Nike pulls out another archival tennis classic for a release in 2023. Donned by John McEnroe during his reign on the tennis court in the ‘80s, it’s the first time that the Air Mac Attack has been retroed. At least three decades have passed since these were available on shelves, so no doubt Nike heads are eager to channel that retro sporting aesthetic with these laced up on their feet. Considering both Travis Scott and LeBron James have been photographed wearing OG pairs, you can probably expect heightened levels of hype from the newer generation of sneakerheads too!
Arriving in its OG make-up, a mixture of black and grey hues on the upper recall all the ‘80s tennis triumphs that the Mac Attack was witness to. Combining a balance of leather and suede, this tennis shoe lands with all the Cross Trainer-esque tooling that took the decade by storm. The six perforations are a feature found on other popular tennis shoes from that era as they were not only designed for breathability but acted as sweat drainage holes too. You can find these referenced on the SOULGOODS x Nike Dunk High which is inspired by the Air Mac Attack and also set to drop in 2023. Two other distinct features that belong to the Mac is the checkerboard-print tongue label and star-count which wraps around the entire edge of the outsole. Unlike the Air Force 1 that only bears the star-count on the front toe, you’ll likely struggle keeping these at 100%!
OG collectors are already started to flood the online space with comparison videos, many of which are praising of the '23 retro. Apart from the bulkier toe box area, the bigger shoe box and whiter tongue, the design team at Nike has done its best to recreate the OG '85 version. Also worth noting is that the "Mac" part of the shoe's name has been dropped and is simply labeled the Nike Attack, a detail that is likely down to licensing agreements. Fear not though, as McEnroe himself has featured in the shoe's promotional campaign alongside Travis Scott!
Confirmed by the Swoosh itself, the Mac Attack will be hitting the shelved on June 23rd via Nike's SNKRS app as well as select retailers. There’s a whole host of varying sneakerheads that’s interested in owning a pair of Nike Air Mac Attacks, so make sure you’re tuned into The Sole Supplier to find out when these will be dropping!
