The all black Air Force 1 has been given the dubious honor of being the shoe for covert ops. In other words, if there is some gangsta ish about to go down, and you’re trying to figure out which person you need to watch out for, 9 times out of 10, the person rocking the Triple Black Air Force 1s is your culprit. Check any meme on the “robbing crew startup pack” and odds are the sneaker will be the all black Uptown. It’s an unfortunate thing because the model has long been coveted as a uniform shoe for school and just because some people aren’t aware that they shouldn’t use it in the service industry, it’s the unofficial sneaker of people who work at diners and for different companies requiring an all black pair of shoes. If you really want to think about the model as something that killers are wearing, browse for the sneakers Giannis wore on his way to his first championship and you’ll see the Air Force 1 ‘murdered out’. While I don’t like the name, I do realize that it’s one of the most difficult shoes to keep in inventory. Since the model is always sold out, I wanted to take the time to give you a list of options, with benefits… that don’t make you look like you’re about to get grimy out there.
Veja V-10 CWL Black/Black-Sole
SRP: $150.00
Benefits: *Cotton Worked as Leather. This material is a vegan alternative to leather. A 100% organic cotton canvas, coated with P.U., corn starch and ricinus oil. 54% bio-based. Made in Brazil.
Source: Veja V-10 CWL BLACK BLACK-SOLE
adidas Forum Tech Boost
SRP: $130.00
Benefits: If you have a sharpie, you can color in that purple bolt (why in the hell they put it there? I have no idea, smh). This shoe, on the medial side shows the white Boost cushioning. Why they didn’t go all in on Black for a Forum with color Boost when they could have easily made a marketing plan to disrupt the Triple Black Forces… adidas always seems to stop just short of recapturing their 2014 to 2017 form where they killed every marketing and sneaker drop they rolled out.
Source: adidas Forum Tech Boost Shoes – Black | adidas US
Vans Made for the Makers Old Skool UC
SRP: $85.00
Benefits: One of the few Vans made with a drop-in insole like a Kobe, this shoe is also exactly what I discussed in the opening. It’s a sneaker built for the service industry. The outsole is non-slip and the upper is made of Vansguard 8 Ounce canvas and suede to repel liquids and dirt.
Source: Made For The Makers Old Skool UC | Shop Classic Shoes At Vans
ecco Soft X Black/Black
SRP: $150.00 on sale: 119.99
Benefits: ecco makes their leather in their own tannery. This is easily one of the most premium options on this list. The mid/outsole combination is also made with their proprietary direct injection Fluidform Tech. It’s a much softer option than the Air Force 1.
Source: Men’s Soft X Casual Sneakers | ECCO® Shoes
COMUNITYmade Molino Handmade Black
SRP: $295.00
Benefits: That price makes this the most difficult option to purchase for many, but let me explain why it may be the smartest. The shoe is made once you order it. It’s not shipped from China. It’s not causing problems for the environment from the carbon created by shipping. It’s hand crafted by an artisan in Downtown Los Angeles. The ultimate benefit? When it wears down, you can contact the company and pay for a resole of the sneaker with any outsole you like. You can keep the comfort of your upper being broken in and give the shoes a new life instead of overspending for another pair of kicks. It’s the most sustainable option in the sneaker industry. It’s truly premium, but more important every purchase sends support to a local charity.
Source: Men’s Molino Handmade Lace-Up Premium Sneakers Give Back & Look Good – COMUNITYmade