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Nike’s Best Retro Sneaker Proves Yet Again Why It’s a Future Hall of Famer

First released in the 1980s, the reissued Field General continues its impressive winning streak. This time in luxe brown leather.

Nike Field General brown leatherNike

By Jack Seemer

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Last year, the Field General was sill warming up.

Nike’s forgotten football shoe, worn by NFL legends Archie Manning and Dan Fouts in the 1980s, had been sidelined for decades until a faithful reissue in early 2024.

Now it’s leading the brand’s charge against Adidas and New Balance in the retro-sneaker game, with its latest colorway making the case for not just MVP but future hall of famer.

Nike Field General brown leather
The latest colorway, called “Cacao Wow,” sees the Field General adopt a muted aesthetic for everyday wear.
Nike

Back in brown

The color, dubbed “Cacao Wow,” sees the Field General adopt a simple brown upper, which replaces white leather on both the original and handful of reissues over the last year and a half.

Nike Field General brown leather
Brown leather here replaces white on the original Field General.
Nike

That alone gives it some everyday utility, with the flexibility to dress up or down across a broad range of wardrobes. However, the colorway’s white rubber outsole and matching swoosh also tone down the sporty deportment of most Field Generals to date.

Nike Field General brown leather
The upper uses both real and synthetic leather.
Nike

Other variants, for example, flaunt bright, bold colors, including Pro Green and Lightning yellow.

Nike Field General
Most Field General variants since early 2024 have featured bold, bright colors.
Nike

That said, Cacao Wow preserves the design’s flagship feature, even if becomes less of a focal point in a muted colorway: the nubby waffle sole originally designed for traction on turf.

Nike Field General brown leather
The nubby waffle outsole is carried over from the original.
Nike
Nike Field General brown leather
The Field General was originally designed for turf and initially worn by NFL legends Archie Manning and Dan Fouts in the 1980s.
Nike

Availability and pricing

The Field General Cacao Wow is available now on Nike’s official website. It costs $115 and comes in sizes up to men’s 15.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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