Nike SB’s Air Force 1 Low Mimics the Timberland Wheat Boot

The SB era for the Nike Air Force 1 Low has just barely begun, as the launch colorway will get a wide release next week after dropping in a more limited fashion in February. Multiple follow-up treatments continue to surface, now including a look cribbed from one of the most iconic boots of all.

The Nike SB Air Force 1 Low “Flax” takes after the classic Timberland 6-Inch Boot in “Wheat.” All of the upper is rendered in a nearly identical shade of suede, albeit with a tad more shag than you’ll find on the Wheat Boots. A leather mustache arrives in a complimentary khaki color, while a sole unit follows suit for a fully monochrome treatment, deviated from only by the black tongue and heel logos.

Just as it did with the Dunk Low more than 20 years ago, Nike SB has made a series of largely unseen updates to the Air Force 1 Low in the name of skateboarding. A fatter tongue stands out just as much as the branding shifts, but less readily visible is a thinner midsole for better board feel, the addition of sit straps and fit pods in the collar for security and a revised tread pattern for grip. The shape of the toe has also been subtly tweaked, and stitch-and-turn construction throughout boosts durability alongside the use of suede rather than the typical leather.

“Light Orewood Brown” rang in the SB Air Force 1 in February with a one-store release in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star Weekend. It’ll hit the Snkrs app Tuesday as the first opportunity for the masses to purchase, and leaks have revealed forthcoming drops to include a “Triple Black” colorway and a collaboration with Yuto Horigome in the pipeline.

The Nike SB Air Force 1 Low “Flax” will be released on June 5, likely through the Snkrs app and local skate shops. Pricing is set at $120.