The 21 Greatest Nike Air Force 1 Colorways of All Time, Ranked
StyleAll the most iconic versions of arguably the most iconic sneaker ever.By Tres DeanFebruary 5, 2025Photographs: Nike; Collage: Gabe ConteSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.The Air Force 1 has done it all. Arguably Nike’s most ubiquitous silhouette of all time, the AF1 made its debut in 1982 as a basketball performance sneaker. But it wasn’t long before the silhouette transcended the sport entirely, becoming one of the most inescapable and culturally relevant sneakers ever produced—a favorite of rappers, hoopers, and NYU students alike. There are cultural debates around which city gets to claim them (New York and Baltimore are the main contenders, and both would be offended at the implication that it’s even a question) and how many times you should wear a pair before they’re fully cooked. They’re at the center of sneaker culture and have been for longer than just about any other silhouette.Over the years, some of the biggest collaborators in Nike history have left their stamp on the Air Force 1. There have been killer general releases, Friends & Family exclusives, and Player Editions that became the stuff of sneaker legend. Any list of the best of the best tends to run long and ours is no different. Here are our picks for the best Nike Air Force 1s of all time.21. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Kobe Bryant’While you probably most closely associate the Mamba with his iconic signature line at Nike, Kobe was lacing up all kinds of wild kicks during his now-legendary season as a sneaker free agent. Among them were a pair of Forces decked out in Lakers colors. Those shoes saw a public release for the first time ever late in 2024, and alongside them dropped these gems: Black AF1s embossed with the Mamba logo and finished with Lakers purple-and-gold on the Swoosh, limited to an appropriate 8,000 pairs.Buy Now at StockX20. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Howard University Yardrunners’Since 2020, Nike’s Yardrunners program has paid homage to the history of HBCUs. Howard isn’t the first school to get an exclusive colorway, but boy, does theirs ever stand out. A sail-white upper offset with deep brown detailing makes for a simple, elegant pair of kicks.Buy Now at StockX19. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Chamber of Fear — Fearless Warrior’Back in 2005, Nike dropped a series of five Air Force 1 colorways centered around a LeBron campaign that drew inspiration from classic martial arts films. The standout? The ‘Fearless Warrior’ colorway, bringing Bruce Lee-esque yellow, black, and red to the silhouette.Buy Now at StockX18. Terror Squad x Nike Air Force 1 ‘Blackout’Bronx-based hip-hop collective Terror Squad got to put their stamp on one of the signature shoes of their home borough. The clean black-and-white joints—a fine alternative to the ever-ubiquitous Panda Dunks—are embroidered with both the Squad logo and leader Fat Joe’s initials.Buy Now at StockX17. Riccardo Tisci x Nike Air Force 1 BootAmong the craziest things anyone has ever done with a pair of Forces, Riccardo Tisci absolutely freaked it with these knee-high Air Force 1 boots. Kitted out with a redundant but aesthetically killer strap, it’s the most unique thing anyone’s ever done with the silhouette–which is perhaps why it’s near impossible to track down a pair on the aftermarket.Buy Now at StockX16. Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Sail’These days, it feels like a new pair of Cactus Jack kicks drops every other week. But back when Travis Scott first began collaborating with Nike, each new colorway felt like an event. His second pair of Forces came at the height of his powers in 2018. The simplicity of this canvas colorway stands out among the bombastic sense of design Scott has become known for in the sneaker world.Buy Now at StockX15. Playstation x Nike Air Force 1 LowThere have been a number of PlayStation kicks produced by Nike over the years, but the original from 2006 is still the gold standard. Produced in a small run for Sony and PlayStation employees, they’ve become highly coveted collector’s items in the nearly two decades since.Buy Now at StockX14. Tiffany & Co. x Nike Air Force 1 LowOne of the noisier collabs of the decade, the Tiffany & Co. Air Force 1s took the iconic jeweler’s signature shade of teal and applied it to a black suede upper, keeping the collaboration simple and elegant (you know, as Tiffany’s tends to do).Buy Now at StockX13. Bobbito Garcia x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Pilgrim’A legend of the New York streetball scene, Bobbito Garcia’s 2007 take on the Air Force 1 is pure heat for real heads, blending a unique color combo of green, blue, and peach with a mishmash of textiles including suede, leather, and mesh.Buy Now at StockX12. Roc-A-Fella x Nike Air Force 1 LowA quintessential New York sneaker bearing a quintessential New York rap label’s branding? Come on. This was always gonna make the list.Buy Now at StockX11. Stüssy x Nike Air Forc
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The Air Force 1 has done it all. Arguably Nike’s most ubiquitous silhouette of all time, the AF1 made its debut in 1982 as a basketball performance sneaker. But it wasn’t long before the silhouette transcended the sport entirely, becoming one of the most inescapable and culturally relevant sneakers ever produced—a favorite of rappers, hoopers, and NYU students alike. There are cultural debates around which city gets to claim them (New York and Baltimore are the main contenders, and both would be offended at the implication that it’s even a question) and how many times you should wear a pair before they’re fully cooked. They’re at the center of sneaker culture and have been for longer than just about any other silhouette.
