It’s definitely one of those chicken-and-egg situations when it comes to determining who might be ‘copying’ whom, but there’s little debating that what’s worked so well for Nike in recent years, has also worked for Vans, and vice-versa. Here’s a very direct proof in the Nike First String Air Max Purcell Johnny, a variation on the classic smiley sole that utilizes an extra ‘seatbelt’ of material along the midfoot a la Off the Wall’s Standard Issue Sk8-Hi. Really, this element is just externalizing the support found in a variety of vulc-soled basketball hightops including the Nike Blazer, but it does indeed set these off and along with the luxe materials gives these two new pairs a nice premium feel. Pick between black chambray and suede or parchment canvas with a suede strip or just get them both, since both pairs are available now at First String retailers like Up There.
Many of the most recent variations on the immortal Nike Chuck Taylor Free Run have involved integrating design cues from other well established styles. Things like duck boots, fuzzy UGG-style arctic looks and even hunting caps have come into the Nike Free Run Sale mix of late, but what about just applying a subtle twist to the classic Chuck Taylor? That’s exactly what they’ve done with the new Free Run Collar Break, a black-on-white design that utilizes waxed canvas everywhere on the upper except the top ankle collar, which is done in a rich full grain leather. This is the kind of thing you’ll be able to wear long after some of the crazier Chucks are retired as period pieces, and you can grab a pair right now directly from Nike.
Nike is making a clear effort to ensure that the All-Star devotees among you stay laced up during the harsh weather ahead. We recently saw the Nike Chuck Taylor Free Run Natarb Mid with its furry innards, but if those were a bit too teddy bear for your tastes, check out the Nike Free Run Hi Gusset. This pair of Chucks utilizes a coated canvas for the upper, a step above the usual material, and d-ring fasteners with rounded boot laces for a very utilitarian look. Check out both the black and tan colorways after the jump Nike Free Run 3.0 V3 and cop your pair now from Air Max 87 Womens Size? in the UK.