Nike Air Command Force - Throwback Thursday
Posted by Matt Halfhill | May 15, 2008 The Nike Air Command Force is a legend for a number of reasons. The shoe was worn and promoted by a young David Robinson, was the choice shoe of Billy Hoyle in White Men Can’t Jump, and the Hot Lime color is as timeless as it is on the Air Tech Challenges. The Air Command Force was an expensive sneaker, even in today’s numbers. With a retail price of $175, the shoe was priced far out of the budgets of many and adjusted to inflation would be the equivalent of $275 today.
Despite a pretty big campaign on TV and in magazines promoting the shoe, the price was just too much to bear. The Air Command Force has since arisen from the bottoms of closets demanding pretty high dollars on eBay as it has become a highly saught after vintage shoe. The fragile nature of a 17 year old midsole makes finding a pair in perfect shape next to impossible. This was also Nike’s second high top shoe to feature the Air Pump technology and was the first to have its own pump built in to the shoe. Still there has not been any talks of these or any of the other David Robinson high top pumps coming back. If you would like to see the Nike Air Command Force, let your voice be heard by leaving a comment. Nice Kicks has MANY readers from Beaverton, OR and I am sure those aren’t just kids looking to waste time while in the computer lab… |
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Throwback Thursday - Nike Air Command Force
Oct 19, 2009 at 11:46 pm
My first pair of Nike Shoes ever were these bad boys! I want one right now so badly! Anyone know where one can still get one? Who does I have to sleep with at Nike to make this happen?
Sep 9, 2009 at 2:28 am
Make it happen, Nike. These were the first pair of basketball shoes that I had that carried a mean price tag. Great basketball shoes, but by today’s standards a tad heavy. Nevertheless, they were great. The Nike Air Command Force 180 was a serious upgrade to these in comfort and weight. Fantastic shoes.
Bring ‘em back!
Sep 6, 2009 at 2:35 am
When I talk to my friends about what´s the best basketball shoe ever built and some of them are shoe collection its. I always tell them the moon walkers! And they say which are those? I say the best basketball shoes ever built. I was 21 years old when I bought um, I never felt so good and comfortable. I just to play every day at the park in Wilmington CA . I don´t remember ever get injured and not everybody could afford um, I was flying with my Nike Air Command Force or Moon walkers as I just to call them,I paid $150.00 they used to cost $175.00 and they were worth it. If they come out again, I will buy again. I’m a Basketball Coach Now and Those were he best basketball tennis shoes I ever had. In my opinion,The best ever built ed.
Sep 4, 2009 at 9:24 pm
OHHHH MYYYY GOOOOODDDD!!!!!!!
Sep 3, 2009 at 10:21 pm
i would give my whole shoe collection for this pair and color
Sep 1, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Nike Turkey PUMP IT UP!!!!!!!
Jul 27, 2009 at 8:26 am
Make it again !!!
Make it again nike-people !
That’s perfect ! That’s an apogee !
Nike on top !
Jul 23, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Man please bring these shoes back out. I had these shoes they cost my auntie $179 and me and my cousin was the only people I knew in Georgia who had these shoes besides this other rich that was in the fifth grade with me. No one else had these shoes just us 3 that I knew of. Everybody else was on them reeboks but we were killing them in school with these shoes. Nobody knew what they were I saw glenn rice in these shoes and I started calling them those glen rice’s but david robinson had on the other shoes. The ar truly retro because they old and everybody didnt have them thats what makes them special plus with jordans being the price they were we had shoes that cost more plus they were different. Bring these shoes back so i can be 1 of the few people with them again.
Jul 16, 2009 at 1:56 pm
i want it so bad
you beeter get the lime right if you retro these nike
make it reasonably priced too
Jul 15, 2009 at 9:15 pm
nicekicks!
Jul 14, 2009 at 9:41 pm
DO IT!!!
Jul 14, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I remember, staring at these on the shelf… hoping/praying for a sale or something. DAVID ROBINSON was the quickest big man everr, and that’s his shoe. I wanted it then and I WANT it now! Even over a year after this page went up we’re here waiting, wanting so HOOK US UP. Same colorway and keep that pump in there. Reeboks based in my town and I’ll personally straighten them out if I gotta on that issue! We’re writing type continuous here so please SUPPLY THIS AIR COMMAND FORCE DEMAND NIKE!!!
Jul 3, 2009 at 9:44 am
Come om Nike Make it happen
Jun 8, 2009 at 12:15 pm
These are beautiful…
Bring them back…
Pleeeaaase….
Jun 8, 2009 at 12:13 pm
there ill they look a little like flight lites but cool
Jun 1, 2009 at 11:58 am
SO ILL
May 23, 2009 at 6:41 pm
So So sick if nike bought these back
May 21, 2009 at 6:37 am
I am commenting on this a year later because Nike should… NEED to retro these shoes.
