The Nike archives hold so many silhouettes that the public probably forgot about a long time ago. But today, we’re gonna dig into that archive to learn about the extensive line that is the Nike Air Force! What? You didn’t think it was just the Air Force 1, did you? If you did, we’re gonna fix that misunderstanding. You see, while the Nike Air Force 1 has a whole history to dissect (we did that here), there’s more to the line than that. So, let’s check out how many Nike Air Force really exist… or existed at some point, shall we?
How Many Nike Air Forces Are There?
So, if you haven’t been around the sneaker industry for long, you probably don’t know about the other AF silhouettes. Instead of just the one we know and love, Nike actually had six different Air Force silhouettes! Let’s take a look at them now.
Nike Air Force 1
This one’s kinda self-explanatory, right? Well, the Air Force 1 was a basketball shoe that Nike introduced in 1982. Bruce Kilgore’s design was certainly ground-breaking at a time when basketball kicks were just basic. But with basketball and hip-hop gaining momentum, people started adopting the kicks for more than sports. You see, it became a lifestyle shoe with the rise of the industry, and it still is to this day! Now, despite Nike cutting down on the production of the AF1, it’ll always be a staple in every sneakerhead’s closet.
Nike Air Force 2
Five years after Air Force 1, Nike decided to up the game with the Air Force 2 in 1987. The shoe looked very similar to the first silhouette. However, it didn’t hit the mark the way the 1982 Air Force 1 did. The first time these babies got a retro was in 2002 and then made another comeback in 2009. And while the sneakers are pretty cool, they didn’t get their deserved time to shine like the OGs.
Nike Air Force 3
After two runs of sneakers that look similar, Nike upped the game with the Air Force 3! It was a pretty dramatic and bold shift. The 1988 kicks certainly left their mark in the sneaker industry even to this day. You see, these babies will make a comeback sooner than you think. And this comeback won’t be your average drop, oh no. It’s gonna be through a dope collaboration with none other than Nigo! If you wanna learn more about that, check this out. That’s very interesting since the last time we saw these babies retroed was in 2006 in high and low-top versions.
Nike Air Force STS
Aka Nike Air Force 4, the STS could potentially stand for Space Transportation System, aka NASA’s space shuttle. If the AF3 was bold, these babies certainly put them to shame in 1989! You see, the kicks featured a higher collar than all of its predecessors. But the boldness doesn’t stop here, because we also got the elephant print on these babies. Although the Air Jordan 3 beat it to it, it was still a bold choice for another basketball shoe!
Nike Air Force 5
With the turn of the decade, Nike further experimented with the Air Force line peeps. And the end result was none other than the Nike Air Force 5! This silhouette, for the second time, took a leaf out of Jordan Brand’s book. Although it wasn’t aesthetically very different from previous AFs, this one featured a visible Air unit! And you know how much we love to see our sneaker tech. These babies dropped in 1990, and they’re pretty rare to get ahold of today.
Nike Air Force 180
Last but not least, we have the Air Force 180 which dropped in 1991. The silhouette, once again, looked a lot like previous Forces. However, this one came in three versions instead of just two. In addition to the basic one, we had a version with a velcro strap across it. And the third iteration included a pump to inflate the kicks with air for a tighter and sturdier fit! Kinda like the Pump technology from Reebok.
Now That You Know Your Air Forces…
Excluding the Air Force 1, the other Nike Air Force silhouettes are mostly relics from the past. However, that doesn’t mean you should forget about them! If you have a sneaker collection that you like to show off, these would make solid additions to it. But if you’re looking for something more current to rock today, we got you. Our blog has all the latest sneakers news, and we bet you’re gonna find your next purchase there. Godspeed!
