Though the name Nike React Presto holds no mystery, the shoe does more than simply rework an archival classic silhouette. It takes a holistic view of what made the original great by articulating revered characteristics of the Nike Air Presto and then kicking these up with a fresh attitude.

A Quick History

When the Nike Air Presto arrived in the fall of 2000 it was notable for two key things: First, there was fit. The shoe’s stretchy upper made way for “Presto magic,” giving it a “T-shirt for the foot” feel (it was even sold in XS to XL sizing). Second, there was the lead marketing campaign. Each colourway became a character (Shady Milkman and Unholy Cumulus among these), inflecting the shoe with an irreverence crowd-sourced from Nike employees.

This balance of cutting-edge tech and tongue-in-cheek humour is integral to the Nike React Presto. At root, the shoe is all about being relaxed—with plush tooling, a form-fitting upper and sunny disposition in winning combination.

What’s New: 

– Nike React foam underfoot—providing for the most comfortable Presto ever
– A fluid, organic midsole geometry tuned precisely for the Presto
– Eyestays at the heel and tongue for multiple lacing options

What’s Familiar:

– Bootie construction
– A midfoot cage and heel crash pad
– Nike employee-sourced, character-based colour schemes

New personalities for the Nike React Presto are out now and include Psychedelic Lava (which, as an example, takes influence from the fluid, organic design language of the React technology), Chatty Matador, Breezy Thursday and Witness Protection.