Nike Air Force 25

Second Coming

Back in 1982 one shoe changed the landscape of basketball shoes forever.The Nike Air Force One.It made numerous leaps in the design and technology in shoes.It was the first basketball shoe to feature Nike Air,concentric circle outsole and Propioceptus strap(ankle strap).While this blog deals mainly with performance of a particular shoe,the impact of the Air Force One as a cultural icon cannot be bypassed.25 years later we received an update to a classic.While purists may complain that Nike is "bastardizing" their classic Air Force One lets see if the shoe truly does honor to a classic.

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the profile of the original Nike Air Force One has for the most part stayed true except for some smoothing out of the hard angles and making the shoe sleeker for this generation.

Initially when I heard this shoe was going to come out what intrigued me the most was how Nike was going to combine a full length zoom air bag on top of an air max bag in the heel.It promised to be one of Nike's most well cushioned shoes.The combination performs well on court.The original Air Force 1 was initially designed for post players but true to the evolution of today's game the shoe caters to all positions even big men who now run the court like guards.Big landings are nothing to this shoe and performance is at a premium with the zoom air providing responsive cushioning and the max air in the heel providing impact protection for the space eaters.

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the shoe stays true to it's roots even down to the outsole with the concentric circles and stars.

Another innovation of the Air force 1 was the unique concentric circle traction.It provided that no matter what angle the player was at it provides 360 degree contact with the court.The Air Force 25 improves on this by adding herringbone traction throughout the outsole.The outsole is also made of a soft translucent rubber compound that provides additional grip.The midfoot is reinforced with a carbon fiber midsole shank where the original had a steel spring moderator.

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visible here is the Max Air unit as well as the reinforced heel counter and ankle strap

The shoe is extremely comfortable to wear with a full length inner fit sleeve and Nike DRI FIT Sphere lining for moisture management.The speed lacing offers a decent lockdown feel when coupled with the ankle strap.While the lockdown feel isn't that of the Zoom Kobe 2 it is sufficient enough to prevent the player's foot from any sliding around in the shoe.The overall design of the AF1 was very stable and the tradition is carried on with this version.

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the patent leather provides a nice touch and adds to the lines of a beautifully designed shoe

Overall the shoe is an all around performer.The patent leather adds a nice touch but has a tendency to crack after some time.I wore mine 6-7 times before I started to notice small chips in the leather.With a multitude of colors and materials being used for the uppers I'm sure there's a color that will appeal to everyone especially since it is on Nike's ID service.I almost always keep this shoe in my bag just in case I have any problems with whatever I'm wearing that day.It makes an excellent alternative to those who cant decide between the Zoom Kobe 2 and Lebron IV.

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-5/5
Ankle Support-4/5
Traction-4/5
Overall-4/5

The shoe performs well and with prices coming down make it an even better value.The Air Force 25 is an excellent testament to the legend that is the Air Force 1.Even after 25 years of innovation and keeping with the basic principles of the original it manages to rise above the rest just as the original did back in 1982.