, we believe it potentially kicks it from the all-day wear category.

Something that we really liked about these trainers is how surefooted they made us feel. Following Nike's statement, this AJ provided great structure and a great amount of support in every step.

With a solid result of 20.7 Nm in our torsional rigidity test, the 4 RM managed to stop our feet from excessive inward rolling. Its solid and confidence-inspiring structure kept them in place even if we had been walking around town for hours.

And the heel isn't playing games either! We tried to push it but it barely moved, earning a perfect 5/5 on our stiffness test. But the best part is that, following our experience, heel slippage and blisters are totally out of the question!

With a standard width of 110.2 mm, this shoe's midsole at the forefoot didn't make us lose our balance or wish for some extra space.

The heel is slightly narrower than average, and our calliper confirmed it when it marked 82.1 mm. But don't worry, our feet barely noticed it when we were running errands around town!

We're more than happy to say we agree with the brand's claims regarding this AJ's materials. Our torch and awl are all we need to prove it! As you can see, there's no flame, and neither the suede nor the leather ended up all sticky, proving they're both authentic.

Not only do these high-quality materials look spectacular, they also withstood our Dremel's power just fine. With a 3/5 on our durability test, we can't say these trainers will last a lifetime, but they're definitely tough enough for you to enjoy them without second thoughts.

The heel padding showed it could have passed as armour, as it earned a perfect 5/5 on our durability test. Even though the lining in this area is usually the most fragile, the 4 RM decided to turn the tables!

The 4 RM's outsole managed to fight our Dremel to the very end. With a dent of only 1.1 mm, its durability is standard, which means you can show off this pair as much as you want!

This AJ features a thick 5.2 mm outsole, and after evaluating the durability of its material and seeing it's a shoe heavier than the average of its category, we believe the brand could've safely gone for a thinner piece.

These trainers have a standard 3.7 mm insole that added some extra points to their overall comfort.

Oh, and the insole is totally removable! Just be careful if you decide to use a thicker one, as this shoe's toebox height is nothing spectacular.

The premium leather and suede of the AJ 4 RM leave no room for reflective elements. And we wouldn't change them for the world!

Surpassing the average with its otherworldly 12.7 mm of padding, this shoe's tongue felt incredibly comfortable. Nonetheless, as we've mentioned before, the 4 RM is already on the heavier side, so Nike could've gone for a thinner piece without losing any cosiness.

This Air Jordan has a semi-gusseted tongue that leans it towards a snugger fit. In our experience, it doesn't have the widest opening, and its rigid structure definitely didn't help to get the foot in! That's the price to pay for a supportive, safe and solid structure, though.

We wouldn't even dream of a heel tab with such a cool and clean design. The branding, the logo, the colours... it couldn't possibly get any better!

At £140, the reimagined version of the iconic AJ4, as Nike says, was definitely not going to be an ultra-cheap shoe. Still, we found its pricing fair, as you're not paying only for an ageless vibe that never goes out of style, you're also getting a solid pair of trainers with great traction, durability, and built-in support.