Nike's latest Air Force 1 release has sparked an unexpected debate among sneakerheads, drawing direct comparisons to one of the most notorious bootleg designs in footwear history. The women's-exclusive Air Force 1 '07 "Game Day," now available for $125, features a mint green, gold, and brown color scheme that closely resembles the 2006 Menthol 10 bootleg—a pair Nike itself once tried to stop. Main Developments The Nike Air Force 1 '07 "Game Day" is a women's-exclusive style currently sold on nike.com and at select retailers with a style code of IV5685-365. Its Malachite, University Gold, Gum Medium Brown, and Coconut Milk palette includes removable metallic gold charms, including a basketball-shaped pendant, though Nike has not officially explained the "Game Day" theme. Without a clear narrative from the brand, fans have speculated that the design strongly echoes the Menthol 10 bootleg created by Ari Saal Forman in 2006. That unauthorized sneaker used the Air Force 1 silhouette and colored it to mimic Newport cigarette branding, complete with a stripe design, gold accents, and a spinnaker logo often compared to an upside-down Nike Swoosh. Read also: Why Roller Rabbit’s Multigenerational Appeal Is a Masterclass in Brand Longevity Background Forman's Menthol 10 faced legal action not only from Nike, which issued a cease and desist order, but also from Newport's then-parent company, Lorillard Tobacco Company. The cigarette manufacturer sued Forman, forcing him to destroy all remaining stock and including a settlement clause that forbade him from personally owning a pair. Over time, the Menthol 10 has become a legendary piece of sneaker lore, but its age and extreme rarity have made it nearly unattainable in 2026. Finding a pair today often requires paying a serious premium, and original accessories or packaging are frequently missing. Why It Matters The resemblance between the official Game Day release and the bootleg Menthol 10 highlights a curious irony: a design once legally suppressed by Nike now appears to inspire a legitimate product. For collectors and casual buyers alike, the Game Day offers a legal, affordable way to capture the aesthetic of a forbidden classic at $125, compared to the prohibitive cost and legal baggage of the original. What's Next Nike has not commented on the comparisons, and the Game Day remains available without any announced production limits. Whether the brand will acknowledge the resemblance or release additional accessories remains unclear. Sneaker enthusiasts will likely continue to debate whether the similarity is intentional or coincidental as the pair sells through standard retail channels.