I could’ve just let Darrelle Revis do the talking for me here, right?

Sort of. The above video details the reasoning behind the writing you’ll find on Revis’ customized Nike Air Trainer 1 Unleashed Low, and the benefits he finds when using the kicks for training purposes. But the details regarding the mesh toe box, flywire, and the DiamondFLX sole weren’t explored. I’ll handle that.

First, the basic part. As you’d imagine, a mesh toe box with a flywire upper means you now have a lighter and more breathable shoe. The leather most sneakerheads are accustomed to is a little too heavy for training purposes, so Nike deviated here, and it’s a welcomed change — even for those of us who aren’t training to defend All-Pro wide receivers in the NFL.

Now with Nike’s DiamondFLX sole, we’re getting a lot more versatility in the way our feet are supported. The science behind the design is to provide more flexibility to complement all the different directions our feet take when doing anything a bit more intense than straight-ahead running. (In New York, that usually means running down stairs and through a thick crowd to catch a train.) The cushioning familiar to the Air Max design was sacrificed here, but the comfort was not.

Finally, the adjustable strap at the bottom of the laces allows you to determine just how tightly the shoes hug the feet. It’s a valuable compromise for people who’d like a casual walking shoe without feeling confined, and ideal for folks whose workouts involve a lot of lateral motion and sliding.

Having the “Revis Island”-inspired pair in the collection gives me a bit more versatility from the fashionista perspective. You don’t find too many sneakers offering a dominant green in the colorway. It’s usually just a subtle accent, whereas Revis’ New York Jets affiliation allowed these to adopt those colors.