Nike upped the bar for premium Air Force 1 sneakers with its recently surfaced $600 made-in-Italy styles outfitted in croc print and patent leather. But those aren’t the only elevated versions of the classic sneaker set to arrive this spring.
The Air Force 1 Low will be released this month in a new white croc skin colorway that’s accented with metallic silver and an icy blue-tinted midsole. The entire upper of the pair has been given a croc-embossed texture on white leather, with silver coating the Swoosh and heel tab. At the bottom, the pair’s translucent rubber outsole offers a peek at a net graphic alluding to the Air Force 1’s basketball legacy.
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Although Nike CEO Elliott Hill, who was appointed to the position in October 2024, has said the brand will scale back its output of staple models like the Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1 and Dunk, the AF1 is still very much a part of Nike’s retro business.
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Still to come for the sneaker this month is a patent leather pastel Easter colorway, which has been compared to classic styles from the 2000s, along with a Kobe Bryant Protro version inspired by the late basketball legend’s friendship with teammate Pau Gasol.
The Air Force 1 was introduced in 1982 as a performance basketball shoe and over the decades has become one of Nike’s most iconic sneakers. Although the brand does not issue sales reports for specific models, the Air Force 1 was frequently atop former research firm NPD Group’s top-selling sneaker rankings as recently as 2021.
Despite its seemingly luxe atypical materials, this new Air Force 1 doesn’t appear to be part of any special-edition launch and is instead expected to arrive quietly from Nike’s Snkrs app and select Nike Sportswear retailers on March 20 for a retail price of $125. The style code for the sneaker is IR1981-100 and its full colorway is White/Blue Tint/Pure Platinum/Chrome.