Some sneakers refuse to be pinned down to a single color, and this is a perfect example. The Nike Air Max 1 ’87 “Snakeskin” (HF5338-100) is officially called Light Orewood Brown. Retailers selling it variously refer to it as “brown/cream”, “Snakeskin” or simply “multicolor”. And when you first see it in a photo, your immediate thought is: that’s pink.
So who’s right? In a way, all of them — because this is a shoe with two base tones, while the name only mentions one.
What’s actually on it
Look at the large sections along the bottom: the toe box, mudguard and heel panel are a dusty vintage pink. Not bright, not sugary — more of a grayish rosé that leans toward mauve. That’s the color you notice first in a photo, which is why people call it pink.
Overlays in a cream, almost bone-colored shade sit on top — around the laces, across the side and over the top of the foot. That’s the color Nike calls “Light Orewood Brown”. It’s a name for a warm off-white, not brown in the way you’d normally imagine it. That’s why the name is technically correct on paper but misleading on your screen.
The rest — the mid-panel, Swoosh and wraparound heel section — feature a snakeskin print in gray, black and sandy brown. There’s a caramel-colored accent on the tongue and around the Air label, the collar trim is dark brown to anthracite, the midsole is sail and the outsole is black. Inside, there’s a black insole with a rose-gold NIKE AIR logo.
So yes: it has pink, it has cream, and there’s brown in the print. Anyone saying “it’s pink” is looking at the mudguard. Anyone saying “it’s brown” is reading the label. Neither of them is wrong.
Why it looks different in every photo
The leather is matte and the shades are very close to one another. In cool light, the vintage pink shifts toward gray and the shoe looks almost beige; in warm light, the rosé comes forward and the cream can look almost white. That’s not a photographer’s trick — that’s simply what the shoe does. Keep in mind that it may look slightly different in the store than it does on your phone.
Would I wear it myself?
Yes — and more easily than the description might suggest. Because both base tones are light and muted, it behaves like a neutral shoe; the snakeskin print does the eye-catching work. It works immediately with denim, as well as with beige or gray, and black is fine as long as you keep it to one piece.
One thing I would point out: a light mudguard and printed side panel require some upkeep. The toe gets dirty first, and scuff marks show up faster on a print than on smooth leather. This isn’t a shoe for a rainy day. The Nike Air Max 1 otherwise has the familiar construction, so if you already know the model, you don’t need to worry about the fit.
What it costs
There are currently twenty active listings, ranging from approximately 93 to 509 euros. That’s a huge spread, and it mainly reflects who’s selling: the lower end comes from marketplaces and resale platforms, while the upper end comes from two regular online retailers carrying leftover stock. Most listings sit between 140 and 180 euros, which is the range you should realistically aim for.
The Hypescore is 18, or INERT. The shoe has been in stores since early 2025, and there’s no movement left in the market. That’s good news for buyers: no rush, no inflated prices — just wait until your size appears at a price you’re comfortable with.
Compare the Nike retailers, filter by your size and pay extra attention to the product photos from the store itself for this pair. When even the name and the retailers can’t agree on what color a shoe is, taking a proper look is worth more than jumping at the first price you see.