Our verdict

If you are an Air Force 1 lover and basketball aesthetics make your heart melt, get ready for the LV8 and its higher-than-ever sole. We found it really comfortable to walk around town, and super versatile to do many different daily activities in whichever outfit you want, as its timeless style looks good with pretty much anything. Even though the lockdown feel it offers is superb, its feet-hugging structure might be a bit too harsh at the beginning, or at any point if you have wide feet!

Pros

  • Very comfortable
  • Super trendy and stylish
  • Fire basketball aesthetics
  • Materials feel high quality
  • Nice support and lockdown
  • Timeless design
  • Makes you taller
  • Really versatile

Cons

  • Not for wide feet
  • Heavier than other Air Force 1s
  • Break-in period

Audience verdict

93
Great!

Who should buy

Elevate your whole wardrobe with the Air Force 1 07 LV8 if:

  • You're looking for a super comfortable and trendy pair of sneakers to make the whole street your runway.
  • You're all about basketball aesthetics and you want to feel a little bit closer to your NBA heroes regarding height.
  • You need a versatile shoe that feels high quality and looks good with pretty much anything.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_01

Who should NOT buy

If you're absolutely done with break-in periods, forget about the LV8. Its tough upper materials and high torsional rigidity levels make it pretty unfriendly at the beginning. If you don't want to give up the basketball aesthetics and you don't mind changing brands, the New Balance 480 might be your cup of tea.

If you're a big Air Force 1 fan, you might not want to go for the LV8 unless you really want to feel taller. The Nike Air Force 1 07 looks pretty much the same, yet it features more durable materials overall, as well as a softer midsole. This icon of a shoe is also slightly cheaper, which makes its value for money superb. So think about it twice before you go for this newer version!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8-pieces

Cushioning

Heel stack

This shoe is called LV8 because of its "elevated" midsole, which is one of the main differences regarding the original sneakers. We've found many others during our lab review (such as the heel padding durability that we've already mentioned), though.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Heel stack-1

Our caliper returned 36.7 mm when we measured this shoe's heel stack, which is also way higher than average. This shoe features a full-length Air Unit that doesn't only make you taller, it also makes the whole experience even more comfortable!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Heel stack_comparison_AF107

Look at this picture comparing both, the original Air Force 1 07 (top) and the Air Force 1 07 LV8 (bottom). As you can see, the latter is a whole 5.0 mm taller, even though both models feature the brand's iconic Air Units.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 36.7 mm
Average 29.7 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

We loved that the forefoot stack was also higher than average.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Forefoot stack-1

At 20.1 mm, we felt comfortable and protected from the street's pebbles. Once again, this newest version is higher than the AF 1 07 standard, as our caliper returned 17.2 mm when we measured its forefoot stack.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_015

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 20.1 mm
Average 18.8 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

There's a big difference between both these stack heights, so we ended up with a massive drop of 16.6 mm.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Drop-1

As you can clearly see in the picture, the heel of this shoe is way higher than the ball of the foot. But don't worry, it didn't feel weird and we didn't have to get used to it or anything. It feels like your heel has some extra cushioning, and that's pretty much it!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_07

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 16.6 mm
Average 10.9 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

When we cut this AF in half, we got full access to its inner materials.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Midsole softness-1

And among those, we have the midsole. When we pressed our durometer against it, it returned 26.5 HA, which is a score lower than average. This means the foam is on the softer side, which is something our feet loved.

During our wear tests, this shoe felt pretty comfortable. We can't say it's incredibly soft underfoot, the Nike Air Max 1 felt way more cloud-like, but the overall experience is still pretty nice.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 26.5 HA
Average 29.2 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 64 sneakers
Number of shoes
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Insole thickness

A 5.4 mm thick insole was waiting for our feet inside the AF 1 07 LV8.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Insole thickness-1

It's pretty much average, and it just focused on making our walking experience even nicer.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 5.4 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 is true to size (310 votes).

We're more than happy to tell you that, according to the votes we have received, this Nike pair is absolutely true to size! It scored the cleanest 3.0 on our scale.

