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More than 30 years after it first touched down on a basketball court, the Nike Air Force 1 Low has been reappropriated for skateboarding this year by way of Nike SB. The arc is similar to that of the Dunk Low, although it took only 18 years after the 1985 debut for it to land at Nike‘s then-fresh skateboarding line, and is soon set to include one of the AF1 Low’s most well-known colorways.
The Nike SB Air Force 1 Low Triple Black brings tailored tech and a suede upper to what’s considered the shoe’s most infamous look. Switching from leather makes the upper more durable, as does a stitch-and-turn toe cap construction. A fatter tongue and collar are modeled after the SB Dunk Low for better protection, and the midsole is made both thinner and lighter for better board-feel and less stiffness. “SB” branding is then incorporated onto the tongue and mustache, and the lace dubrae now reads “SB-1” rather than “AF-1.”
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Within sneaker culture, all-black Air Force 1s are commonly associated with shady characters such as scammers or thieves. Many continue to wear the Triple Blacks, however, either oblivious to or dissuaded by the infamy.
Thus far, the SB Air Force 1 has been released just once in a Light Orewood Brown colorway that was available to purchase at just one Los Angeles store during NBA All-Star Weekend. Several other variants have leaked with expected launches in 2026, including a collaboration with Olympic gold medal skater Yuto Horigome.
Following years of the Dunk Low and Blazer being stalwarts of Nike SB, the Air Max 95 was also retooled for skateboarding beginning in 2025 as one of several major moments for the model’s 30th anniversary.
The Nike SB Air Force 1 Low Triple Black will release during the summer through the Snkrs app and local skate shops. Pricing is set at $120.
