The Best Air Jordan 4s With Nike Air Branding

Depending on your age, you may not recall that there once was a time before Jordan Brand existed. People born after September 1997 have only lived in a world where Air Jordan sneakers fell under the Jordan Brand umbrella. Prior to that, Air Jordans were part of the Nike family. That means you used to call it a “Nike Air Jordan 4,” for example, similar to how you’d say “Nike Foamposite” or “Nike Air Max.”

To be fair, Air Jordans are still, technically, part of the Nike family, since Jordan Brand is a sub-brand that is wholly owned by Nike, just like Converse. But that’s corporate speak, not true sneaker culture. To those who care about the latter, there’s a genuine difference between a Nike Jordan and a Jordan Jordan. Which is why, in recent years, we’ve seen a resurgence of Air Jordans with Nike Air branding. Instead of a Jumpman logo on the heel, these Jordans—namely the AJ3 and AJ4—say “Nike Air” on the heel. It’s a small detail, but one that matters. Any design cue that references what these sneakers looked like when they first released is prized.

That “Nike Air” branding is just one of the reasons people are excited about new Air Jordan 4 releases, like the “White Cement” and “Rare Air” colorways. So we decided to take a look at the Top 5 Air Jordan 4s with Nike Air branding. 

Air Jordan 4 “White Cement”
It’s hard to top an original. The “White Cement” is an OG colorway of the AJ4 that looks as fresh today as when it was first released in 1989. In 2025, the Air Jordan 4 “White Cement” returned, complete with its speckled grey detailing, and of course, the original “Nike Air” branding on the heel.

Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 “Brick By Brick”
Ok, Nigel Sylvester’s Jordan 4s may not exactly say “Nike Air” on the heel. But the BMX legend was able to both nod to the OG and add his own spin by placing “Bike Air” on the heel of his “Brick By Brick” AJ4. The sneaker tells the story of how step-by-step Sylvester became a force in culture through hard work and dedication. And the “Bike Air” branding is yet another example of how Sylvester’s approach paid off.

Air Jordan 4 “Rare Air”
The AJ4 “Rare Air” proves that a sneaker doesn’t have to be complicated to be impactful. The black base is accented with subtle yet powerful hits of red and blue that help the Jordan 4 really pop. That is especially apparent on the heel, where the grey “Nike Air” logo stands in stark contrast to the blue heel tab.This “Rare Air” also has removable patches on the tongue that allow the owner to customize how they rock them.

Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined”
Normally, tinkering with the design of an OG Air Jordan 4 is a recipe for disaster. But the folks at Jordan Brand successfully navigated the high-wire act with the “Bred Reimagined” Jordan 4. Swapping nubuck in favor of tumbled leather on the upper gives this AJ4 a refined appeal. And while certain liberties were taken, the design team was mindful of keeping the “Nike Air” branding intact.

Off-White x Air Jordan 4 “Sail”
The late Virgil Abloh had an incredible eye for detail. So it’s not surprising that he opted for the “Nike Air” branding when his Off-White brand collaborated on the Jordan 4 “Sail” colorway in 2020. This shoe is arguably one of the cleanest that Abloh produced, and the translucent heel tab with the tonal “Nike Air” adds to that mystique.