I’m also worried that if they do come back, Nike will make them at least $150 while limiting the release. If they end up incredibly expensive in boutique shops, then that sets me back even further because I live in Canada, so they’ll only be in Vancouver and Toronto, even more limited, and more expensive because of the exchange rate. Not to mention the resellers.
May 20, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Nike, bring these back. Don’t change a thing.
May 18, 2009 at 3:51 pm
NIke if you see this you have got to retro these flipping shoes!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
May 18, 2009 at 3:45 pm
BRING BACK THESE SHOES!!!! They are the sickest shoes i have ever seen!!!!!!! Why in the world did they discontinue them?!?!?!?!?!?!? BRING THEM BACK!!!!! I WANT THEM!!!!!
May 6, 2009 at 1:11 pm
bring them back……….. i want to pairs!!!!!!!!
May 1, 2009 at 2:21 am
Just got through watching an episode of fresh prince were he had these on, I cant wait till these are retroed.
Apr 24, 2009 at 4:48 am
Please, Nike, retro dem Air Command Force & dem Air Ballistic !!!
JohnKaffee from Paris.
Apr 24, 2009 at 12:26 am
got’s to bring those back!! want them sooooooo bad!
Apr 12, 2009 at 5:20 pm
This colorway is in my top 10 all-time. I’d pay 300 for a retro for sure. This pair hit eBay last week and it ended for $1,125!
Mar 5, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I got a pair of these and a vary rare pair of the 1992 Air COmmand Force 180 pumps if anyone is interested, let me know. Both are in good shape and the pumps work, no cracks etc.
Mar 3, 2009 at 10:42 am
I loved the Nike High Top Forces from the early 90’s. They were great sneakers and I love the NIKE AIR on the sole. I think they need to bring back some of those FORCE sneakers from 90-94. We see the FLIGHTS being widely celebrated but the FORCES were just as sweet. These should be the first sneaker to launched in that movement as they were the pinnacle of the early 90’s FORCE movement
Feb 26, 2009 at 12:29 am
I bought these when I was 13-years-old in late December of 1990 at Nordstrom, a department store in the Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus, New Jersey. No other shoe store seemed to stock these, but I got lucky - very lucky. Unfortunately, these monstrously large and cumbersome shoes just didn’t look right on a barely 5-foot scrawny kid. Hey, I was only in 8th-grade and hadn’t yet hit my growth spurt. I remember they began at size 8, and I was so desperately nuts over this shoe, I bought them even though I was barely a size 7. Though with the inflatable air bladders above, below, and behind the foot, anchoring ones ankle down like no other shoe. I mean this shoe truly was the definition of ‘air’, as this was the only Nike Air (and until I was 16 or 17, I only wore Nike Air, and must have had 10 different styles) that made you feel like you were in fact walking on air. It was extraordinarily comfortable.
The price I paid was $130. I don’t know where the $175 price comes from, but I paid $130. I do know I was the only kid in my grade, and only one of two kids in my whole K-12 school that ever owned this shoe. From what I knew at the time, this often referred to as, ‘moon boots’ were not very well received by the public, for 1. the obvious price reason, making the demand thus price retailers charged drop, and 2. the style was a tad ‘out there’, even for the end of the 80s, a time when nothing seemed to be too gawdy
Feb 24, 2009 at 2:00 pm
bring em back nike. I had these shoes for sixth grade hoops and I would pay any price to have them again.
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:07 am
I had these when they came out and was the only kid in the whole school with them. Only thing I didnt like was having to wedge my finger nail on the back of the shoe to get the air out. You’d think they would have made the button a little bigger I will definatly cop em again if they come out
Feb 5, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I have a brand new pair of these (White & Red) never worn still in the original case. Im thinking about selling them. If interested contact me at 404 207-0953. Matt
Jan 23, 2009 at 8:19 pm
a beautiful pair you got their Matt
Jan 21, 2009 at 8:30 am
These have to be some of the sickest joints I’ve seen in a while. I would love to have these in my closet straight FIRE!
Jan 20, 2009 at 11:35 pm
these are beautiful…nike please please please give me a chance to own these masterpieces…
Jan 20, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I actually had these when I was in high school. Most comfortable shoes I ever owned….bought them with one of my first paychecks. I would love to see these retroed. I would buy at least two of each color.
Dec 30, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I owned a pair of these in 1992 and they were the best bball shoe I ever wore. The most ankle support ever without tape. A come back would be awesome
Dec 21, 2008 at 8:22 pm
IF ANYBODY FROM NIKE IS READING THIS THESE SHOES NEED TO BE RETROED IN THE ORIGINAL COLORWAY IMMEDIATLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry for the all caps, but i needed to make my point)
Nov 17, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Oh man, I’d love to have some of these. Some of the best Nike has ever made. Representing my hometown Beaverton!!!
