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Read MoreNike Air Force 1s first hit the basketball court in 1982. Named after the president’s trademark plane, the sneakers quickly became a favorite among consumers, especially those in Harlem, which led to the sneaker’s nickname of “Uptowns.”
All these decades later, the mid top Nike Air Force 1 is still a high-flying force with which to be reckoned. Visit a Hibbett location near you to snag a pair of the Air Force 1 mid tops in kids’ sizes or shop online.
The Idea Behind the AF1
Exercise, such as running, shooting hoops or Nike designer Bruce Kilgore modeled the Air Force 1s after the Nike Approach hiking boot because he wanted to replicate the boot’s level of support. Kilgore also wanted his new invention to enhance a player’s maneuverability on the basketball court through top-quality traction. As a result, he decided to trade the traditional basketball shoe outsole pattern for a circular pattern that became synonymous with the AF1s.
Players like Moses Malone of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jamal Wilkes of the Portland Trail Blazers gravitated to the new sneakers. A year later, Nike released a low top version of the AF1s. The Air Force 1 mid tops didn’t hit the market until the mid-1990s. Throughout the years, though, the Air Force 1’s retro design continues to turn the head of ballers and sneakerheads alike.
Features of the Force
As a result of innovative materials and construction, the Nike Air Force 1 mid top and AF1 Ultraforce mid top provide exceptional durability while retaining the sneaker’s retro style. Both shoe styles include premium uppers featuring the iconic Nike Swoosh and the signature AF1 deubré medallion found below the laces. And, of course, the variety of colorways complement any personality, outfit, occasion or event. Here are a few notable features:
- Colorways featuring shades of red, black, pink, white, green, fuchsia and blue, as well as versions including “Swooshfetti,” paint splatters and kids’ “Rayguns” models.
- Lightweight cushioning, a padded mid cut collar and a foam midsole, which combine for extended, all-day comfort
- Perforations on the toe providing airflow to keep feet cool
- A variety of stylistic designs that add differentiation to each model
- Soles that mix foam with rubber pods to increase durability in high-wear areas and sustain overall durability
- Non-marking rubber outsoles that elevate traction
The Shoes That Almost Weren’t
Only two years after the first Air Force 1 launched, Nike tried to discontinue the shoe to focus on new designs rather than reinventing old ones. Sneaker fans weren’t happy hearing the news, and they actually petitioned the Swoosh to bring back the AF1s. Soon after, in 1986, the Nike Air Force 1s returned. Nike also re-released the sneaks in the mid-’90s — including the AF1 mid tops. And, in the early 2000s, new colorways along with women’s sizing emerged.
In 2002, rapper Nelly tipped his hat to the shoe in his track “Air Force Ones,” and the “Flaves” eventually found themselves on the famous feet of Kobe Bryant, Kendall Jenner, A$AP Rocky and Bella Hadid.
Today you can pick out a pair of mid top Air Force 1s at your nearest Hibbett location or online to add a modern resurgence of an iconic classic to your closet.
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