Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 “Navy” Raffles: Why I’m Losing Sleep Over These Kicks
Let me tell you something – there’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a hyped sneaker drop. I’ve been in this game for over a decade now, and my heart still races when I see those raffle notifications pop up. Right now, my pulse is going crazy because the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 “Navy” raffles are still live, and I’m entering every. single. one.
Last night, I literally dreamt about these shoes. I woke up at 3 AM convinced I’d won a pair, only to realize my alarm wasn’t set to go off for another four hours. That’s what these Navy beauties are doing to me – and probably to you too.
Why These Aren’t Just Another Collab
Remember when the “Pine Green” SB x AJ4s dropped back in 2023? I spent three days refreshing my email hoping to hit on a raffle. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. I ended up paying way too much on the resale market, and my girlfriend still gives me grief about it. “They’re just shoes,” she says. Bless her heart.
These Navy joints, though? They’re something special. They’re taking that winning formula from the Pine Greens but swapping out the green accents for a rich navy blue on the eyelets, heel tab, and midsole. The summit white upper looks crisp as a freshly ironed dress shirt, and that red Jumpman logo pops like the last firework on the Fourth of July.
I saw a pair in person last week (my buddy works at a local skate shop and gave me a sneak peek), and let me tell you – pictures don’t do them justice. The materials feel premium in hand, and there’s something about that navy colorway that just feels… timeless.
Mark Your Calendars for March 18, 2025
That’s the official drop date, folks. And unlike some of the more widely available Jordans, these are exclusive to skate shops. That’s right – no SNKRS app, no Foot Locker camping. You’re gonna have to get friendly with your local skate shop owner or pray to the raffle gods.
The $225 retail price tag might seem steep, but it’s actually reasonable considering what these are already going for through early drops. I’ve seen pairs selling for nearly double that, which isn’t surprising given how the skateboarding and basketball worlds go crazy whenever Nike SB and Jordan Brand link up.
Not Just Pretty – They’re Built for Skating
Here’s what I love about this collab – they’re not just for show. Nike SB didn’t just slap their logo on a Jordan and call it a day. They’ve actually enhanced these kicks for skateboarding performance.
The materials are more durable, the grip is better, and they’ve made slight adjustments to make them more skate-friendly. Though, between us, I know most pairs will never see a skateboard. Mine included, probably. I’d like to say I’d skate in them, but who am I kidding? They’re going straight to the collection.
My Desperate Attempt to Secure a Pair
I’ve entered 14 raffles so far. I’ve also made my wife enter 8, my brother enter 5, and I even convinced my mom to try for a pair (though explaining to her what a “raffle” is in the context of sneakers took longer than actually entering).
I’ve set alarms for random times throughout the night to catch international releases. I’ve joined three Discord servers just to get early info. I’ve even started being extra nice to the guys at my local skate shop, bringing them coffee when I “just happen to be in the neighborhood.”
Am I proud of this behavior? Not particularly. Will I continue doing it until March 18, 2025? Absolutely.
What If You Miss Out?
Look, the reality is most of us will take Ls on these. That’s just the cruel math of limited releases. If you miss out, you’ve got options – none of them great, but they’re options.
You can pay resale (painful), wait for prices to maybe dip a few months after release (requires patience I don’t have), or simply admire from afar and set your sights on the next drop.
Or you could do what I did after missing the Pine Greens – sulk for a week, impulse buy a different pair of sneakers you don’t even want that much, then eventually cave and pay resale anyway.
Whatever happens, just know you’re not alone in this struggle. We’re all out here refreshing pages, crossing fingers, and telling ourselves “it’s just a shoe” while knowing deep down it’s so much more than that.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check my email for the 27th time today. Could this be the notification that changes everything? Probably not. But you miss 100% of the raffles you don’t enter.
