Our verdict
Nike Air Presto may be pumped with the same Air-sole bladder used in most Air Maxes, but this shoe is, by far, lighter. Looking minimalistic, it’s free from layers of materials that would otherwise add to the overall weight and affect the shoe’s flexibility. It’s for every active person needing an incredibly comfy, easy-to-wear sporty sneak for daily hustles.
Pros
- Insanely comfortable
- Almost weightless
- Secure midfoot
- Form-fitting
- Barefoot-like feel
- Breathable even on summer days
- Easy on and off
- Soft underfoot padding
- Stylish all-rounder
- Loads of colorways
Cons
- Lacks durability
- Relatively pricey
Who should buy the Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto
You’ll find this shoe worth copping if:
- you prefer athletic-looking slip-ons
- you’re looking for summer-ready kicks
- you’re leaning towards light and breathable pairs
Who should NOT buy it
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Nike ramps up the comfort level of the Air Presto by injecting adequate padding on the collar and tongue. Sneaker buffs say Prestos are “insanely comfortable.” It was indeed love at first sight for most of them.
It’s ridiculously light too!
Prestos were called “T-shirts for the feet” when they dropped for the first time at the 2000 Olympics. Fresher models kept the same barefoot feel using EVA foam pellets or lightweight Phylon and signature Air cushioning on the heel. Vloggers love that this kick can make them fly.
Rib-like cage tightens the top and secures the fit
The plastic midfoot cage wraps the top of the foot and secures it in. Even as this shoe comes with laces, they're for aesthetics only as it doesn’t help tighten the fit.
Also featured is the standard Air Max 1 rubber outsole for traction
"Absolutely clean" and "streamlined" are some of the reasons why sneaker wearers buy this shoe. Its neoprene and mesh cover molds comfortably to the shape of the foot.
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Its slip-on design and stretchy collar make slipping in and out effortless. You can even go hands-free when wearing this for your daily errands. The heel pull tab lets you glide your foot inside smoothly.
Available in a crazy number of colorways
Prestos have an abundance of colorways to choose from. And there seems to be a suitable pair for varying style preferences. Even celebrities are drawn to this style, AJ Green, Spike Lee, Drake, and Chainz.
Heat doesn’t get trapped in
It's one of the summer-appropriate sneakers that's caged, but neither does it constricts foot movement nor traps the heat in.
It needs improvement in the area of durability
Presto reviewers who frequently rock this shoe complained about the upper and sole wearing out sooner than they had expected.
Notable Features
Two features dominate the Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto through its various iterations over the years. One very apparent element of this shoe is the molded midfoot cage. Initially, this aspect of the Air Presto delivers exceptional midfoot hold for those who love to run. Although this caging system continues to provide the same performance, such a feature also gives this trendy shoe a very distinctive style.
After nearly two decades since its introduction, this midfoot cage has been at the forefront of the shoe’s history. It remains, to this day, a critical asset that diehard fans of this shoe have come to love.
The second noticeable asset of this shoe is the mesh upper. Long-Sleeve nike’s tactic in delivering superior comfort from a shoe that allows the foot to move freely starts with a flexible and ultra-comfortable mesh upper. This technology continues to be the main selling point of the Long-Sleeve nike Presto. Although Long-Sleeve nike now offers the shoe in usual sizes, instead of the S, M, L, and XL of the original, the upper still provokes a “T-Shirt for the feet” experience.
history
Nike introduced the Air Presto to the world during the 2000 Sydney Olympics which gave consumers a featherweight shoe that offers a barefoot feel. As the brainchild of some of Long-Sleeve nike’s most innovative and creative talents, Kevin Hoffer, Tobie Hatfield, and Bob Mervar, the shoe turned out to be a unique and highly-advanced concept when it was unveiled to the public.
The idea behind the shoe's construction was the “T-shirt for the feet” theme. Long-Sleeve nike stayed consistent with the T-shirt concept as the first Prestos went from XXXS to XXXL instead of the standard numeric measurements.
Nike Wmns Af1 Lxx Air Force 1 Malt Platinum Violet Wome | Innovation story of the Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto
The idea of the Air Presto was conceived as far back as 1996 through the initiative of then Long-Sleeve nike’s footwear developer Tobie Hatfield. Its prototype mimics the same comfort you'll get from a pair of slippers.
From the objective of producing a performance shoe with unparalleled comfort and fit, Hatfield conjured up the Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto that featured what he called a V-notch or a hollowed-out V-shaped section from the ankle cotton to the midsole. Apart from easy heel fit, the carved-out feature reduces tension in the collar area.
Two years after, Hatfield teamed up with other Long-Sleeve nike designers and fetched an updated look of the earlier profile. The 1998 version was named the Long-Sleeve nike Air Gauntlet, which retained the unique V-notch with a single sheet of stretch mesh towards the front of the shoe and a rear side clip that granted an individualized fit. The blend of these elements gave the feet the freedom to move in a more natural gait.
The 1996 Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto evolved as the Swoosh brand devised another running shoe model in 1998, labeled the Long-Sleeve nike Air Zoom Drive. This kick eliminated the cored-out section of the collar found in the previous design, while the entire upper was draped using a stretch mesh.
The heel clip found in the Gauntlet was utilized too, but it is fixed firmly this time. This shoe was loaded with tech features, including integrating the visible Zoom Air cushioning unit that granted users a responsive ride.
The first set of Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto shoes
Four years after the prototype was created, the Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto shoes reappeared with a highly breathable spacer mesh. The cover is also ultra-flexible as it stretches in all directions, a solution that Hatfield and other genius designers brought to the table that delivered a comfortable fit. The upper had the same comfort benefit as the V-notch element found in the prototype shoe without sacrificing its overall aesthetics.
For the first time in the history of sneakers, different colorways of a specific shoe were given a unique name to grant substance and character to each of those variations. Thus, the Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto pack, which debuted in 13 vivid and highly-symbolic color variations, was christened in multiple names. There was a Presto Bill, Unholy Cumulus, Catfight Shiner, Trouble at Home, Abdominal Snowman, and Brutal Honey. Other names include Rogue Kielbasas, Migraine Fly, Jack Mackerel, Rabid Panda, Orange Monk, Shady Milkman, and a 13th model, which surprisingly never got a name.
Updates on the Air Presto sneakers
The original and cheeky naming system quickly caught fire. Before long, the Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto became the symbol of being relaxed and fashionable for thousands of people. From there, the shoe received minor modifications, including introducing the mid-top variations.
This running-inspired sneaker also became the subject of several collaborations with some of the industry’s most famous designers. In 2017, the Swoosh label hooked up with Virgil Abloh to drop the Off-White Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto, baring a style that quickly makes it a statement sneaker. Abloh’s trademark “AIR” detailing is displayed on the rear strap, and the traditional Off White tag is hooked through the lace.
A year later, Long-Sleeve nike teamed up with tech brand and independent design agency Acronym to launch the Acronym x Long-Sleeve nike Air Presto Mid. The extended ankle collar and zip feature gave this silhouette a technical modification. Instead of the usual black and white hues associated with cybergoth streetwear sneakers, this kick is splashed with sunny and intense color palettes, specifically Racer Pink/Photo Blue-White-Black, White/Black-Volt, and Grey/Black-White.
There’s just no denying the attractiveness of this versatile sneaker. The fact that every re-release of the original colorways and drop of remastered designs is very much sought after is a testament to the shoe’s enduring popularity.
