Nike's Tabi-Toed Air Rift Is Back for the Summer
The cult favorite silhouette has returned in its OG black/white and white colorways.
Nike‘s Air Rift is one of the most unexampled shoes in the entire Nike Running lineage. Debuted in 1996, the Air Rift was the Swoosh’s first shoe that promoted natural motion — serving as an unintentional precursor to the wildly popular Nike Free line — and drew from the strength, grace and strides of Kenyan distance runners, who’d often train barefoot. In the years since, the Air Rift has become a cult classic casual choice due to its stripped-back upper and striking Tabi toe, inspired by the fault line in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. Now, with summer 2021 right around the corner, Nike Sportswear has brought the Air Rift back in two of its original colorways: black/white and white.
Each pair features an open mesh upper that leaves the top half of the wearer’s foot completely exposed, save for the toes. A secure fit is provided by a single Velcro strap placed directly below the ankle and another adjustable Velcro strap with an embroidered Nike hit atop the mesh heel. Moving back to the toebox, the signature Tabi toe creates enhanced articulation between the wearer’s big toe and the rest of their foot. It’s also embellished with a single Swoosh for branded detail. Down below, stripped-back EVA foam midsoles round off the look.
The Nike Air Rift in black/white and white is available now via Japanese retailers like atmos. The MSRP is set at ¥10,450 JPY (approximately $96 USD), inclusive of tax. A US release may follow in the coming weeks.
For more footwear news, take a look at Nike’s new Dunk Low “South Korea.”