Oct 22, 2008 at 1:12 am
Please Nike bring these magnificent shoes back, i would good $$$ for fresh kicks like this
Oct 20, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I wish I could get these. I would be willing to pay up to 200 for a true high top.
Sep 21, 2008 at 7:25 pm
thats it, man
Sep 15, 2008 at 5:36 pm
if nike knows whats best they need to release them back out on the urban market. the streets will eat them up it would be another billion dollar idea . i deal with a lot of city people and we dictate whats hot far as sneakers. And david robinsons are like bentleys and phantoms on the streets. And the should do a couple colors. but not to much colors
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:25 am
PLEASE MR NIKE SEND THIS PAIR OF SHOES IN FRANCE
Jul 20, 2008 at 9:45 pm
i bought a pair of these my senior year of high school. i wore them for 1 week and all my friends made fun of me cause i didn’t have 1990-1991 air jordans. i took them back and bought the air jordans for the same price 99.00$ +tax
I NOW REGRET THAT STUPID MISTAKE
Jul 18, 2008 at 1:21 pm
QUIERO SABER DONDE PUEDO COMPRAR UN PAR DE ESTOS,,ACTUALMENTE VIVO EN MEXICO.
Jul 1, 2008 at 10:42 am
O.M.G!!!! I Had a pair of these back in ‘92ish. Nike U gots 2 bring these back quick time please
Jun 15, 2008 at 5:27 pm
These would be the hottest release any year. Nike could price them close to the spizikes
May 28, 2008 at 3:18 pm
These kicks are fresh , even though i waz born wen dey jus came out i wud were dese cuz im goin retro w/t da hi top fade and every thing!
May 24, 2008 at 4:55 pm
If I’ve to pic 3 kicks of the 90’s, the AIR Command Force would be in for sure!
Can’t understand why Nike have never made a re-edition of them since… Except a bad issue with the Reebok Pump system.
Anyway, U can’t re-edit AIR Raid’s, AIR CB34, AIR 180 mid,… and forget those ?!
Come on guys, forget those comments about Hi top sneakers sales and blablabla, bring back the Command Force!
Peace,
Pierre
O.D, Paris
May 22, 2008 at 8:35 pm
these kicks are at the top of my list to get for my collection, the retro nikes look tuff mann. i dont care about price just show me were to get them.
May 22, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Im with the majority on this one. I had these when they first came out and balled in them real good. Nike you got to bring these back, you got to.
May 21, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I’d cop these fo sho
May 19, 2008 at 2:20 am
BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK BRING EM’ BACK
May 18, 2008 at 10:46 pm
From what I recall Nike lost a lawsuit with Reebok over the “pump” technology so I don’t think they can do these?
May 18, 2008 at 12:23 am
We need to get petition together and send to Nike. I would be after those in a heartbeat.
May 17, 2008 at 11:46 pm
these are great, quite an exhibit in vintage tech
but,
if they are to bring them back, they should be priced as a vintage shoe, not like a top of the line technology, as it no longer is.
Another thing is I would love to see these done in genuine full grain leather, perhaps with the edges of the materials turned in to make them smooth, as was done with the af1 treatment.
May 17, 2008 at 5:38 pm
nice…. nike should really retro these
May 17, 2008 at 2:00 pm
no offense to every single one of you but i think those are ugly. they look like original nike boots gone wrong.
May 17, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I would love to be the proud owner of a pair of retro air command force. Make it happen Nike, and please retro the Air Force V too!
May 16, 2008 at 7:17 pm
please bring these and the air force 180 pump back i have been a shoe collecter since i was in the 5th grade. i am 26 now. this is the only pair of shoes i wanted more than anything and never got. over the years i have had multiple pairs of every jordan. but these i never got. when i had finally saved up enough money for them when i was little, they were gone!. PLEASE BRING THESE BACK!!!!!!!!!!
May 16, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Nike do the right thing bring these back.
and the Air Griffey Max 2!!!!!!!!
those need to get retroed!!!
May 16, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Man nike need to bring these back
May 16, 2008 at 9:33 am
Please bring these back Nike!!!!!! I had these back in the day and loved them. I need them back in my life!!!!!!
May 16, 2008 at 8:42 am
OMGGG these shyts is str8 heat !!
PLSZZZ release theseeee!!
May 16, 2008 at 8:04 am
I like the Air Force 180 better, but still nice. C’mon Nike, what a re-release on both these and the Air Force 180’s!
