In the late eighties, the sneaker world felt like an arms race. Honestly, it was a bit ridiculous. Brands weren't just selling rubber and leather; they were selling "technology" that promised to make you jump higher, run faster, and basically turn you into a superhuman on the hardwood. You've probably heard of the Reebok Pump. It’s the legend. But if you were around back then, you remember the frantic scramble from Beaverton to catch up. People often call them nike pump it up shoes because of the cultural noise, but the reality is much more nuanced, legalistic, and, frankly, a bit messy.
Nike didn't actually call them "Pump it Up" shoes. That’s a bit of a Mandela Effect situation mixed with some very aggressive Reebok marketing.
Reebok had the "The Pump." Nike had "Air." When Reebok’s inflatable collar took over the streets in 1989, Nike had to respond or risk looking like a dinosaur. Their answer was the Nike Air Pressure. It came in a massive plastic briefcase. It required an external hand pump. It was weird. It was expensive. It was a fascinating failure that paved the way for every custom-fit sneaker we see today.
The $190 Plastic Briefcase: What was the Nike Air Pressure?
Let’s talk about the price tag. In 1989, $190 was an astronomical amount of money for a sneaker. Adjusted for inflation, you’re looking at over $450 today. For a pair of shoes. Nike knew they couldn't just copy Reebok's internal tongue-pump mechanism without getting sued into oblivion, so they went the "industrial" route.
The Air Pressure wasn't just a shoe; it was an event. It came in a translucent plastic slab of a box that looked like something used to transport organs for transplant. Inside, you found the high-top sneakers and a separate, handheld pump device. To get that "locked-in" feel, you had to manually hook the pump to a valve on the heel and squeeze until the internal air bladder tightened around your ankle.
It was clunky. It was inconvenient. Imagine being at the gym and having to carry a separate plastic pump just to tighten your shoes. Most kids just ended up losing the pump.
Why the Nike Pump It Up Shoes Craze Actually Started with Reebok
We have to be intellectually honest here: Reebok won the first round. Their "Pump it Up" slogan was so infectious that it became the generic trademark for any shoe that used air displacement. When people search for nike pump it up shoes, they are often remembering the Nike Air Command Force.
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This was the shoe David Robinson wore. It was the shoe Billy Hoyle wore in White Men Can't Jump. Unlike the Air Pressure, the Command Force actually had the pump built into the shoe—well, sort of. It had a pressure release valve and a pump mechanism on the side of the ankle. It looked aggressive. It looked like the future.
The Tech Behind the Bladder
The engineering was actually pretty cool. Inside the collar and the tongue, there was a series of interconnected chambers. When you pressed the button, you weren't just adding "cushion." You were filling the void between your foot and the shoe’s upper. This was huge for basketball players with narrow feet or those who suffered from chronic ankle rolls.
Nike used a proprietary plastic for these bladders. Unfortunately, if you find a pair of original 1991 Command Forces today, that plastic has likely turned to dust. It’s called hydrolysis. The moisture in the air breaks down the polyurethane, and the "Pump" becomes a "Crumb."
The Legal Drama and the Death of the Inflatable Sneaker
Why did Nike stop making them? Money and lawyers.
Reebok held the primary patents on the internal pump mechanism. Every time Nike tried to iterate, they had to navigate a minefield of intellectual property. Eventually, the market shifted. The "tech" era of the early 90s gave way to the minimalism of the mid-90s. The industry moved toward lightweight synthetics and better foam compounds like Phylon.
The nike pump it up shoes era ended not because the tech didn't work, but because it was heavy. A size 12 Command Force weighs about as much as a small brick.
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The 180 and the Force 180 Pump
Charles Barkley. Sir Charles was the face of the Nike Air Force 180 Pump. This shoe is often confused with the standard Air 180, but the Pump version was a different beast entirely. It featured a high-top cut and a pump on the tongue, much more similar to what Reebok was doing.
It was a powerhouse shoe. It was built for the "Power Forward" style of play—bruising, physical, and requiring maximum lockdown. But again, the complexity of the manufacturing made them prone to leaking. If you popped your shoe on a sharp floorboard, you were stuck with a loose-fitting boot.
Does the "Pump" Still Exist?
Sort of. Nike eventually moved away from manual pumping and toward "Adapt" technology. Instead of you squeezing a rubber ball, a motor does the work. But the soul of those early 90s experiments is still there.
Collectors today hunt for these like the Holy Grail. If you find an original pair of Air Pressures with the pump and the case, you're looking at a four-figure payout. Just don't try to wear them. The soles will literally explode under your weight.
What to Look for if You're Buying Today
If you are looking to relive the nike pump it up shoes glory days, you have a few options, but you need to be careful.
- The 2014 Command Force Retro: Nike brought these back about a decade ago. They look nearly identical to the originals, but the "pump" is mostly aesthetic. It doesn't have the same PSI capacity as the 1991 version.
- The 2016 Air Pressure Retro: This was a limited release through the SNKRS app. It actually came with the briefcase. It’s the most authentic way to experience the weirdness of the original.
- Avoid "OG" Pairs for Wear: I cannot stress this enough. If the shoe is from 1990, 1991, or 1992, the foam is dead. It is a display piece only.
Actionable Steps for Sneakerheads
If you’re serious about getting into the vintage "Pump" game, here is your roadmap.
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First, check the serial numbers. Many fakes of the Command Force flooded the market in the late 2010s. Authentic retros should have a clear, crisp "Air" logo on the heel and the valve should feel firm, not flimsy.
Second, if you buy a pair of the 2014 retros, store them in a climate-controlled environment. Polyurethane is the enemy of longevity. Keep them away from humid basements or hot attics.
Third, understand the fit. These shoes were designed to be "pumped up," which means the interior volume is actually quite large when deflated. If you aren't going to use the pump feature, you might want to go half a size down.
The era of nike pump it up shoes was a wild, experimental time where brands weren't afraid to fail spectacularly. It wasn't about being sleek; it was about being loud. Whether it was the external pump of the Air Pressure or the high-top bulk of the Command Force, these shoes represent a peak in footwear engineering that prioritized feeling "locked in" above all else.
If you're hunting for a pair, prioritize the 2014-2016 retros. They give you the look and the feel without the $2,000 price tag and the risk of the shoe disintegrating on your first step. Keep the pump, lose the briefcase, and enjoy the height.