Released in 1996, the original Air Rift was Nike’s barefoot‑running experiment, inspired by Kenyan distance runners training in the Great Rift Valley. By 2002, it evolved into the Air Rift 2 — a sleeker, more everyday‑wear take on the split‑toe idea. The 2026 revival marks the first retro the Air Rift 2 has ever had, returning with ventilated mesh booties, a chunkier midsole and an easier slip‑on build. And of course, the tabi toe stays intact.
