Air Jordan 4 Rare Air Drops July 26th with Hidden Surprise

Only 2% of pairs will have gold lettering under those velcro tongue patches

The Air Jordan 4 “Rare Air” is finally dropping July 26th, and Jordan Brand added a twist that’s got collectors buzzing. Most pairs will appear identical from the outside, but only 2% will feature gold “Jordan Rare Air” lettering hidden beneath the removable tongue patch. The rest get standard white lettering.

This isn’t just a random detail. The “Rare Air” series goes back to 2006 when Jordan Brand first played with velcro tongue patches on the “Tour Yellow” AJ4. The whole concept celebrates those early factory samples and “mistakes” that somehow made shoes more special.

What You’re Getting

Black nubuck dominates the upper with dark grey suede toe caps, just like a “Bred” 4 but with blue accents scattered throughout. Deep royal blue hits the liner, heel tabs, and parts of the midsole, while fire red pops on the eyelets and outsole. Nike Air branding on the heel keeps it OG.

That vintage-aged midsole treatment looks more intense than usual, giving these a worn-in vibe straight out of the box. The whole package comes in that black and silver face box Jordan Brand brought back for special releases.

Release Details:

• Date: July 26, 2025
• Price: $220
• Style Code: FV5029-003
• Where: Nike SNKRS, select Jordan retailers
• Sizing: Full family run

The Collector Angle

Here’s where it gets interesting: you won’t know if you got a gold lettering pair until you have them in hand. Online orders are a lottery. Some people are already referring to these as the “golden ticket” pairs, and resale sites like StockX are listing both versions separately.

The “Rare Air” series also includes AJ1s and an upcoming AJ3, all part of Jordan Brand’s 40th anniversary celebration. They’re not marketing these as limited, but that 2% gold lettering detail adds some chase factor.

At $220, they’re priced like a premium retro. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much you care about those hidden details and vintage vibes. But knowing sneakerheads, the hunt for gold lettering pairs is going to be real.

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