A Review Of The Nike Field General Sneakers

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It should come as no surprise to anyone at this point that the Adidas Samba has been having an unprecedented resurgence in mainstream culture as of late. For better or worse, they've become the ubiquitous staple sneaker for style conscious individuals. Indeed, if the monumental success of the Samba OG has taught us anything, it's that our collective appetite for heritage silhouettes is stronger than ever.

Nike has certainly stood up and taken notice, because in early 2024 it responded by rereleasing one of its own vintage icons from deep within the footwear company's storied archives. The Nike Field General was originally released in 1982, and specifically designed for professional quarterbacks playing American football. Now it's back, and quickly gaining traction as a direct competitor to the juggernaut that is the Adidas Samba OG.

But has Nike done enough to answer the call and provide a compelling alternative?

Materials & Construction

The Nike Field General seen here is in the adventurous Elemental Pink colorway, and bold colors aside, it's easily one of the best looking Nike shoes I've ever seen. This classic silhouette features timeless styling, minimalist lines, and beautiful stitching details throughout. The icing on the cake here is the nubby waffle gum sole that adds a distinctive sporty persona that showcases the sneaker's time-honored American football roots.

While the Nike Field General is a well constructed shoe generally speaking, the synthetic leather and nylon textile upper looks great but unfortunately feels somewhat artificial and cheap to the touch. These materials just don't feel as high quality as I would've hoped. Don't get me wrong, the shoes aren't poorly made in any way, but they don't have that premium feel that the Adidas Samba OG does.

In terms of longevity, the synthetic leather areas and the rubber sole both appear strong enough to last longterm. However, the nylon upper creases quite easily and could be a potential weak point for durability at some point down the road.

Comfort & Performance

The good news here is that the Nike Field General fits true to size, and thankfully it isn't a narrow fit either. You'll find plenty of breathing room for your feet in all directions without it feeling overly loose or poor fitting. There's little to no break in time required, and the overall fit is a nice balance of squishy and supportive right out of the box.

Given its heritage design, the sneaker naturally has a thin, flat footed sole. Yet for such a thin shoe I found its comfort to be excellent, and arguably more comfortable (perhaps only incrementally, but it's noticeable nonetheless) than the Adidas Samba. It's also ultra lightweight, and not a burden to wear whatsoever. In fact, it feels about as featherlight as the New Balance 530, which is fantastic.

The Nike Field General sports excellent heel cushioning, and while there isn't nearly as much cushioning in the arch and forefoot areas, the shoe still manages to feel surprisingly comfortable regardless. The heel and ankle collar is well padded, while the tongue includes a satisfactory amount of moderate padding as well. Additionally, the incredibly grippy waffle gum outsole feels solid, and is great for a variety of surfaces, including slippery ones.

This vintage sneaker is definitely not a running shoe, but it's a solid choice for travel or all day walking regardless. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to choose this shoe for occasions where I'll be on my feet for long periods of time. Depending on your use case, it could be the perfect daily driver sneaker for regular outings and running errands.

Pros

• Iconic timeless style
• Excellent comfort and support despite its flat sole
• Almost no break in time required
• Lightweight construction
• Gum sole is quite grippy
• Comes in some gorgeous, playful, and unique colorways

Cons

• Synthetic leather and nylon upper feel somewhat lacking in quality
• Nylon upper creases easily
• Longterm durability of nylon material is questionable
• A little on the expensive side given the choice of materials used

Verdict

The Nike Field General is somewhat of a mixed bag at this time. On one hand, it is a little disappointing to see that Nike didn't opt for more premium materials in the construction of this shoe. As a result, I do have some longterm durability concerns in regards to the nylon upper, specifically in the forefoot area where it tends to crease more easily.

At the same time, I simply love how the pair looks and feels on my feet and often don't want to take them off. It's a fun and versatile everyday lifestyle sneaker that ticks nearly all the boxes for style and the modern comforts that you'd expect. The break in time is practically non-existent, and it comes in several attractive colorways to suit pretty much everyone.

Is the Adidas Samba OG a better value? Well, it depends on what you cherish most. The Nike Field General boasts slightly superior comfort and support than the Samba OG, but sadly the shoe's construction isn't nearly up to the same standard. In any case, it's a tradeoff between the two shoes and it might be worth getting both for different uses and occasions.

Perhaps the Field General colorways with genuine leather and canvas are better in terms of craftsmanship and longterm durability. Still, I would've preferred to see nicer materials used on the Elemental Pink colorway that I've tested here. This does make the shoe seem a bit on the expensive side when it isn't comprised of real leather.

The Nike Field General is still recommended for its generous comfort and attractive aesthetic, despite legitimate grievances regarding the cheaper materials used. It's easily my favorite looking Nike sneaker to date, even besting the legendary Janoski for me which is no easy feat. And who knows? With a little finessing from Nike, it might even surpass the Adidas Samba one day.