What if textbook black and white were no longer the best way to wear an AF1? The Nike Air Force 1 Low Essential+ Phantom Black swaps optic white for Phantom, a greyish off-white that turns down the volume on the best-selling silhouette in Nike history without touching a single line of its design. The result: the same sneaker everyone recognizes, but with a finish that doesn't shout.
The Nike Air Force 1 Low Essential+ Phantom Black is a seasonal release from the Essential+ line, built on the silhouette Bruce Kilgore designed in 1982. It keeps the soft-grain leather, the perforated toe box, the encapsulated Air unit and the metal heel badge, but dresses the base in Phantom with the Swoosh and details in black.
What sets the Essential+ line apart from the classic white Air Force 1
The AF1 was born as a basketball shoe and was the first Nike to feature Air cushioning. It jumped from the court to the street and never left. The Essential+ line builds on that foundation with refined finishes and materials, without reinterpreting the silhouette or adding exaggerated soles.
The real difference is the color. The core white is permanent; Essential+ releases are seasonal and don't come back. If Phantom catches your eye, it's a decision for now, not six months from now.
Materials and construction of the Nike Air Force 1 Low Essential+ Phantom Black
- Upper: Phantom-toned leather with a perforated toe box for ventilation, a wide black Swoosh and a metal heel badge.
- Interior: padded collar, textile lining and removable Nike Comfort insole.
- Midsole: encapsulated Air unit, the same technology the model debuted in 1982.
- Outsole: rubber with the circular pivot pattern inherited from basketball.
A detail you'll appreciate: the removable insole lets you slip in your own if you want a firmer fit, something plenty of AF1 wearers end up doing.
Sizing: do Air Force 1s run big or small?
There's a consensus here, and Nike itself confirms it in its size guide: the Air Force 1 runs big because of its roomy toe box, so the general advice is to go down half a size from your usual Nike size.
The exception is wide feet: if that's you, stick with your usual size. Two more tips from the brand itself: the leather molds and stretches with wear, so if they feel a little snug at first, that's normal; and don't over-tighten the laces, as that speeds up creasing on the sides.
You can check the latest size availability here before you decide.
Real reviews: the good stuff and what to know before you buy
What comes up most among people who wear them daily: you can wear them from morning to night without complaint, and the padded collar plus the Air unit do their job on long days in the city.
The criticisms are well known too, and they're worth laying out. The AF1 is heavy — leather, textile lining, foam and a thick rubber sole all add up — and it has a chunky volume that isn't for everyone. Like any leather sneaker, it creases at the toe flex point with wear.
And this is where Phantom works in your favor: since it isn't a pure optic white, wear, dust and city scuffs show far less than on the core white version, which needs a wipe almost every time you head out.
How to style the Nike Air Force 1 Low Essential+ Phantom Black
Off-white is easier to wear than pure white because it doesn't compete with the rest of your look. Four combinations that work without a second thought:
- Denim and a white tee: the uniform. Phantom gives a softer contrast against denim than optic white does.
- Total black: black pants and sweatshirt, with the sneakers as the only point of light. The black Swoosh ties the whole outfit together.
- Greys and earth tones: beige, camel, charcoal grey. This is where Phantom really shines.
- Wide tailored pants: the volume of the AF1 balances pleated trousers and softens a formal look.
They also work perfectly with a midi skirt or a dress: the silhouette is neutral enough not to break up a more dressed-up outfit.
Where to buy the Nike Air Force 1 Essential+ in Spain
At Next Step we have them 100% new and authentic, with 14 calendar days for returns from the day you receive your order and fast shipping to Spain and all of Europe. As a seasonal release, stock by size moves fast.
Check out the Nike Air Force 1 Low Essential+ Phantom Black product page and lock in your size before it's gone. If you want to compare colorways, our full Nike collection is right there.
