The Nike Air Max 1 ‘Best Friend’ Is Inspired by Beloved Canine Companions

There's no companion quite like a dog, so Nike are saluting canine companions and four-legged friends the world over with the new Air Max 1 'Best Friend.' A women's-sized style that cheekily flips the old 'man's best friend' adage on its head, the Air Max 1 'Best Friend' is loaded with doggo details.

The most notable of these embellishments arrived on the mudguard, which uses a duo of patterns for a nod to the bandannas dog owners often dress their pets in. The placement of these patterns is reversed on the left and right shoes for a yin-and-yang look. Meanwhile, the remainder of the upper is split between leather and various furry textiles, acknowledging the wide variety of coats found across dog breeds. The bandanna pattern from the mudguard is replicated on the special tongue tag, which sits on a furry base and is surrounded by a tasty treat: dog bone-shaped top eyestays!

Various hits of volt green are dispersed around the shoe for a nod to tennis balls (a favourite toy of many dogs) and insoles feature a grassy pattern. Interestingly enough, one of the insoles is branded with a large '3.26' stamp, a possible indication that this sneaker was supposed to release on Air Max Day but fell victim to supply chain issues.

Packaging-wise, the 'Best Friend' comes in a special box, is equipped with a custom hangtag and is accompanied by a patterned bandanna so you and your dog can match on your next walk! It's exclusive to China, and will release on SNKRS there come June 18. It's priced at ¥1,099 CNY, which is roughly $164 in American dollars.

Did you know that one former NBA player enjoyed wearing Air Max 1s and Air Max 90s during games? Click here to see the weirdest non-basketball shoes that have touched NBA courts.