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From running shoes to lifestyle sneakers to everything in between, Nike proves time and time again that it’s simply the most versatile footwear brand on the planet. This month, we want to highlight the best of the Swoosh’s latest catalog of shoes. These are our favorites for the month of February.
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Nike Killshot 2 Leather
Originally debuting in 1979 as a tennis sneaker, the Killshot got a lifestyle revival in 2009 with the Killshot 2 and has been going strong ever since. For its latest variant, Nike opted to throw an uber-vintage leather wrap on the uppers, paired with two different colors of soft suede and a brown outsole, making these look like something found in your dad’s closet.
Nike Air Max Dn Essential
By now, we’re well familiar with the Air Max sneaker but early in 2024, Nike dropped an innovative new take that manages to look both futuristic and retro at the same time. The Air Max Dn introduces the brand’s new Dynamic Air, a dual-chamber, four-tubed system that maps the pressure in each air pocket for optimized performance and comfort. For our money, we love the new Essential variant of the Air Max Dn for its teal color, layered within the black haptic print mesh uppers, giving the sneakers a glowing effect that furthers the futuristic vibe.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Black Toe”
After a couple years’ worth of rumors, Nike finally brought back the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe,” based on a prototype worn by Michael Jordan during the mid-’80s, including in some iconic press photography. As opposed to the mostly-red version of the Air Jordan 1s, this prototype swapped much of the red with black. This isn’t the first reissue of the “Black Toe” but is more true to the original with its black tongue and also features a slightly distressed effect on the sole. Another notable difference is the “Air Jordan” text on the upper collar where the Wings logo usually is.
Nike Ja 2 Scratch Black Label
Debuting his first signature shoe in 2022, Ja Morant has been turning heads with his 2nd edition. Featuring the basketball sneaker’s hallmark Scratch design as an homage to the backscratcher dunk the NBAer is known for, the Black Label version of the Ja 2 elevates the design even further. Not only does this feature a blacked-out aesthetic, but Nike opted to put actual Swarovski crystals inside the crevices of the Scratch design. Like the standard Ja 2s, these also feature the invisible Air Zoom unit in the forefoot and reduced weight in the arch.
Nike Vaporfly 3
Nike is known for several running silhouettes but the Vaporfly has been getting a lot of attention lately, and for good reason. Launched in its first iteration in 2017 as a running shoe lab-tested to improve running economy by an average of 4% compared to average marathon shoes, the Vaporfly is now in its 3rd generation. As we anticipate #4 later this year, Nike has given us this rad blacked-out version of the road racers as part of the “Metallic Medium Ash” collection. Hiding its Swoosh logo amidst its Flyknit upper, the record-breaking sneakers do get a dash of color in the way of an olive cutout at the midfoot.
