Nike Air Force 1 SB Review: Why These Aren’t for Everyone
Price: $140 [SOLD OUT; Check eBay for Current Prices]
Why Buy?
The Nike Air Force 1 SB is a true skater-friendly option for those who want something other than a Dunk.
Why Avoid?
The Nike Air Force 1 SB doesn’t come with the comfort of recent SBs
Specs
| Model | Air Force 1 SB |
| Height | Low |
| Materials | Suede / Rubber |
| Size | 13 |
| Weight | 578 g / 20.4 oz |
| Contsruction | Cemented |
| Country of Origin | Vietnam |
History
Nike SB has been on a bit of a tear recently with a simple formula: take a sneaker that has been super popular, add some padding, make it more comfortable, and release it as a limited edition. It didn’t really even matter if it was good for skating – Eric Koston famously described the Air Max 95 SB as a shoe to wear “when you’re off the clock from skating.”
As a former skater who now spends more time chasing his kids around on skateboards than riding himself, this was perfect. Models I avoided due to comfort, like the Jordan 4, were now a great option.
This year’s entry into this line is the Nike Air Force 1 SB – and I was excited when it was announced. I’ve always found the Air Force 1 to be a bit big and clunky for me personally. A slimmed down skate inspired option? Sign me up.
However, can Nike catch lightning in a bottle three times? Or have we officially entered the “cash grab” era of new SB models? Let’s dive in and find out.
Looks
Upper
The upper of the Nike Air Force 1 SB comes almost entirely in a tan, low-pile suede. This “orewood” release colorway looks great, but is a stain magnet. Out of the box there were two brown stains and they picked up another when I lined them up for a comparison shot with the other SBs. I’d definitely keep these for sunny days.
The only panels that are not made of this suede are a woven tongue and a pink heel tab in real leather.
The SB specific changes are actually pretty minimal for this pair. The toebox has a rolled edge instead of raw to help with durability. The collar of the shoe is slightly more padded, with extra pillows to hold down your foot. Finally, the heel, tongue, and dubrae each feature SB branding.
The upper is also slightly lower to accommodate your foot sitting lower in the cup sole, though you wouldn’t notice unless you held them up to another SB.
Mid- and Outsole
The lower half of the Nike Air Force 1 SB changes might be hard to notice at first. From the side, these look like any other gum-soled AF1. White stitching holds a white wall featuring the “AIR” branding near the heel.
Turning things over, at first blush you might think there are no changes at all. Take a closer look, though, and you’ll see the tread pattern has been modified with additional grooves that should provide additional traction. Further, the exposed foam core – with Nike SB branding – can be found as well.
As for color, these feature a gum bottom with pink outsole. Though, these are not the only way the SB will come or needed for grip. We’ve already seen full black options go on sale at Vu stake shop in Baltimore.
Summary
Of all the SB modified shoes – including the Dunk SB – the Nike Air Force 1 SB might be the least modified from a visual standpoint. The changes such as the rolled leather, SB branding, and heel padding are not visible unless you’re holding the shoe right in front of your face.
This similarity to the base AF1 isn’t inherently good or bad. Personally, I would have liked to see Nike take it a bit further, but the standard model is a hit in 2026 for a reason.
It does mean that the colorway of the sneaker is going to matter a lot more. This color has a decidedly “SB” vibe to it with the pink hits. However, the upcoming black model looks nearly identical to the ’07 pair in black nubuck.
Considering these are basically just AF1s, you don’t need me to tell you how to style them. You probably already have two pairs.
Fit & Comfort
Fit
In some bad news for Kyjuan, you might want to try these on before you’re buying them. Where traditional Air Force 1s are known for their extremely generous fit, the Air Force 1 SB fits noticeably snugger. Similar to Nike Dunk Lows, most people are going to find they want to go up a half size from their Air Force 1 sizing – though considering most people go down a half size, a good bet is to go with your standard Nike sizing.
The reasons for this are twofold. First, the extra padding around the collar and tongue takes up some of the extra space that is typically in these shoes. Second, you sit lower in the shoe. Instead of pushing against the leather upper, if you go too small you’ll be pressing against the hard rubber outsole.
Comfort
Where the Jordan 4 SB and Air Max 95 SB were really focused on improving comfort more than board feel, the Nike Air Force 1 SB really is focused on improving the skatability of the sneaker.
The traditional AF1 gets a full-length insole encased in foam. The AF1 SB is set up more like a Jordan 1 – an air unit in the heel, and basically nothing but the insole under the forefoot. While this is great for board feel, it’s been about 40 years since anyone said the Jordan 1 is comfortable for a reason.
Unlike more recent SBs, these were not designed for comfort but for better performance and board feel. For casual wear, that is not a good thing.
Materials
When it comes to materials for the Air Force 1 SB, there really isn’t much to complain about. The upper is made entirely of suede. There have been some reviews claiming this is pig suede, but it’s 100 percent cow – which is good for durability. The thick nylon on the tongue will be great for this as well.
The real padding of this shoe – the tongue and insole under foot – feels great. The material they use is dense and should last a long time. Below the insole is a small pod of PU with an air unit embedded in it.
The outsole is made of rubber. It’s slightly softer than the standard AF1, but is still on the harder side for rubber outsoles and I bet it will provide excellent durability.
All in, these are great materials for a skate shoe – and tests have proven it. This guy did 100 kick flips in his pair and it looks like they’ll be able to take 100 more.
Nike Air Force 1 SB Pricing
The Nike Air Force 1 SB comes in at an MSRP of $120. This is a $5 bump over the basic AF1, but most other AF1s Nike sells come in between $125 and $130. SB Dunks are similarly in that $120-135 range. Considering the improved materials, you’re actually getting a bit of a deal with an AF1 SB at retail.
Unfortunately, if you don’t already have a pair, you probably won’t be getting these at retail. The launch colorway sold out. Resale isn’t too bad at time of writing – currently sitting around $145 in most sizes on ebay – but with fees you’re probably going to be paying more like $160.
At retail these are a great value – but that only matters if you feel the skate inspired changes are what you actually want.
Who is the Nike Air Force 1 SB For?
The Nike Air Force 1 SB is perfect for anyone who loves the Nike Dunk Low SB but wants to try a new silhouette. The design ethos of that shoe – take a popular model and put skatability above all else – is copied over to this pair perfectly.
However, if you started collecting SBs after the Jordan 4 and your main focus is comfort and style, the Nike Air Force 1 SB might not be for you. In spite of great materials, this pair is actually less comfortable than the model it’s based on and could easily be seen as a standard pair.