In 2026, Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear) is being reintroduced to the world – not just as retro remakes of old classics, but as a return-to-roots moment with outdoor sport at the centre.
Diehard fans of ACG will already be familiar with their monolithic four-decade history of innovation and groundbreaking initiatives, while new 'heads might think of ACG as simply the line that birthed the Mowabb and Air Mada. Whatever camp you belong to, Nike ACG reconnecting with their beginnings is a monumental move – and here’s why it matters.
Nike Hiking was born way back in 1981, after the brand supplied two climbers with classic yellow Long Distance Vectors (LDVs) to ascend the world’s second-highest peak. These two climbers then mailed back their battered samples with plenty of notes about how Team Swoosh could improve. The Lava Dome, Magma, and Approach were the three silhouettes that kicked off this early outdoor-focused foray, making way for the All Conditions Gear sub-line to emerge in 1989.
The first official Nike ACG collection hit shelves with the Air Wildwood and Lava High, alongside a slew of apparel pieces loaded with GORE-TEX water-wicking tech. Over the decade after the line’s initial launch, ACG dropped some of the most memorable Swoosh models to date, like the Air Mowabb, Goadome, Exploraid and Humara. Each was decidedly crunchy, pulling inspiration from the Beaverton campus’s surrounding lush greenery.
By the time the 2010s came around, ACG had found a nostalgic audience of sneakerheads and vintage aficionados who prioritised the streets over rugged mountain trails. Soon, ACG became part of Nike’s lifestyle offering boasting a GORPcore feel that was very of the time.
In 2025, Nike quietly teased the ACG Ultrafly 2 – a beefed-up, trail-running behemoth. Then came the announcement of the All Conditions Racing Department, which further hinted Nike ACG’s return to trails. This week it was broadcast to the world that ACG is back to their roots, crafting dedicated outdoor performance apparel!
‘This is a defining moment in ACG’s history – a recommitment to all conditions and an invitation to athletes: unplug, get outside and explore,’ Scott LeClair, VP/GM of ACG said. ‘ACG has the foundation to shape the future of outdoor performance while pushing into spaces that feel fresh and unexpected. It is going to be a fun ride.’
ACG's new focus will encompass ‘trail running, hiking and exploration’, according to a recent press release, with the brand aiming to innovate and provide expert product for outdoor sport athletes. You won’t have to wait to see the first batch of products either, as Nike have already unveiled what's to come this year. The ACG Zegama and ACG Ultrafly 2 will lead the charge in the footwear department, along with the Radical AirFlow racing top and Lava Loft down jacket with apparel.
The All Conditions Racing Department is set to be a big part of the newfound ACG – and their team of runners has been growing, with recent signings like Jennifer Lichter and Takamura Takako. Alongside signing athletes, ACG will sponsor races like China's Chongli 168 Ultra Trailas well as open its first-ever dedicated brick-and-mortar in Beijing’s Taikoo Li Sanlitun shopping centre. This store will act as a ‘base camp’, and debut the new ACG into the wild.
This is a big moment – not only for the outdoor space, but for Swoosh fans as a whole.
Keep up to date with all the Nike ACG happenings right here!