Presented by
Nike is no stranger to GORE-TEX — the athletic giant has been integrating the waterproof-breathable material into its hiking boots since the ‘80s. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that the very non-hiking Air Force 1 was adapted for more inclement conditions. Like any AF1 iteration, the spirit of Bruce Kilgore’s original 1982 basketball silhouette remained intact. But still, you probably wouldn’t want to venture into the wilderness with it on your feet. That’s all changed now, as Nike finally attaches a rubber outsole built for the outdoors, introducing the Air Force 1 GORE-TEX with Vibram.
Available in a sleek all-white, a stealthy all-black, and a more expressive Clay Green, the adventure-worthy AF1s won’t have the same limitations of past variants. Vibram is all but ubiquitous in the hiking boot world — including Nike’s own outdoor-focused ACG label — for its superior traction on both wet and dry surfaces. However, this is the first time Vibram has been paired with GORE-TEX on a pair of Air Force 1s, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. This brings more versatility to what was already one of the brand’s most stylistically versatile silhouettes ever. Now you can wear them in the rain or on the trail if you so choose.
As you can tell by looking at it, this is still the same Air Force 1 we’ve come to love over the decades. You still have the all-leather upper, the signature Swoosh, padded collar and tongue (this time made from a tough ballistic mesh), and metal tag above the toe — now with GORE-TEX branding. This time around, the classic flat laces have been traded for rugged, round, cable-style laces that you might find on hiking footwear. Underfoot, you still have the trademark Air-cushioned midsole, but the Vibram rubber gives you a deeper tread pattern for digging into dirt and mud.
Again, these shoes are built for more strenuous situations. You get waterproofing from the GORE-TEX membrane underneath the leather and even the toebox perforations are purely aesthetic. In other words, they don’t provide ventilation for your feet because that would let water inside. Luckily, GORE-TEX is known for its ability to allow moisture vapor to escape while still protecting your feet from external moisture.
Priced at $150, the Air Force 1 GORE-TEX with Vibram is available now from Nike’s web store.
