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This is more of that much-needed new from Nike, and as self-professed SFB fanboys, this offers the militaristic Free-soled formula in a more commercial format. Oddly, by all accounts, these aren't even getting a UK release, despite being readily available on the US Nike site rather than being given Tier Zero treatment. If Hiroshi had given 'em a reworking, that wouldn't be the case, but in this agreeably bland desert shade that sits alongside anything, we're already SFB Mid evangelists too. The high cut on the Special Forces Boot wasn't too every taste, and that black Uniform Experiment version in a lower cut was good, but these are different shoe in several ways. Why they're not part of ACG is a mystery for starters - they look a helluva lot like an Air Revaderchi III could have looked. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if they were drafted up to coincide with the retro of the original Revaderchi in 2008. That's a good thing - the Revaderchi is one of the great off-road design classics (Grand Puba knew the score) and like the Wild Edge's tweak on the Wildwood - another seminal All Conditions moment, these use some of the same no-sew tricks in the build - and they're not dissimilar to the Wild Edge Mid either. Or for that matter, with that stretching ankle support, the mighty Mowabb.

Barely branded, breathable and quick drying, they're going to be our weapons of choice this summer, but thus far, images haven't done them justice. Less rub than standard SFB variations, and a good use of embossing on that upper makes these feel very right, but going on our usual taste for contemporary designs, whether they set the tills-a-ringing is doubtful. Our critical plaudits are probably a commercial kiss of death. What we are seeing however, is the pieces that will get their dues when a dearth of imagination a decade down the line means retros of shoes like this. We could sit and point out perceived reference points all day, but these feel like performance shoes should do in 2010. Nike are sowing some seeds with releases like these.