May 16, 2008 at 6:52 am
please please please nike bring these back, i know you want to
May 16, 2008 at 6:45 am
i jus fell in love wit dess shoessss
May 16, 2008 at 5:14 am
to bad those were made the year I was born
May 16, 2008 at 2:28 am
Definately a hot shoe but a bit pricey for the time and even now so I’m not surprised it didn’t sell too well. Most definately feelin the shoe tho
May 15, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Nice pick… I wore these for basketball back in the 6th grade. Brings back many memories. Matter of fact, they’re prolly still at my parents house somewhere. Gotta dig em out. Thanks for the reminder.
May 15, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Admiral all they way dunn….
May 15, 2008 at 10:46 pm
These are definately a must have in a collector’s collection of vintage shoes. PLEASE NIKE BRING THESE BACK. You know there won’t be a problem with any of them not selling!
May 15, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Couper,
Matt posted the air force 180 pump 3 or 4 weeks ago. This is the shoe the admiral wore the year before.
May 15, 2008 at 10:19 pm
man, all da sexc joints came out b4 i was born or jus born. Now we got to deal wit ugliness
May 15, 2008 at 10:16 pm
damn! way too solid. if i had these for summer, culdnt nobody see me.
May 15, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I WANT I WANT I WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 15, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I’d drop that $275 on a pair of these now, from back then. I’m pretty sure the retroed version wouldn’t be cut as high as these, which would take away the shoe’s greatness.
Dope ish! Most definitely.
May 15, 2008 at 9:35 pm
this is wat you call high top sneakers wat ever happened to these kinda shoes Nike stop playing and kick it old skool and drop this
May 15, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I’d drop that $275 on a pair of these now, from back then. I’m pretty sure the retroed version wouldn’t cut as high as these, which would take away the shoe’s greatness.
Dope ish! Most definitely.
May 15, 2008 at 9:20 pm
May be I’m wrong but didn’t
we have this 180 Nike Air
Command Force like not to
long ago on Throwback Thursday.
Don’t get me wrong I love the
shoe especially cause
David Robinson I my all
time favorite center but I
would like to see something
else from back in tha day
since this was posted not too
long ago…
May 15, 2008 at 8:46 pm
these sneakers r extremely dope i would love 2 c them come back so i could cop a pair
May 15, 2008 at 8:44 pm
matt..your the man,
i just wish i was around (or old enough) to cop these when they were around
how much do you think they go for?
May 15, 2008 at 8:26 pm
man, these are soooo fly!!!! nike need to get on the basketball retros!!!!!
May 15, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Matt every week you bring us the dang near perfect THROWBACKS that don’t even have a speck of dirt or any signs of yellowing on them you SURE these are thowbacks or you holding out on us. lol
May 15, 2008 at 8:04 pm
NOW HERE THIS!!!!
THE DAY THAT NIKE FINALLY RETROS THIS SHOE I’M BUYING 4 PAIR!
SAVE US OBI WON!
May 15, 2008 at 7:50 pm
dammm matt
these are one of my favorite nike shoes
i looked everywhere for them close to ds condition
May 15, 2008 at 7:40 pm
they definitely don’t make shoes for centers like they used to… these along with the ewing’s are completely off the chain. good look on these quality big men throwbacks, Matt.
May 15, 2008 at 7:25 pm
would definitely like to see these back out
May 15, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I would get these for nostalgic reasons….but only if they were at the right price. Make them the right price Nike, and peeps will buy them.
May 15, 2008 at 7:02 pm
ew, skytops are nasty.they would look better if they was just regular high top. dont brng them back. these are the kind of shoes that everyone says they are going to get but they sit on shelves for months, and wat hapend to the nike future sole contest???
May 15, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I had these, they were great, please retro
May 15, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Nicekicks are the shoes you feature in the Throwback Thursday shoes out of your collection or do you get the photos and shoes from someone else?
May 15, 2008 at 6:45 pm
My father received these for christmas when i was in the 8 grade.. I remember senaking them out the house to wear to school. Of course I got caught but it was worth it.. Remember like yesterday..
May 15, 2008 at 6:42 pm
How classic is the hot lime and teal color. Sometimes you can just show me the color scheme and I can say the year the shoes were made. I don’t think these will sell if retro with the inflation too. Bring back the air pump idea though!!!!!!!!
May 15, 2008 at 6:39 pm
these are ridiculous…i would do anything to bust these on someones head
May 15, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I wouldn’t mind seeing these come back, but deffinately not for 275(Please nike, gas is expensive enough). But if you’re gonna do it, please get the yellow right this time, for money’s sake, i mean god’s sake.
May 15, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Yes sikk wit it…..
May 15, 2008 at 6:16 pm
so so so dope…if youre listening nike, retro these and PLEASE get it right
May 15, 2008 at 6:10 pm
this shoe is one of the best high top sneaker that was release from the past
it a great shoe overall