Over the years, some of the biggest collaborators in Nike history have left their stamp on the Air Force 1. There have been killer general releases, Friends & Family exclusives, and Player Editions that became the stuff of sneaker legend. Any list of the best of the best tends to run long and ours is no different. Here are our picks for the best Nike Air Force 1s of all time.
21. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Kobe Bryant’
While you probably most closely associate the Mamba with his iconic signature line at Nike, Kobe was lacing up all kinds of wild kicks during his now-legendary season as a sneaker free agent. Among them were a pair of Forces decked out in Lakers colors. Those shoes saw a public release for the first time ever late in 2024, and alongside them dropped these gems: Black AF1s embossed with the Mamba logo and finished with Lakers purple-and-gold on the Swoosh, limited to an appropriate 8,000 pairs.
20. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Howard University Yardrunners’
Since 2020, Nike’s Yardrunners program has paid homage to the history of HBCUs. Howard isn’t the first school to get an exclusive colorway, but boy, does theirs ever stand out. A sail-white upper offset with deep brown detailing makes for a simple, elegant pair of kicks.
19. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Chamber of Fear — Fearless Warrior’
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Back in 2005, Nike dropped a series of five Air Force 1 colorways centered around a LeBron campaign that drew inspiration from classic martial arts films. The standout? The ‘Fearless Warrior’ colorway, bringing Bruce Lee-esque yellow, black, and red to the silhouette.
18. Terror Squad x Nike Air Force 1 ‘Blackout’
Bronx-based hip-hop collective Terror Squad got to put their stamp on one of the signature shoes of their home borough. The clean black-and-white joints—a fine alternative to the ever-ubiquitous Panda Dunks—are embroidered with both the Squad logo and leader Fat Joe’s initials.
17. Riccardo Tisci x Nike Air Force 1 Boot
Among the craziest things anyone has ever done with a pair of Forces, Riccardo Tisci absolutely freaked it with these knee-high Air Force 1 boots. Kitted out with a redundant but aesthetically killer strap, it’s the most unique thing anyone’s ever done with the silhouette–which is perhaps why it’s near impossible to track down a pair on the aftermarket.
16. Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Sail’
These days, it feels like a new pair of Cactus Jack kicks drops every other week. But back when Travis Scott first began collaborating with Nike, each new colorway felt like an event. His second pair of Forces came at the height of his powers in 2018. The simplicity of this canvas colorway stands out among the bombastic sense of design Scott has become known for in the sneaker world.
15. Playstation x Nike Air Force 1 Low
There have been a number of PlayStation kicks produced by Nike over the years, but the original from 2006 is still the gold standard. Produced in a small run for Sony and PlayStation employees, they’ve become highly coveted collector’s items in the nearly two decades since.
14. Tiffany & Co. x Nike Air Force 1 Low
One of the noisier collabs of the decade, the Tiffany & Co. Air Force 1s took the iconic jeweler’s signature shade of teal and applied it to a black suede upper, keeping the collaboration simple and elegant (you know, as Tiffany’s tends to do).
