In 2017 designer Virgil Abloh and his Off-White streetwear label launched a project to give 10 of Nike’s most iconic running and basketball sneakers a makeover. Known as “The Ten,” the collaboration was a huge hit among sneakerheads and hypebeasts, with each new Nike Off-White model selling out immediately upon release.
The shoes are a mix of modern and throwback, all featuring elements of Abloh’s signature industrial design, including deconstructed fabrics and ironic quotation marks. Some of the more recent Nike designs to get the Abloh treatment, like the Zoom Fly and Air VaporMax, are usable as lightweight running shoes if you’re willing to ignore potential collectibility and (gasp!) take the tags off. Others, like the Air Jordan and Air Max 90, feature more retro styles that are probably better suited to kicking back on rest days and reminiscing about your golden days on the court (again, this only applies if you dare to take them out of the box).
Here are our picks from the collaboration, along with a little background about each design and its potential to be a decent running shoe. We tracked them all down for sale online, but be prepared to dig deep into your pockets.
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Nike Zoom Fly “Off White”
Ah, yes—one of just a few shoes in the Off-White collab with a dedicated modern design for running. The original Zoom Fly was a byproduct of Nike’s Breaking2 quest to break the two-hour marathon mark. The shoe used during the actual record attempt was the carefully engineered Vaporfly Elite, but the Zoom Fly model trickled down some of that tech and geometry to those of us in the mid-pack. This Off-White model takes the standard Zoom Fly’s engineered mesh upper with a full-length carbon-infused nylon plate and tall heel stack and dresses it in Abloh’s trademarks, including a stitched-on swoosh, “FOAM” in quotation marks on the sole, and additional industrial styling, including a zip-tie hanging from the laces. Look for it in Black/White/Cone, White/White-Muslin, and Tulip Pink/Racer Pink.
Nike Air Force One “Off White”
Still seen on pro basketball courts to this day, Nike’s Air Force One is hands-down the sneaker world’s most beloved shoe. Abloh’s spin on the Air Force One has a deconstructed upper made from ripstop fabric, with leather overlays and taped seams. Other Off-White signatures include the word “AIR” in quotations in the midsole, the word “SHOELACES” exactly where you’d imagine, and a light blue zip-tie for industrial flair. They’re available in at least three colorways—White/Sail, Black/White, and hi-vis Volt—if you can find a pair.
Nike Air VaporMax “Off White”
The Off-White VaporMax continues the theme of deconstructed uppers with stitched-together detailing, adding Abloh’s industrial signatures to a bubbly VaporMax sole. That sole, originally billed as the “pinnacle of Nike Air” when first created in 2017, was designed to provide more support and rebound without adding weight. The Ten’s version of the VaporMax features a flyknit upper with suede overlays, “AIR” in quotations, and—you guessed it—a zip-tie hanging from the laces. Despite its distinct running-shoe roots, the VaporMax is known for being a bouncy, lightweight sneaker that’s probably better preserved for sprint distances and more general cross-training use. Try to find it in one of three colorways: Black/White, Black/Black, and White/White.
Nike Air Max 90 “Off White”
Launched in 1990 as the “Air Max III,” this thickly padded casual sneaker is known for its wide disc of air cushioning at the heel, which can be seen from the side of the midsole. The shoe’s original upper was made from a blend of synthetic felt, synthetic leather, and Duromesh. Off-White’s spin on the ’90s classic adds suede and mesh paneling to the upper, a thick foam tongue that sits high on the ankle, and bright orange accents to an otherwise black-and-white colorway. Abloh’s touch can be seen here in the stitched-on swoosh and helpful explanatory text at the side of the shoe. Look for the shoe in Black or Desert Ore.
Nike Air Max 97 “Off White”
The original Air Max 97 was designed to look like a Japanese high-speed Bullet train; starting in 2017 the shoe was released with more subtle wavy speed lines but the same futuristic, aerodynamic aesthetic. Built for cross-training and casual comfort, the 97’s upper incorporates a mix of leather and foam, with the full-length visible Air midsole providing a cushioned ride that almost resembles shark teeth. Off-White’s take on the shoe is even more subtle in its Bullet heritage, with exposed stitching along a translucent upper and “AIR” printed on the side of the heel. The shoe is available (if you can find it) in more colorways than we can keep track of, including Black, Menta, and Serena.
Nike Air Presto “Off White”
Launched at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Air Presto was an early ancestor of today’s Nike Free line, and way ahead of its time in its stripped-down simplicity. Marketed as the “T-shirt for the Foot” due to its availability in only six sizes—XXS through XL—the Air Presto featured a socklike mesh upper with a midfoot cage, external heel counter, and toe bumper to hold your foot in place. Today’s typical Prestos have a mid-cut collar and Phylon foam midsole, with an Air sole unit for cushioning and midfoot cage to keep your foot in place. The Off-White Presto, on the other hand, has a low collar and high tongue while preserving some of the styling of the original, as well as the enclosed Air unit and rubber outsole. The usual Abloh trademarks are here on a shoe that looks much more oriented toward casual use than previous Air Prestos.
Nike Air Jordan “Off White”
The classic basketball shoe has been re-released dozens of times over the years since first being designed specifically for Michael Jordan, so it should come as no surprise to see it as part of Off-White’s The Ten lineup. Abloh continues his deconstructed aesthetic here, but instead of stitching on the swoosh this time around, he pins it atop layered leather panels that make up the bulk of the shoe’s upper. Affixed to the laces is—surprise!—a zip tie, and “AIR” is written on the sole in case you missed it in the name of the shoe. These casual court sneakers are available in Black, Red, White and UNC blue to commemorate Jordan’s alma mater.
