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By the time Nike introduced their ACG (for All Conditions Gear) line in 1989 they were already vets in the outdoor game thanks to shoes like the Lava Dome and the Magma, but ACG — which encompassed more than just footwear — put an official stamp on it. The idea was to bring performance athletics to the great outdoors (you can read more about ACG's beginnings in this tremendous Sneaker Freaker feature), but it became so much more than that. With the 25th anniversary quickly approaching, we figured we'd take a look at The 25 Best Nike ACG Sneakers of All Time. Let us know your favorites.
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25. Lunar Macleay
Year: 2010
Lunar sole, speedlacing all the way to the top, sleek Vac Tech upper, low 3/4 cut. The Lunar Macleay was the sports car of ACG when it was introduced in 2010, and the Tier Zero variations just gave it even more cachet.
24. Zoom Talaria Boot
Year: 2007
The criminally overlooked Talaria runner re-imagined as a boot. Light and low, the Talaria Boot was really a boot in name only - not that you couldn't hike in it if you really wanted to.
23. Zoom Meriwether
Year: 2011
The Zoom Meriwether mixed the look of a classic full-leather mountaineering boot with all the tech Nike had to offer. An inner zipper made for easier on-and-off, while Zoom Air cushioned the ride.
22. Air Mowabb II
Year: 1994
Improving on the original Mowabb was something of a futile task, but give Nike credit for trying. Sleeker than the original, the Mowabb II featured a lower cut and similar Huarache construction. Its only failure was not being the Mowabb.
21. Pocket Knife
Year: 2000
The go-everywhere, do-everything (hence the name) of the ACG line, the Pocket Knife was the shoe you rolled up and stuffed in the bottom of your bag to kick around camp in. More adventurous types wore it from the get-go.
20. Okwahn II
Year: 2012
A more beefed-up version of the Pocket Knife, the Okwahn II wasn't really a trail runner, but wasn't heavy-duty enough to be considered a boot. It really found its place with Tier Zero offerings, as more of an outdoor-inspired city shoe.
19. Zoom Tallac Lite
Year: 2008
The Tallac Lite was right on the midway point between a trail runner and a full-on hiking boot. Unfortunately it came out right before the advent of Flywire and Lunar, so it may have been overlooked by some. Bad move.
18. Air Terra
Year: 1992
Before the Terra line became its own thing, the Air Terra was a part of ACG. Even more stripped-down than the Wildwood, the Air Terra was a hardcore trail runner in party dress. They don't do colors like this anymore.
17. Ashiko Flywire Boot
Year: 2009
The Ashiko marked the introduction of Flywire to the great outdoors. A rugged boot with a classic hiking sole and a lightweight synthetic upper, the Ashiko merged ACG's past with its future.
16. Baltoro High
Year: 1990
A classic lightweight hiking boot flipped in inimitable Nike style. The suede and mesh construction was more or less standard, the vibrant neon colors were a Nike exclusive. More Baltoros were worn to school than the mountains, and that was OK.
15. Air Escape
Year: 1992
Not to be confused with the pre-ACG Escape runner, the Air Escape was more in the mold of the Mowabb, although without the Mowabb's signature neoprene bootie. It wasn't really a takedown as much as it was something a little more civilized. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
14. Air Max Goadome
Year: 2007
The ultimate in urban ACG wear. The full-leather upper offset by a full Air Max sole, the Goadome is plenty sturdy enough for the great outdoors, but is primarily a city dweller. Legendary stuff.
13. Air Vulgarian Chukka
Year: 1995
Nothing crazy here, just a traditional chukka-cut leather (or nubuck) boot with an Air sole and an embossed Swoosh. No visible Air, no neon colors, just a simple boot that did its job. If these were still out now, they'd be a spring and fall staple.
12. Wildedge
Year: 2007
A high-tech update of the classic Wildwood, the Wildedge featured speedlacing and a Gore-Tex liner. Most Nike trail runners (like the Terra Humara) weren't part of the ACG line - the Wildedge for whatever reason made the cut.
11. Lunar Wood
Year: 2009
What started as a project from Denmark's Wood Wood - a Lunar update of the Wildwood - became an ACG staple. No complaints here - the Lunar sole complements the techy Wildwood upper perfectly, and the midsole spatter nod to the Mowabb is perfect.
10. Air Super Dome
Year: 1990
The Super Dome was a monster. Super high and super tough, this was the ACG boot to wear if you were going to scale K2 or spend a month in the frozen woods. There was a retro version with an Air Max sole, but the original didn't need all that.
9. Air Moc
Year: 1994
Long before the Roshe Run became the in-thing, the Air Moc had the simple formula down pat - a super-basic upper (without laces, even, just a toggle) on top of a well-cushioned sole. This wasn't a hiking shoe per se, more of for in-camp wear, but it became a cult classic far removed from the beaten path.
8. Son of Lava Dome
Year: 1989
The original Nike Lava Dome preceded ACG by nearly a decade, and as such was the forefather of much that was to come. The Son of Lava Dome was a high-tech upgrade of that ancestral classic with all the same attributes (lightweight, low-cut, boot traction) that made the original an icon.
7. Air Mada II
Year: 1996
The Air Mada 2 took the no-nonsense look of the original Mada and gave it a little flash in the form of anodized aluminum speedlacing. Mountain bike guys and rock climbers - who'd been using anodized aluminum bits for years - got it right away.
6. Air Deschutz
Year: 1993
The Nike Air Deschutz proved that there was room in the "performance sandal" category for more than just Teva. The river classics didn't go away - heck, they're still popular now - but the Deschutz expanded what the category could be, and took a big slice for itself.
5. Aqua Sock
Year: 1989
Designed by Geoff Hollister, the Aqua Sock was about as simple as a shoe could get - a slip-on sock with a thin rubber outsole. That was it. (1991's Aqua Sock Too and Aqua Sock Classic provided a little more structure.) They were meant for water sports (no, not that kind, perv) but also were an early vanguard of the minimalist movement.
4. Air Mada
Year: 1994
If the Air Mowabb was ACG's Corvette, the first Mada was its Malibu - the fleet car, if you will. Designed by Sergio Lozano (who also did the Air Max 95), the Mada was an outdoor shoe without pretense, suitable for anyone anywhere. And judging from the sales numbers, it succeeded tremendously.
3. Wildwood
Year: 1990
Much of what made ACG great was the fact that the shoes were running shoes disguised as hiking gear. The Wildwood (and it's techier cousin, the Wildedge) wore thinner disguises than most. The original Wildwood was as close as ACG came to making a true "street" shoe, and owed more to classic runners like the LDV and the Terra TC.
2. Air Revaderchi
Year: 1992
A sequel to the Mowabb in all but name, the Air Revaderchi (Nike with the jokes) was designed by Steve McDonald and provided some technological upgrades to its predecessor.
1. Air Mowabb
Year: 1991
The all-time classic. Designed by Tinker Hatfield (who else?), the Mowabb pioneered the soon-to-be-everywhere spattered midsole, and brought Huarache to the mountains. Lightweight boots were already a thing, but never quite like this. Essentially a Huarache runner with a full-height neoprene collar and a more aggressive outsole, the Mowabb is legendary for good reason.