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Shoe of the Decade – Nike Air Force 1

768 days ago - by Matt Halfhill - 36 comments
Shoe of the Decade

Over the course of this decade one shoe has become more than just a top seller year in and year out, it has become a staple. First released in 1982, the Nike Air Force 1 was a revolutionary basketball shoe. However, in the 2000′s, the shoe grew to new heights.

Limited runs, special releases, and overseas exclusives made the hunger for this shoe unlike any other. Coming in just three different cuts (low, mid, and high), it was evident that this rather simply constructed shoe had limitless possibilities with endless opportunities for unique color-blocking, upper materials, stitched logos, and even custom labels.

Besides making a main stay on the shoe walls at Foot Lockers in virtually every mall and sneaker boutique in America, the shoe became the canvas of choice for memorable collaborations and hyperstrikes, creating even more energy for the shoe. Nike teamed up with street artists, musicians, DJ’s, athletes, and shop owners to create limited exclusive makeups of the timeless classic.

The best years of the Nike Air Force 1 may be up for debate, but the shoe gained considerable mainstream attention after the release of Nelly’s 2002 single “Air Force Ones” and the shoe’s 25th anniversary in 2007.

The shoe has seen a slight decline in popularity and buzz following the “Year of Air Force Ones”, but it cannot be debated that this shoe was the biggest model of the decade.

  • David

    When you have 3 songs about you, then you can claim being shoe of a decade.

  • marlon

    can’t deny the impact the air forces had on the game

  • Latoya

    Whack!!!!

  • Ah_Ah_Alex

    Yesssss! Most deff are shoe of the decade

  • pablood92

    YES!

  • dontwatchmewatchtv

    early 2000s it was just about air force ones. even though they arent as highly wanted as before its no doubt the shoe of the decade.

  • flipmode

    AF1 did make an impact… LAST DECADE

  • brando

    all white high tops tall tee.s to low tops fresh colors ways alot of pPl rock vans and supras NOW but af1s will always stay alive…………………………………………………..AND AIR JORDANS HAHAHAHAH!!!!!

  • Chris Black

    This is one shoe that can never never be out of style, the Air Force One as well as The Adidas Shell Toe and Puma Suedes are straight classics and they will be always be instyle.

  • josh

    Only thing af1′s can win is most boring and un-stylish shoe of the decade!!!!!

  • S.H.I.T.- Sneaker Head In Training

    damn sumtimes i forget how long a decade really is, forces def fell off recently, but for abt 8/10 years every1 always had on sum white

  • dopasaurus

    nope.

  • itzpaqmanb

    i agree totally..
    tho they havent been hot lately..
    the all-white af1 is still a staple in everybody’s closet..

  • teekay

    You can’t be a sneaker head and not respect the AF1. I know for me air forces is what got me hooked on sneaker collecting and opened my eyes to retros. before that I use to just collect air max plus’ (lol)

  • NIKEDEE

    I can’t argue with this.

  • corey

    Some ppl kill me with the things they say on his thing AF1s will never go out of style when u go out of town and u can’t find no kicks u don’t say let me get some js u say fu*k it let me pick up some all whites I don’t care who u are cause when them things are new it feel like the 1st day of school lol fresh

  • cash

    I agree with this piece 100%!!!!!!

  • pup

    I agree, like someone else said af1′s got me into collecting shoes also, they used so many different colors and materials you couldn’t help but get addicted.

  • antiAddi

    AF1′s are the shoes of the last 2 decades

  • ShoeC OG

    This Shoe What Got Me Into The Sneaker Game.. Now I Mostly Got Air Jordan Retros But I Still Keep An All White Pair Both Hi Top & Low.

  • too much

    agree.

  • cass

    they were the most popular shoe of the decade. everybody you saw had a pair of all white air force ones. they were not the best looking though, they are just to plain to me and they crease alot!!!!!!!!!!

  • Lem

    I had the all white lows. But I haven’t worn any AF1′s in years. Still a classic though.

  • yeah

    Can’t disagree it started off the decade strong fell off but still the shoe of the devade not really debatable at all

  • Using namespace pikachu;

    Defineitly the shoe of the decade, now a SLIGHT decline in popularity is a bit of an understatement. You couldn’t give a pair of them sh*ts away nowadays.

  • Coach K

    Air Force One is timeless. It will never completely go out of style. I remember when Kmart couldnt give a pair of “Chuck’s” away, now they selling for 50 bucks a pop sometimes. Sneakers like this rise and fall.

  • trey

    down south all whites r like a given u just have em i buy about 2-3 whites a year dependin on how hard i am on em it will always b my fav shoe of all time not just cuz i had the nellyville cd when it came out lol i was just always obsessed with the shape and simple but tight design i slowed on buyin em true enough but theres stuck up white ppl cholos asians…like half my teachers got a pair, everybody wheres em round here i dont see the decline yall talkin about but even if thats true if not recognized as the best shoe of all time its a record breaker and theyve made some serious history bigger than the run-addida craze if u ask me

  • Vi

    Here in N.Y.C. they will never totally go out of style. They were popular here way before the Nelly record too! They are called “Uptowns” here because they were and still are staples for us up in Harlem!

  • Robbie

    Wack. Dunks are soooo much better, seriously…

  • Air Daniel

    when do u guys think people will move on to another shoe?

  • thenewjs

    After the Nelly song these were hard to find. I dont rock anymore. They are over saturated and have become very commercial.

  • marclar

    air force ones are ovverated.. air max 90s are cooler (:

  • equisxx23

    i agree with this. my fav shoe for the last 5 years. 9% of my collection are AF1.

  • MAX AIR

    thenewjs hit it the nail right on the head took the words right out my mouth wow i agree %100 i remember when these were just hood exclusives now everybody rockin em and Nelly mad it worse with that wack a$! song they are way too commercial i have some but no longer buy em and whats wit everybody rockin all white ones every summer i can go to the mall in June and count like 30+ people rockin all white Top tens thats funny SMH……….

  • fvdaf

    they aint goin nowhere either cus they to fresh and there is to much you can do to them! i think they best year was 06 and they worst was the last 3 cus they didnt drop to many good ones the last 3 years for some reason

  • d.knott01(detroit fresh)

    YEAH, I WAS THINKING THAT AF1′S HAVE FELL OF HARD, AND THEY DID FOR A MINUTE BUT THEY JUST FELL OFF LIKE TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVEN’T BOUGHT A PAIR SINCE 06 BUT WITH THE FUTURA’S AND BESPOKE I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT COPPING SOME MORE.

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