Air Jordan 4 ‘Black/Cement’ 1989 Original Vs 2019 Retro

April 22, 2019April 22, 2019

The Air Jordan 4 ‘Black/Cement’ is re-releasing for the fourth time since its original 1989 release. How do they compare to the original? Let’s find out.

Thanks to Instagram user @_nostalgicfeels, we have a solid side-by-side comparison between the 1989 original and the upcoming 2019 Retro Air Jordan 4 in the classic ‘Black/Cement’ colorway.

While I’m very happy with the way the 2019 version came out, being they’re the closest thing to the 1999 Retro we’ve seen since 99, there is a pocket of OG enthusiasts that aren’t 100 percent satisfied as the shoe is clearly different than the OG.

Materials are probably the one thing that is the most comparable other than the midsole and outsole tooling. Everything else, from the shape to the Nike Air heel tabs, are a bit different is some way. They are very close but still not quite like the original.

Something I wonder is if these changes are by design or because manufacturing and material sourcing are simply not the way they once were in 1989. Perhaps it’s a bit of both. I’m sure it is possible to recreate a perfect looking Retro but it may come at a cost. Maybe there is no way to recreate a perfect looking Retro and this is the best we’ll ever get.

Personally I love to wear the shoes, so while I prefer the Retro to look as close to the OG as possible, I do understand that it just isn’t the reality of the situation – – at least not right now. If there ever is a perfect recreation of an OG, then I’m down for sure but if there isn’t, I’m just happy to be able to wear something that is as close as possible.

On a side note, there are enthusiasts that are unhappy with the 2019 version due to material quality. I’m not 100 percent sure what they’re referring to as the 1989 original clearly isn’t premium in any way; they feature synthetic nubuck, a material that Nike placed the marketing term “durabuck” to make the synthetic sound cooler.

No matter which side you lean on, there is no denying that the Air Jordan 4 in the ‘Black/Cement’ colorway is a beautiful shoe: it’s an icon and a classic.

Feel free to share your thoughts below in the comment section and let us know if you plan on grabbing a pair on May 4 for $200.