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 97 sneakers
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

The toebox follows the overall slim build of this shoe.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Toebox width - widest part-1

Our caliper returned 97.5 mm when we measured its widest part, which means it's narrower than average. Even though our standard-width feet were fine with it, we can see big-feet sneakerheads feeling cramped.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_011

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 97.5 mm
Average 98.9 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
91.3 mm
Toebox width - widest part
105.3 mm

Toebox width - big toe

We can't say this shoe transforms into an arrow at the tip, but it's definitely not wider than average either.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Toebox width - big toe-1

At 74.1 mm according to our caliper, it embraces Nike's tradition with its pointy toebox. Consequently, we definitely believe this is not the best pair for wide-toed people!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_013

Nevertheless, regarding this shoe's vertical space we can't complain. It felt roomy enough for our toes not to be pressed or uncomfortable.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 74.1 mm
Average 75.0 mm
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
65.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
83.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The leather upper of this Air Force stopped our ankles instantly when we went for a slight wobble.

As you can see, this shoe has a solid structure that doesn't joke around when it comes to containment!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_016

Torsional rigidity

The lateral stability and foot containment of the LV8 come mainly from the high torsional rigidity of its upper materials.

When we tried to twist this shoe in our lab, we almost got a cramp on our thumbs! Just look at the video, we were really trying there, but nothing. Apart from the solid upper materials, this high level of torsional rigidity also comes from the chunkier sole of this AF.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_06

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 5
Average 3.5
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

But the heel takes this to a whole new level. If you want to see what a real wall looks like, check the video below.

Now that's absolutely impossible to move! We did press it hard, you'll realize if you check how tensed up our thumb and fingers look. If we could've given it a 10/5, we would have, trust us. But this time the LV8 will have to settle down with a 5/5, our top score!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_012

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 5
Average 3.2
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

The LV8 follows the same narrower-than-average midsole design as the AF1 07.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Midsole width - forefoot-1

Our caliper returned 103.8 mm, so it's not like our feet had plenty of space to land after every step. We don't think this shoe is unstable or anything, but it does have an overall slim design.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 103.8 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

Just like in the forefoot, the midsole is also narrower than average in the heel.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Midsole width - heel-1

At 77.9 mm, our caliper confirmed it. Also, aside from this snug design, the stiff heel counter of this shoe could mean a break-in period will be needed. We know this might not be a general experience, but we had to endure it, so we want to warn you just in case!

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 77.9 mm
Average 83.2 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

The durable and overall rigid materials of this shoe might not be the friendliest at the beginning, and our force gauge knows it well.

37.8N of force were needed to bend this shoe all the way up to 90 degrees. This means the LV8 needs a whole 39% more force to bow down than average, and even though this didn't translate into an uncomfortable feel underfoot, we did need to go through a break-in period before we could enjoy the highest comfort levels this AF had in store for us.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_04

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 37.8N
Average 22.9N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
51.8N

Weight

Honestly, this shoe felt kind of heavy on foot. During our wear tests, we walked around town, ran errands, and went for a drink or to eat something. And it wasn't like we were feeling uncomfortable, it's just... that this AF felt heavier than what our feet are used to.

We understood what was up when we took it to our lab. Our scale went all the way up to 16.8 oz/476.0g, which is a pretty crazy 12% heavier than average.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Weight-1

Still, we found this shoe really comfortable. It might feel heavier, but its style and high quality feel kind of make up for it. What's more, when we cut the LV8 in half, we found its interiors were heavily (sorry) padded, so we kind of understand why it's not a lightweight sneaker.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 16.79 oz (476g)
Average 13.86 oz (393g)
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

Just like many other Air Force pairs, the LV8 has many small holes throughout its toebox. But thanks to our vast experience, we've learned not to trust that little detail until our tests and/or tools check it actually lets the air flow.

Our light test verified the light can come through the two ventilation holes that are in the middle area, closer to the sole. But it didn't really show us much more, so we grabbed our second tool: the reliable smoke machine.

As you can see, the toebox did let the smoke come through. And pretty easily too! We were satisfied with this result, so we decided to give this AF an average 3/5 on our breathability test. This becomes even more impressive if we compare it with the poor results of the Nike Phase Court which, despite having a similar build, couldn't get any more than a 1/5.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Breathability-3

Our microscope showed us that it looks like there isn't actually a second layer stopping the air from going in and out inside the ventilation hole.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Breathability-4

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 3
Average 3
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

To check if this Air Force uses authentic or synthetic materials, we grabbed our torch and our scratch awl.

We started by burning the middle panel, which didn't catch fire. Also, when we started scratching it, the material didn't get stuck on our awl like a piece of gum on a kid's hair. Consequently, this leather is authentic.

But the Swoosh had a different idea. We saw a flame burst as soon as our torch burned the material a little bit too much, and it became just as sticky as melted cheese! This means the Swoosh is synthetic.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 Real leather

Toebox durability

After taking this shoe out of its box and having a look at its structure, we instantly thought it would be a good rival to our Dremel.

