If you ask any sneakerhead what the most iconic Jordan Brand trainer is, there’s a huge chance that they’d bring up the Air Jordan 4. Designed by the iconic Tinker Hatfield exclusively for Michael Jordan, the silhouette made its grand debut in 1989, and was revealed in four legendary colourways. Even now, over three decades later, it’s still one of the most sought-after Nike models out there, and there’s really no questioning why.
With it being so popular, many sneakerheads have been wondering if they do crease. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. But, in this article, we’ll be going through reasons why, and find out how to prevent this from happening. So let’s get to it!
Like many trainers, the Air Jordan 4 will crease over time when worn regularly. They’re indeed extremely pleasing to the eye, but it’s important to remember that MJ’s fourth signature shoe was designed dominate on the basketball court. While they’re crafted from some very premium and sturdy materials, they’ll still crease after long periods of use.
It’s virtually impossible to avoid creasing your Air Jordan 4 entirely. However, there are a number of things that you can do to help lengthen their lifespan and keep them looking boxfresh:
Using crease guards is a popular option to keep your sneakers from creasing, and they can do wonders for AJ4s. There are plenty of styles and colourways to choose from, and they can be bought online for relatively low prices. They’re also extremely easy to install as well.
Air Jordans are not naturally waterproof and so they are susceptible to absorbing water, especially during heavy rainfall. When your Js get wet and then later dry up, the material can become less flexible and more susceptible to creasing. Water repellent can be applied directly to them to prevent any moisture from damaging your kicks.
An area of the Air Jordan 4 that creases easily are the heels. When you put your Jordans on, the pressure of your heel can cause the material to bend slightly. Using a shoehorn can prevent this, allowing your foot to slide in effortlessly.
Shoes are naturally going to collect dirt, so clean your Air Jordan 4 after you wear them. This includes washing the outer surface as well as the internal structure of the shoes. As you walk, your Jordans will naturally accumulate moisture from your feet, which can cause the materials to slowly break down. As such, it’s important to allow your Jordans plenty of time to air out after they have been worn.
As with all leather goods, taking care of the material is absolutely essential to help it last as long as possible. The Air Jordan 4 is certainly no different. If you don’t look after them, the materials will slowly dry up and become far more susceptible to creasing. There are a number of leather conditioners that can be bought, and then applied directly to the surface of the shoes.
As with all sneakers out there, there’s a breaking in period. Luckily, AJ4s will only take around two to three weeks at most to be fully broken in. You’ll want to start by wearing them for small lengths of time and walking short distances. This will allow the trainers to conform around your feet so that they can support you across greater distances.
You can never truly get rid of creases from your Air Jordan 4s. But it’s possible to make them less prominent with these simple techniques:
This is one of the most popular methods for reducing creases on Jordans. However, you’ll want to make sure that you do it the right way, as it can be risky. The first thing that you need to do is to stuff them with newspaper until they are firmly filled. From here, grab a buffer material to place between the iron and the shoe itself. You don’t want to use your iron directly on them as they will burn.
We recommend using a damp cloth, placing it directly over the creased area, and then holding the iron at the lowest temperature for around 10 seconds. If this doesn’t work the first time around, just repeat the process until the creases are gone.
If you don’t have access to an iron, don’t worry, because there’s another very similar option that you can try out. To do this, grab a flannel, wet it, then wring it so that it’s slightly damp. From there, you can place the cloth into your microwave with a heat-resistant dish, and heat it up on high for around 30 seconds. This results in the flannel becoming very warm, emitting plenty of steam.
Carefully grab the flannel and press it directly onto the affected area of your AJ4. Rub the affected area softly, and the creases will begin to disappear.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to keep your Air Jordan 4 from creasing. This is something that will naturally happen over time, especially as the sneakers are meant to be worn on the hardwood for dribbling and dunking. However, there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent this and help keep them looking boxfresh for many more years to come.
