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The Complete Nike Air Force 1 History

Expert Advice

The Complete Nike Air Force 1 History

Jun 28, 2024

With so many collectible sneaker releases from top brands and celebs, we tend to throw around the word “iconic” quite a bit. But one shoe befitting the “iconic” mantle is the almighty Nike Air Force 1.

Wondering when Air Forces were made and how they became a lifestyle sneaker? Settle in for an Air Force 1 history lesson on the shoe that’s been around for more than four decades.

Women's Round Sunglasses

When Did Air Forces Come Out?

Nike first launched the sneaker in 1982. Designed by Bruce Kilgore (who later dreamed up the Air Jordan 2), the AF1 was the first hoops shoe to sport Nike Air technology. The original high cut sneaker included a concentric circle outsole — not unlike the first Air Jordans — and perforations sprinkled along the toebox. It also featured a variable-width lacing system and proprioceptive belt that secured the ankle.

To promote the AF1 as a serious basketball sneaker, Nike tapped six NBA players to sport the kicks on the court and in the brand’s ads. These men, called “The Original Six,” included the Portland Trail Blazers’ Mychal Thompson and the Lakers’ Jamal Wilkes. The original AF1 campaign tagline was simply “Air in a Box.”

Are Air Force Ones Basketball Shoes?

While the 1982 Air Force 1 was absolutely a basketball shoe, these kicks quickly found fans off the court. A year after the high cut rendition’s debut, a low cut version dropped … and then Nike retired the sneaker and moved onto other releases. That didn’t sit well with AF1 fans. So Nike gave the people what they wanted — more Air Force 1s. It wasn’t until the mid-’90s that the Air Force 1 rolled out in a mid cut rendition. That was also the decade Nike added a jewel Swoosh to the mix. In 2001, Nike finally launched women’s-specific sizing.

Uptowns in Pop Culture

Uptowns in Pop Culture

Forces, AF1s, Flaves and Uptowns are just a few of the nicknames for these iconic shoes. While originally this started out as THE NIKE BASKETBALL SHOE, these sneaks cemented their star status on the streets thanks to the hip-hop community.

Nelly is probably the most obvious example of celebs hyping up the shoes, thanks to his “Air Force Ones” song in 2002. But Dr. Dre is a longtime fan — with pair upon pair of Uptowns in his sneaker collection. NYC hip-hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock even used the shoes in their cover art, and both Jay-Z and Eminem have dropped AF1 collabs.

Improving on the Classic

In the mid-2000s, Air Force Ones began departing from traditional leather uppers and first-gen Air Technology, opting for edgier, newer construction materials like stretchy Nike Primeknit fabric, iridescent patent leather in metal tones, and lightweight, durable hyperfuse tech. Later, AF1s began sporting GoreTex weather-proof uppers, outsoles and details, and more recently, Nike has released shoes incorporating recycled materials as part of the brand’s Move to Zero sustainability initiative. Other editions include: 

  • An AF1 boot that bridges indoor court style with streetwear style. 
  • The Air Force 1 LV8 editions, which feature slightly more elevated sole than the OG.
  • A Shadow version that includes bold overlays backdropped by “shadows” of the Swoosh and other design elements

Air Force One Colorways

Air Force One Colorways

During the mid-2000s, Nike Air Force 1 colorways and collaborations exploded. While collectibles are in the eye of the beholder — and the sneaker market — here are some of our favorite colorways and grails in the shoe’s history:

  • Off-White x AF1 “The Ten”
  • Nike Air Force 1 “Playstation”
  • Nike Air Force 1 “Waterproof”
  • Nike x Stash Air Force 1 High
  • Nike Air Force 1 “Roc-a-Fella”
  • Nike Air Force 1 “Questlove”
  • Nike Air Force 1 “White on White”

If you’re not willing to shell out a couple thousand for those super-hard-to-find sneakers, Hibbett has a great selection of trendy faves and timeless classics, including:

Each AF1 comes backed by more than 40 years of history, culture and style. Learn more about sneaker collecting, how to style and lace your Air Force 1s, and find full AF1 fits on the Unboxed blog. Or discover your next favorite pair of classic sneakers or hot new launches at Hibbett!


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