The 35 Best Patent Leather Air Force 1s of All Time

Image via Complex Original

Year of Release: 2006

Sneakers that are split into two opposing colors are hit or miss, and the Air Force 1" Halloween" surely has its critics, but in retrospect, it was on par with the rest of the Forces from this time period. Even if people weren't feeling the two-toned appeal of these kicks.

Year of Release: 2010

Dallas gets overlooked for sneaker prowess in Texas, but the NBA All Star Game brought a dope pair of kicks to the city. Anyone who reps Texas would need a pair of sneakers that puts their state on the map, even if they're just a black and white pair of patent Air Force 1s. The Lone Star on the heel is the finishing touch that makes these kicks an icon.

Year Of Release: 2008

It's tough to make a patent leather Air Force 1 standout more than it already does, but Slam Jam tweaked the standard of brightly-colored shiny panels and gave its pack of sneakers a wrinkled look. The pack consisted of four different sneakers, all with the design but in varying colors, and each shoe had a white Swoosh and midsole. It was a very simple idea, but well executed.

Year of Release: 2006

People get judged for wearing Valentine's Day-themed sneakers, but if they're lacing up the joints from 2006, it can slide. The sneakers took on a simplistic colorblocking scheme: They're just red and white with a heart on the tongue. But they didn't get too fancy and mix in pink or lace swirls, and let dudes lace these up with confidence.

Year of Release: 2006

No one wants to wear their crispy Air Force 1s on St. Patrick's Day, except for these Irish-themed sneakers. Although they're not too different from other patent leather Air Force 1s released in 2006, the St. Paddy's Days have become sneakerheads go-to kicks every time they want to get shitfaced, and it's tough to find a pristine pair.

Year of Release: 2006

If you couldn't get your hands on the friends-and-family Air Force 1s for the 2006 NBA All Star game, you settled on the regular joints, which were still a fresh sneaker. They had a Globetrotter-like color scheme in red, blue, and white, and even had stars along the whole sneakers. These kicks were highly faked, but if you had a real pair, you wore them proudly.

Year of Release: 2006

If you couldn't get your hands on the Mr. Cartoon patent leather Air Force 1s, then the Mexico World Cup Forces were your next best option. Nike showed restraint in using light hits of red and green hits. This sneaker has tons of color, but the predominately white upper gives a balance to everything that catches an eye.

Year of Release: 2006

With all the focus on the "Chamber of Fear" Air Force 1 pack, people forget that LeBron had his own Air Force 1, too. Actually, he had quite a few pairs, but he had one that came in a maroon, white, and navy color scheme, and it perfectly displayed Cleveland pride. No word if he's still rocking these, though.

Year of Release: 2006

Pastel colors were popping in 2006, and the Air Force 1 "Easter" fit perfectly into every hypebeast's urge to wear bright kicks. These kicks came in a darker hue than their predecessor, the '05 Air Force "Easters," but many an all-over print hoodie was matched these kicks all throughout spring. The eggs on the tongue were the icing on the cake.

Year Of Release: 2006

Is there anything more official than a Brazil-themed Air Force 1 for the 2006 World Cup? Brazil lost to France in the quarterfinals, but soccer fans go nuts for everything that's related to the South American soccer-fueled nation, and its Air Force 1s were no exception.

Year of Release: 2006

2006 was good for fans of Brazil soccer. Not only did Nike release a Brazil-themed Air Force 1 for the World Cup, but Ronaldinho was one of the brand's premier athletes. This year saw Tiger Woods, Dontrelle Willis, and Serena Williams all get their own Dunks, but Ronaldinho added his flair to a pair of Forces, and they brought the already dope Brazil-themed kicks up a notch with scripting of a soccer ball on the heel and stars on the toe box.

Year of Release: 2006

The United States Men's National Team didn't live up to its lofty expectations in the 2006 World Cup, but its sneakers certainly did. Ironically, the sneakers--with their navy and red patent leather upper--weren't available in abundance in the States, and you were more likely to see Americans repping another nation via Nike's World Cup pack.

