The Nike Air Force 1 first debuted in 1982 and was worn by the best NBA players of that era. It was designed by veteran shoe designer, Bruce Killgore, who was also responsible for hits such as the Air Jordan 2. The Air Force 1 was a history-making silhouette as it was the first basketball sneaker to bring soft and springy Nike Air cushioning to the courts. Today, these iconic sneakers have propelled Nike into the forefront of sneaker culture.
The AF1 is arguably Nike’s most popular sneaker in the brand’s history. With a clean silhouette coming in various exciting designs and collaborations, it’s not hard to see why the brand sells up to 100 million pairs a year! Here is our styling and sizing guide to the everyday staple, the Nike Air Force 1.
The AF1’s construction comprised of heavily padded uppers, thick retro cupsole and premium leather creates a sturdy silhouette suitable for daily wear. As a result, all variants feel a little heavier on feet and create a distinctive chunky silhouette.
Out of the box, they may not be as comfortable as most modern runners, but they certainly offer more cushioning than other equally popular lifestyle shoes like the Air Jordan 1 and Nike Dunk. In fact, you can feel more of the impact absorption and softness of the AF1’s midsole as you break them in.
The AF1 fits true-to-size. If you have narrower feet, you may find them roomier. The Nike Dunk Low is a good gauge for sizing – if you’re comfortable with a US9 Dunk Low, the Air Force 1 in the same size will work just as well for you
Note that this tip applies only to the AF1 low as the mid and high variations have been known to fit more snugly. The mids tend to feel a little tight up top and the highs may feel troublesome to slip on, especially with the tongue strap. For the mid and high, go a half size up compared to your Nike Dunk size (for more information, check out our Nike Dunk sizing guide).
These versatile sneakers, especially white AF1s, go with any outfit. Because they’re so clean, you can opt to incorporate texture into your outfit by throwing on corduroy, prints or patterned bottoms. Also, consider layering your pieces with bold colors for a more vibrant fit. Here’s some inspiration to take your outfits up a notch.
If you’re gunning for a pair of white Air Force 1, prepare to inherit some scuffs. If you’re not ok with that, then you’ll need some good sneaker cleaning kits such as Crep Protect Cure Cleaning Travel Kit or the Originallab Advanced Shoe Cleaning Kit.