The Nike Air Mission is not only my favorite signature shoe, its also my favorite shoe in general. Growing up a basketball fanatic, and just a fan of football, loving this shoe was a bit odd for me. In fact, I think that’s why I was so drawn to them. Aside from being a Junior Seau fan, the shoe resonated with me famously, instantly. The nubuck was plush, the top strap was clean, the midsole was bold and aggressive. I’d been a fan of trainers like those worn by Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, respectively, but the Air Mission was a bit of an underdog signature (if you can even call it one), and I loved that.

Then there was the Dennis Hopper commercial with Junior running in the sand. It was over for me. The Air Mission was my favorite shoe. I secured the pairs I could in 1994-95 and cleaned up last year when they retroed. They remain the only shoe in my collection in which I own multiple pairs of the same colorway. I wear them often and when I do, I feel like I’m floating. I don’t get that particular feeling with any other shoe. That’s how I knew they were No. 1.