Nike Air Force 1 High

Air Force 1 High

When the Nike Air Force 1 High was released way back in 1982, it changed the game for high-top basketball trainers by introducing encapsulated Air into the midsole for the very first time. In the years since, it has spawned two other styles and countless models, versions and colourways, becoming popular as a casual sneaker in the process. Now, more than four decades later, it is still being released in a form that is almost identical to the original and remains a beloved shoe around the world. 

As a basketball design, the Air Force 1 High has a number of court-ready features, including the pivot-circle tread on the outsole – a revelation back in 1982 – which was made to allow players to twist and turn without falling over, thus giving them an edge when pivoting during matches. It has a high collar that slopes from front to back above the ankle, giving it a supportive feel while also allowing flexible movement. There is also a Velcro-fastened ankle strap with a hook-and-loop closure system to add extra stability and a cupsole filled with foam and Air cushioning for durability and comfort. While the original lacked a heel overlay, this was added to later models so that different materials, such as suede and leather, and colour-blocking effects could be used on this portion of the shoe. These early high-tops were mainly aimed at men, but today many women’s and youth designs exist, making the Hi a sneaker for everyone.

With its boot-like construction and various overlaid panels, the AF1 High lends itself to durable designs that make the most of its high ankle for added support and stability. These include models like the military-inspired SF Air Force 1 High, which comes in two versions, both with an even higher ankle than the original. One has a second strap and metal reinforced eyelets, while the other has a zip over the top of the foot and a lacing system that wraps around the shin. The former has been released in a number of colourways, including all-black and all-white options, with a 2018 Premium edition in a range of brown hues being a notable variant. Another hardy boot is 2021’s Utility 2.0, an even more rugged-looking follow up to the Utility, with hard-wearing, crenellated lugs and a metal hook securing the ankle strap. It initially dropped in white and black colourways alongside the popular Fossil Stone build, before two more designs were added, one of which celebrated the Chinese Year of the Rabbit with pink suede highlights. A third example of Nike’s robust high-top shoes is the Lunar Force 1 Duckboot, which has a waterproof outer, a star-studded rubber toe piece and Lunarlon foam in the sole and comes in earthy colours like black, brown and tan.

Along with these more weather-ready boots, there have been several conventional Air Force 1 Highs, including the ‘07 retro, which was released to celebrate 25 years since the original AF1 design came out. Over a decade later, 2019 saw NBA teams like the Lakers and Celtics honoured through a collection of LV8 models in each team’s colours – yellow and purple for the former, green and white for the latter – while an EMB edition was brought out in 2021 in the white and blue of baseball’s Dodgers. In the same year, the Sculpt was launched as a women’s exclusive, incorporating minimal branding, recessed swooshes and no ankle strap for an elegantly streamlined design. Then, in 2022, a year that marked the 40th anniversary of the very first Nike Air Force 1 High model, a string of editions were released in dynamic colour combinations and quality materials. There was the LX with its two refined brown colourways, a set of ‘07 LV8 Vintage models, SE editions complete with heritage branding and additional embroidered swooshes, and finally an LE covered in off-white and grey tones to add to the Triple White and Triple Black versions that came out the year before. On top of this, an Air Force 1 High OG was released in the popular University Blue colourway. While this one is primarily white with blue highlights, its 2015 counterpart, the Retro, had white swooshes atop a blue upper and a throwback build that emulated the 1982 design. Besides this classic AF1 High, another renowned colourway is the Flax. First put out in 2017, this popular High has been rereleased a number of times since, including in 2020, when waterproof Gore-Tex technology was applied to its upper for increased protection from the elements. This wasn’t the first time that the AF1 High had donned an alternative material across its outer either – in 2016, Nike’s woven Flyknit was added to the model, bringing a lightweight touch to the design.  

The 2010s and 2020s were also a productive time for Nike collaborations and the Air Force 1 High. Starting things off was Italian fashion designer Riccardo Tisci, who crafted a series of colourful high-tops for the brand, including a duo of sneakers that were inspired by Greek mythology, one known as Victorious Minotaurs, the other called Icarus. Both featured the designer’s branding over the toe along with his trademark star emblem behind each swoosh. Next, in 2019, streetwear boutique A Ma Maniére worked with Nike on the Hand Wash Cold model, which brought together premium materials like nubuck, suede and tumbled leather in a blend of black and grey tones with iridescent highlights. A year later, fashion label 1017 ALYX 9SM crafted four Air Force 1 Highs, a number that was doubled in 2021, the standout feature on each being the luxurious ALYX buckle that secures the ankle strap. Between these 2021 releases, Nike partnered with the NBA to create a duo of AF1 Highs that celebrated the league’s 75th anniversary, both of them woven with a special tongue label to mark the occasion. Billie Eilish then followed up her 2021 Low collaborations with two High SP editions that came out in 2022. Like the previous year’s sneakers, the Highs came in a pair of classy monochrome colourways known as Mushroom and Sequoia, which incorporated recycled materials for a sustainable construction.

The Nike Air Force 1 High has the honour of being the silhouette that began the distinguished AF1 dynasty. It has been one of the brand’s most enduring shoes and, as such, has touched the feet of athletes and sneaker fans all over the world. Today, it remains as popular as ever, its historic legacy living on through the thousands of models, editions, colourways and collaborations released each year.