About

Nike Air Force 1 Low

Of the three heights in which the Air Force appeared, this is the one that stuck around. Not because it performed best on the court, but because it worked best off it — and that is a rare way for a basketball shoe to win.

Why low took over

The original 1982 Air Force was a high-top; the low version came later as a variant. On the court the high collar provided support, but on the street nobody wanted that. The low cut fit under a pant leg, left the ankle free, and became the version you saw everywhere. The Mid sits in the middle with an ankle strap, the Air Force Max goes the other way.

Look at the metal plate

At the bottom of the laces there is a small metal block through which the lace ends run. On most versions AIR is engraved. That plate has no function for the fit — it is an ornament, and it is exactly the kind of detail collectors pay attention to. On the sole is the pivot circle you find on every Air Force.

A shoe that’s supposed to be clean

A culture has grown around this model that you see with few sneakers: it is supposed to look new. In New York, where the model earned the nickname Uptowns, a worn pair was replaced instead of being cleaned. That explains why so many versions exist and why this has remained the best-selling model in Nike’s catalog. A monster in spotless white attire.

On this page you can see which versions of the Air Force 1 Low are currently the hottest according to the Hypescore, from what price they can be found and at how many shops they are in stock.