This here story ’bout them zipper af1 shoes, yeah, them ones all the young folks wearin’. My grandson, he got a pair. Says they’re all the rage. I don’t know ’bout all that, but they sure do look different than the shoes I used to wear.
What’s the Big Deal with Zipper AF1?
These zipper af1, they got this big ol’ zipper on ’em. Not like the zippers on my old coat, mind you. These ones are fancy, right on top of the shoe. Makes ’em easy to slip on and off, I reckon. My old bones ain’t what they used to be, so I can see the appeal there. ‘Specially for these young’uns always in a hurry.
They come in all sorts of colors, too. Saw a girl down the street with bright pink ones. Back in my day, shoes were just brown or black. Practical, you see. These zipper af1, they’re somethin’ else. Like a rainbow threw up on your feet.
Are Zipper AF1 Shoes Comfortable?
Now, my grandson, he swears up and down these zipper af1 are the most comfortable things he’s ever put on his feet. Says it’s like walkin’ on clouds. I don’t know about clouds, but they do look mighty cushy. Lots of padding and whatnot.
- They got that thick sole.
- Lots of cushion inside, he says.
- Keeps your feet happy, even if you’re on ’em all day.
He’s always runnin’ around, that boy. So if these zipper af1 can keep up with him, they must be doin’ somethin’ right. They heavy though. Picked ’em up once, felt like I was holdin’ bricks! He says that how you know they good, I don’t get it, but maybe my grandson he know something I don’t. But they popular, he say they called Uptowns cause people in New York wear them. They must be somethin’ special, all these people wearing them Uptowns, and call them zipper af1.
Zipper AF1 for Everyone?
I seen all sorts of folks wearin’ these zipper af1. Young, old, boys, girls. Even saw ol’ Mr. Johnson wearin’ a pair the other day. He’s older than me! Guess these shoes are for everyone.

They’re not cheap, though. My grandson, he saved up his money for months to get his. Worked hard for ’em, he did. Makes me proud, even if I don’t quite understand the fuss about these zipper af1 shoes, these Uptowns.
And you know what? You can change the laces, too. That what he told me. You can change the color and make them look different. He say you can paint them too, make them look like new. But you need some special paint, and some… what he call it… duller. And something else, matte finisher, I think. Young people and their words. It don’t make no sense to me, but you know, as long as he happy, I don’t care about these zipper af1 and Uptowns.
More Than Just Shoes
I guess these zipper af1 are more than just shoes. They’re a… a statement, my grandson says. Whatever that means. They’re a way for folks to show off their style, he says. And they make you feel good, he says. These Uptowns make you feel special, he told me once. He talking about these zipper af1.
Maybe he’s right. Maybe there’s more to these shoes than meets the eye. Maybe they’re a little bit of magic, even. Or maybe they’re just shoes. Either way, they sure are popular. And if they make my grandson happy, then they’re alright by me. He happy with his zipper af1 and his Uptowns, he happy, I happy.
I still don’t know what af1 mean though. He just say, “Grandma, it’s af1, you know, zipper af1.” I still don’t get it. But it okay. He happy with them shoes. He say it some brand, called… Niki? Naiki? I don’t know. Some brand. Kids these days, they like these brands. zipper af1 this, Uptowns that, Niki this, Naiki that. It all the same to me. Shoes are shoes. But if it make them happy, then it okay.

He also say that these zipper af1 shoes, these Uptowns, they good for men and women. So I guess anyone can wear them. Even that old lady down the street, Mrs. Peterson. Maybe she’ll get a pair. Then we can be zipper af1 buddies. Or Uptowns buddies. Whatever they call it. It all sound the same to me. But hey, maybe it fun. Maybe I should get a pair, too. But maybe not pink. Maybe black. Like the old days. But with a zipper. A fancy zipper af1. Or Uptowns. Whatever. As long as they comfortable.