John Kim 
Has there been a more battle-tested, everlasting sneaker in history like the Air Force 1? Thirty four years into existence, this innovative basketball sneaker from 1982 continues to lead the charge for Nike Sportswear, headline a category that makes up for a huge chunk of Nike’s overall business. Originally designed by Bruce Kilgore, the Air Force 1 has since fallen in the hands of Nike’s most next-level designers tasked with enhancing this perfect shoe by implementing the brand’s most celebrated advancements. Over the years, Nike has emphasized the Air Force 1 as the ultimate test subject for these crossovers between innovation and heritage, and today, the brand is ready to officially unveil the Air Force 1 Flyknit, the lightest Air Force 1 in the brand’s history.
There’s a lot more than simply slapping on the attractive knit material on the upper of the shoe; since Flyknit is without form, it needs to be engineered meticulously in order to generate a shape, and replicating the DNA of a globally recognized sneaker like the Air Force 1 is no easy task. In addition to the new Flyknit material, Nike designers went to work on the signature midsole and managed to produce something that impeccably bridges the gap between the old and the new. The Air Force 1 Flyknit is finally here, so check out our first-hand breakdown of this exciting new chapter of this classic sneaker.
The Air Force 1 Flyknit Was A Team Effort
A team of Nike footwear designers, led by Nike Footwear Design Director Jonathan Johnsongriffin, was behind the creation of the Air Force 1 Flyknit. The primary focuses were on making the shoe lighter, more flexible, and reducing creasing. Johnsongriffin is by no means new to the process of bringing in new materials on silhouettes; he was behind the LeBron 10 “Cork” and other groundbreaking Nike Basketball EXT releases.
The Nike Flyknit Roshe Run Played A big Role
While the Roshe Run and Air Force 1 don’t necessarily overlap in terms of design concept, the two are closely tied. Not only are they the most ubiquitous Nike sneakers of the current generation, but the Roshe served as a major tool in the development of the Air Force 1 Flyknit; Johnsongriffin actually lasted a Flyknit Roshe on a 3D-printed prototype of the Air Force 1 and using a black marker, drew in the Swoosh and the eyelets.
It Weighs Half The Original Air Force 1
Thanks to the Ultra midsole, the Air Force 1 Flyknit cuts the weight of the original Air Force 1 by half. The restructed sole features injected unit rubber tooling instead of polyurethane, much like how the Air Huarache Ultra, Air Max 1 Ultra, and more were rebuilt to feature this considerable weight-loss.
Despite New Age Material, The Air Force 1 Flyknit Is “OG”
There are a number of key details that make the Air Force 1 such a magical shoe, and most of them lie within the soles of the shoe. Original details such as the iconic pivot-point traction design and the 52 stores on the rubber toe remain, while the “AIR” branding on the heel is now debossed into the sole rather than embossed like the originals. One interesting feature is the leather Swoosh; while a mainstay for the Air Force 1, this is the first instance in which a leather Swoosh is used atop a Flyknit shell.
The Air Force 1 Flyknit Is Available Now Through An App
Nike just launched the Tech Book App, an interactive shopping lookbook that offers exclusive looks and purchase opportunities for Nike Sportswear latest and greatest. Download the App now and cop the Air Force 1 Flyknit before anyone else. The general release date is January 28th, 2016.
