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Nike Air Presto

The Winner Is… Presto

The first version of the Nike Air Presto was born at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 – the timing couldn't have been more perfect. As the sporting world was dominated by the performances of long-distance runners and sprinters, Nike chose the opportune moment to drop a sneaker that featured the latest technology. For the creative ensemble at Nike, comfort was king, so there was a good chance it would be a success. 

Upon launch, the Nike Air Presto was marketed as a "t-shirt for your feet" to emphasise the sneaker's killer comfort and versatility. Instead of traditional numerical sizing, the Nike Air Presto was sold in sizes S, M, L, and XL, which simplified the manufacturing process. Nike's fascination with creating a running shoe that simulates the feeling of running barefoot was born through the development of the Nike Air Presto. It's amazing to think that without the Nike Air Presto, the Nike Free Runner might never have existed, isn't it?

With Heavy Advertising to Success

What does a current Nike advertisement look like? One with an army of athletes, rhythmic symmetry in the choreo, and matching beats, that is. In 2000, it all looked a bit different, though. Everything was a lot simpler then. For Nike, that was exactly the reason why something heavy had to be done. They skillfully played off the boring commercials of the competition by simply rushing out loud advertisements. 

The Nike Air Presto originally came in 13 different colourways. Each version of the Air Presto had its own commercial on TV. There were some really funny things to see that definitely shocked the advertising world. Each Air Presto had its own name, which was mentioned in the TV spot, including the version number. 

The curious spots played a big role in pushing the Presto into the mainstream and became one of the most popular running shoes of its generation. Nice Job, Nike! 

This Is What Nike Air Presto Commercials Looked Like Back Then:

Nike Air Presto Commercials

How the Nike Air Presto Got Its Name

To find a name that matched the sneaker's qualities, Nike's creative team decided to accept suggestions from the design and development community. Over 300 submissions were received, one of which named it "Presto Magic". The name was chosen because the sneaker magically moulded to the foot.

What Versions of the Nike Air Presto Were There?

As for the sneakers, there were 13 nicknames for each colour: Catfight Shiner, Trouble at Home, Brutal Honey, Rogue Kielbasas, Unholy Cumulus, Rabid Panda, Abdominal Snowman, Shady Milkman, Orange Monk, Migraine Fly, Jack Mackerel, Presto Bill, and a final thirteenth version that remained unnamed.

Technology, Design and Development 

The original Presto line from 2000 was easily recognisable by its neoprene mesh upper, lightweight midsole, and cushioned outsole. The design itself has remained unchanged over the years. The five dots on the outsole were another trademark of the Nike Air Presto. 

Over the years, numerous special editions have been released, while the shape has been retained. Thanks to the sneaker's age, new designs over the years range from denim, safari, and Oreo themes to a highly exclusive collaboration with musician Eric Clapton. The sole, which featured digitally printed graphics (one of the first shoes), offered plenty of scope for stark designs.

The Presto Gets Its Wings

There was a time when Nike really focused on improving their iconic silhouettes with the Flyknit treatment. This technology was a perfect fit for the sneaker, and so, the Nike Air Presto Ultra Flyknit was born. 

The addition of Flyknit to the signature upper gave the Nike Air Presto an even more futuristic silhouette. The introduction of this new material provided better ventilation for the wearer and made the shoe more comfortable for the runner, building on the original principles of the Nike Air Presto in 2000. By transforming it into a mid-top sneaker, the sneaker has found new life on the street as the athletic trend continues to make big strides into the mainstream.

Off-White makes waves with Nike Air Presto collaboration

For many sneakerheads, 2017 is one of the best sneaker release years ever. That's when Nike and its longtime partner Off-White, founded by the late designer Virgil Abloh, released a major collection called "The Ten". Among them was a two-tone Off-White x Nike Air Presto. Many fans feel that the Off-White x Nike Presto deserves the silver medal and the secondary market seems to agree, as the resale value is around $2,000, well below the value of the Off-White x AJ1 "Chicago".

At the time, the renowned label's collaboration sneakers were considered the hottest sneakers around. So it's no wonder that the pairs sold out quickly after their release. Fortunately, you didn't have to wait long for a sequel. Because in 2018, two more Off-White x Nike Air Presto followed in "White" and "Black". Here, the focus was much more on a monochrome colourway with the characteristic OW details.

The hype around the T-shirt for your feet was huge. A short time later, ACRONYM presented three high Nike Air Prestos. They enjoy great popularity due to their technical and futuristic look. These include the "Cool Grey", the "Racer Pink" and the "Dynamic Yellow".
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Nike Air Presto Premium Burgundy Ash

 
€220

 

Nike Air Presto Tie-Dye Red Purple

 
€54

 

Nike Presto Pink Oxford (W)

 
€59

 

Nike Air Presto Cool Grey (W)

 
€91

 

Nike Air Presto Iris Whisper Atmosphere (W)

 
€91

 

Nike Air Presto Plum Fog (W)

 
€109

 

Nike Air Presto Summit White Gum Medium Brown (W)

 
€123

 

Nike Air Presto Premium Max Orange (W)

 
€79

 

Nike Air Presto "Hike Nike"

 
€65

 

Nike Air Presto Blackout

 
€223

 

Nike Air Presto Mid Utility Star Wars Bossk

 
€67

 

Nike Little Presto Triple White (TD)

 
€47

 

Nike Air Presto Sanddrift Light Curry (W)

 
€62

 

Nike Air Presto Light Soft Pink (W)

 
€132

 

Nike Air Presto Paint Splatter

 
€76

 

Nike Air Presto GS 'Volt'

 
€62

 

Nike Air Presto Sunset Pulse (W)

 
€88

 

Nike Air Presto Green Strike

 
€66

 

Nike Air Presto Triple Pink (W)

 
€75

 

Nike Air Presto Black Blue Red

 
€87

 

Nike Air Presto Blue Plate Special (W)

 
€65

 

Nike Air Presto Photo Blue Pink Blast

 
€56

 

Nike Kids Presto Extreme slip-on

 
€63

 

Nike Air Presto Tour Yellow

 
€150

 

Nike Presto Fly Summit White Anthracite (W)

 
€170

 

Nike Wmns Presto Fly 'Triple Black'

 
€58

 

Nike Wmns Air Presto 'Black Hyper Pink'

 

 

Nike Air Presto Essential

 
€166

 

Nike Presto Extreme Triple Black (TD)

 
€54

 

Nike Air Presto Premium Black Leather (W)

 
€114

 

Nike Air Presto Shady Milkman

 
€401

 

Nike Air Presto Mid Obsidian Black

 

 

Nike Presto Extreme GS 'Black Pink'

 

 

Nike Presto Fly

 
€122

 

Nike Air Presto Mid Utility

 
€156

 

Nike Air Presto Navy USA (2020)

 
€48

 

Nike Presto Breathe

 
€133

 

Nike Air Presto Wmns

 
€2,094

 

Nike RT Presto Extreme Black University Red (TD)

 
€66

 

Nike RT Presto Extreme Black Laser Orange (PS)

 
€196

 

Nike Air Presto Ultra Breathe

 
€289

 

Air Presto GPX

 
€322

 

Nike Air Presto Ultra Binary Blue (W)

 
€206

 

Nike Presto Mid Utility

 

 

Nike Presto Extreme Vintage Floral (GS)

 
€60

 

Nike Air Presto Ultra Flyknit Black (W)

 

 

Nike Presto React

 
€54

 

Nike Presto Extreme GS 'Cabana Fuchsia'

 
€98