Military Blue: The Re-Release of a Classic

1989 came along and changed the Air Jordan brand by adding the Military Blue colorway. After its strong debut in the late 80s, it finally returned in the retro form in 2012. Looking for a pair of this retro release? They're available on eBay.

Tinker Hatfield and the 4

Designer Tinker Hatfield made his debut with the Air Jordan brand during the release of the 3. Modifications to his original design made way for his next prize creation: the Jordan 4. Not only was this sneaker lighter and more durable, but more customizable elements, like the extra lacewings, also gave players and causal wearers greater overall control.

Style Meets Practicality

The beloved 4s are tied to moments like a shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers. They're also known for introducing new materials to the Air Jordan brand. Since Michael Jordan wore his sneakers during games, he had a heavy influence on the final sneakers of his line. The release of the 4 added style elements like the Flight underneath his signature Jumpman logo. Moreover, the addition of the midsole mesh enhanced both the appearance and breathability of the Jordan 4.

Tinker's introduction of nubuck material to the Jordan brand also elevated the performance and design. For one, this faux leather upgrade wasn't as heavy for the four silhouettes.

The Return of the Military Blue 4

The original Jordan 4 release featured four colorways: White/Black, Black/Cement, Fire Red, and Military Blue. In 2012, the retro release of the Military Blue sneaker hit the market. This retro silhouette has the same features as the originals with slight but fresh modifications.

Blue and White Jordan 4 Breakdown

When you look at the 2012 Military Blue release, you'll notice the white leather upper sole. The oversized tongue has the same white leather as the upper, along with breathable white and blue mesh. There's also a blue Jumpman logo on the tongue with the word "Flight" written in black.

White leather extends from underneath the mesh towards the end of the toe cap where it meets a light gray panel. Underneath the gray detail, there's blue plastic above the Visible Air near the outer sole. Plastic blue support wings attach to the gray triangular panels extending from the laces to the sneaker's midsole, creating an unforgettable visual flair.

The back of the Military Blue 4 colorway has a blue heel tab with a white Jumpman logo. White tumbled leather surrounds the heel tab with a blue accent above the outer sole. The bottom of the sole has blue, white, and gray details. The toe and heel have the same light gray as the toe cap. There's a blue accent detail attached to the gray portion near the toe. Finally, a white section separates the two blue bottom sole details. The blue portion closest to the heel contains a white Jumpman logo.