Near the top of the list of Nike Sportswear’s most versatile designs is the Nike Air Royal Mid, a lifestyle sneaker with ’80s basketball design cues and a penchant for themed packs. We’ve seen everything from the Vac-Tech standby in leather, mesh and Crocs-like Lite variations, ‘Work Boots’, and most recently the crepe-soled SO edition. The new Air Royal Desert Boot is probably closest to the last of that list, their slotted suede uppers also riding a spongy silicone sole, but are they really a desert boot? They don’t have the traditional chukka-style eyestay, but perhaps the answer is ‘yes’ in the sense that their slotted uppers provide superior ventilation for a blazing clime, though you probably wouldn’t want to go near any real sand whilst wearing a pair. However curious the name, they look quite impressive all the same in Beechtree, Dark Grey and black suede designs, all of which you can see by clicking on the jump below. via CK