THE CROSS BREED - NIKE HYBRIDS

Since then, there’s been a few more unconfirmed steps down the hybrid path. These include the leaked image of the awesome new Terra Humara x Airmax crossover, the ACG Wildedge and a women’s woven x FREE just to name a few. Based on speculation and gossip, mixed with what we do know and promised someone we wouldn’t tell you, there are plenty more in the pipeline that promise to keep pushing things down even more obscure and interesting avenues, with ACG being the glue that binds many of them together.

Another avenue includes taking Air Max models and stream-lining them to a low-profile womens’ fit. Whilst technically not a hybrid, there’s enough composite references for even the unschooled to recognise. If I hear someone scream ‘Nu-Retro’ up the back of the class, I hear you, and I wouldn’t argue the toss. It is true that some of the shoes from that (almost) bygone scheme were less than monumental, the woeful series of early Jordans particularly coming to mind. On the positive side of the ledger, there was the Zoom Trainer 1 which was a really sweet update on the original as well as the new Air Force 25, which to my non–balling eyes, is nicer than any recent Nike basketball release. So before the high hats start wailing, I say that if it gets women back into wearing sneakers again, then it’s a damn good thing. adidas, it must be pointed out, deserve kudos for going though the door earlier with their ‘sleek deluxe’ concept.

Another in the same ‘almost a hybrid’ category is an AM90 reimagined as a hiking boot which has again upset many cyber-space-cadets who can’t understand that running and hiking are not the most unrelated of activities. If you compare the sole units, you can see that the runner has not just had its lower half removed and transplanted, it’s actually a totally new fabrication built for a much more rugged experience and featuring a protective ‘nudge bar’ borrowed off a bona fide hiker boot. The same reason we all love AM90 is the reason I like this model. The rubber lace panel, exposed Air, hidden swoosh and AIR MAX branding is easy on the eye and the panels make for a template flexible enough to accommodate a myriad of conclusions. And if you still disagree, there’s Lava Dome, Geo Dome and Lord knows how many other Nike hiking boots to choose from, so don’t squabble.