Nike ACG Lunar Force 1 Being Tested by Adam Meyer | Photo Connor Burkesmith Mountain Weekly NewsNike is an industry leader and world-renowned for its sports shoes. Whether you play basketball, football, running, soccer, etc. you know about their dominance. You’ve also probably seen their lifestyle shoe offerings. But did you know they’re know taking their engineering wizardry into the world of winter lifestyle shoes?
Meet the Nike Lunar Force 1, a new winterized duck boot. In the words of Nike, the shoe “adapts AF1 style so you can keep your flame burning when the weather hits.” We were intrigued to see why this boot has already racked up 196 reviews averaging 4.5 stars.
About Nike
Nike has been slinging sneakers since 1964 and has become the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment. They have shoes, clothing, and accessories for most sneaker-wearing sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Running, Soccer, Tennis, and Training & Gym. One of the most exciting trends within Nike has been the revival of their ACG (“All Conditions Gear”) sublabel. It’s gear that’s “ready to conquer or escape the urban landscape”
Style
I’m not a style guy and I’m certainly not a sneakerhead. I buy my jeans at Costco and I can’t tell you the difference between an Air Max or an Air Jordan. I only know Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls because I like trivia. What I do know is numbers, if 196 people bought these shoes and then took the time to hop onto Nike.com to leave a glowing review, these sneakers must be stylish. This sentiment was confirmed by our Founder. When we showed up for the photoshoot, Mountain Weekly News founder Mike Hardaker said these boots looked “dope.”
The boot is a winterized version of the Lunar Force 1 which debuted in 2012. The Lunar Force 1 used Nike’s then-new Lunarlon technology. Lunarlon is a foam cushioning system.
Weather Resistance
Why spend all that money on high-tech water-proof leather if the upper is less water-proof than a stack of paper? I had high hopes for the waterproofing on the Nike Lunar Force 1 Duck Boots boots. I laced them up and sat on my kitchen counter as I stepped into my kitchen sink. I turned on the faucet to low and within seconds the water found its way through the upper to my socks. Woof.
But was the leather as “water-repellant” as they claimed? After leaving the shoes in the sink with the water blasting I came back to find the leather had repelled all the water and it hadn’t even started changing color. Bravo to the leather team. I’m sure that Nike can make the upper as water-resistant as the leather!
Rugged
Another bravo goes to the team who designed the sole. I walked on every ice patch I could find in my neighborhood. Pretty darn solid. I’ve felt more secure walking on ice with metal crampons, but for a rubber-soled boot, this was peak traction. Thank you for keeping slips and falls at bay!
The laces team also crushed it. While the laces instantly absorbed water, I was stoked by their decision to use metal lace hardware. Once I laced up the boot it felt snug and secure. The extra eyelets around the ankle and shin allowed for precise lace control.
I think a boot with this many laces is designed to only be put on once a day and then worn all day. This explains why the heel has extra padding to maximize heel comfort. I wonder why the team decided to make the extra padding a separate loose stitched piece of the heel cup rather than just including extra padding directly in the heel cup. The current design meant I had to use my fingers to adjust the padding every time I put the boot on to ensure it wasn’t scrunched against my Achilles.
Overall Impression
At $170, the Nike Lunar Force 1 is priced similarly to other fashion-forward winter options. If you’re looking for a rugged high-top sneaker to clomp around in, this is the shoe for you.
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