In 1996, the legendary Air Rift hit shelves. The game-changing silhouette, inspired by the barefoot runners of Kenya, combined the freedom-of-movement of a sandal with the cushioning and protection of a sneaker. In 2015, that classic spawns a technological successor that dispenses with the sneaker half entirely. The new model, the Nike Free Rift Sandal, could well be something special.
The Rift’s traditional textile and neoprene are conspicuously absent, replaced with a series of rubberized straps that are far more sandal than shoe. The Rift’s split-toe design is retained, promising that natural fit and feel for which the original was known, and the outsole — already a beacon of natural motion-enhancing performance — goes full bore in that direction, with heel to toe Free tooling.
We’re still waiting on a US release date, but the Nike Free Rift Sandal is now hitting overseas accounts, such as Germany’s Inflammable. Is this a worthy successor to the Air Rift?
Nike Free Rift Sandal
Black/White-Volt
Style #: 725001-019
Summer 2015
