Air Trainer

Versatile when it comes to fashion, and even more versatile when it comes down to function. That’s exactly what made the Nike Air Trainer 1 iconic and paved the way for other cross-trainers. This classic 90s all-around trainer debuted in unexpected ways, but that’s what Nike intended.

Doing different sports is no surprise for active athletes, but there’s one problem: these require different types of footwear. Legendary footwear designer Tinker Hatfield designed a shoe built for multiple sports, thus creating the first cross-training shoe.

The Nike Air Trainer 1 first came out in 1987 in the original “Chlorophyll” colourway. There’s also a fun story to this colour scheme. Tinker Hatfield’s local gym had the colours White, Black, and Green, so Tinker utilised these tones.

While most people thought gym buffs and hoopers would wear the shoe first, the Air Trainer 1 debuted elsewhere. Tennis stars John McEnroe and Andre Agassi were the first players to rock the Nike Air Trainer 1.

Before, the shoe had a different traction pattern. Nike later modified the sole for more durability and grip. The Travis Scott collab of the classic silhouette in 2022 saw the OG outsole pattern return.

Built for durability, the shoe features a leather upper with suede overlays. A midfoot strap improves the fit, while the padded collar hugs the ankle for a locked-down feeling.

The outsole features a raised later outrigger on the forefoot, this also keeps the foot stable during hard cuts. The Nike Air unit provides decent cushioning.

Nike brought back the OG colourways of the shoe in 2022 and continues to release new styles into the new year. We can only expect regular releases from now on as the shoe gives off a lot of nostalgia!

Shop for the most recent Nike Air Trainer 1 releases below.