The Air Force 1 has long been synonymous with New York City. Leaning into the less glamorous but no less real side of the city’s culture, the Swoosh unleashes the Nike Air Force 1 ’01 Subway Rat.

For everyone who’s been legitimately shocked by the size of a New York rat, this pair is for you. It commemorates a rite of passage in the New York assimilation process, translating raw NYC urban folklore into something that, considering its subject matter, is surprisingly understated. 

And which silhouette could be a better model for that kind of storytelling than the Air Force 1? Up there with the same kind of rep as a Timberland boot, the Force has been one of the city’s markers since the ‘80s.

Coated in a College Grey upper, the colorway mimics subway concrete, while subtle "Pink Glaze" accents nod to tail and ear detailing. There’s something very real about the hairy suede upper, too.

Tactile suede and smooth fills the upper while soft Pink Glaze hits tint the outsole and heel tab. The heel tab is our favorite detail, dropping just below the sole unit as a nod to a rat tail.

This is a great release for details all around. The shoe comes with a pizza-slice graphic to the insoles and even a Metrocard hangtag to commemorate one of the NYC subway’s most recognizable vestiges.

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