Nike's Bringing Home the Bakin'
It's not often we're treated to a tasty rasher of Air Bakin. Nike cook up a retro of Tim Hardaway's controversial on-court staple every now and then, but it's been a good few years since it's been served up. As the weather cools, we sometimes get a craving for that fiery 1997 kicker.
Just as they say food is the way to a man's heart, bringing up the Bakin' must surely be the best way to capture a sneakerhead's attention. The 1997 OG holds a special place in sneaker history. Basically, some 90s Nike designers chose to write 'Air' on the heel in a font that looked like flames. However, it also looked almost exactly like the Arabic script for 'Allah'. Controversy ensued, a recall of the shoe followed, and now every old head's got an opinion on the issue. The scandal accounts for much of the enduring interest in the Air Bakin'.
Twenty years later, Nike are getting adventurous again, serving up the Bakin' with a generous helping of Air Foamposite. The Air Bakin' Posite is a pretty simple hybrid: it's essentially the Bakin' silhouette with a protective Foamposite coat. There are black and pewter options on the menu.
A sneakerboot based off an historic 90s basketball silhouette is a nice breath of fresh air right now as we're swamped with some pretty weird winter offerings. However, Nike have adorned the heel tab with prominent reflective flame, literally highlighting an 'oversight' they should probably be pretty embarrassed about.
Currently, no release date has been set for the pewter colourway. The black Air Bakin' Posite has just been plated up, but it's already sold out on sites like Nike and Footlocker. Hop to it if you want to bring that Bakin' back home.
