Yes. The Air Force 1 runs roughly half a size large, and most people are better off going half a size down from the size they wear in a running shoe.
It is the most common sizing question we get, and the answer has a few useful edges to it.
Why it runs long
The AF1 was designed as a basketball shoe in 1982, with a roomy toe box and a thick, padded collar. Nike has never slimmed the shape, because the shape is the point. The result is a shoe with more length and more volume than a modern silhouette at the same stated size.
What that means in practice
- If you take EU 43 in a running shoe, try EU 42.5 in an Air Force 1.
- If you are between sizes, take the smaller one. The leather gives; the length does not.
- If you have a wide foot, stay true to size. The extra room stops being extra and starts being necessary.
- If you wear thick socks, stay true to size.
Low, mid and high
The low is the one most people mean and the one that runs longest. The mid and high add ankle padding, which does not change the length but does make a half size down feel tighter around the collar. On a mid or high, true to size is the safer call.
The pre-loved wrinkle
A second-hand pair has already been broken in by someone else. The leather has softened and the footbed has taken an impression, which usually makes a worn AF1 feel very slightly roomier than a box-fresh one in the same size. It is not enough to change which size you order, but it is enough that a snug fit will feel comfortable sooner than it would on a new pair.
This is also why we photograph every pair as itself and grade it by hand. How we grade every pair explains what Pristine, Premium and Excellent each mean on the shoe in front of you.
Still not sure?
Measure your foot and work from the number rather than the memory. Our EU, UK and US conversion chart turns centimetres into a size, and Nike vs adidas sizing covers what changes when you switch brands.
Want to know it is genuine before you commit? Real or replica: checking an Air Force 1 lists what we check before a pair is listed.