It may be early on in the second life of the Nike Attack, originally known as the Mac Attack, but there’s no question about which rendition will create the most noise.
Nike has officially confirmed the release for Travis Scott‘s Attack collaboration, which has been subject to a number of leaks and sightings throughout the year. Scott appeared in a campaign earlier this year promoting the return of the sneaker alongside John McEnroe, who counted the Mac Attack as his signature sneaker in 1984. In it, both men wore the shoe in the OG “Light Smoke” colorway that rang in the relaunch — and its the same color scheme that Scott uses for his collaborative version.
They key differentiator for the two sneakers is the backward Swoosh, a signature design feature throughout Scott’s sneakers for Nike and Jordan Brand, on the shoe’s lateral side. The only other deviation arrives via the heel, where Scott’s “Cactus Jack” logo is embroidered.
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Scott’s Attack sticks out as one of the most simple of his sneakers to release from Nike or Jordan, excluding the “Utopia” Air Force 1 that was more of a custom than a collaboration. It also stands out from Nike collaborations on a broader scale, as it doesn’t usually maintain so many similarities from one sneaker to the other.
Still, the two marks alone could make a massive difference in hype. Although it sold out across the board when it released in June, the OG Mac Attack is fetching only a modest price increase on the resale market through platforms such as StockX. Don’t expect the same phenomenon once Scott’s version releases, though, as his endorsement remains one of the most valuable in sneakers even after the Astroworld tragedy.
In what in all likelihood was a marketing stunt, video of a Zoom call “leaked” over the weekend showing Scott and McEnroe arguing with each other over whether the sneaker should be called “Cactus Jack” or “Cactus Mac.” McEnroe, of course, was known for being a hothead during his tennis career and has also played fictionalized versions of himself in television and film in which he’s leaned into that reputation.
The Travis Scott x Nike Attack will release Dec. 13 on Travis Scott’s website and again Dec. 19 through the SNKRS app. Pricing is set at $120.
