Nike Reveals an Aged Air Tech Challenge 2 "Hot Lava"
The iconic 1990 look is making its return, with a twist.
Tennis star Andre Agassi not only shined brought on the court due to his aggressive playstyle — earning eight major wins during his career — but because of his bold style choices as well. With Nike he brought forth many sneakers, including the legendary Air Tech Challenge 2, which is best known for its “Hot Lava” colorway from 1990. While the sneaker has been reissued many times since its debut, including just five years ago and in a “Black Lava” version in 2020, it is again returning, though this time with a twist.
For this year’s “Hot Lava” launch, Nike has applied aged detailing to the colorway. Rather than sport a crisp white at its leather upper and midsole, a light off-white hits the upper while the midsole has been yellowed to emphasize its retro inspiration. While its signature bright pink returns to the Swooshes and splatter details, both feature cracked finishes. Elsewhere, the black overlays feature tumbled leather while its inclusion of gray at the collar and sole looks to remain unaltered.
At the time of writing, the Swoosh has not unveiled when it will be dropping this aged take on the Air Tech Challenge 2 “Hot Lava.” Stay tuned for updates as it’s likely to land on shelves later this year via Nike SNKRS and select retailers at a starting price of $150 USD.
