Nike’s Most Iconic Sneaker Is Now a Techy Take on New England’s Heritage Winter Boot
The winterized version of the Air Force spin-off is back and more intimidating than ever.
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If you've ever wandered into inclement weather wearing your Air Forces , you know how big of a mistake you've made.
Fortunately, over the years, Nike has made a concerted effort to weatherproof several of its most iconic sneakers, including Dunks , Air Jordan 1s and Air Force 1s, among others.
Then in 2011, the sportswear brand took a chance by creating a quasi-duck boot version of the iconic Air Forces. It wasn't identical to the New England staple made popular by L.L.Bean over a century ago, but it was Nike's own interpolation.
The logical next step was a similarly winterized take on the newer Lunar Force 1, itself a modernized, lightweight iteration of the AF1. But it looked staggeringly different as a cold-weather shoe.
Nike debuts its first Lunar Force 1 Duckboot since 2024. This time around, the sneaker lands in an Iron Grey colorway. - Credit: Nike
Aside from featuring a waterproof toe, water-resistant leather and synthetic insulation, the high-top was noticeably more intimidating overall, in no small part thanks to its star-studded toe cap.
Now, after a two-year absence, the Lunar Force 1 Duckboot returns in its most assertive version yet.
The stealthy new variant is arguably the most intimidating so far. - Credit: Nike
Don't call it a comeback
The last time we had a new Lunar Force 1 Duckboot was back in 2024 when Nike dropped a classy Baroque Brown variant. Prior to that, we'd basically gotten a new model every year or so.
But with no new colorway in 2025, it seemed as though perhaps Nike had abandoned the silhouette altogether.
All the hallmarks return, including the star-studded toe cap, synthetic insulation and water-resistant leather upper. - Credit: Nike
That simply wasn't the case. Now, the LF1 Duckboot makes a triumphant return, landing in a stealthy new hue. Iron Grey is the dominant color, darkening the entire upper, including the protective toe and the Swoosh, creating an intimidating aesthetic unlike all previous versions.
The Lunarlon foam midsole is the same as the standard LF1, which was designed to be a lightweight, modernized version of the Air Force 1. - Credit: Nike
The monochromatic high-top is then paired with a black base. Like the standard LF1, the boot retains the softer Lunarlon foam midsole combined with an encapsulated Air unit in the heel. Underneath, however, the aggressive rubber tread provides more grip on wet surfaces than its progenitor's conventional basketball tooling.
Rounding out the feature set are metal eyelets, D-ring hardware and pull tabs in back. - Credit: Nike
All other features remain from past drops, including the water-resistant leather with WaterShield lining, synthetic insulation and a plush extended tongue that wraps around the ankle to help block cold air and moisture. Likewise, metal eyelets, D-ring hardware and pull tabs reinforce the outdoorsy look.
Price and availability
After several weeks of anticipation, the Lunar Force 1 Duckboot in Iron Grey is now available from Nike's website. It's priced at $170.
Nike Lunar Force 1 Duckboot Iron Grey
About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he's not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.
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