Now & Then: the Nike Air Skylon II

For the debut of our new Now & Then column, we take a look at the NIKE AIR SKYLON II and see how the 2018 retro edition of this popular running shoe stands up against the original 1992 release. To assist with our analysis, several images in this feature have click-n-drag slider controls so you can see the differences and make comparisons clearly for yourself. First up, a brief history lesson on why the Skylon II matters to many of us….

1992 saw the first release of the Nike Air Skylon II – an update and successor to the original 1990 Air Skylon running shoe. The original Skylon was the poster child for the Bill Bowerman line of technical and functional shoes, designed to cater for underpronators and neutral runners. Underpronation, also known to as supination, occurs when the foot rolls outwards at the ankle, often resulting in pain and to address this issue, Nike equipped the Skylon with superior cushioning and support. But whilst the Skylon worked well, it didn’t exactly catch your eye. At least not until the following year, when it came back to the market as the Nike Air Skylon II. A further member of the Skylon family joined the ranks in 1995, entitled the Nike Air Skylon TC, which stripped things back slightly, perhaps setting some foundations for future developments such as the Nike Air Presto.

The Nike Air Skylon II is a good example of the early ’90s style of running shoe designs: the sleek, contoured upper section has an aerodynamic look that was typical of the era, which made the shoe look as lightweight as it felt on-foot. But one reason why the Skylon II resonated so well with the public was in part due to the colours and graphic applications employed across the entire shoe. Three colours dropped initially – two for men, and one for the ladies – but a big part of the shoe’s appeal was that it worked across the board, no matter who you were. Fading panels, pop-style branding and the Nike Internationalist logo meant that the Skylon II rocked the bells like nothing else on the market.

With the ’80s and ’90s proving to be a source of inspiration for everything from music through to fashion, 2018 is the perfect year for Nike to revisit the Skylon II. The styling has vintage appeal but remains eye-catching enough to turn heads, whilst the shoe itself offers the same comfort and traction that it did back in ’92. The lightweight Air-Sole gives excellent cushioning and the mesh and suede combination on top is breathable and durable. For 2018, there are currently three colourways available: White/Solar Red/Vivid Purple/Court Purple, White/Amarillo/Total Orange/Black and White/Clear Emerald/Black editions are out on the shelves as we speak.

All in all, the new retro of the Skylon II ticks the boxes: minimal changes have been well balanced with slight improvements in both materials and construction. For those who have waited decades for this shoe to return, we think you’ll be more than happy. The 2018 retro edition of the NIKE AIR SKYLON II is AVAILABLE NOW: click the banner below to visit NIKE and transport your feet back to 1992…

Click and drag slider above to compare the releases