Nike SB Is Upgrading the Iconic Air Force 1 Sneaker in 2025
Nike’s skateboarding division, Nike SB, has generated a lot of industry buzz for the brand in recent years. Who could forget 2020’s “Chunky Dunky” collaboration with Ben & Jerry’s or the furry Grateful Dead Dunks? In 2023, the skate entity teamed up with Nike, Inc. subsidiary Jordan Brand for an Air Jordan 4 that was a sneaker of the year contender in many circles. For 2025, the intrabrand collabs will reportedly continue.
One of the next models slated to receive the SB treatment is Nike’s iconic Air Force 1. Originally released in 1982, the Bruce Kilgore-designed model has been one of the Swoosh’s most enduring, bouncing back from am early-‘80s discontinuation thanks to a handful of retailers in Baltimore who urged Nike to keep the shoe in production. It blossomed into an east coast status symbol, eventually catching on internationally and becoming one of Nike’s top-selling sneakers year to year.
According to an early leak from Sneaker Files, a Nike SB Air Force 1 can be expected in 2025. Specifics aren’t yet known, but if Nike SB’s previous tweaks to shoes like the Dunk and Air Jordan 4 are any indication, fans can expect an Air Force 1 that has been upgraded for skate performance. Those shoes were updated through numerous wear test sessions with professional skaters, so it’s likely that Nike will take a similar approach with the Air Force 1.
Although in-hand images of the 2025 Nike SB Air Force 1 have not yet surfaced, an older sample pair shared by @sbcollector on Instagram may give fans an idea of what can be expected. That sample version features a black-and-gray colorway with a seamless construction mixing leather and suede. The tongue features a wide mesh for breathability, and the shoe’s standard Nike Air branding has been replaced with a red Nike SB logo. It’s important to note that this pair is a sample from years ago and may not represent what will arrive at retailers in 2025.
More details on the 2025 Nike SB Air Force 1 are expected to surface soon. In the meantime, readers can find out about the upcoming Verdy x Nike SB Dunk Low “Visty” here.