Nike Air Force 1: the best-selling sneaker of all time since 1982

Step into the world of the Nike Air Force 1, the silhouette designed by Bruce Kilgore in 1982 and become, in over four decades, the best-selling sneaker in Nike history. The first basketball shoe to integrate Air Sole technology, named after the American presidential plane, the AF1 transcended the courts to become an absolute pillar of streetwear and urban culture. From the legendary AF1 Low Triple White to the legendary collaborations Travis Scott, Off-White x Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton, Supreme, Stussy, NOCTA Drake, CACT.US Travis Scott, MTHOR brings together more than 810 authenticated Nike Air Force 1 references across Low, Mid and High versions. Every pair passes through our authentication experts before shipping with the MTHOR seal worldwide.

The story of a revolution: Bruce Kilgore 1982, Air Sole, and the streetwear second life

The Air Force 1 adventure begins in December 1982 under the pen of Bruce Kilgore, Nike designer. The AF1 is the first basketball sneaker to integrate encapsulated Air Sole technology at the heel — revolutionary at the time. The name "Air Force 1" is inspired by the American presidential plane (Air Force One), symbolising the peak of innovation. Initially worn by NBA players Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, Calvin Natt, Mychal Thompson and Jamaal Wilkes — the "Original Six" appearing in the sneaker's first ad campaign.

In 1984, Nike considers stopping production due to modest sales. But an unexpected initiative from Baltimore retailers, who discover the AF1 is killing it in the local hip-hop community, saves the silhouette. Nike agrees to keep producing the AF1 specifically for these retailers — thus creating the concept of "regional exclusive colourways" that would later define the entire sneaker industry. In the 90s, the AF1 explodes in New York hip-hop culture: Nelly sings "Air Force Ones" in 2002 (becoming Billboard #1), Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan wear All-White Lows daily. The sneaker becomes the unofficial uniform of New York hip-hop.

2017 marks the collab pivot: Off-White x AF1 "Volt" by Virgil Abloh in "The Ten" launches the silhouette's luxe-streetwear era. Then come Louis Vuitton x AF1 (2021, by Virgil Abloh, resale 5,000-10,000 €), Travis Scott AF1 Cactus Jack Sail (2018), Stussy x AF1 Mid, Supreme x AF1, NOCTA x AF1 Drake, Tiffany x AF1. Today more than 2,000 different AF1 colourways have been produced — the AF1 remains the best-selling sneaker worldwide (Nike sells about 12 million pairs per year).

The standout silhouettes: Air Force 1 Low, Mid, High, Shadow, Pixel

The Air Force 1 exists in several main cuts. The Air Force 1 Low remains the most emblematic and best-selling version — classic low cut, perfect for daily use, declined in thousands of colourways. The Triple White ("All White") is by far the most iconic — the best-selling sneaker in history all brands combined. The other fundamental OG colourways: Triple Black, White Black, White Red, White Royal Blue, White Wolf Grey.

The Air Force 1 Mid brings the intermediate cut with its signature velcro strap above the collar — New York hip-hop 90s/2000s style. Coveted colourways: Mid Triple White, Mid Black, Mid 07, and the Stussy x AF1 Mid collabs. The Air Force 1 High is the original high-cut version — high collar, imposing stance, ideal for winter. Special women's versions: AF1 Shadow (with doubled swooshes and panels in pastel colours), AF1 Pixel (with raised pixelated sole), AF1 SP / LX (premium capsule drops). The AF1 Type, AF1 Crater, AF1 Experimental bring contemporary design evolutions.

The standout pieces of the Nike Air Force 1 collection

The Nike Air Force 1 collection at MTHOR covers all cult drops. On the AF1 Low classics side, you'll find OG Triple White, Triple Black colourways, and all seasonal variations. On the Off-White x AF1 collaborations side by Virgil Abloh, MTHOR brings together iconic drops: AF1 Volt "The Ten" (2017), AF1 MoMA (2018), AF1 University Gold (2018), AF1 Black (2018), AF1 "50" series (the 50 colourway Brooklyn Nets 2021 collection).

On the Travis Scott AF1 side, the cult drops: AF1 Travis Scott Cactus Jack Sail (2018, the founding drop), AF1 Cactus Jack Black, CACT.US AF1 Mid. On the Louis Vuitton x AF1 side by Virgil Abloh, MTHOR covers the AF1 Low LV in multiple colourways (White, Black, White Green, White Royal, White Red, White Metallic Silver, Metallic Gold) and the AF1 Mid LV (White, Graffiti).

On the Stussy x AF1 Mid side, the 2024 collab with earthy colourways and special labels. On the NOCTA Drake x AF1 side with velour touches and NOCTA hangtag. On the Supreme x AF1 side with Box Logo on the tongue. On the Tiffany x AF1 Low "1837" side, the ultra-rare drop with Tiffany signature turquoise sole and silver hangtag. The collection is rounded out with AF1 Shadow (Pearl Pink, Light Mauve, Eggplant, Royal Blue), AF1 Pixel (Black, White, Pink Pearl), and AF1 LX/SP premium capsule drops. An exhaustive coverage that makes MTHOR the largest authenticated Nike Air Force 1 selection in France.

