Nike Acg Zoom Ashiko Qs

If we've got one key qualm with this industry, it's that shoes seem intent on referencing past icon so heavily that footwear's eating itself. After some wilderness years in terms of striking design, the last two years have seen ACG dropping banger after banger. Commercially, many never crossed over to the extent we felt they deserved, but this right here is the highlight of the 20th anniversary celebrations. Looking like a Baltoro if it was designed by some characters from a fictional galactic confederacy (word to L. Ron Hubbard) rather than mere mortals. This is the long lost son of Superdome right here. The Tallac from a couple of years back was just a hint at what Nike had in store, and Flywire could well have given designers the power to add functionality and visual appeal to shoes once again and push things forward. Now that's just the sort of bombastic statement that could make us a laughing stock in two years time.

Colourways are gradually trickling out on a preview tip, but for our money, this is the best, lifting a regressive ACG colour and bringing it into the 21st century. The old-style ACG logo on the midsole is a respectful nod to the olden days - bear in mind that even the Wildedge had a streamlined take on those three letters when it came to branding, but the rest is straight-up sci-fi. We also suspect that this isn't a shoe that's one to grow on - you're either into it or you're not, but we can see NYC embracing the Ashiko, even if few other regions get it. A whole ton of potentially great models are torpedoed by wack branding too - not so here. Even the nifty fly logo on the reverse of the tongue shows thought at work.

That translucent panel sealing and reinforcing the toe is teched out to the fullest, and these are both comfortable and incredibly lightweight - not only does that wire look unconventionally attractive in its stripped-down glory, but that support makes one helluva difference. Jadakiss may have purported that fleeing the law made his Timbs feel like thay had Nike Air, but with the addition of Zoom, these are the closest thing to date. Plus you won't have to slang rock to feel the benefits.Whereas some previous efforts have felt like cement shoes, these beat the 40 Below for crazy styling - the perfect Arc'teryx accompaniment this coming Winter. This was the year when wet weather wear found its footing once again. Invest in a pair and stamp some plimsoll-clad feet to a pulp. Awesome.