Nike is giving the Air Force 1 another dose of bad-weather attitude. After experimenting with Gore-Tex and Vibram on the Air Force 1 Low last year, the brand is now taking the same formula and giving it a taller, more rugged shape.
Official images show the upcoming Air Force 1 Mid Gore-Tex Vibram in two colorways: Black/Smoke Gray and Summit White/Blue Tint/Black. The basic idea remains familiar. You get a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane, a grippy Vibram outsole, and the unmistakable Air Force 1 shape. The biggest change is the higher collar, which makes the sneaker look much closer to a casual winter boot.
The new Mids also appear to use a softer, nubuck-like material instead of the leather found on last year’s Low versions. That should give them a slightly more outdoorsy appearance, while a metal hook on the collar strap replaces the plastic hardware used on the standard Air Force 1 Mid.
Like the Lows, these pairs will also carry both Gore-Tex and Vibram branding. The outsole gets the same kind of aggressive traction pattern designed for wet and slippery surfaces, rather than the relatively tame herringbone pattern found on a regular AF1.
The Low was already a $150 winter AF1
The timing makes sense because Nike’s first Gore-Tex and Vibram Air Force 1 Lows arrived in late 2025. Those shoes retailed for $150 in the U.S., giving the classic sneaker a meaningful upgrade without pushing it into luxury-sneaker territory.
The Mid looks like a pretty straightforward evolution of that idea. Instead of completely reinventing the Air Force 1, Nike has essentially made the weatherproof version taller and a little more boot-like. And honestly, that could make more sense for winter. The higher collar should offer a bit more protection around the ankle, while the Gore-Tex and Vibram combination already handles the two things you generally worry about when wearing sneakers in miserable weather: water and slippery ground.
Nike has not announced pricing for the Mid Gore-Tex Vibram yet, but $150 to $170 seems like a reasonable expectation based on last year’s Low. Nike priced the Low at $150, although some early reports listed a $170 MSRP, so the final price could go either way depending on the market.
The Air Force 1 Mid Gore-Tex Vibram is expected to arrive this fall through Nike and select Nike Sportswear retailers. For anyone who likes the look of an AF1 but hates retiring it every time the weather turns nasty, this might be the more practical version yet.
Source: Life – Fitness – mensjournal