Why buy your Nike Air Force 1 at MTHOR

MTHOR Shop specialises in the sale of authenticated sneakers. Every pair in our Nike Air Force 1 collection goes through a rigorous quality control led by our team of experts: we check the Nike box and size label consistency, the premium smooth leather or nubuck quality depending on the drop, the side Swoosh precision (exact dimensions, alignment, embroidery with aligned threads), the Nike Air logo on the tongue (embroidery, position), the encapsulated Air Sole unit at the heel (visible in transparency, functional), the outsole (signature Nike basketball diamond pattern), as well as the laces and accessories. For the Travis Scott, Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Supreme, NOCTA collaborations particularly chased by counterfeiters (the AF1 Travis Scott Cactus Jack Sail and AF1 Louis Vuitton are among the most copied sneakers in the world), we apply a reinforced protocol: UV lamp and microscope to verify collab marking precision, special label weaving, coloured panel alignment, and leather/suede quality. Every order ships with an MTHOR seal, a tangible guarantee that quality control was performed and authenticity validated. Learn more about our authentication process.

We offer worldwide signed-for home delivery in 2 to 8 days, with real-time tracking via email and WhatsApp, 4x interest-free payment via Klarna or Scalapay, and a France-based customer service available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. No customs fees on your end: MTHOR covers all customs duties and taxes.

FAQ — Nike Air Force 1 at MTHOR

How can I verify the authenticity of a Nike Air Force 1?

Every pair sold on MTHOR has been authenticated by our team of experts before shipment. We systematically control: (1) the Nike box with the exact side sticker (SKU, size, colourway, manufacturing date, barcode), (2) the inner label with barcode matching the official SKU, (3) the leather / nubuck quality (real AF1 have dense premium smooth leather with a characteristic smell), (4) the side Swoosh at normed dimensions, (5) the Nike Air logo embroidered on the tongue in relief, (6) the encapsulated Air Sole unit at the heel visible in transparency, and (7) the outsole with Nike basketball diamond pattern. For the Travis Scott, Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Supreme, NOCTA collabs, we systematically use UV lamp and microscope. The pair is then sealed before shipment. Full details here.

What size should I pick for a Nike Air Force 1?

The Nike Air Force 1 fits slightly large compared to the Nike average — we recommend taking half a size smaller than your usual Nike size. If you have wide feet, stick to your usual size. The AF1 Mid fits like the AF1 Low (so -half size if thin feet). The AF1 High fits true. For the AF1 Shadow, fit identical to standard AF1 Low. For the Travis Scott, Off-White, Louis Vuitton collabs, fit identical to standard version.

Which Nike Air Force 1 is the most coveted?

The AF1 Travis Scott Cactus Jack Sail remains one of the most coveted collabs (resale 1,200-1,800 €). The AF1 Louis Vuitton by Virgil Abloh follow (resale 5,000-10,000 € depending on colourway). The AF1 Off-White "The Ten" are also ultra-collector. On the lifestyle classics side: the AF1 Triple White remains the best-selling worldwide, followed by the AF1 Triple Black and the AF1 Shadow.

What's the difference between AF1 Low, Mid, High and Shadow?

The AF1 Low is the low-cut version (the best-selling) — daily use, retail ~120 €. The AF1 Mid has an intermediate cut with signature velcro strap (NY hip-hop 90s/2000s style), retail ~135 €. The AF1 High is the original 1982 high-cut version with collar protecting the ankle. The AF1 Shadow is the women's signature version with doubled swooshes and panels in pastel colours, slightly raised sole. All versions share the encapsulated Air Sole unit at the heel.

What box does my AF1 pair ship with?

You receive the original Nike box with Air Force 1 marking specific to the colourway (standard Nike box for classics, premium box for LX/SP). For the Travis Scott, Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Supreme, NOCTA collaborations, the dedicated collab packaging ships with signature hangtags, multiple laces, and special accessories (the Tiffany collab includes a turquoise dust bag, the Louis Vuitton includes an LV dust bag, the NOCTA includes a special Drake hangtag). Everything ships in an MTHOR overpack to protect the box during transport.

What's the delivery time?

We ship worldwide, with signed-for home delivery in 2 to 8 days. Real-time tracking via email and WhatsApp.

Will I have to pay customs fees?

No, you won't pay any customs fees. MTHOR covers all customs duties and taxes.

Can I return my pair if it doesn't fit?

Yes. You have 14 days from receipt in original condition (never worn, intact box, seal not removed).

Going further

Discover also our Nike Sneakers, Nike x Louis Vuitton and Travis Scott collections. To learn everything about the quality of our sneakers, check out our detailed authentication process or our guide How to recognize a real pair of sneakers.