Facts

Style: Classic
Top: Low
Inspired from: Basketball
Collection: Nike Air Force 1
Closure: Laces
Designer: Bruce Kilgore
Material: Leather, Rubber Sole, Air Sole
Price: €120
Colorways: Black, White, Blue, Grey, Beige, Multi
Special editions: 11 special editions
Size
Small True to size Large
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Rankings

A top rated sneaker
A top rated Nike sneaker
Top 1% most popular sneakers
It has never been more popular than this November

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There is no need to worry about snugness because the Nike Air Force 1 07 shoe’s effective lacing system provides ample allowance for adjustments. Air Force 1 07 silhouettes have also been a favorite among wearers with wide feet as the spacious toe box allows some extra wiggle room for the toes.

The Nike Air Force 1 07 sneaker remains faithful to the clean silhouette and monochromatic look of the original model. Because of this, it retains the classic look that many appreciate. It also continues to provide overall versatility and stand-alone beauty.

Like many of the models in the AF1 line, this kick is also an ideal pair to solve everyday sneaker rotation problems or for individuals worrying about what to pair with their clothes. The men’s Nike Air Force 07, for example, can go well with jeans, track pants, and colored denim, and khakis.  Some male fans of the silhouette pair these low-top kicks with loose-fitting shorts as part of the hip-hop sneaker culture complete with their bling-bling.  Meantime, basketball fans use these kicks as an ‘athleisure’ sneaker of choice while wearing their favorite team jerseys.

As for the female fans of the design, the women’s Nike Air Force 1 07 sneaker also works well with some skirts made of denim. Other women wear this chunky-soled kick with track pants, tattered jeans, and skimpy shorts.

Indeed, this low-top model of the Nike Air Force 1 07 can be a best friend to anyone who doesn’t have that much time to spend on deciding what outfit to wear and are always on-the-go.

The Nike Air Force 1 07 sneaker boasts of a foam midsole embedded with an encapsulated air cushioning unit. The full-length Nike Air Force 1 midsole is quite tall, so some wearers are so pleased that the shoe adds to their height.

The elegant and classic aesthetics of the Nike Air Force 1 07 on feet is also a head-turner. Not only does it allude to the rich history of the Air Force 1 line, but it also provides a look that easily blends with almost any clothing item.

  Nike Air Force 1 vs Nike Air Force 1 07

Taking cues from the original Air Force 1 designed by Kilgore, Nike designers upgraded the Nike Air Force 1 with modern shoe technologies and materials creating a sleeker and more up-to-date silhouette called the Nike Air Force 1 07. Created just in time for the 25th anniversary of the bestselling shoe, the Air Force 1 07 had almost the same silhouette as the original design.  This time, however, Nike equipped it with details and comforts of modern shoemaking technology.

The main difference between the 1982-released Nike Air Force 1  and the Nike Air Force 1 07 is in its use of a deubré. The deubré is a term unique to Nike that is used to describe the small medallion or ornamental shoelace tag that is secured at the bottom laces. The deubrés had holes on both ends for threading of laces while an inscription “AF-1” and the year “82” etched beside it. The silver deubrés made out of metal was initially circular but the Nike Air force 1 07 had a rectangular shape in the 2007 release. The deubré was also initially enclosed in plastic material but was discarded by Nike designers to adhere with the original look of the medallion.

The deubré is now a generic shoe term which was originally introduced by Nike as an ornamental shoelace tag. Although its main purpose was supposedly aesthetic, it also has functionality because once it is threaded at the middle of the shoelaces, it helps wearers center the laces in the shoe.

Aside from the deubré, the Nike Air Force 1 07 also has modern leather materials with an improved embedded Air sole unit. The improvements came at an opportune time as the iconic shoe model has faced stiff competition from other shoe brands. The revamped look made the Swoosh-designed shoe fare well in terms of sales and longevity.

While some people may probably often compare the basketball-inspired footwear like the Nike Air Force 1 Low vs the Adidas Superstar, for example, some die-hard Nike fanatics often proclaim the Air Force 1 as one of the Beaverton-based brand’s most iconic design that would probably stay on their footwear portfolio for many years.

The original Nike Air Force 1 was a creation of veteran designer Bruce Kilgore, and it was released in 1982. One does not have to be a genius to know where the shoe got its name. Of course, it got it from the presidential aircraft Air Force One. Having such a name is indeed a strong statement because it straightforwardly promises a high-class experience to its wearers.

For more than 30 years, the heritage appeal of the Nike Air Force 1 has never wavered and seems to be continuously ever present on the shelves since it was launched. Endearing sneaker fans through the years, the versatility in its design and the promise of durability and comfort seems to have been etched into the minds of those who have used Nike Air Force 1 shoes in their youth.

  Basketball heritage

Knowing the Nike Air Force 1’s roots as a basketball sneaker gives its fans a clearer picture of its longevity. The Air Force 1 was the first basketball shoe to use the Nike Air cushioning technology. This feature allowed wearers to walk on air while wearing the Air Force 1 shoes. Well, packets filled with air to be exact are embedded in the sole.