At 5K RPM and with 3.2N of force, we saw the tool roll and roll and roll some more. The white dust flying around was scary, we're not gonna lie, but we kept our hopes up until the 12 seconds of the test were over.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Toebox durability-2

And the result wasn't so bad! It looked way worse when the Dremel was drilling, so we decided to give this AF1 07 LV8 a solid 4/5 on our toebox durability test.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Sadly, the heel padding didn't put up as much of a fight as the toebox.

At the same 5K RPM and with 3.2N of force once again, the Dremel didn't even think about having mercy.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Heel padding durability-2

As you can see, we ended up with a pretty messed up heel, so we decided to give the LV8 a sad 1/5 on our durability test. This caught us by surprise (in the worst way possible), as the AF 1 07 managed to score a wonderful 4/5 on this same test.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 1
Average 3.2
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

We pressed our durometer against this Air Force's outsole to check its hardness.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Outsole hardness-1

It returned 87.9 HC, which is slightly higher than average. This should mean the shoe offers a healthy mix of traction and durability, and we sure hope so!

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 87.9 HC
Average 85.4 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
91.3 HC

Outsole durability

When we saw the results of this test, we realized our hopes for durability had been crushed.

It all started with our Dremel going all out at 10K RPM and with the same 3.2N of force. It attacked the outsole's rubber during 22 seconds, and trust us, the LV8 would have run away if it could!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Outsole durability-2

Our tread gauge claimed the tool got rid of 1.8 mm of material, which is actually a lot. In fact, this dent is a whole 44% deeper than average, which means this shoe's outsole won't be as durable.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 1.8 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Even though this shoe's outsole is way less durable than average, Nike opted to go for a piece of rubber that's also thinner than average.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Outsole thickness-1

At 4.9 mm, we understand the brand didn't go for a chunkier piece in order not to add some extra weight to the shoe. But ah well, the thinner the outsole and the less durable the rubber, the sooner you'll have to get a new pair of shoes!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_010

Still, as long as you keep this pair for its intended use (which is basically casual, so forget about anything adventurous), it should be by your side for a while.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 4.9 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

Nike decided to copy-paste the tread pattern or the AF 1 07. And we totally get it; like, why would you change something so iconic that works just fine?

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_05

Moving away once again from the traditional herringbone pattern, the LV8's outsole features 2 pivot points (one at the ball of the foot and the other one at the heel) that give away its basketball heritage. The traction this pair provided was alright, and even though we didn't make much use of the pivot points, we're satisfied with the overall grip.

Price

After getting to know the Air Force 1 07 and now being introduced to its LV8 sister, we believe the main price difference (which is basically 10 dollars) comes from the higher stack of the latter.

If that's what you're looking for, we can't say this shoe is overprized. But the original model is way more durable (upper, heel padding and outsole), which means it'll withstand constant use way better. So, even though this newer iteration has a higher sole, it's not even softer, and it features an Air Unit just like the original.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_014

We can understand the higher price that comes with a new model, but it becomes a hard-to-swallow pill if we compare our lab test results of both shoes.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 $125
Average $119
Compared to 108 sneakers
Number of shoes
$50
Price
$220

Reflective elements

The AF 1 07 LV8 doesn't have reflective elements even though its aesthetics are pure fire!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Reflective elements-1

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 No

Tongue padding

The overall padded structure of this AF didn't disappoint us when we measured its tongue.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Tongue padding-1

Our caliper returned 8.0 mm, which is lower than average but more than enough for us! A more stuffed tongue could've: a) made the whole shoe heavier, b) jeopardized its breathability, and c) reduced the inner space of an already snug pair.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_08

In conclusion, we believe the brand made the right choice, and maybe it could've even opted for a thinner tongue, saving up some weight.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 8.0 mm
Average 9.1 mm
Compared to 81 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Heel tab

The LV8 doesn't have any kind of heel tab, but with its non-gusseted tongue, we don't think it needed one.

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8_outdoor_03

We didn't have any problems when we put the shoe on, and we really liked the suede touch with the name of the line and the logo.

Superb aesthetics once again, Nike!

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 None

Removable insole

You know it, we know it, everybody knows it. We're huge fans of removable insoles!

Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Removable insole-2

And this AF pair features one, so if you want or need to change it, feel free to do it! Just please keep in mind that we're not talking about the roomiest sneaker out there, so if you go for a super padded tongue, it might lead to discomfort.

Test results
Air Force 1 07 LV8 Yes