The Nike Air Force 1 “Subway Rat” Includes a MetroCard Tag and Pizza Insoles

New York City has given the Air Force 1 plenty of stories to tell. This time, Nike is heading underground to bring the rodent in sneaker form. The Air Force 1 Low ’01 “Subway Rat” turns one of the city’s most recognisable subway residents into a surprisingly detailed sneaker, complete with shaggy suede, pizza insoles, and a transit-inspired hangtag.

The upper arrives in College Grey suede with a long, textured finish that gives the shoe its furry look. It covers the toe box, side panels, tongue, and Swooshes, making the rat reference clear without adding a character graphic to the outside of the shoe. Pink Glaze provides contrast around the Swoosh and across the translucent outsole. A narrow pink piece extending from the heel completes the look with a subtle nod to a rat’s tail.

Nike saves some of the best New York details for a closer inspection. Hidden behind the tongue is “NYC” branding, while the insoles join together to form a pizza slice graphic. A yellow hangtag takes inspiration from a MetroCard, replacing the familiar transit branding with a large blue Nike Swoosh. The pair also includes pink replacement laces, allowing wearers to bring more colour to the otherwise muted upper.

Those details give the sneaker a different feel from the usual city-themed release. The grey and pink palette works on its own, but the heel, insoles, and hangtag gradually reveal the story behind it. It is playful without turning the Air Force 1 into a costume shoe.

The release also puts a fresh spin on the Air Force 1 ’01, a version that revisits the model’s early 2000s shape. Its slimmer toe box gives longtime fans another reason to look closer, while the shaggy suede makes this particular pair stand apart from the familiar leather editions. If you’re interested in a pair, the Air Force 1 Low ’01 “Subway Rat” drops on October 1st.