Air Force 1
In 1982, the first basketball sneaker to stuff the miraculous compound known as Air inside the sole was released. Over nearly three decades, this simplest of sporting foot covers would become an icon for the five boroughs of New York and a pillar of style for hip-hop as well as a staple in wardrobes all over the world. The upper construction is a tour de force, but it’s the massive midsole (necessary to hide the internal Air-Sole unit) that really socks you in the kisser. Weird? Uncouth? Some might think so, but like the parable of the ugly duckling, the Air Force sneaker’s utopian lustre could not be denied. It’s just… perfect. So much so that for the past 20 years, it’s always been in production without ever needing flashy advertising or a shoeshine from endorsements. A staggering 1,700 models later and the Air Force 1 is still repping on courts and off. Howzat for durability?