The Nike Air Force 1 is Nike's best-selling sneaker of all time and arguably the most culturally significant sneaker ever produced. Designed by Bruce Kilgore and released on December 31, 1982, the AF1 was the first basketball shoe to incorporate Nike Air cushioning — which had previously only been used in running.
Origin story
Nike named the AF1 after Air Force One, the US President's aircraft, to emphasize its elevated-technology status. The silhouette launched as a performance basketball shoe worn by six NBA players: Moses Malone, Michael Cooper, Bobby Jones, Mychal Thompson, Calvin Natt, and Jamaal Wilkes — known as the "Original Six" in AF1 lore. Nike discontinued the AF1 in 1984 after sales slowed.
The Baltimore/DC/Harlem revival
Baltimore-area sneaker boutiques (including Downtown Locker Room, later DTLR) petitioned Nike to reissue the AF1 after regional demand persisted despite the discontinuation. Nike brought the shoe back in 1986 with "Color of the Month" limited releases — a retail strategy years ahead of its time. By the early 1990s, the AF1 had become synonymous with New York hip-hop, celebrated in Nelly's 2002 single "Air Force Ones" ("I like the white ones").
Variants
- Air Force 1 Low — the definitive lifestyle silhouette, overwhelmingly the top-seller
- Air Force 1 Mid — mid-height with ankle strap
- Air Force 1 High — OG 1982 height with inflatable collar on some variants
- Air Force 1 LV8 — premium material variants
- Air Force 1 '07 — modern standard construction
- AF-1 Shadow — women's-led chunky silhouette (2020)
- Nike Kobe × AF1 — recent hybrid incorporating Kobe Bryant tribute
Collaborations
The AF1 is the most collaborated-on Nike silhouette. Major drops include Tiffany & Co. x AF1 (2023, $400 retail, became a mainstream news story), Supreme x AF1, Off-White × AF1 "Canary Yellow"/"Black"/"Brooklyn," Louis Vuitton × AF1 (2021, Virgil Abloh's final public project before his passing), Tisci Riccardo × AF1 (2014 Nike x Tisci collection), Travis Scott x AF1 "Cactus Jack," Nigel Sylvester, and countless others.
Over 40 years, the AF1 has sold an estimated 500+ million pairs globally. It generates roughly $800 million in annual revenue on its own and remains Nike's most-produced silhouette.