Nike Air Max Plus x A-COLD-WALL*

The all-black finish on this Nike Air Max Plus x A-COLD-WALL* design provides it with a sleek outer, while the smooth contours of its classic shape make its appearance shift playfully in shadow and light. Architectural influences feature throughout the shoe, including on the bulky sole unit, whose rubber exterior reveals its internal Air pockets through transparent windows in the forefoot and heel. These have an aged aesthetic, which contributes to the rugged feel of the sneaker. On the outsole, translucent rubber has been used, though it is barely visible here due to the deep Onyx tones covering the midsole behind it. Triangular blocks bring solid grip below the forefoot, while four rings and four quadrilateral-shaped nodes add traction under the heel. A colorful emblem highlights the center of the outsole in the form of the famous Tuned Air logo, which exhibits yellow, white and red tones alongside its black text.

On the upper, the familiar layout of the AM Plus can be seen, though when looked at more closely, it appears to have a somewhat different construction. The strips of TPU that usually bend across its surface are mimicked by bands of embossed leather, making this a single piece of full-grain leather that exudes quality. Laser-etched into its sidewalls are gray swooshes and compact squares – three on the lateral flank, and a single one placed in front of the swoosh on the medial side. Such precision branding emphasizes the care and attention gone into this suave sneaker, as does the hexagonal tab set into the top of the Onyx tongue, with its fine gray outline and the ACW* bracket logo alongside the word “Air” in its center. Meanwhile, at the other end of the tongue, another bracket logo can be found, though it is so lightly printed that it only shows up if looked at carefully. Criss-crossing over the top of the foot are durable woven laces that sit flat atop the tongue, thus adding to the minimalist feel of this model.

Positioned between the sole and the upper are three pieces of material aimed at protecting it from unnecessary wear and tear. Along the sides, long strips of leather form a buffer against mud splashes, while at either end there is a specialized TPU plate that incorporates recycled components. Enclosing the toe is a thick piece of thermoplastic with a frosted finish, and cupping the heel is a rigid panel that curves up from the back of the midfoot to the topline of the collar. This last section has a partially see-through exterior that exposes ACW* branding on the lateral heel and a “+” sign on the medial side. In a line through the center of the heel is the shoe’s product code – FD7855 – another Tn logo to mirror the one on the outsole, and a set of dual branding – ACW_NIKE.

Smooth Onyx tones also fill out the inside of the shoe, spreading across the entire inner lining as well as the insole. Onto this last feature, elegant silvery gray branding effects have been printed in a mismatched fashion. The left foot exhibits the same six-sided emblem as that seen on the tongue, its internal ACW* and Air text facing in the opposite direction, and on the right foot, a slender Nike swoosh sits beside a final line of Air lettering to finish off this memorable collaborative sneaker.