The Nike Air Force 1 refuses to retire. Since Bruce Kilgore dropped the design back in 1982, the sneaker has somehow stayed fresh through every fad. Maybe you rocked the triple white pair to death in high school. Maybe your cousin is still clinging to his triple black set with cargo pants like it’s 2005. Either way, the AF1 just keeps selling. And the Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Linen/University Blue” is probably going to do the same, especially with his face being part of the new design.
The Air Force 1 has become an experimental sneaker
Over the years, Nike has turned the Air Force 1 into a canvas for experimentation. We’ve had pairs covered in flies, sneakers that clean themselves the more you wear them, and colorways that honestly look like the design team was trolling us. Now, Nike is bringing Kobe Bryant into the fold again with a new release that feels… different, too.
The 2007 Air Force 1 Supreme “Kobe” is back… sort of
Back in 2007, for the AF1’s 25th anniversary, Nike introduced the Air Force 1 Supreme “Kobe.” It retailed at $250 and came with a translucent midsole that showed off the Air cushioning inside. Sneakerheads loved the portrait of Bryant on the heel, a detail that stood out in an era before everyone was slapping graphics on shoes. Now, in Holiday 2025, that same idea is back, only this time with a slightly new upgrade.
A retro sneaker returns in a new way
The Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Linen/University Blue” has already surfaced in Grade School sizes, confirming Nike will drop them in both adult and kid-friendly runs. Expect a tan suede upper with tucked seams, a bold university blue sole, and most importantly, Kobe’s face etched into the heel panel under the Swoosh. The retail price is probably around $150 (so, a lot cheaper than the 2007 version).
It’s not just a copy-and-paste job
The “Linen/University Blue” edition plays with balance: sandy beige panels up top, icy blue outsoles, and Kobe-inspired details like custom insoles and a sheath logo. The lace dubrae even gets the blue treatment, showing Nike is paying attention to the little things. It feels like a proper continuation of Bryant’s legacy rather than a lazy cash grab.
The cool little details
One of the cool details of the Kobe Bryant Nike Air Force 1 Low Linen/University Blue is that the inners have “Performance Strength Innovation Attitude Revolution Power” written in white and blue. The box is super white with Kobe’s logo and signature in gold. There’s no images of a second pair of laces, but I imagine that a University Blue-colored pair would work well here too.
The release date is soonish
The Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Linen/University Blue” release is penciled in for November 2025, though Nike hasn’t dropped an exact date yet. You’ll find them at Nike.com and select retailers. Expect this Kobe Bryant x Air Force 1 Low to be one of the most talked-about holiday drops of the year.
