WORDS BY JOSEPH FURNESS
Image By GentlemenCenter
At 39 years old, Nike’s Air Force 1 is ageing like fine wine. Sure, it’s had a few nips and tucks along the way, but essentially, it’s the same old, air-soled sneaker. But does it still offer the same on-foot experience?
That's right, what we really want to know is ‘does an eighties sneaker, recently redesigned by everyone from Virgil Abloh to Travis Scott to A-COLD-WALL*, maintain a consistent fit? A tricky question that can only be answered by those who have an entire collection of AF1 sneakers.
Enter our Ultimate Air Force 1 Sizing and Fit Guide, created with the help of some of the most inspiring sneakerheads around.
Nike Air Force 1 Overview
How does the Air Force 1 fit?
The Air Force 1 fits true to size. If your feet are narrow, you may find the Air Force 1 a tad roomy if you have narrow feet; conversely, you may find the Air Force 1s a tad tight if you have wide feet.
Additionally, you’ll do well to note that the Air Force Mids and Highs fit tighter than the Air Force 1 Low. When purchasing these silhouettes, we recommend sizing up by half a size.
How comfortable are Air Force 1s?
The Air Force 1 isn’t the most comfortable shoe on the market, and they’re pretty heavy. However, the AF1 isn’t uncomfortable enough to put you off of wearing them; hence they’re one of the most ubiquitous sneakers in existence.
How can one care for their Air Force 1s?
Most Air Force 1s are constructed with wipeable leather, meaning that it’s easy to keep the sneaker clean. Whether you use a specialized sneaker cleaner and cloth or supermarket wet wipes is entirely up to you.
Nike Air Force 1 Sizing and Fit Guide
Joan Day (@joanday)
YouTuber and content creator based in Seoul, Korea
My Air Force 1s are my everyday sneakers. The first pair I fell for was the Air Force 1 Sage Low, and before that, I would only wear boots and sandals. I made the transition to sneakers because AF1s look fresh with all of my casual fits, and they’re super comfy!
How does the Air Force 1 fit?
It's as simple as this: the Air Force 1 will fit perfectly if you opt for your true size!
How do you style your Air Force 1s?
I would describe my style as comfortable street chic. Today, I’ve styled them with some of my favorite wardrobe essentials – namely, a black crop top, a two-piece set, Nike socks and sunglasses. I just love cool and comfortable fits.
How comfortable is the Air Force 1?
Nowadays, I own quite a few pairs of sneakers, and the Air Force 1 is the most comfortable of them all. I personally love the experience of wearing the Air Force 1 Sage Lows; I also love that they give me a little extra height.
How do you care for your Air Force 1s?
I don’t look after my Air Force 1s for one simple reason – I think they have so much more charm and character when they’re scuffed up. If they ever get too dirty, I’ll purchase a new pair.
Nike Air Force 1 Sizing and Fit Guide
Johnny Thai (@flywithjohnnythai)
YouTuber and content creator based in New York City, USA
The Air Force 1 is a classic silhouette released 3 years before the Air Jordan 1; thus, there’s a lot of history behind the kick. Over the years, many noteworthy people have sported the kicks as everyone loves them.
The AF1 in my current rotation is the Nike Air Force 1 Low Craft ‘Mantra Orange’. I love that this specific version is made with more premium materials (e.g. tumbled leather) and only costs a little more. As for the colorway, I love how the pop of burnt orange adds a desirable sharpness to the design.
How does the Air Force 1 fit?
If you’re looking to purchase a pair of Air Force 1s, I’d recommend opting for your true size.
How do you style your Air Force 1s?
When I think of Air Force 1s, I think of casual streetwear. In spring and summer, I rock my AF1s with a pair of straight-cut cargo pants, a white graphic tee and a trucker cap. I also wear my light tan crew socks that pair well with the pop of orange on the kick and the earthy tone of the cargo pants.
In fall and winter, I pay a lot of attention to color. I’ve always enjoyed pairing warm orange with olive green, perhaps because the autumnal shades are reminiscent of pumpkins.
How comfortable is the Air Force 1?
The Air Force 1 is as comfortable as your average sneaker – it’s not incredibly comfy, but it’s not uncomfortable either.
How do you care for your Air Force 1s?
I clean my Air Force 1s with Jason Markk and Crep Protect products every so often. Fortunately, when you own a lot of sneakers you don’t need to clean them very often.
In terms of storing my sneakers, I put them on my shoe rack after placing shoe trees inside of them.
Nike Air Force 1 Sizing and Fit Guide
William Sparks (@williamsparksny) (He/Him)
Freelance model and creative based in New York City, USA
The Air Force 1 – a kick that I, a New Yorker, call ‘Uptowns’ – is a classic sneaker. It’s a shoe I've adored from a young age because so many people in my neighbourhood (The Bronx) were sporting them.
Hands down, the AF1 Low is my favorite silhouette, and I believe there’s a space for a pair in everybody’s closet. Today, I’m wearing the Air Force 1 ‘07 ‘Light Bone’, a colorway characterized by its cream accents. I love neutral fall tones – hence, anything brown, green or cream appeals to me.
