The Adidas Stan Smith and the Nike Air Force 1 are classic shoes that were created over 30 years ago. They were highly popular at the time and still are to this day. There is a lot of history behind each of these shoes, and we will get into that later on in this review.
You may be wondering which of these issues you would like to purchase. In fact, these shoes can appeal to a lot of people who have the same tastes. This is why we have decided to create this Nike Air Force 1 vs Adidas Stan Smith comparison. We will be covering what makes each of these shoes special and why anyone would want to choose one over the other.
Read: Adidas Superstar vs Nike Air Force 1: A Matter of Style
Nike Air Force 1 vs Adidas Stan Smith
A History of the Air Force 1 and the Stan Smith
These Nike and Adidas shoes started off as a hit with mainstream culture, and have gathered a cult following. But each also has its own history.
How the Adidas Stan Smith Got Started
The Stan Smith Adidas shoe started off as the ‘Haillet’. Popular tennis player Stan Smith was asked by Adidas to endorse the Haillet. The Haillet was first released in the 60’s, and was renamed the Adidas Stan Smith in 1971.
Th e Stan Smith became a market opener for Adidas in the United States. Since its release, the Adidas Stan Smith has received several iterations on its design. However, most of its form has remained the same.
The Adidas Stan Smith had been taken out of production for a while, but in 2013, Adidas had announced that it would be back in stores in 2014.
These shoes are modern, clean, and classy. Instead of featuring the usual three stripes common in Adidas shoes, they feature three perforated lines. These lines sort of shadow the traditional three stripes, but ensure that the shoe retains its white-on-white classy feel.
It is important to note that the Adidas Stan Smith was created as a tennis shoe. However, as its popularity increased, it became more of an everyday sneaker.
A History of the Nike Air Force 1
While the Adidas Stan Smith started as a tennis shoe, the Nike Air Force 1 was a basketball training shoe. At least that is how it was first known when it was released. The most iconic of the Air Force 1 shoes is the white-on-white shoe with the high ankle and velcro closure. It was first released over 30 years ago, and 1,000’s of versions of the shoe have been created since. The Nike Air Force 1 quickly gained its status as a streetwear shoe, popular with break dancers in New York.
A common story is that the Air Force 1 was first released in 1982, but due to the fact that it was not getting enough sales, it was taken off the market. However, it made a Resurgence 4 years later and became highly popular. We do not know if this is factual or just urban myth.
Nike Air Force 1 vs Adidas Stan Smith: Difference in Style
As previously mentioned, the Adidas Stan Smith is a tennis shoe while the Nike Air Force 1 is a basketball shoe. That being said, both are used as a regular everyday sneaker. But each of them has their own staple features that have made them iconic over the past few decades.
Adidas Stan Smith Features
The basic design and form of the Adidas Stan Smith shoe has remained the same since its first introduction. Its modern and classy look made it stand the test of time. The traditional Stan Smith is a white-on-white shoe that has the Adidas logo in the back. Written above the logo are the words ‘Stan Smith’. On the tongue of the shoe is a Stan Smith face outline. Walking around with the shoes makes one look super trendy if the history of the Adidas tennis shoe is of any interest.
The Stan Smith shoe looks good with skinny jeans, shorts, or even baggy jeans. We would not recommend them to be worn with joggers.
Nike Air Force 1 Features
The traditional Nike Air Force 1 shoe has a high ankle that closes with a Velcro tab. There are some newer versions that stop right below the ankle. These versions look very similar to the Adidas Stan Smith shoe.
Unlike the Adidas Stan Smith, the Nike Air Force 1 could be worn with a pair of joggers. They also look great with a pair of shorts or some baggy jeans. If you love to wear skinny jeans, the Adidas Stan Smith would look better than with the Air Force 1.
Price Comparison
When purchasing from a third party such as Amazon, prices can vary. If you would like to see current prices for these shoe models, please see below:
Nike Air Force 1 vs Adidas Stan Smith: The Verdict
When deciding between these two shoes, the choice is really based on the style that you like. Generally speaking, the Adidas Stan Smith is currently the most popular, as it is the most versatile. It can be worn with a greater variety of clothing and looks more modern. The quality of the leather of the Stan Smith shoe is very nice. It is a soft and buttery leather that is appealing to the touch.
On which side of the fence do you rest? Please leave your comment below let us know what you think.