The Nike Air Force 1 Pays Homage To The Terminator’s Big Lettering

Nike has incorporated retro influences a number of ways in the past few years. And between the true-to-form revivals, the brand often injects subtler references atop silhouettes like the Air Force 1. Here, if you’re a fan of older basketball icons, you’ll likely recognize the big, bold lettering on the heel that was previously signature to the Terminator.

Though it doesn’t wrap the counter in identical fashion, the text does emulate the original style, likely borrowing a similar typeface. It embroiders just a bit thicker, and rather than use negative space as an outline, it backs the black threads with a white base. Elsewhere, the offering maintains the retro allure, making use of grey corduroy swooshes, thick canvas overlays, and a new, vintage-inspired tongue label.

Catch a detailed look at the pair right below. Following a small EU launch, these AF1s will release globally on April 29th.

In other news, the Waffle Trainer II is incorporating some nods of its own.

Updated April 15th, 2021: Official images have been updated.