How does the Air Force 1 fit?
I find most Air Force 1s are half a size too big; hence, I usually opt for a half size down from my regular size. I find that when you first wear a new pair, they feel a little snug, but it doesn’t take long to wear them in.
How do you style your Air Force 1s?
When it comes to styling Air Force 1s, the possibilities are endless. For example, I might throw them on with a pair of sweatpants to go to the barbershop, or I might style them with some cargo pants if I’m going to chill with the homies. Today, I’m wearing my AF1s with a streetwear look: I’ve paired them with a tee I designed for my brand, WSNY, and a pair of vintage Carhartt double knee shorts. I’ve finished the look off with some Hidden NY logo socks and a WSNY tote.
How comfortable is the Air Force 1?
Honestly, Honestly, the Air Force 1 may be the most uncomfortable pair of sneakers I own, mainly because they’re so heavy.
How do you care for your Air Force 1s?
It's so important to me to keep my Air Force 1s looking crisp and clean for as long as possible. I try to clean my AF1s with Jason Markk sneaker cleaner after every wear, so they look brand-new the next time I wear them.
Nike Air Force 1 Sizing and Fit Guide
Li-Anne Kuek (@monsieurbanana)
Sneaker YouTuber based in Melbourne, Australia
The Nike Air Force 1 is a staple in my sneaker rotation because it’s such a timeless silhouette. The classic all-white Air Force 1 was one of the first few sneakers I wore when I was a youngster, and I’ve repurchased multiple pairs since because you simply can’t go wrong with them.
Today, I’m wearing the Nike x PEACEMINUSONE x Para-Noise Air Force 1 – one of my favorite AF1s ever released. The sneaker features a black upper that pearls with wear to reveal hidden artwork.
How does the Air Force 1 fit?
The Air Force 1 feels slightly bigger than other silhouettes. However, I’d still recommend opting for your true size if you don’t mind a slightly roomy fit. Of course, if you prefer a snug fit or have narrow feet, you might want to size down by half a size.
How do you style your Air Force 1s?
The Air Force 1 is a good everyday sneaker because it’s super versatile. I regularly wear my AF1S with a cap, a cosy hoodie (usually AMI) and a pair of jeans.
How comfortable is the Air Force 1?
The Air Force 1s feel great on feet, and comfort is vital when picking an everyday sneaker. I would say that I prefer the Air Force 1 Lows over the other styles as they’re not as restrictive.
How do you care for your Air Force 1s?
The Air Force 1 doesn’t require a lot of maintenance as it’s pretty hard wearing. But, when I do clean them, I use wet wipes.
I usually store my sneakers in their original box and take them out when I switch up my sneaker rotation. Top tip: make sure your sneakers are always away from direct sunlight as the sun can cause them to become discolored and damaged over time.
Air Force 1 Sizing and Fit Guide
Daiana Veron (@daiana_veron)
Sneaker content creator based in Charleston, USA
I love to see passersby rocking fresh pairs of Air Force 1s – I always notice them because they’re such a classic kick.
My first pair of AF1s was a pair of triple white Air Force 1 Lows. I remember how excited I was to be able to buy my first pair after saving my allowance and sport them on my first day of high school. Ever since, they’ve been a staple in my wardrobe.
How does the Air Force 1 fit?
The Air Force 1 fits true to size. However, for those, like me, who have narrow feet, the Air Force 1s can feel a little wide – but that’s nothing a pair of thick Nike socks can’t fix.
How do you style your Air Force 1s?
I love having a pair of Air Force 1s in my rotation because they work with anything and are an easy way to add a touch of streetwear to any outfit.
How comfortable is the Air Force 1?
Nike has enhanced the Air Force 1 model over the last few years, and I would say the comfort is around an 8/10. Admittedly, they can sometimes feel a little heavy if you’re wearing them throughout an entire day.
How do you care for your Air Force 1s?
Many people try to avoid creasing their Air Force 1s, but I’m not one of those people as I like my shoes to tell a story. Having said that, I do avoid getting them dirty, which is why I often give them a good scrub using sneaker cleaner.
Air Force 1 Sizing and Fit Guide
Clemens Kuchinka (@c__k_)
Sneaker Instagrammer based in Kitzbühel, Austria
The Air Force 1 is a timeless sneaker silhouette that everyone should own as it’s ideal for everyday use. It’s no surprise that it’s the model that many Nike collaborations revolve around – the shoe is classic, comfortable and looks good on everyone.
How does the Air Force 1 fit?
As far as I am aware, Air Force 1s have always fit the same. I always opt for a half size up because I think most sneakers – especially leather sneakers – are more comfortable this way. FYI, if you’re planning on purchasing a pair of Air Force 1 Highs, I would definitely recommend sizing up by half a size.
How comfortable is the Air Force 1?
I find the classic Air Force 1 Low silhouette to be pretty comfortable.
How do you care for your Air Force 1s?
I care for my Air Force 1s using sneaker cleaning products – the same products I use on all of my sneakers. Also, I once washed them using a washing machine, and they came out looking brand new.