13. Bobbito Garcia x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Pilgrim’
A legend of the New York streetball scene, Bobbito Garcia’s 2007 take on the Air Force 1 is pure heat for real heads, blending a unique color combo of green, blue, and peach with a mishmash of textiles including suede, leather, and mesh.
12. Roc-A-Fella x Nike Air Force 1 Low
A quintessential New York sneaker bearing a quintessential New York rap label’s branding? Come on. This was always gonna make the list.
11. Stüssy x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Fossil’
Stüssy kept it simple with these hemp Air Force 1s, and the shoe is all the better for it. They haven’t aged a day since dropping half a decade ago, and they'll still look good enough to make it onto a list like this 10 years from now.
10. Kith x Nike Air Force 1 ‘Paris’
Kith has taken to dropping hot Air Force 1s to commemorate the opening of its most notable flagships globally. Among the best of the best is this pair of stunners celebrating the brand’s Paris store. The creamy sole, the subtle branding, the sockliner pattern…tres bien.
9. CLOT x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Rose Gold Silk’
Edson Chen’s CLOT label offered their take on the Air Force 1 in a luxe embossed silk edition that’s had a number of colorways over time. There are rarer versions, sure, but for our money the rose gold spin is the best of the bunch.
8. Scarr’s Pizza x Nike Air Force 1 Low
A pair of Friends & Family exclusive sneakers always hits different, and few have hit quite like the Scarr’s AF1. The iconic Lower East Side pizza spot was graced by the Swoosh with these in 2019. They’ve since become some of the most hotly desired kicks on the aftermarket, exceedingly rare to even the most well-connected of collectors.
7. Stash x Nike Air Force 1 High ‘One Night Only’
Stash, the legendary New York graffiti artist, has had a run with the Swoosh going back over a decade and spanning countless silhouettes. His take on the AF1 is a standout piece in a storied career of sneaker design and collaboration.
6. Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Monogram Brown & Damier Azur’
Before his untimely passing in 2021, one of Virgil Abloh’s final acts as Louis Vuitton artistic director was to bring the age-old luxury house into a collaboration with Nike for the very first time. The result was a jaw-dropping array of 47 LV-ified AF1 colorways, the most iconic of which remains this version decked out in Vuitton’s legendary monogrammed leather. You'll likely never be able to add these beauties to your collection unless you’re LeBron James or an insanely rich relative passes away and leaves you their fortune, but boy, are they ever fun to lust over.
5. Entourage x Undefeated x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Fukujima Gold'
The story of the Entourage x Undefeated AF1 is stranger than the fiction from which it springs. Long story short: an episode of the HBO sitcom features Turtle attempting to track down a pair of ultra exclusive Forces designed by an artist named Fukijama (not a real guy, for the record). The shoes got an ultra-limited Friends & Family run in real life (with the addition of a few easter eggs from the show) and remain to this day some of the most expensive Forces you’re likely to find on the aftermarket—that is, if a pair in your size ever shows up.
4. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Triple Black’
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As infamous as they are iconic. All-black Air Force 1s have gained a reputation online as the official shoe of nefarious behavior. Lace them up knowing strangers are likely going to be side-eyeing you all day.
3. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Linen’
The Linen AF1 dates way back to 2001, when the colorway was released exclusively in Japan. The shoe garnered a cult following in the ensuing years, so it was no surprise when it sold out instantly when Ronnie Fieg revived the style to commemorate the opening of KITH’s Miami store in 2016. In the summer of 2024, the Linens saw a global release for the very first time and, you guessed it, sold out immediately yet again.
2. Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘MCA’
It’s redundant to say Virgil Abloh left his mark on the Air Force 1—Abloh left his mark on every shoe he touched. Still, the baby blue colorway he designed to commemorate the opening of his exhibition at his hometown of Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art ranks near the tippy top of his work with Nike. The release was incredibly exclusive, even for an Off-White collab, and remains one of the harder Abloh shoes to track down on the aftermarket.
1. Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘White’
The perfect sneaker. Nike got it right with this one and it’s remained one of the most popular shoes in the world since its 1982 debut. It can and has been worn by everybody and looks as good fresh out the box as it does totally cooked. Hype sneakers come and go. Greatness is forever.
