The Nike Air Force 1 was Nike’s first basketball shoe and was released in 1982.
Bruce Kilgore designed the model, adapting ideas from hiking footwear to create a basketball shoe with a supportive high-top shape. It was also the first basketball shoe to use Nike Air cushioning, placing the technology under the heel.
The shoe takes its name from Air Force One, the aircraft used by the president of the United States. Nike later produced low-top and mid-top versions, helping the model move beyond basketball into everyday streetwear.
A common mix-up is treating the Air Force 1 as a purely lifestyle model. Its cultural importance grew after its basketball career, but its original purpose was performance on the court.