Year of Release: 2006

A lot of sneakerheads mistook the Air Force 1 "South Korea" for being the USA edition, and you were more likely to see these being worn. White patent leather pops on a sneaker, and the slightly brighter red and blue on this sneaker made these easy to wear, but surefire attention grabbers.

Year of Release: 2006

Many anoint LeBron James as the greatest player alive, but he has to fight the temptation of feeding into the hype. Sneakerheads also had to fight the temptation of blowing stacks on his "Temptation" Air Force 1s. Especially since in 2006, anything purple and white was a hot seller. Cats were stacking up their Grimace-like sneakers with an insatiable appetite, but few actually got their hands on these Air Force 1s.

Year of Release: 2006

It's hard to believe the Dutch have never won a World Cup, but the European nation is crazy about soccer. And everyone was enamored by their Air Force 1s in 2006. Plus, they looked like a pair of Mets-themed Forces. New York heads went nuts over these.

Year Of Release: 2005

Mr. Cartoon's art is a representation of his Los Angeles and Mexican roots, and the patent leather Air Force 1s he designed in 2005 connected both cultures. The sneakers had "L.A." on the heel, the Mexican eagle on the tongue, and are just as West Coast as a pair of Chucks.

Year of Release: 2006

Every one thinks LeBron James has doubted himself, and Nike knew this was something he'd need to over come. But the "Self Doubt" Air Force 1s are fucking amazing. It's hard to top black, white, and green Air Force 1s with enough patent leather to make the sneakers pop. Making them extra-limited only fueled sneakerhead's desire and urge to cop these.

Year of Release: 2004

It's hard to associate maroon with Rasheed Wallace, but his Air Force 1 Hi PEs that came in white and maroon are insane. They could low-key be one of the hardest to find and best sneakers that ever had his high-release stamped on the heel.

Year of Release: 2004

Red and white is a simple color sequence, but the Air Force 1 is a classic sneaker, and simple schemes work well on this silhouette. It's no surprise that heads are digging such a simple yet exclusive sneaker from Sheed.

Year of Release: 2006

2006 was all about bright colors in sneaker culture and streetwear, and the Air Force 1 "Citrus" could be viewed as the center of that trend. Its green, orange, and yellow patent leather upper was impossible to miss and people actually had the audacity to match these sneakers to their gear. These kicks were fresh, and sneakerheads were trying their hardest to make sure the patent leather toe box didn't crease up and ruin the sneaker.

Year Of Release: 2006

Let's go back to 2006. LeBron James was a rising star in the NBA, and everyone was waiting to see what his potential would be, and would demons he'd have to tackle to get to the top of the NBA. Nike celebrated his "Chamber of Fear" with an Air Force 1 pack, and one of the obstacles was haters. Everyone has them, but a black, burgundy, red, and yellow Air Force 1 sure helps detract them.

Year of Release: 2006

The Air Force 1 "Kiwi" showed that light and dark tones work quite well together, even if it's for an unexpected color combination. Burgundy, pink, and green came together for one of the most refreshing but slept on Air Force 1 color ways of all time. Not many people still talk about the Kiwi, but a lot of heads were visiting boutique after boutique just trying to get a pair in '06.

Year of Release: 2002

Before he won a ring with the Pistons, Rasheed Wallace was putting in work for the Portland Blazers and he never stopped wearing Air Force 1 His. Black and white are a classic sneaker combination, and could be repped by those who aren't down with Blazers. The hardest part was actually finding a pair of these Air Force 1s to purchase.

Year of Release: 2006

Rasheed Wallace played in his hi-top Air Force 1s, but even he needed a low-top pair to chill in. During his tenure with the Detroit Pistons--who he now coaches--he won a championship and received one of the dopest pairs of Air Force 1s, even they though they were a low-top. The sneaker's red, white, and blue upper went perfect with any Pistons jersey, and was perfectly accented by Sheed's high release jumpshot on the heel.

