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With all the hype surrounding Nike’s weekly slate of limited-edition releases, the footwear juggernaut’s permanent range can often take second billing. For this month’s scoured guide to our favorite sneakers from the Swoosh, we’ve almost exclusively limited our selection to the releases that are more widely available. These are our favorites, from lifestyle to running, and everything in between.
Article Overview
Nike Juniper Trail 3
Considering its origins redefining the running shoe segment back in the ‘70s, it makes sense that both specified and versatile runners continue to fill up Nike’s catalog. Here we have the 3rd-gen Juniper Trail, a sneaker that will give you fantastic support on uneven pavement and hilly inclines while also providing comfort on pavement. The midsole was redesigned for this model, featuring a full-length foam construction, while the new upper connects to a flexible mid-foot system for improved support. We particularly loved this Summit White colorway with the bespeckled soles that reminded us of a jawbreaker.
Nike Gato LV8
Of course, Nike knows about reissues more than anyone, but lately, the brand has been rolling out street-ready versions of its Gato indoor soccer shoe with the Gato LV8. Featured here with metallic overlays on the textile upper, even extending to the Swoosh logo, the sneakers sport a decidedly Y2K-era look. The shiny top portion is perhaps uncharacteristically paired with a brown gum sole, giving onlookers plenty to notice.
Nike Air Force 3 Low x NIGO Black and White
Following last year’s playfully colored Air Force 3s, Nike and multi-hyphenate NIGO team up once again on a new pair of AF3 Lows, taking inspiration from ‘80s hip-hop culture with vinyl and turntable nods. Below a shiny silver-plated heel is a strip of pebble grained leather reminiscent of your old crate digging days. Meanwhile, an iced-out chain above the laces showcases both NIGO and Nike’s logos with a Swoosh affixed. And of course, the sneakers feature full-length Nike Air cushioning for comfort — that is, if you’re not keeping these on display in your media room.
Nike Victory Tour 4 Golf Shoes
Nike recently dropped these tech-heavy but visually refined golf shoes, featuring an innovative carbon fiber plate that’s stiff when you swing but flex when you walk. For a super clean and classy look, the uppers are made from a supple full-grain leather with slight pebbling. There’s a version with a BOA fit system that’s currently sold out, but we also wanted to highlight the non-BOA version in this North Carolina white-and-light blue colorway.
Nike Vaporfly 4
Dropping last month, the latest evolution of Nike’s supershoe runners is the Vaporfly 4, at up to 13% ligher than the outgoing model. Just 5.8oz on average, the shoes now get a full-length carbon fiber Flyplate and ZoomX foam midsole, while removing unnecessary weight in the upper. If that doesn’t sell you already, this cool kaleidoscope-graphic variant is an even further evolution. Aside from a striking multi-colored shell that almost emulates your motion when pounding the pavement, the runners feature lumed details that glow at nighttime — a first for Nike.
Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly “Big Head Mode”
Honorable Mention: Nike has proven time and time again that their expertise doesn’t just lie in footwear and athletics. Building off the success of its Tomb Raider- and Donkey Kong-themed Air Max 1 Low Poly silhouettes, the brand kept the 64-bit party going with the “Big Head Mode” edition, inspired by the N64 classic GoldenEye. Nods to the 007 game are the tuxedo colorway, a crosshair over a steel design on the insole, and a mock-rating on the inside of the tongue with a giant “E” that says, “RATED BY EVERYBODY.” These shoes sold out within minutes but we still felt inclined to shout them out here.
