COMPARED: 2013 vs. 2026 Air Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo
PublishedQuick Facts
- We got our hands on the 2026 Air Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo and compared it to the 2013
- Check below for a breakdown of the differences between the two retro releases
- You can buy the 2026 Toro Bravo AJ 4 on May 30, 2026
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We may not want to think about it, but remember those retro Jordans that were brand new in the 2010s? Yeah… those are considered “vintage” now. Enough time has passed for Jordan Brand to begin to revive colorways that were new entries to the Jordan family over a decade ago, and 2026 features a ton of different bring-backs. One of the new classics is the first-ever re-release of the Air Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo.
Jordan Brand first launched the red-covered Air Jordan 4 Toro Bravo on July 13, 2013, and following its release, it went down as one of the best non-OG Air Jordan 4 colorways ever. The pair continued the updated red and black color schemes that started on the Air Jordan 5 Raging Bulls in 2009, but the name was changed to Toro Bravo. In case you didn’t know by now, “toro” is the Spanish word for “bull,” making this the spiritual successor to the aforementioned AJ 5.
With both the 2013 and 2026 pairs in hand, the latter thanks to JD Sports, we decided to compare the 13-year-apart siblings. One important thing to note is that the 2013 pair we have is worn and shows clear signs of aging, so the color of the red nubuck, the white midsole, and the grey outsole has faded.
Differences Between the 2013 and 2026 Air Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo
General Shape
While Jordan Brand did recreate the Toro Bravo colorway in 1:1 fashion on the Air Jordan 4, the silhouette’s shape has changed over the years. Jordan 4s from 2013 are bulkier compared to modern-day releases, and that's thanks to the Nike SB retooling of the model. In 2023, Jordan Brand and Nike SB teamed up to give the AJ 4 a skate-ready makeover, and following the roaring success and positive feedback of the retool, Jordan decided to upgrade all AJ 4 releases going forward.
The retool included changing the shape to be sleeker, which is closer to the 1989 OG shape. But there were also changes made to the inside.
Tooling
Compared to the 2013 AJ 4 Toro Bravo, the 2026 features reworked internal tooling for a more comfortable experience. Now, the Jordan 4s Phylon foam midsole no longer houses a forefoot Air unit. Instead, the forefoot foam is now made with a softer Poron foam. This isn’t apparent until you actually put the shoes on, but once you do, you’ll feel the difference instantly. The 2026 version is much more comfortable. You can get a full rundown on the AJ 4’s changes and sizing information in our official Jordan 4 Sizing Guide.
Tongue
The 2026 version of the Toro Bravo Jordan 4 features a thicker padded tongue, which again, originates from the Nike SB retooling. You can see the extra padding when compared to the 2013 pair, and you’ll also notice the red nubuck on the 2026 pair covers the black lining. On the 2013 pair, the black lining almost wraps back up to the front of the tongue.
Heel Tab
Both the 2026 and 2013 Toro Bravo Jordan 4s feature a Jumpman logo on the heel tab. The older version has a fatter, wider panel, while the 2026 is sleeker and closer to the OG shape from 1989.
Color Difference
Unfortunately, the 2013 Toro Bravo 4 we have is worn and faded with time. Looking at them side-by-side, the newer version definitely has a cleaner and more vibrant look, but that’s due to the 2013 pair having 13 years of wear and aging. If we were able to get a pair from 2013 fresh and untouched by time, they would look identical.
Packaging Change
2013 Pair via clevelandsneakers
Jordan Brand recently reintroduced the face boxes for retro Air Jordan releases. The packaging of the 2026 pair now includes this box, which was used on original Air Jordan retro releases in the early 2000s. For the 2013 Toro Bravo, Jordan Brand used the basic black, red, and cement grey packaging used for many Jordan retros of the period. Unfortunately, we don’t have the box for the 2013 Toro Bravos on hand.
2026 Air Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo Release Info
The Air Jordan 4 Toro Bravo will be getting a re-release on May 30, 2026 via Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Available in full-family sizing, the retail price is set at $220 for men, $160 for GS, $100 for PS, and $85 for TD. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app for updates on the Toro Bravo 4s release and for the latest happenings in the sneaker world.
Air Jordan 4 Retro Toro Bravo
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