Year of Release: 2005

The first patent leather Air Force 1s for Easter were so subtle. The sneakers featured the lightest shades of purple, yellow, blue, and pink and were one of Nike's earliest experimentation in bright-colored patent leather Air Force 1s. Heads would wear these even when the Easter Bunny wasn't dropping off bags of candy.

Year of Release: 2005

Certain Air Force 1s couldn't be obtained by the public unless you were in the know--like this white and red Air Force 1 made just for Rasheed Wallace. It takes a bold guy to pull off a loud pair of red kicks, and Sheed had more than a bountiful amount of personality to rock these joints.

Year of Release: 2006

Portugal lost in the 2006 World Cup's third-place game, but their patent leather Air Force 1s were the best out of Nike's world cup pack, and most people didn't even realize they were for Portugal, either. The sneakers came in a two-tone burgundy and mustard yellow with a black Swoosh, and are seen as being along the more subdued patent leather Air Force 1s. Still, what it lacked in brightness, the Air Force 1 "Portugal" made up for in being a buttery pair of kicks sans suede.

Year of Release: 2004

Sheed's game was as throwback as his love for the Air Force 1. His low-post game dominance was reminiscent of '70s and '80s players, and the Air Force 1 Hi Sheed in white and blue could have been worn by Moses Malone or Mychal Thompson. Sheed's jumper and his number, 30, on the strap were what made these sneakers different from what was hooped in back in the day. Oh yeah, and the shining patent leather.

Year of Release: 2003

Way back when, Rasheed Wallace played his college ball at North Carolina, and Nike represented this with a couple pairs of Air Force 1s. One pair came in a navy with Carolina Blue accents. Of course, this hi-top Air Force 1 was sought after by sneakerheads and shows off the beginning of the "Ball don't lie" Mantra-saying man's legendary career.

Year Of Release: 2004

Sheed got a multitude of kicks during his tenure in the NBA. His first year in Detroit brought him to a championship, and also gave him these red and white Air Force 1 His that are the loudest kicks in his PE collection. These joints glisten just like candy paint.

Year of Release: 2003

Sheed needed to rep North Carolina, even if he wouldn't wear the kicks in the NBA. The white and Carolina Blue PEs he received in 2003 were just the tip of the iceberg for all the dope shit he'd receive from Nike throughout his career.

Year of Release: 2006

The Houston Astros have one of the best throwback uniforms. It brings back memories of when Nolan Ryan was chucking heat. It also reminds sneakerheads of the 2006 NBA All-Star Game and the limited sneakers that were friends-and-family-only at the event. Yellow, orange, and blue isn't the most common combination for a pair of sneakers, but when it reps H-Town, it makes all the difference.

Year of Release: 2005

Video games and sneakers are a lot alike. Anyone who is addicted to either has stacks and stacks in their abode, and most people from the outside don't understand the obsession. This is why the Air Force 1 "Playstation 2" was so sought after. And it was super, super limited. People were paying well over a $1000 for these sneakers. The hype heightened when Chris Vidal, who was working at Flight Club, wore them onto the Tyra Banks show. And Tyra took the sneakers away from him. Sneakerheads everywhere imagined the kicks never being returned, but, luckily, they were, and so the hype of the "Playstations" lives on.

Year of Release: 2002

The Rose Garden was the arena that Rasheed Wallace called home during his tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers, and the sneakers made to commemorate this court are the most epic of Sheed's Air Force 1s. It doesn't get better than a black patent leather hi-top Air Force 1 with a rose on the heel. They perfectly demonstrated the amount of swagger Sheed brought to the court.

Year of Release: 2001

The Air Force 1 "Taiwan" is a sneaker that is talked about rarely seen. The sneaker is one of the O.G.s of the patent leather sneaker trend, and was only released overseas. The Taiwan was the perfect sneaker for aficionados. It had a clear sole, gradient two-tone Swooshes, and was super limited. Every time a pair of these gets posted on a sneaker forum, you're well aware of some one's status in the sneaker community.