Even with this unique offer, pleasing the market proved to be a challenge at the onset, but it surely was not an impossible feat for the earlier models of the Nike Air Force 1 07 sneakers. But as playing basketball crossed over from the courts to the streets, demand for the Air Force 1 shoe has increased mainly among downtown basketball players who came up with a unique moniker “Uptowns” for the Nike Air Force 1.

The Air Force 1 shoe was also offered in low, mid, and high-top versions with the latter being the most coveted as it provides ankle support. The OG models of the Nike Air Force 1 particularly the high-tops with the recognizable strap above the ankle commands hefty sums as sneakers value them as grail sneaker in reselling sites.

As a basketball sneaker, the Nike Air midsole cushioning technology was not the only technology tweaked in the design to make it comfortable for basketball. In the 1980s, Nike changed the herringbone tread pattern on the bottom sole into a cupsole with a series of circular patterns to ease players doing various moves and plays on the court. Nike discontinued selling the shoe in 1984 as its popularity as a basketball shoe dwindled but only to bring the Nike Air Force 1 back again due to high demand as a lifestyle shoe.

  Lifestyle shoe staple

Air Force 1 went on to become one of the most saleable products that Nike has ever produced. Since its release, the Air Force 1 has been subjected to numerous transformations. Colors have been changed, cuts have been lengthened or shortened, and materials have been upgraded. There were even rare and customized releases that were made of anaconda skin and crocodile skin if that tickles your fancy.

The low, mid, and high top version of the Nike Air Force 1 also became a favorite sneaker to collaborate with footwear retailers, brands, sports stars, rappers, and hip-hop artists, and celebrities all itching to have a collab with retail giant Nike on one of its most successful shoe releases.

In 2007, the Nike Air Force 1 line celebrated its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Nike through designer Tracy Teague, strove to reconstruct the Air Force 1 using the company’s most recent and successful technologies. Thus, the Air Force XXV was born.     

There were also other releases on that 25th anniversary for the bestselling silhouette. The Nike Air Force 1 07 is one of those, and it continues to assert its influence among sneakerheads up until today. On its own, the 07 version of the Air Force 1 is now as heavily sought-after as the original releases of this line, particularly the Nike Air Force 1 07 black, white, and red colorways. The Air Force 1 07 now has its share of favorite collaborations and variations since it was first released.

  Air Force 1 07 variations

Since the 2007 release of the Nike Air Force 1 07, the Oregon-based shoe manufacturer had some notable collaborations with designers, celebrities, and footwear retailers that have helped further boost the popularity of the Nike Air Force 1 shoe.

Among the most popular of the collaborations is the recent Nike Air Force 1 x Off-White collaboration with famous streetwear designer Virgil Abloh of the hype Italian brand Off-White. Nike Air Force 1 shoe collaboration in black and white colorways was given a deconstructed touch together with nine other Nike silhouettes in 2017.

As for the Nike Air Force 1 07 shoes, the model had several variations regarding cuts like the Nike Air Force 1 07 Mid and the Nike Air Force 1 07 High. Another variant of this highly popular Air Force 1 sneaker model is the Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 with an even thicker midsole.  Premium versions of the LV8 options include the Nike Air Force 1 07 Mid LV8 and the Nike Air Force 1 LV8 Utility which utilizes superior materials like tumbled leather.

What further engages shoe fanatics into copping a pair of the Nike Air Force 1 07 sneaker line is its style versatility as it seems to work well with different outfits and fashion preferences. For example, Nike designers further improved on the upper design by including modern patterns into the vintage design like in the Nike Air Force 1 07 Camo and the Nike Air Force 1 07 QS. The Nike Air Force 1 07 Camo, for example, used camouflage patterns to make the shoe eye-catching and stylish. Meanwhile, the Nike Air Force 1 07 QS delved into a heritage look by incorporating Nike Air branding logos all-over the leather upper.

  • This low-top model has neatly arranged perforations on the toe box to provide continuous ventilation.
  • The Nike Air Force 1 07 has an outsole that is made of non-marking The upgraded sole traction pattern enhances the shoe’s grip on almost any surface.
  • Its collar is padded for a more effective next-to-skin support.
  • The upper of the Nike Air Force 1 07 is made of leather or textile, and it has overlays that provide additional support.
  • The thick rubber outsole with pivot point patterns provides traction and durability for various types of movements.
  • For a slight increase in price, Nike offers Air Force 1 fans the chance to personalize and customize their pairs.
  • Basketball players like Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Kris Humphries, Tristan Thompson, and Tony Parker were spotted wearing the Air Force 1 silhouettes.
  • Entertainment industry personalities like Scott Disick, Sofia Ritchie, Kylie Jenner, Drake, Nelly, and Bella Hadid were seen wearing the iconic Nike Air Force 1 07 shoes.

Comparison