Nike SB Finally Unveils the Skate Upgrades and Design Details on the New SB Air Force 1
PublishedQuick Facts
- Nike SB is taking to the streets to debut the shoe at skate shops up and down the East Coast, and the brand is ready to share details of the updated classic
- Adding an Air unit in the heel, reducing the size of the midsole, modifying the herringbone tread pattern, padding and strapping down the tongue, crafting fit pods into the collar lining, and reshaping the toe profile, the Nike SB team took everything into account
- The Nike SB Air Force 1 will debut in Light Orewood Brown at select skate shops on April 17, 2026, with a wide release through SNKRS on April 21, 2026
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Whether you can kickflip or not, the Nike SB Air Force 1 retool has been one of the most highly anticipated shoes of the early year. After plenty of previews last year on the feet of Nike SB team riders like Antonio Durao, Cyrus Bennet, Karim Callender, and more, we got a closer look at the redesigned silhouette from skate shop owners after they were gifted an exclusive pink pair on an SB AF1 debut trip to the Nike campus. Now, Nike SB is taking to the streets to debut the shoe at skate shops up and down the East Coast, and the brand is ready to share details of the updated classic.
"We had to find the right balance between delivering for skateboarders and honoring an icon,” Mau Rosillo, a member of Nike’s Color Design team, said about the SB AF1. “The design team considered every performance detail — the midsole, the outsole, the treads and the upper — and packaged it into the Air Force 1. If we would’ve lost one or the other, we wouldn’t be here.”
Adding an Air unit in the heel, reducing the size of the midsole, modifying the herringbone tread pattern, padding and strapping down the tongue, crafting fit pods into the collar lining, and reshaping the toe profile, the Nike SB team took everything into account. And still, the shoe retains the iconic Air Force 1 look for a skate-ready adjustment that might just change the Air Force 1 forever.
The Nike SB Air Force 1 will debut in Light Orewood Brown at select skate shops on April 17, 2026, with a wide release through SNKRS on April 21, 2026. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is set at $120. For all the latest Nike SB Air Force 1 news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever App.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
