Nike Air Force 1 Upstep

Air Force 1 Upstep

The Nike Air Force 1 Upstep begins on a rubber outsole with widely spaced concentric circles making up the tread. The star-shaped grip at the front of the outsole extends further up the front of the toe, where it is clearly visible. Air technology remains, as does the seam of stitching that wraps around the entire midsole, which has been lifted for a more elevated look – one that earned the AF1 Upstep its name.

On the upper, the main leather panels are not overlaid, instead being joined along smooth seams whose stitches are hidden within, giving the model a streamlined look. The other elements of the upper overlay these sections, beginning at the eyestay, which has seven eyelets on each flank. Its stitched edges only have a slight waviness down the sides, while the end has more of a box shape. The laces are secured using a leather loop in the middle and a lace dubrae at the bottom that is plain on most designs but occasionally branded. Meanwhile, the toe box perforations of the Air Force 1 Upstep come arranged in a grid formation.

Swooshes appear in their usual position on either side of the midfoot, from where they extend back below the heel panel. Each has a straight tail end with only minimal tapering. The heel panel itself has two clean lines of stitching around its bottom edge, along with debossed Nike Air text across its middle. Just below it, a heel strip runs down to the midsole. A large tongue tab features Air Force 1 lettering under the well-known Nike Air branding. Finally, a simple swoosh adorns the insole to complete the Air Force 1 Upstep – a compact model with just a few subtle changes from the iconic original.