Okay, let’s talk about the Off-White Air Force 1 Black. It’s been a journey with these, for sure.
Getting Started – The Hunt
I remember when these first started popping up. Saw pictures online, saw people talking about them. That black colorway with the signature Off-White touches, like the text and the zip tie, just looked different. It wasn’t like the regular all-black AF1s I already had. There was something about them, that Virgil Abloh design language, you know? I wasn’t instantly obsessed, but they definitely caught my eye. Knew they’d be hard to get right off the bat.
Trying to Cop
So, release day came and went. Like usual, took an L on the SNKRS app. No surprise there, honestly. That app is just pain most of the time. Didn’t win any raffles either. Shocker. For a while, I just kinda put them out of my mind. Prices on the resale market were crazy high right after the drop, and I wasn’t about to pay that much. Told myself I didn’t need them.
But you know how it is. You keep seeing them. On feet pics, people styling them. That itch comes back. Started watching the resale prices, hoping they’d drop to something a bit more reasonable. Checked StockX, GOAT, all those places pretty regularly. It took a while, months actually. Prices dipped a little, then went up, then dipped again. Finally saw a pair in my size pop up for a price I could just about stomach. Still expensive, don’t get me wrong, but felt like it was now or never. Pulled the trigger.
The Arrival and Unboxing
Waiting for that verification and shipping felt like forever. When the box finally arrived, I was pretty hyped. Opened up the shipping box, and there it was – the Nike x Off-White shoe box. Different from the standard AF1 box. Took the lid off. That new shoe smell hit me. Always love that.
There they were. Lifted one out. The materials felt decent, pretty standard AF1 leather but with all the Off-White stuff layered on.
- The Swoosh: Silver, kinda shiny, stitched on like that. Looked cool.
- The Text: That “AIR” on the midsole, the text on the medial side. Definitely the signature look.
- The Zip Tie: Bright blue on this black pair, clipped onto the laces. Definitely an eye-catcher.
- Extra Laces: Came with white laces too, with the “SHOELACES” text on them.
Spent a good few minutes just looking them over, checking out all the little details Virgil put into them. Felt good to finally have them in hand after seeing them online for so long.
Wearing Them Out
First time wearing them, I was kinda careful. Didn’t want to scuff them up immediately. They feel pretty much like any other Air Force 1 on foot, maybe a tiny bit stiffer at first because of the different materials or construction, but nothing major. Comfort is standard AF1 comfort – okay for walking around, but not like an Ultra Boost or anything.
Took them out for casual stuff. Meeting friends, grabbing food, just walking around town. They definitely get looks. People who know sneakers recognize them right away. Got a few compliments, a few “nice shoes” comments. That always feels kinda good, validates the effort and cost a little bit.
Decided to keep the blue zip tie on for a while, just because it’s part of the look. Some people cut it off, I left it. Felt like it completed the whole Off-White vibe. Laced them up with the black laces they came with, kept it simple.
Final Thoughts
So, yeah. The Off-White AF1 Black. It was a process getting them. Resale wasn’t fun, but felt like the only option. Are they worth the hype and the price? That’s subjective, man. For me, they’re a cool piece in the collection. A shoe that represents a specific time in sneaker culture and design, thanks to Virgil. I like wearing them. They look good, feel like a classic AF1, but with that extra design flair.
They’re not an everyday shoe for me, mostly because I want to keep them looking decent, but I definitely pull them out when I want something a little extra. Glad I went through the process to get them. It’s a cool shoe with a story behind it, both its own and my own journey of finally grabbing a pair.
