Kid's Nike White Air Force 1

Nike Air cushioning debuted in running shoes in 1978 and was so popular that Nike expanded it into basketball in 1982 with the easily recognizable Air Force 1. What made it so easy to spot? A removable ankle strap that let you customize your fit.

It wasn’t the Air unit, which was still tucked away inside the midsole. The Air-Sole unit wouldn’t be revealed until the Nike Air Max running shoe in 1987. But on the Air Force 1, the word “AIR” was embossed on the outside of the midsole to let you know this was something different.

Big stars

To emphasize the point, Nike enlisted six pro all-stars to wear the shoe on a now-iconic poster. Shown wearing flight suits and standing on an airport runway, three sets of teammates would come to be known as the “Original Six:”

·       Moses Malone (Philadelphia)

·       Bobby Jones (Philadelphia)

·       Jamaal Wilkes (Los Angeles)

·       Michael Cooper (Los Angeles)

·       Calvin Natt (Portland)

·       Mychal Thompson (Portland)

The shoe was so popular after that 1982 release that Nike did something unheard of in the industry at the time. It re-released the shoe, including as a low-cut silhouette, and it’s been an essential part of any sneaker fan’s collection ever since.

A shoe for every occasion

The Air Force 1 is one of Nike’s best-selling shoes. And while it’s been released in thousands of color combinations, the White/White colorway is the most popular.

But while you might want a fresh, clean pair of all-whites, you may also be thinking of something that can be a visual foundation for your Nike Air look.

Whether it’s a simple colorized Swoosh, a multicolored Swoosh and outsole, or bold colorblocking among the Air Force 1’s leather overlays, find a style that will match any Nike T-shirt, hoodie, shorts, and more.