Presented by
Now that outdoor gear isn’t out of place on the runway, plenty of labels are looking to expand their offerings with new drops and updated takes from the vault. But it’s the legacy brands like Nike that really have an advantage here, especially with sub-labels like ACG, which has been around since the late ‘80s (making it a true OG in the space). Given ACG’s long history, there are a lot of silhouettes in the vault that fit perfectly in today’s landscape, like the Nike ACG Air Exploraid, a pair of retro ‘90s-era hikers that have recently been revived and updated with modern construction.
This updated version of the Air Exploraid borrows heavily from the original silhouette, boasting a stretchy neoprene bootie, a textile-wrapped midsole, and an extended lacing system that reaches the forefoot for added stability. An exposed Max Air unit on the heel adds to the early Aughts/late ‘90s vibe and gives you that classic cushioning. It’s finished with ACG branding on the heel and on the footbed and perfectly recaptures the retro look and feel that defined the OG silhouette.
These originally debuted in the “Ash Green/Black/Neutral Grey/Varsity Red” colorway, which features a blend of the two main colors in the overlays on the upper, with touches of “Varsity Red” on the outsole and the logos. The recently released “Light Orewood Brown/Phantom/Anthracite/Sail” colorway offers a more stripped-back approach but still maintains that unmistakable retro hiking aesthetic. Speaking of retro, it’s exciting to see Nike’s ACG sub-label continue to revive these old-school silhouettes while working to keep them modern at the same time.
The Nike ACG Air Exploraid is available now for $140 in the recently released “Light Orewood Brown/Phantom/Anthracite/Sail” colorway we’ve featured here, along with the loveably retro “Ash Green/Black/Neutral Grey/Varsity Red” colorway.
