Nike designers worked for approximately sixteen years to create the revolutionary Shox technology, When Nike Shox was unveiled in 2001, three models were available and the Nike Shox R4 was one of these three. It was designed by Bruce Kilgore, of Air Force 1 and Air 180 fame, and Sergio Lozano, the designer of another highly popular and enduring Nike running shoes, the Air Max 95.

The Nike Shox R4 running shoes has been the most successful shoes in the Nike Shox lineup, The shoes was available in a variety of colors and was also available on Nike ID. The R4 have been released several times and is the only shoes in the original lineup to have been released several times.